Did you use the point-by-point or block method to organize your body paragraphs? What made you decide to organize your essay in this way (3-4 sentences)? Sophia says: Consider the ways a comparison/contrast essay can be organized. Which organization did you choose and why?

3 pages for the essay is fine with the 4 pages
being the answers to “Think about your writing” questions.
ASSIGNMENT: Write a 3-4 page (approximately 700-1000
words) comparison/contrast essay in the informative mode. In addition, you must
answer the “Think About Your Writing” questions, described below,
beneath your essay.
Think About Your Writing
After
you’ve drafted your essay, answer the following questions about your writing.
Include answers to all of the questions below your essay.
1. Did you use the point-by-point or block method to organize your
body paragraphs? What made you decide to organize your essay in this way (3-4
sentences)? Sophia says: Consider the ways
a comparison/contrast essay can be organized. Which organization did you choose
and why?
2. In what ways did writing a comparison/contrast essay differ from
the Narrative essay you wrote in Touchstone 1? Give specific examples (3-4
sentences). Sophia says: Consider how the
structure, point of view, and purpose of the two essays differ.
3. Remember that the writing process is a recursive process, and your
first draft of an essay is rarely your last. What part of the draft did you
struggle with (3-4 sentences)? Sophia says: Think about how
you could improve the draft if you continued the writing process with revision
and editing.
A. Begin
by choosing a topic for your comparison/contrast essay. You are free to select
your own topic, or you may use one of the sample topics listed below. However,
you should choose a topic that you have knowledge of so that you have
sufficient points of comparison or contrast to discuss in your essay. You will
need to compare or contrast two or three primary points about the two subjects
you choose to write about, resulting in an essay with either four or six body
paragraphs, an introductory paragraph, and a conclusion.
Compare
or contrast two cities you’ve visited or that you’ve lived in
Compare
or contrast two members of your family
Compare
or contrast two sources of news
Compare
or contrast two singers in different music genres
Compare
or contrast two historical figures
Compare
or contrast two artists (for example, Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso or
Keith Haring and Andy Warhol)
Compare
or contrast two eras in time
Compare
or contrast two television series
Compare
or contrast two types of technologies (for example, Android and Apple phones or
PlayStation and Xbox)
Compare
or contrast two medical topics (for example, traditional medicine and modern
medicine or doctors and midwives)

Remember
that the two subjects you choose should have a meaningful connection so that
you can draw comparisons or contrasts between the two.
Your
thesis should convey the main idea of the essay and clearly articulate what two
topics you are comparing/contrasting. Because you are writing in the
informative mode for this essay, you should use objective language. Remember
that for this essay, you are not trying to persuade or convince the audience
that one thing is better or worse than the other; you are instead informing the
reader about the similarities or differences between the two subjects in an
objective manner.
Comparison/Contrast Guidelines
Refer to the checklist below throughout the writing
process. Do not submit your Touchstone until your draft meets all of the
guidelines.
Elements of a
Comparison/Contrast Essay
❒ Are there significant points of comparison or contrast
between the two subjects you have selected?
❒ Do you make
clear comparisons or contrasts between the two subjects within the body
paragraphs of the essay?
❒ Are the body
paragraphs organized either by point or by subject?
❒ Have you used
transitional words or phrases to indicate points being compared or contrasted?
❒ Does the essay
have a clear and consistent focus of comparing and contrasting two subjects?
Thesis Statement
❒ Have you included a clear, focused, and detailed thesis
statement?
❒ Does your
thesis state the subjects to be compared or contrasted and include the two or
three points of comparison or contrast?
❒ Is your thesis
a single sentence located in the introductory paragraph?
Organization
❒ Is there an introductory paragraph that contains your thesis
statement?
❒ Are there four
or six total body paragraphs, each with a clear topic sentence?
❒ Is there a
conclusion paragraph with a concluding statement?
❒ Have you used
transitions to connect ideas between sentences and paragraphs?
Style and Tone
❒ Is the tone of the essay objective and informative?
❒ Have you
carefully considered your word choices?
❒ Is the purpose
of your essay clearly to inform the reader about the similarities or
differences between the two subjects?
Conventions
❒ Have you checked your essay for grammatical and mechanical
errors?
❒ Have you used
spell check or another method to check spelling?
Before you Submit
❒ Have you included your name, date, and course at the top
left of the page?
❒ Have you
completed the “Think About Your Writing” questions?
❒ Is your essay
between 3-4 pages (approximately 700-1000 words)?
Requirements
Your draft must be 3-4 page (approximately 700-1000 words)
Guidelines must be followed or submission will not be
graded
Double-space your draft and use one-inch margins.
Use an easily-readable 12-point font.
All writing must be appropriate for an academic context.
Your draft must be original and written for this
assignment.
Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.
Your submission must include your name, the name of the
course, the date, and the title of your draft.
Your submission must include your answers to the “Think About
Your Writing” questions
Submit a only single file that contains all of the
assignment components.
Acceptable file formats include .doc and .docx.

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