Paper 2: Comparison-Contrast Essay
“Comparison and contrast” is a strategy we use on a daily basis to make choices, persuade others, or to clarify our understanding. In most relatively short comparison-contrast essays, we usually don’t focus on both comparisons and contrasts. Often, we mention the similarities of two things that are alike in basic ways and focus the remainder of the essay on important differences. Using this methodology, we can evaluate the relative success of our subjects.
Assignment:
Your assignment is to take on the role of “reviewer” and to write a comparison-contrast essay about a field of interest in which you have some detailed knowledge. The purpose of your essay is to present a successful example of the field of interest you are describing and contrast it with an unsuccessful example. The resulting comparison will allow you to discuss a criteria for success in that particular field by examining the “best” and “worst” in that area.
Examples:
Review two local restaurants that serve the same cuisine but have different levels of success
in terms of quality, service, environment, experience, price, etc.
Review two movies (or movie series) from the same genre that have different levels of success based on your own criteria. For example: The Avengers vs. Justice League.
Review two television or streaming series that appeal to a similar audience but have different levels of success. For example: Friends vs. The Big Bang Theory.
Review two video games. For example, you could describe a set of criteria for critical success by contrasting Fortnite (successful) with No Man’s Sky (unsuccessful).
Review two books (or manga, graphic novels, or book series): one successful and the other less successful. For example: Harry Potter vs. The Maze Runner.
Review two albums: one as an example of artistic, critical, and/or commercial success and the other as an example of musical failure.
Review two essays we have read in the English 111 Reader, describing how one is successful, the other less successful, and why.
In choosing your subject, make sure:
1) It is an appropriate topic for an academic essay
2) You have enough knowledge of the area that you can write about it in detail
3) You can define the criteria that makes one example the “best” and another the “worst”
4) It does NOT fall into one of these categories: electronic devices, autos/trucks, sports teams, celebrities, or places (New York City vs. Raleigh).
Audience:
Your audience is composed of the other students in your class. Remember that your classmates might have a very different opinion of your chosen area. You will need to provide them with enough explanation so that they can understand your perspective.
Goals:
Understand and apply the principles of comparison-contrast discussion
Analyze and evaluate two appropriate examples (one successful; one unsuccessful)
Understand and explain the criteria by which you are judging your examples
Understand and apply requirements of assignment, including use of MLA format
Requirements:
Format: MLA Format (8th edition) with in-text citations and Works Cited page
Length: a minimum of four typed, double-spaced pages (in Time New Roman, 12 point font); the page count excludes the Works Cited page
Sources: a minimum of two sources. Each source must be referenced at least once in the paper (using paraphrase or quotation with in-text citation). Sources may be referenced more than once; however, sources should be used only to support your own ideas, the driving force of the discussion.
Note:
This paper will be graded proportionally. If you submit 2 pages for a 4-page assignment, you are only submitting half of the work. Therefore, a 2-page paper is a 50/F before it is evaluated against the grading rubric requirements. Similarly, incorporating less than 2 sources will result in grade deductions. In other words, you must meet the minimum page and source requirements to avoid additional points being deducted from the paper’s overall grade.
Organization:
To organize your paper, use the resources in the Rules for Writers textbook and Blackboard handouts and links. Your paper should include an introduction (thesis statement included), several body paragraphs that provide a comparison-contrast evaluation of two subjects in a similar genre, and a conclusion that summarizes your discussion and explains its relevance.
Due Dates:
Weds. 2/19: Answers to pre-writing questions; Free-writing exercise
Fri. 2/21: Free-writing exercise: Successful example
Mon. 2/24: Free-writing exercise: Unsuccessful example
Weds. 2/26: Drafting Workshop: Criteria for your review; Outline/Thesis due
Fri. 2/28: Drafting Workshop; Sources in MLA format due
Mon. 3/2: Drafting Workshop; Introduction rough draft due
Weds. 3/4: Drafting Workshop; Body paragraphs rough draft due
Fri. 3/6: Rough draft due: Peer-review workshop
Mon. 3/9: NO CLASS: Revise rough draft
Weds. 3/11: Rough draft due: Proofreading & editing workshop
Fri. 3/13: Final draft due (plus electronic copy submitted to Blackboard)
Remember, the final draft must be presented in proper MLA format, including a Works Cited page. It must be typed. It must be turned in as both a hard/paper copy to me and an electronic copy that you will submit to Blackboard. You will also turn in a peer-review worksheet and a grading cover sheet.
If you have any questions, please see me or email me. Good luck!