How to Write a Comparison Essay for College

A comparison essay (or a Compare and contrast essay) is a commonly used kind of writing assignment in various categories of high school and college, from art to science. In a comparison essay, you should critically analyze any two subjects, finding and pointing out their similarities and/or differences. According to an essay writing service UK, depending on your assignment, such essays can be comparative only (looking only at similarities), contrasting only (pointing out the differences) or each comparative and contrasting.

Choosing a Topic for Comparison Essay:
In order to write down a good essay, first, you need to have a good topic for it, i.e., a subject that lets you easily demonstrate your writing skills and get a high grade easily. What does that mean specifically regarding the comparison essay? Very simple: the subjects must be easy comparable; thus, you don’t need to work too hard to point out their similarities or differences.

Comparison Essay Structure:
Considering the right structure for your essay is one of the key points of success. Sticking to a recommended essay structure is the only way to properly outline and write it, paragraph by paragraph from the introduction to conclusion, without mistakes. There are two recommended patterns for a comparison essay: point-by-point (or "alternating") pattern and subject-by-subject (or "block") pattern.

Alternating Pattern:
Comparison essay structure alternating pattern Alternating pattern is also known as "point-by-point comparison". This mode of comparison will result in your essay having 5 paragraphs. Alternating pattern is also known as "point-by-point comparison". This mode of comparison will result in your essay having 5 paragraphs. In it, you will need to consecutively compare and contrast each of the similarities and differences in the given subjects:

• In the introduction, you state your thesis.
• Then you discuss both of your subjects together for each point of comparison and contrast.
• In the conclusion, you restate the thesis and shortly summarize your essay.

Read More: How to Wrap Up Your Dissertation for Final Submission?

Block Pattern:
Comparison essay structure, block pattern is also known as "subject-by-subject comparison". According to this pattern, you will be required to separate the body of your compare and contrast essay in two parts. The first part of the body will be dedicated to the first subject, while the other half will be centered around the second subject:

• In the introduction, you state your thesis.
• First you discuss the first subject.
• Then you discuss the second subject.
• In the conclusion, you restate the thesis and shortly summarize your essay.

Writing an A+ Comparison Essay:

Introduction:
The introduction of an essay is very important. It gives the reader his/her first impression of the comparison essay’s text. Remember, 1st impression counts!

Grab The Reader’s Attention:
There are a lot of tips and techniques to help you in capturing a reader’s interest. The most common five methods to grab your reader's attention, commonly used by professionals, are the following:

• Give a brief historical review of your topic for help reader to better understand it
• Start from a little story or an anecdote, which leads the reader into your topic
• Try to use a surprising statement – something disgusting, joyful or even shocking
• "Dropping" the name of a well-known person (celebrity) usually gets the reader's attention
• State straight out what your essay is going to be about, simply and clearly
• Start from a short background

High school students often find it difficult to view their teachers as anything but "the enemy." However, after the first few months of a school year, students learn to appreciate their teachers as individuals with different approaches. Some teachers are "cool," while others are "tough."

Point Paragraph:

• Provide supporting details
• Use applicable transitions

Read More: Top Ways for Students to Develop Critical Thinking Skills

Transitions are necessary for comparison/contrast writing to avoid confusion. Without transitions, the points you're comparing/contrasting may blur into one another. Also, a variety of transitions prevent monotony.

Conclusion:
The conclusion of a comparison essay is just as important as the introduction. The conclusion seals the comparison essay and tries to close the issue. Conclusion is the last part of the essay that your reader will experience.

Finalizing Your Work:
Pay attention that even though your essay is fully written, it still isn’t ready to submission. There are some common and annoying mistakes that can significantly harm your grade. However, you can avoid those grade lowering mistakes by completing the following checklist:
Check spelling and grammar

• Ensure that your essay is absolutely compliant with the required formatting standard
• Properly organize all the citations and the references/works cited page
• Ensure that your title page is done as required
• Take a final look at your paper to be certain that everything is indeed fine