What Should Be Your First Step When Writing A Compare-And-Contrast Essay

It may seem that writing a compare-and-contrast essay is an easy task, but you will know differently when you actually start working on it. Your main goal when working on this assignment is to highlight the most prominent differences between two items and explain why they are important. The first thing you need to do in order to achieve this goal is to study both items in detail.

The following tips will help you start writing a compare-and-contrast essay from the right foot:

1. Develop a thesis statement.

A thesis statement will give the direction for you to focus your research. There are many things to know about some issues that you might choose to compare, but you will only waste your time trying to understand all of them if they aren’t actually relevant for your main objective. Therefore, you have to start with determining the main idea of your essay.

2. Analyze each issue separately.

You have to start with studying each item to the point where you know everything there is to know about it in regards to your objective. Even a small detail might help you create an outstanding paper. Do not try to compare the subjects of your study at this stage as it will only distract you.

3. Make a list.

When you research every item, you should make a list of the most prominent details that you believe can be used in your project. It will be better to establish some categories you will use when working on this list beforehand, this will make the eventual comparison much easier.

4. Compare.

With two categorized lists on your hands, comparing two items will be easy. Take the required word count into consideration when you choose the most outstanding points to include in your essay.

5. Contrast.

Use one item as a background for describing the other. What are the most prominent features that come to light in this arrangement? Do the same for both items and highlight the most outstanding points in your paper.

6. Tie it all together.

Remember that any essay is not just about descriptions. It must have some educational value. What is the value of your paper? Why this comparison is important for people to know? Why did you choose these particular items? You will need to answer all these questions in the introductory and concluding paragraphs of your essay. You also need to establish the connection between your paper and the field of study in general. Explain what role this research plays in the study of this subject.