Chapter 8 opens by noting that “[s]eeing how things are alike (comparing) and seeing how they are different (contrasting) helps us impose meaning on experiences that otherwise might remain fragmented and disconnected.” We constantly compare and contrast in our daily lives. By organizing our worlds in this way, we are more efficient in making decisions. As with other modes of discourse, comparison-contrast is a valuable strategy in achieving a larger purpose—for example, to inform, to persuade, to entertain. It is a pattern that can be used as the major method for developing an essay or it may be used in conjunction with other patterns for development.
In order to make effective use of comparison-contrast, consider the following:
- Make sure that your subjects are comparable. Subjects that you compare-contrast should share some “obvious characteristics or qualities."
- Since comparison-contrast is not an end in itself, stay focused on the purpose of the essay.
- Devise a strong thesis.
- Determine the points that you wish to compare-contrast.
- Select the organizational principle that you intend to follow: the one-side-at-a-time method (block) or the point-by-point method.
- Incorporate clear transitions so that your reader can easily follow your reasoning.
