Mode:  Comparison/Contrast (Chapter 13, page 195)

   Your goal is to write an essay showing how two subjects are either similar or different (not both).  When comparing subjects, show how they are similar.  When contrasting them, show how they are different (see page 196 in your text).  See pages 206-207 for guidelines for writing the comparison/contrast.  In a comparison/contrast paper, be sure to develop a thesis that includes words that signal comparisons, such as “although,” “even though,” “in spite of,” “except for,” “not withstanding,” or “but.”  Also, use appropriate transitions to signal comparisons and link paragraphs within the body of your paper, such as “on the other hand,” “in contrast,” “similarly,” “also,” “both,” “even though,” and “in the same way.”

Purpose:              To inform, explain, or persuade (or a combination of these)

Person:                Third person (they, he, she, it) 

Length:                 5 paragraphs, 4-8 sentences per paragraph—vary sentence structure (see page 650 for sample sentence structures).

Topics:                 Consider pairs of events, places, processes, objects, people, ideas, and so forth.

Organization:        Trait-by-trait comparison/contrast or subject-by-subject comparison/ contrast.  Trait-by-trait works best for longer, more complex comparisons, while subject-by-subject works best for shorter, simple comparisons (see page 206).

	Organizational Pattern #1		Organizational Pattern #2
	Subject-by-Subject:		Trait-by-Trait:
	Subject #1		Trait A
	Trait A		Subject #1
	Trait B		Subject #2
	Trait C		Trait B
	Subject #2		Subject #1
	Trait A		Subject #2
	Trait B		Trait C
	Trait C		Subject #1
			Subject #2

Tense:                      Be consistent in your use of verb tense.  If you begin with past tense, continue in past tense.

 

Thesis Examples from Process Papers:

Even though Sam’s Hamburger Heaven and Bill’s Barbecue offer very different menus, they are similar in their advertising methods, prices, and customer service.

Although the rules for softball are the same in high school and college, there are many aspects that are different, including competition, work ethic, and time management.

Although many people think that democracies and republics are the same because the ultimate source of their power is in the people, there are some distinct differences.