In terms of essay types, the compare and contrast essay is one of the most popular and important types of essays. Learning How to Write Compare and Contrast Essays therefore is something that every student must do. In this type of essay you need to pick two topics and discuss their similarities and differences. This type of essay can be of any essay length. The most critical thing to keep in mind for this essay is the structure. Your essay must be structured in one of the following two formats.
Format I
See How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay using format I.
i. Introduction
The introductory paragraph of your essay should open with a quote, anecdote or other interesting approach and should take your readers to the thesis statement.
Topic One
This is the second part of your essay and its length can range from one to several paragraphs depending on whether you are writing a 250 or 1000 word essay. This part should discuss only the first topic of your comparison and contrast topic.
iii.
Topic Two
This part of your essay can also range from one to several paragraphs. It should focus on your second topic. The first topic must not be discussed, though briefly referring to it is acceptable.
Topics One and Two (Together)
After both the topics have been discussed independently, you need to analyze these topics together. This part of your essay can be one paragraph or several paragraphs.
Conclusion
The concluding paragraph should generalize the thesis while conveying your authority and certainty of the topic being discussed. Here you must restate your thesis in a fresh manner and discuss how you have proved it.
Format II
See How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay using format II.
Introduction
The introductory paragraph of your essay should open with a quote, anecdote or other interesting approach and should take your readers to the thesis statement.
All Similarities of Topics One and Two
This part of your essay should run into several paragraphs. Here you will discuss all the similarities that you can identify between the two topics that you have based your essay on. There should be a minimum of three comparisons which are normally three short paragraphs. Each comparison should contain an example from both the topics being compared.
All Differences of Topics One and Two
This part of your essay should run into several paragraphs. Here you will discuss all the differences that you can identify between the two topics that you have based your essay on. There should be a minimum of three differences which are normally three short paragraphs. Each difference should contain an example from both the topics being compared.
Conclusion
The concluding paragraph should generalize the thesis while conveying your authority and certainty of the topic being discussed. Here you must restate your thesis in a fresh manner and discuss how you have proved it.
If you don’t have the time to learn How to Write Compare and Contrast Essays you could simply buy an essay or look at an essay writing service for help.