The Comparative Essay What is a comparative essay? A comparative essay asks that you compare at least two (possibly more) items. These items will differ depending on the assignment. You might be asked to compare • positions on an issue (e.g., responses to midwifery in Canada and the United States) • theories (e.g., capitalism and communism) Comparative essays Printable version of Comparative Essays (PDF). Writing a comparison usually requires that you assess the similarities and differences between two Estimated Reading Time: 4 mins How to Write a Comparative Analysis Throughout your academic career, you'll be asked to write papers in which you compare and contrast two things: two texts, two theories, two historical figures, two scientific processes, and so on
The Comparative Essay | Writing Advice
Printable version of Comparative Essays PDF. Writing a comparison usually requires that you assess the similarities and differences between two or more theoriesproceduresor processes. You explain to your reader what insights can be gained from the comparison, or judge whether one thing is better than another according to established criteria. Helpful tip: When you are asked to write a comparative essay, writing a comparative essay, remember that, unless you are instructed otherwise, you are usually being asked to assess both similarities and differences.
Such essays may be called comparative essayscomparison essaysor compare-and-contrast essays. Helpful tip: Organize your criteria in columns or a Venn diagram ; using visual methods to map your pre-writing work can help you to stay on track and more clearly writing a comparative essay a sense of how the essay will be structured.
Based on the information in the above table, you could focus on how ornamentation and design principles reveal prevailing intellectual thought about architecture in the respective eras and societies. Helpful tip: Avoid a thesis statement that simply states your obvious purpose. Using the point-by-point method in a comparative essay allows you to draw direct comparisons and produce writing a comparative essay more tightly integrated essay.
Helpful tip: Note that you can have more than three points of comparisonespecially in longer essays. The points can be either similarities or differences. Overall, in order writing a comparative essay use this method, you must be able to apply criteria to every item, text, or idea you are comparing. Using the block method in a comparative essay can help ensure that the ideas in the second block build upon or extend ideas presented in the first block.
It works well if you have three or more major areas of comparison instead of two for example, if you added in a third or fourth style of architecture, the block method would be easier to organize.
Back to Writing Centre resources. The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Indigenous Initiatives Office.
Skip to main Skip to footer. Writing and Communication Centre. Writing and Communication Centre home About the Writing and Communication Centre Our Services. How to write a comparative essay Establish a basis of comparison A basis of comparison represents the main ideacategoryor theme you will investigate, writing a comparative essay. You will have to do some preliminary readinglikely using your course materials, to get an idea of what kind of criteria you will use to assess whatever you are comparing.
A basis of comparison must apply to all items you are comparing, but the details will be different. For example, if you are asked to "compare neoclassical architecture and gothic architecture," you could compare the influence of social context on the two styles. Gather the details of whatever you are comparing Once you have decided what theme or idea you are investigating, you will need to gather details of whatever you are comparing, especially in terms of similarities and differences.
Doing so allows you writing a comparative essay see which criteria you should use in your comparison, if not specified by your professor or instructor.
Criteria Neoclassical Archtecture Gothic Architecture Neoclassical architecture versus Gothic architecture Churches Appeal to Greek perfection Appeal to emotion Civic buildings Columns Towers and spires Palaces Formulaic and mathematical Wild and rustic Helpful tip: Organize your criteria in columns or a Venn diagram ; using visual methods to map your pre-writing work can help you to stay on track and more clearly get a sense of how the essay will be structured.
Develop a thesis statement After brainstorming, try to develop a thesis statement that identifies the results of your comparison. Here is an example of a fairly common thesis statement structure: e. Organize your comparison You have a choice of two basic methods for organizing a comparative essay: the point-by-point method or the block method.
The point-by-point method examines one writing a comparative essay of comparison in each paragraph and usually alternates back and forth between the two objects, texts, or ideas being compared. This method allows you to emphasize points of similarity and of difference as you proceed. In the block methodhowever, you say everything you need to say about one thing, then do the same thing with the other, writing a comparative essay.
This method works best if you want readers to understand and agree with the advantages of something you are proposing, such as introducing a new process or theory by showing how it compares to something more traditional, writing a comparative essay.
Sample outlines for comparative essays on neoclassical and gothic architecture Building a point-by-point essay Using the point-by-point method in a comparative essay allows you to draw direct comparisons and produce a more tightly integrated essay, writing a comparative essay. Introduction Introductory material Thesis: Although neoclassical and gothic architecture are both western European forms that are exemplified in civic buildings and churches, they nonetheless reveal, through different structural design and ornamentation, the different intellectual principles of the two societies that created them, writing a comparative essay.
Introduction Introductory material Thesis: The neoclassical style of architecture was a conscious rejection of the gothic style that had dominated in France at the end of the middle ages; it represented a desire to return to the classical ideals of Greece and Rome.
Writing a comparative essay Text 1: History and writing a comparative essay Text 2: Change from earlier form; social context of new form Synthesis and analysis: What does the comparison reveal about architectural development? Conclusion Summary Why this comparison is important and what it tells readers Back to Writing Centre resources. Writing and communication centre. University of Waterloo. WaterlooONCanada N2L 3G1. uwaterloo social directory, writing a comparative essay.
Log in.
Point by Point Method - Comparison Contrast Essay - English Writing Skills
, time: 18:58Essay Writing Help For College Admission
Comparative essays Printable version of Comparative Essays (PDF). Writing a comparison usually requires that you assess the similarities and differences between two Estimated Reading Time: 4 mins · Compare and contrast essays, just like any other type of papers, should be well-developed and supported. Find in the examples of compare and contrast essays supporting evidences, facts, and examples. Look whether necessary contrast words (on the one hand, on the other hand, etc.) are used 6 rows · What is a comparative essay? A comparative essay asks that you compare at least two
No comments:
Post a Comment