Comparison and Contrast


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WRC Home General Writing Guidelines Common Writing Assignments Analysis Argument Comparison and Contrast Description Interpretation Persuasion Writing with Sources Resumes & Cover Letters Writing Resources	Comparison and Contrast What it means: Comparing or contrasting two or more things—like a book and a movie, or a plane ride and a road trip —involves doing a close reviewing of the subjects and analyzing them for similarities (to compare) or differences (to contrast). If you're comparing and contrasting the same subjects, then you can look for things like similarities and differences in the meaning or message of the subjects, and similarities and differences in the ways that this meaning or message is created. Writing Hints: As with analysis and description, you can feel overwhelmed if you try to compare and/or contrast everything in your subjects. Narrow it down to something specific (it can be broad or detailed, like the plot of two novels or the way a certain symbol is used in two poems) and then review your subjects again, drawing out specific elements on which to focus your writing.
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What it means:

Comparing or contrasting two or more things—like a book and a movie, or a plane ride and a road trip —involves doing a close reviewing of the subjects and analyzing them for similarities (to compare) or differences (to contrast). If you're comparing and contrasting the same subjects, then you can look for things like similarities and differences in the meaning or message of the subjects, and similarities and differences in the ways that this meaning or message is created.

Writing Hints:

As with analysis and description, you can feel overwhelmed if you try to compare and/or contrast everything in your subjects. Narrow it down to something specific (it can be broad or detailed, like the plot of two novels or the way a certain symbol is used in two poems) and then review your subjects again, drawing out specific elements on which to focus your writing.