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Compare and contrast is a common form of academic writing, either as an essay type on its own, or as part of a larger essay which includes one or more paragraphs which compare or contrast. This page gives information on what a compare and contrast essay is , how to structure this type of essay, how to use compare and contrast structure words , and how to make sure you use appropriate criteria for comparison/contrast . There is also an example compare and contrast essay on the topic of communication technology, as well as some exercises to help you practice this area.
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To compare is to examine how things are similar, while to contrast is to see how they differ. A compare and contrast essay therefore looks at the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences. This essay type is common at university, where lecturers frequently test your understanding by asking you to compare and contrast two theories, two methods, two historical periods, two characters in a novel, etc. Sometimes the whole essay will compare and contrast, though sometimes the comparison or contrast may be only part of the essay. It is also possible, especially for short exam essays, that only the similarities or the differences, not both, will be discussed. See the examples below.
There are two main ways to structure a compare and contrast essay, namely using a block or a point-by-point structure. For the block structure, all of the information about one of the objects being compared/contrasted is given first, and all of the information about the other object is listed afterwards. This type of structure is similar to the block structure used for cause and effect and problem-solution essays. For the point-by-point structure, each similarity (or difference) for one object is followed immediately by the similarity (or difference) for the other. Both types of structure have their merits. The former is easier to write, while the latter is generally clearer as it ensures that the similarities/differences are more explicit.
The two types of structure, block and point-by-point , are shown in the diagram below.
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Compare and contrast structure words are transition signals which show the similarities or differences. Below are some common examples.
When making comparisons or contrasts, it is important to be clear what criteria you are using. Study the following example, which contrasts two people. Here the criteria are unclear.
Although this sentence has a contrast transition , the criteria for contrasting are not the same. The criteria used for Aaron are height (tall) and strength (strong). We would expect similar criteria to be used for Bruce (maybe he is short and weak), but instead we have new criteria, namely appearance (handsome) and intelligence (intelligent). This is a common mistake for students when writing this type of paragraph or essay. Compare the following, which has much clearer criteria (contrast structure words shown in bold).
Below is a compare and contrast essay. This essay uses the point-by-point structure . Click on the different areas (in the shaded boxes to the right) to highlight the different structural aspects in this essay, i.e. similarities, differences, and structure words. This will highlight not simply the paragraphs, but also the thesis statement and summary , as these repeat the comparisons and contrasts contained in the main body.
Title: There have been many advances in technology over the past fifty years. These have revolutionised the way we communicate with people who are far away. Compare and contrast methods of communication used today with those which were used in the past.
Before the advent of computers and modern technology, people communicating over long distances used traditional means such as letters and the telephone. Nowadays we have a vast array of communication tools which can complete this task, ranging from email to instant messaging and video calls. While the present and previous means of communication are similar in their general form , they differ in regard to their speed and the range of tools available . One similarity between current and previous methods of communication relates to the form of communication. In the past, both written forms such as letters were frequently used, in addition to oral forms such as telephone calls. Similarly , people nowadays use both of these forms. Just as in the past, written forms of communication are prevalent, for example via email and text messaging. In addition, oral forms are still used, including the telephone, mobile phone, and voice messages via instant messaging services. However , there are clearly many differences in the way we communicate over long distances, the most notable of which is speed. This is most evident in relation to written forms of communication. In the past, letters would take days to arrive at their destination. In contrast , an email arrives almost instantaneously and can be read seconds after it was sent. In the past, if it was necessary to send a short message, for example at work, a memo could be passed around the office, which would take some time to circulate. This is different from the current situation, in which a text message can be sent immediately. Another significant difference is the range of communication methods. Fifty years ago, the tools available for communicating over long distances were primarily the telephone and the letter. By comparison , there are a vast array of communication methods available today. These include not only the telephone, letter, email and text messages already mentioned, but also video conferences via software such as Skype or mobile phone apps such as WeChat, and social media such as Facebook and Twitter. In conclusion, methods of communication have greatly advanced over the past fifty years. While there are some similarities, such as the forms of communication , there are significant differences, chiefly in relation to the speed of communication and the range of communication tools available . There is no doubt that technology will continue to progress in future, and the advanced tools which we use today may one day also become outdated.
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Below is a checklist for compare and contrast essays. Use it to check your own writing, or get a peer (another student) to help you.
The essay is a essay | ||
An appropriate is used, either or | ||
Compare and contrast are used accurately | ||
The for comparison/contrast are clear | ||
The essay has clear | ||
Each paragraph has a clear | ||
The essay has strong support (facts, reasons, examples, etc.) | ||
The conclusion includes a of the main points |
There is a downloadable graphic organiser for brainstorming ideas for compare and contrast essays in the writing resources section.
Find out how to write cause & effect essays in the next section.
Go back to the previous section about persuasion essays .
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Author: Sheldon Smith ‖ Last modified: 08 January 2022.
Sheldon Smith is the founder and editor of EAPFoundation.com. He has been teaching English for Academic Purposes since 2004. Find out more about him in the about section and connect with him on Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn .
Compare & contrast essays examine the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences.
Cause & effect essays consider the reasons (or causes) for something, then discuss the results (or effects).
Discussion essays require you to examine both sides of a situation and to conclude by saying which side you favour.
Problem-solution essays are a sub-type of SPSE essays (Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation).
Transition signals are useful in achieving good cohesion and coherence in your writing.
Reporting verbs are used to link your in-text citations to the information cited.
Compare And Contrast Essay Guide
Compare And Contrast Essay Examples
Last updated on: Mar 22, 2024
By: Barbara P.
Reviewed By: Jacklyn H.
Published on: Mar 22, 2023
Are you ready to challenge your critical thinking skills and take your writing to the next level? Look no further than the exciting world of compare and contrast essays!
As a college student, you'll have the unique opportunity to delve into the details and differences of a variety of subjects. But don't let the pressure of writing the perfect compare-and-contrast essay weigh you down.
To help guide you on this journey, we've got some great compare-and-contrast essay examples. It will make the writing process not only manageable but also enjoyable. So grab a pen and paper, and let's get started on this exciting adventure!
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A compare and contrast essay is all about comparing two subjects. Writing essays is not always easy, but it can be made easier with help from the examples before you write your own first. The examples will give you an idea of the perfect compare-and-contrast essay.
We have compiled a selection of free compare-and-contrast essay examples that can help you structure this type of essay.
SAMPLE COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY EXAMPLE
COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY INTRODUCTION EXAMPLE
BOOK COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY
CITY COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY
CATS & DOGS COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY
SCIENCE & ART COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY
E-BOOKS & HARDBACK BOOKS COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY
HOMESCHOOLING BOOKS COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY
PARENTING STYLES COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY
CONVENTIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY
Don't know how to map out your compare and contrast essay? Visit this link to learn how to perfectly outline your essay!
Compare and contrast paper is a common assignments for university students. This type of essay tells the reader how two subjects are the same or different from each other. Also, show the points of comparison between the two subjects.
Look at the example that is mentioned below and create a well-written essay.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY EXAMPLE UNIVERSITY
COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY EXAMPLE COLLEGE
Compare and contrast essays are often assigned to high school students to help them improve their analytical skills .
In addition, some teachers assign this type of essay because it is a great way for students to improve their analytical and writing skills.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY EXAMPLE HIGH SCHOOL
COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY EXAMPLE 9TH GRADE
Check out the video below to gain a quick and visual comprehension of what a compare and contrast essay entails.
In middle school, students have the opportunity to write a compare-and-contrast essay. It does not require an expert level of skills, but it is still a way to improve writing skills.
Middle school students can easily write a compare-and-contrast essay with a little help from examples. We have gathered excellent examples of this essay that you can use to get started.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY EXAMPLE MIDDLE SCHOOL
COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY EXAMPLES 5TH GRADE
The perfect way to inform readers about the pros and cons of two subjects is with a comparison and contrast essay.
It starts by stating the thesis statement, and then you explain why these two subjects are being compared in this essay.
The following is an example that you can use for your help.
LITERARY ANALYSIS COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY EXAMPLE
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The conclusion of an essay is the last part, in which you wrap up everything. It should not include a story but rather summarize the whole document so readers have something meaningful they can take away from it.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY CONCLUSION EXAMPLE
Struggling to think of the perfect compare-and-contrast essay topic ? Visit this link for a multitude of inspiring ideas.
A compare and contrast essay presents the facts point by point, and mostly, the argumentative essay uses this compared-contrasted technique for its subjects.
If you are looking for some easy and simple tips to craft a perfectly researched and structured compare and contrast essay, we will not disappoint you.
Following are some quick tips that you can keep in mind while writing your essay:
Create captivating essays effortlessly!
In conclusion, writing a compare and contrast essay can be an effective way to explore the similarities and differences between two topics. By using examples, it is possible to see the different approaches that can be taken when writing this type of essay.
Whether you are a student or a professional writer, these examples can provide valuable insight to enhance your writing skills. You can also use our AI-powered essay typer to generate sample essays for your specific topic and subject.
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How do i write a compare and contrast essay.
Here are some steps that you should follow and write a great essay.
When writing a compare and contrast essay, it is important to have an engaging introduction that will grab the reader's attention. A good way to do this would be by starting with a question or fact related to the topic to catch their interest.
Here are some good topics for compare and contrast essay:
Usually, a compare and contrast essay would consist of five paragraphs but there are no hard and fast rules regarding it. Some essays could be longer than five paragraphs, based on the scope of the topic of the essay.
The two ways to organize and arrange your compare and contrast essay. The first one is the Point-by-Point method and the second one is the Block method.
Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.
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Compare and contrast essays or comparative/comparison essays are a genre of academic writing where students analyze and evaluate the similarities and differences between two or more subjects without making judgments. Suppose you are in high school, college, or university, pursuing English, Introduction to Writing, History, Literature, Social Sciences, counseling, religion, nursing, and other subjects. In that case, you might be assigned to write comparative essays.
Although there are two major approaches for writing comparison and contrast essays, this guide focuses on the point-by-point method.
The point-by-point comparative essay examines two subjects using the same set of criteria by applying the criteria one point at a time. It entails examining one aspect of a subject and the same aspect of the second subject within the same paragraph. It is often used when writing comparative essays if you do not want to use the block method. It is comparable to a list and is typically better for longer essays that cover four pages and above.
Related: How to write a great comparative essay.
A typical point-by-point compare/contrast essay has three parts or sections: an introduction paragraph, a body section, and a conclusion. The essay should have at least three body paragraphs. You can structure your essay as outlined below:
When writing an essay using the point-by-point approach, you arrange the paragraphs according to the main points instead of the topic or subject. This means having a paragraph that focuses on a single point of comparison and contrast for the subject. You can apply the point-by-point approach in the following steps when assigned to write a long and complex comparative essay or paper.
Before doing anything else, read the essay prompt to identify the scope, deadline, format, style, and length.
Consider the subjects you can discuss because some professors limit the discussion to particular subjects.
As you read, you should take notes and begin brainstorming for ideas.
If your professor is gracious enough to give you the subjects of comparison or a compare and contrast topic, skip this step.
Otherwise, brainstorm the best subjects to compare and select a manageable, relevant, and exciting topic.
Do not go for subjects that do not have points of comparison. Instead, check if your chosen subjects have points of similarity and contrast.
Related Reading: The best topics for Compare and contrast essays .
After choosing a topic and subjects, brainstorm ideas and research online for ideas to include in your essay. You can make a Venn diagram or a table to list the points of comparison.
Remember to organize your sources as you research. You can use online citation management tools like BibMe or CiteFast. As you research and organize your sources, develop a good thesis for your essay.
An excellent compare-and-contrast thesis statement states the main idea or focus of the essay. It names the two subjects of comparison and assertion of the similarities and differences.
The thesis should show the relationship between or among the two or more subjects you focus on in your paper.
Assuming you have done steps 1 through 3, the next step is to create a point-by-point outline for your essay . In the outline, list the frames of reference and grounds for comparison. We have given the template and an example to use.
A good outline helps you to save time when you are writing the first draft. You can envision the final paper before even writing it, which allows you to prioritize ideas, organize its flow, and develop great topic sentences for your body paragraphs. You also choose the best words and phrases to include in the essay.
After doing everything related to writing preparation, undertake the mammoth task; writing. Focus on writing the first draft by filling out your outline. You will be amazed at how fast that can be, especially if you took good notes during research and organized the sources well.
The introduction includes the introduction of your frame of reference, grounds for comparison, and thesis. Ensure that the introduction paragraph stands out.
In the essay's body paragraphs, focus on one criterion but alternate discussing or analyzing each subject within the paragraph. For instance, if you compare two characters, you can focus on themes in the first paragraph, characters in the second paragraph, and roles in the third. In each paragraph, you will discuss both characters. You should also link your subjects as you develop your paragraphs so that your readers can see your arguments' logical and systematic flow.
Begin the body paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the subjects and states the paragraph's main point. Your paragraph should then discuss the subjects' similarities and differences point-by-point. End with a concluding sentence that states your decision as to which subject or topic you prefer and why, or you can also explain the reason for comparison. You should be persuasive as you write the concluding sentence, and be sure to transition your reader to the next paragraph.
When writing the body and you notice a category has more points than the other, ensure that you prioritize the points to have balanced points within a paragraph. When you break down points into distinct categories, you have a clear way of distinguishing those that matter the most in your essay.
Finally, write the conclusion that restates the thesis , summarizes the main points in the paragraphs, and gives a closing statement that can be a call to action or recommendation.
A good point-by-point comparison essay is well-researched, well-formatted, and devoid of grammatical, spelling, or stylistic mistakes. After writing the paper, ensure you take a break to develop an objective mindset. You also need such rest to cool off from writing.
Return when you are energetic and objective to read the essay first, slowly, and then keenly. Also, read it out aloud to spot errors. Ensure that your essay meets the marking criteria by addressing all the points in the rubric. As well, ensure that it does not have any spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. Ensure that your essay is indented well . You can use editing software like Ginger, Grammarly, or any other editing tool. You can also create a reverse outline to ensure that your essay addresses everything as required. Equally, you can hire a professional proofreader to read and comment on your paper so that you can make the necessary corrections.
Topic: Swimming vs. Cycling Sports
Sports have long been integral to human culture, providing avenues for physical fitness, competition, and recreation. Cycling and swimming are popular sports that engage participants in distinct ways while sharing common goals of promoting fitness and well-being. This essay presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of cycling and swimming sports using the point-by-point method. Although swimming and cycling are popular sports, comparing their similarities and differences in physical demands, health benefits, environmental impact, and accessibility reveals that they are different yet related.
Cycling and swimming sports each require specific physical attributes and exert different demands on the human body. Cycling is predominantly a lower-body exercise that engages leg muscles, such as the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves, while enhancing cardiovascular endurance. On the other hand, swimming engages the entire body, employing the arms, legs, core, and back muscles. It provides a full-body workout, fostering improved strength, flexibility, and lung capacity. In this aspect, swimming offers a more comprehensive muscular engagement than cycling.
Both cycling and swimming are esteemed for their numerous health benefits, contributing to overall physical well-being. Cycling is renowned for promoting joint flexibility and strengthening bones, reducing the risk of osteoporosis. Moreover, cycling is a low-impact exercise, making it suitable for individuals of various age groups and those with joint-related issues. Swimming, in contrast, is a non-weight-bearing exercise, alleviating stress on joints while providing an effective means of improving cardiovascular fitness. Additionally, swimming is often recommended for individuals seeking rehabilitation from injuries or those with limited mobility due to its gentle impact on the body.
The environmental impact of cycling and swimming differs significantly, with cycling emerging as the more eco-friendly option. Cycling is a sustainable mode of transportation, promoting reduced carbon emissions and fostering environmental conservation. By choosing to cycle as a sport and mode of transport, individuals contribute positively to mitigating climate change and reducing pollution. Conversely, swimming pools necessitate substantial water and energy resources for maintenance and heating, leading to higher carbon footprints. While outdoor swimming in natural bodies of water may offer a more environmentally friendly option, it may not be as readily accessible or safe as indoor swimming facilities.
Accessibility is a critical factor in comparing cycling and swimming sports. Cycling is widely accessible, requiring only a bicycle and a safe road or cycling path. Bicycles come in various models and price ranges, catering to diverse demographics. Furthermore, cycling can be enjoyed individually or as part of group activities, fostering a sense of community engagement. In contrast, swimming may require access to swimming pools, which may not be universally available in certain areas. Additionally, swimming may necessitate specific equipment such as swimsuits, goggles, and caps, which could pose financial barriers to some individuals.
In conclusion, cycling and swimming are two popular sports that offer distinct yet complementary benefits to individuals seeking physical fitness and well-being. Cycling predominantly engages the lower body, while swimming provides a comprehensive full-body workout. Both sports promote health benefits, such as improved cardiovascular endurance and strength, albeit with different impacts on joint health. Cycling is recognized for its eco-friendly nature, contributing to reduced carbon emissions and sustainability, while swimming may carry a higher environmental burden due to water and energy consumption in pool facilities. The accessibility of cycling surpasses swimming, as it requires minimal equipment and can be enjoyed in various settings, making it a more inclusive sport. Ultimately, the choice between cycling and swimming as a preferred sport depends on individual preferences, physical capabilities, and access to facilities, with both activities offering unique avenues for physical fitness and enjoyment.
Commentary:
In the example above, cycling and swimming are compared point-by-point. The first body paragraph focuses on physical demands, while the second is on health benefits. The third body paragraph compares and contrasts swimming and cycling based on the environmental impact of each. The fourth paragraph focuses on accessibility.
When you are assigned to write a compare and contrast essay, choose two subjects with an adequate basis for comparison to cover the required length or meet a given word count. It does not have to be complex; even the most basic things, such as kitchen equipment, furniture, utensils, cars, drinks, foods, and pets, can be subjects for your compare and contrast essay. In most cases, when you have more than three pages to write, consider using the point-by-point method, as it helps you handle more similarities and differences. In this case, examine one aspect of one subject and the same aspect of the second subject within the same paragraph. At least have three body paragraphs to prove your thesis.
If you need help writing a point-by-point essay, do not hesitate to place an order on our website. GradeCrest.com is the best website that writes essays for you at an affordable rate while maintaining your details' confidentiality, privacy, and security. Hire our expert compare and contrast essay writers to work on your paper today. Check out our academic essay writing services .
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The point-by-point approach entails writing about both subjects of comparison simultaneously using the same criteria for each subject within each paragraph. You organize the essay using individual points rather than the subject themselves, as is done via the block method. An example of a point-by-point format is when comparing two phones; for example, an iPhone and a Samsung phone, before purchasing. You can start by discussing the costs and then move to performance specs before looking at other aspects, such as waterproof ability and color availability. Unlike the block style for short essays, the point-by-point comparison style applies to long, complex papers.
Like other essays, a point-by-point comparison essay begins with an introduction paragraph with a hook statement, background information that introduces the subjects, and a thesis statement that highlights the main points or comparison and contrast criteria.
When writing a comparative essay in block format, you first exhaustively write a subject (covering all the key points of comparison and contrast) before transitioning to writing about the second subject. The purpose of a comparative essay remains the same regardless of the style you select; to critically evaluate and analyze the similarities and differences between two or more things or subjects.
When writing a comparison essay, you can use these transition words:
The subject-by-subject style or approach entails discussing one subject at a time and writing all its points of similarity and differences before writing the same for the second subject. You address each subject in separate paragraphs, meaning you have several paragraphs, each discussing a single subject. It is what is referred to as the block method. On the other hand, a point-by-point format entails writing each point of comparison and contrast for each subject within a single paragraph. One paragraph focuses on a single aspect or criteria before moving to the next aspect.
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Topics cover education, technology, pop culture, sports, animals, and more.
Do your writers need some inspiration? If you’re teaching students to write a compare and contrast essay, a strong example is an invaluable tool. This round-up of our favorite compare and contrast essays covers a range of topics and grade levels, so no matter your students’ interests or ages, you’ll always have a helpful example to share. You’ll find links to full essays about education, technology, pop culture, sports, animals, and more. (Need compare-and-contrast essay topic ideas? Check out our big list of compare and contrast essay topics! )
When choosing a compare and contrast essay example to include on this list, we considered the structure. A strong compare and contrast essay begins with an introductory paragraph that includes background context and a strong thesis. Next, the body includes paragraphs that explore the similarities and differences. Finally, a concluding paragraph restates the thesis, draws any necessary inferences, and asks any remaining questions.
A compare and contrast essay example can be an opinion piece comparing two things and making a conclusion about which is better. For example, “Is Tom Brady really the GOAT?” It can also help consumers decide which product is better suited to them. Should you keep your subscription to Hulu or Netflix? Should you stick with Apple or explore Android? Here’s our list of compare and contrast essay samples categorized by subject.
Private school vs. public school.
Sample lines: “Deciding whether to send a child to public or private school can be a tough choice for parents. … Data on whether public or private education is better can be challenging to find and difficult to understand, and the cost of private school can be daunting. … According to the most recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics, public schools still attract far more students than private schools, with 50.7 million students attending public school as of 2018. Private school enrollment in the fall of 2017 was 5.7 million students, a number that is down from 6 million in 1999.”
Read the full essay: Private School vs. Public School at U.S. News and World Report
Sample lines: “Home schooling, not a present threat to public education, is nonetheless one of the forces that will change it. If the high estimates of the number of children in home schools (1.2 million) is correct, then the home-schooling universe is larger than the New York City public school system and roughly the size of the Los Angeles and Chicago public school systems combined. … Critics charge that three things are wrong with home schooling: harm to students academically; harm to society by producing students who are ill-prepared to function as democratic citizens and participants in a modern economy; and harm to public education, making it more difficult for other parents to educate their children. … It is time to ask whether home schooling, charters, and vouchers should be considered parts of a broad repertoire of methods that we as a society use to educate our children.”
Read the full essay: Homeschool vs. Public School: How Home Schooling Will Change Public Education at Brookings
Sample lines: “The three main types of parenting are on a type of ‘sliding scale’ of parenting, with permissive parenting as the least strict type of parenting. Permissive parenting typically has very few rules, while authoritarian parenting is thought of as a very strict, rule-driven type of parenting.”
Read the full essay: What Is Authoritative Parenting? at Healthline ADVERTISEMENT
Sample lines: “Face masks can prevent the spread of the virus SARS-CoV-2. … However, covering the lower half of the face reduces the ability to communicate. Positive emotions become less recognizable, and negative emotions are amplified. Emotional mimicry, contagion, and emotionality in general are reduced and (thereby) bonding between teachers and learners, group cohesion, and learning—of which emotions are a major driver. The benefits and burdens of face masks in schools should be seriously considered and made obvious and clear to teachers and students.”
Read the full essay: Masked Education? The Benefits and Burdens of Wearing Face Masks in Schools During the Pandemic at National Library of Medicine
Sample lines: “In recent years, book bans have soared in schools, reaching an all-time high in fall 2022. … The challenge of balancing parent concerns about ‘age appropriateness’ against the imperative of preparing students to be informed citizens is still on the minds of many educators today. … Such curricular decision-making should be left to the professionals, argues English/language arts instructional specialist Miriam Plotinsky. ‘Examining texts for their appropriateness is not a job that noneducators are trained to do,’ she wrote last year, as the national debate over censorship resurged with the news that a Tennessee district banned the graphic novel Maus just days before Holocaust Remembrance Day.”
Read the full essay: To Ban or Not: What Should We Really Make of Book Bans? at Education Week
Netflix vs. hulu 2023: which is the best streaming service.
Sample lines: “Netflix fans will point to its high-quality originals, including The Witcher , Stranger Things , Emily in Paris , Ozark , and more, as well as a wide variety of documentaries like Cheer , The Last Dance , My Octopus Teacher , and many others. It also boasts a much larger subscription base, with more than 222 million subscribers compared to Hulu’s 44 million. Hulu, on the other hand, offers a variety of extras such as HBO and Showtime—content that’s unavailable on Netflix. Its price tag is also cheaper than the competition, with its $7/mo. starting price, which is a bit more palatable than Netflix’s $10/mo. starting price.”
Read the full essay: Netflix vs. Hulu 2023: Which is the best streaming service? at TV Guide
Sample lines: “In the past, we would have to drag around heavy books if we were really into reading. Now, we can have all of those books, and many more, stored in one handy little device that can easily be stuffed into a backpack, purse, etc. … Many of us still prefer to hold an actual book in our hands. … But, whether you use a Kindle or prefer hardcover books or paperbacks, the main thing is that you enjoy reading. A story in a book or on a Kindle device can open up new worlds, take you to fantasy worlds, educate you, entertain you, and so much more.”
Read the full essay: Kindle vs. Hardcover: Which is easier on the eyes? at Books in a Flash
Sample lines: “The iPhone vs. Android comparison is a never-ending debate on which one is best. It will likely never have a real winner, but we’re going to try and help you to find your personal pick all the same. iOS 17 and Android 14—the latest versions of the two operating systems—both offer smooth and user-friendly experiences, and several similar or identical features. But there are still important differences to be aware of. … Owning an iPhone is a simpler, more convenient experience. There’s less to think about. … Android-device ownership is a bit harder. … Yet it’s simultaneously more freeing, because it offers more choice.”
Read the full essay: iPhone vs. Android: Which is better for you? at Tom’s Guide
Sample lines: “Cord-cutting has become a popular trend in recent years, thanks to the rise of streaming services. For those unfamiliar, cord cutting is the process of canceling your cable subscription and instead, relying on streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu to watch your favorite shows and movies. The primary difference is that you can select your streaming services à la carte while cable locks you in on a set number of channels through bundles. So, the big question is: should you cut the cord?”
Read the full essay: Cutting the cord: Is streaming or cable better for you? at BroadbandNow
Sample lines: “The crux of the comparison comes down to portability versus power. Being able to migrate fully fledged Nintendo games from a big screen to a portable device is a huge asset—and one that consumers have taken to, especially given the Nintendo Switch’s meteoric sales figures. … It is worth noting that many of the biggest franchises like Call of Duty, Madden, modern Resident Evil titles, newer Final Fantasy games, Grand Theft Auto, and open-world Ubisoft adventures like Assassin’s Creed will usually skip Nintendo Switch due to its lack of power. The inability to play these popular games practically guarantees that a consumer will pick up a modern system, while using the Switch as a secondary device.”
Read the full essay: PS5 vs. Nintendo Switch at Digital Trends
Sample lines: “Have you ever wondered what is the difference between Facebook and Instagram? Instagram and Facebook are by far the most popular social media channels used by digital marketers. Not to mention that they’re also the biggest platforms used by internet users worldwide. So, today we’ll look into the differences and similarities between these two platforms to help you figure out which one is the best fit for your business.”
Read the full essay: What is the difference between Facebook and Instagram? at SocialBee
Sample lines: “In short, digital watches use an LCD or LED screen to display the time. Whereas, an analog watch features three hands to denote the hour, minutes, and seconds. With the advancement in watch technology and research, both analog and digital watches have received significant improvements over the years. Especially in terms of design, endurance, and accompanying features. … At the end of the day, whether you go analog or digital, it’s a personal preference to make based on your style, needs, functions, and budget.”
Read the full essay: Digital vs. Analog Watches—What’s the Difference? at Watch Ranker
Sample lines: “Art has always been a reflection of human creativity, emotion, and cultural expression. However, with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), a new form of artistic creation has emerged, blurring the lines between what is created by human hands and what is generated by algorithms. … Despite the excitement surrounding AI Art, it also raises complex ethical, legal, and artistic questions that have sparked debates about the definition of art, the role of the artist, and the future of art production. … Regardless of whether AI Art is considered ‘true’ art, it is crucial to embrace and explore the vast possibilities and potential it brings to the table. The transformative influence of AI art on the art world is still unfolding, and only time will reveal its true extent.”
Read the full essay: AI Art vs. Human Art: A Side-by-Side Analysis at Raul Lara
Christina aguilera vs. britney spears.
Sample lines: “Britney Spears vs. Christina Aguilera was the Coke vs. Pepsi of 1999 — no, really, Christina repped Coke and Britney shilled for Pepsi. The two teen idols released debut albums seven months apart before the turn of the century, with Britney’s becoming a standard-bearer for bubblegum pop and Aguilera’s taking an R&B bent to show off her range. … It’s clear that Spears and Aguilera took extremely divergent paths following their simultaneous breakout successes.”
Read the full essay: Christina Aguilera vs. Britney Spears at The Ringer
Sample lines: “The world heard our fantasies and delivered us two titans simultaneously—we have been blessed with Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles. Our cup runneth over; our bounty is immeasurable. More remarkable still is the fact that both have released albums almost at the same time: Ed’s third, Divide , was released in March and broke the record for one-day Spotify streams, while Harry’s frenziedly anticipated debut solo, called Harry Styles , was released yesterday.”
Read the full essay: Harry Styles versus Ed Sheeran at Belfast Telegraph
Sample lines: “Based on the original story of the same name, this movie takes a completely different direction by choosing to break away from the cartoony form that Seuss had established by filming the movie in a live-action form. Whoville is preparing for Christmas while the Grinch looks down upon their celebrations in disgust. Like the previous film, The Grinch hatches a plan to ruin Christmas for the Who’s. … Like in the original Grinch, he disguises himself as Santa Claus, and makes his dog, Max, into a reindeer. He then takes all of the presents from the children and households. … Cole’s favorite is the 2000 edition, while Alex has only seen the original. Tell us which one is your favorite.”
Read the full essay: The Grinch: Three Versions Compared at Wooster School
Malcolm x vs. martin luther king jr.: comparison between two great leaders’ ideologies .
Sample lines: “Although they were fighting for civil rights at the same time, their ideology and way of fighting were completely distinctive. This can be for a plethora of reasons: background, upbringing, the system of thought, and vision. But keep in mind, they devoted their whole life to the same prospect. … Through boycotts and marches, [King] hoped to end racial segregation. He felt that the abolition of segregation would improve the likelihood of integration. Malcolm X, on the other hand, spearheaded a movement for black empowerment.”
Read the full essay: Malcolm X vs. Martin Luther King Jr.: Comparison Between Two Great Leaders’ Ideologies at Melaninful
Sample lines: “The contrast is even clearer when we look to the future. Trump promises more tax cuts, more military spending, more deficits and deeper cuts in programs for the vulnerable. He plans to nominate a coal lobbyist to head the Environmental Protection Agency. … Obama says America must move forward, and he praises progressive Democrats for advocating Medicare for all. … With Obama and then Trump, Americans have elected two diametrically opposed leaders leading into two very different directions.”
Read the full essay: Contrast Between Obama and Trump Has Become Clear at Chicago Sun-Times
Lebron james vs. kobe bryant: a complete comparison.
Sample lines: “LeBron James has achieved so much in his career that he is seen by many as the greatest of all time, or at least the only player worthy of being mentioned in the GOAT conversation next to Michael Jordan. Bridging the gap between Jordan and LeBron though was Kobe Bryant, who often gets left out of comparisons and GOAT conversations. … Should his name be mentioned more though? Can he compare to LeBron or is The King too far past The Black Mamba in historical rankings already?”
Read the full essay: LeBron James vs. Kobe Bryant: A Complete Comparison at Sportskeeda
Sample lines: “Tom Brady and Peyton Manning were largely considered the best quarterbacks in the NFL for the majority of the time they spent in the league together, with the icons having many head-to-head clashes in the regular season and on the AFC side of the NFL Playoffs. Manning was the leader of the Indianapolis Colts of the AFC South. … Brady spent his career as the QB of the AFC East’s New England Patriots, before taking his talents to Tampa Bay. … The reality is that winning is the most important aspect of any career, and Brady won more head-to-head matchups than Manning did.”
Read the full essay: NFL: Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning Rivalry Comparison at Sportskeeda
Sample lines: “The Celtics are universally considered as the greatest franchise in NBA history. But if you take a close look at the numbers, there isn’t really too much separation between them and their arch-rival Los Angeles Lakers. In fact, you can even make a good argument for the Lakers. … In 72 seasons played, the Boston Celtics have won a total of 3,314 games and lost 2,305 or a .590 winning mark. On the other hand, the Los Angeles Lakers have won 3,284 of 5,507 total games played or a slightly better winning record of .596. … But while the Lakers have the better winning percentage, the Celtics have the advantage over them in head-to-head competition.”
Read the full essay: The Greatest NBA Franchise Ever: Boston Celtics or Los Angeles Lakers? at Sport One
Sample lines: “Is soccer better than football? Soccer and football lovers have numerous reasons to support their sport of choice. Both keep the players physically fit and help to bring people together for an exciting cause. However, soccer has drawn more numbers globally due to its popularity in more countries.”
Read the full essay: Is Soccer Better Than Football? at Sports Brief
Mobile home vs. tiny house: similarities, differences, pros & cons.
Sample lines: “Choosing the tiny home lifestyle enables you to spend more time with those you love. The small living space ensures quality bonding time rather than hiding away in a room or behind a computer screen. … You’ll be able to connect closer to nature and find yourself able to travel the country at any given moment. On the other hand, we have the mobile home. … They are built on a chassis with transportation in mind. … They are not built to be moved on a constant basis. … While moving the home again *is* possible, it may cost you several thousand dollars.”
Read the full essay: Mobile Home vs. Tiny House: Similarities, Differences, Pros & Cons at US Mobile Home Pros
Sample lines: “It is clear that both stores have very different stories and aims when it comes to their customers. Whole Foods looks to provide organic, healthy, exotic, and niche products for an audience with a very particular taste. … Walmart, on the other hand, looks to provide the best deals, every possible product, and every big brand for a broader audience. … Moreover, they look to make buying affordable and accessible, and focus on the capitalist nature of buying.”
Read the full essay: Whole Foods vs. Walmart: The Story of Two Grocery Stores at The Archaeology of Us
Sample lines: “The key difference between artificial grass and turf is their intended use. Artificial turf is largely intended to be used for sports, so it is shorter and tougher. On the other hand, artificial grass is generally longer, softer and more suited to landscaping purposes. Most homeowners would opt for artificial grass as a replacement for a lawn, for example. Some people actually prefer playing sports on artificial grass, too … artificial grass is often softer and more bouncy, giving it a feel similar to playing on a grassy lawn. … At the end of the day, which one you will choose will depend on your specific household and needs.”
Read the full essay: Artificial Grass vs. Turf: The Real Differences Revealed at Almost Grass
Sample lines: “Maximalists love shopping, especially finding unique pieces. They see it as a hobby—even a skill—and a way to express their personality. Minimalists don’t like shopping and see it as a waste of time and money. They’d instead use those resources to create memorable experiences. Maximalists desire one-of-a-kind possessions. Minimalists are happy with duplicates—for example, personal uniforms. … Minimalism and maximalism are about being intentional with your life and belongings. It’s about making choices based on what’s important to you.”
Read the full essay: Minimalism vs. Maximalism: Differences, Similarities, and Use Cases at Minimalist Vegan
Sample lines: “You’ve heard buzz over the years that following a vegetarian diet is better for your health, and you’ve probably read a few magazine articles featuring a celeb or two who swore off meat and animal products and ‘magically’ lost weight. So does ditching meat automatically equal weight loss? Will it really help you live longer and be healthier overall? … Vegetarians appear to have lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure and lower rates of hypertension and type 2 diabetes than meat eaters. Vegetarians also tend to have a lower body mass index, lower overall cancer rates and lower risk of chronic disease. But if your vegetarian co-worker is noshing greasy veggie burgers and fries every day for lunch, is he likely to be healthier than you, who always orders the grilled salmon? Definitely not!”
Read the full essay: Vegetarian vs. Meat Eating: Is It Better To Be a Vegetarian? at WebMD
Similarities and differences between the health systems in australia & usa.
Sample lines: “Australia and the United States are two very different countries. They are far away from each other, have contrasting fauna and flora, differ immensely by population, and have vastly different healthcare systems. The United States has a population of 331 million people, compared to Australia’s population of 25.5 million people.”
Read the full essay: Similarities and Differences Between the Health Systems in Australia & USA at Georgia State University
Sample lines: “Disadvantages of universal healthcare include significant upfront costs and logistical challenges. On the other hand, universal healthcare may lead to a healthier populace, and thus, in the long-term, help to mitigate the economic costs of an unhealthy nation. In particular, substantial health disparities exist in the United States, with low socio-economic status segments of the population subject to decreased access to quality healthcare and increased risk of non-communicable chronic conditions such as obesity and type II diabetes, among other determinants of poor health.”
Read the full essay: Universal Healthcare in the United States of America: A Healthy Debate at National Library of Medicine
Sample lines: “Physician aid in dying is a controversial subject raising issues central to the role of physicians. … The two most common arguments in favor of legalizing AID are respect for patient autonomy and relief of suffering. A third, related, argument is that AID is a safe medical practice, requiring a health care professional. … Although opponents of AID offer many arguments ranging from pragmatic to philosophical, we focus here on concerns that the expansion of AID might cause additional, unintended harm through suicide contagion, slippery slope, and the deaths of patients suffering from depression.”
Read the full essay: Pros and Cons of Physician Aid in Dying at National Library of Medicine
Compare and contrast paragraph—dogs and cats.
Sample lines: “Researchers have found that dogs have about twice the number of neurons in their cerebral cortexes than what cats have. Specifically, dogs had around 530 million neurons, whereas the domestic cat only had 250 million neurons. Moreover, dogs can be trained to learn and respond to our commands, but although your cat understands your name, and anticipates your every move, he/she may choose to ignore you.”
Read the full essay: Compare and Contrast Paragraph—Dogs and Cats at Proofwriting Guru via YouTube
Sample lines: “Horses are prey animals with a deep herding instinct. They are highly sensitive to their environment, hyper aware, and ready to take flight if needed. Just like dogs, some horses are more confident than others, but just like dogs, all need a confident handler to teach them what to do. Some horses are highly reactive and can be spooked by the smallest things, as are dogs. … Another distinction between horses and dogs … was that while dogs have been domesticated , horses have been tamed. … Both species have influenced our culture more than any other species on the planet.”
Read the full essay: Giddyup! The Differences Between Horses and Dogs at Positively Victoria Stilwell
Sample lines: “Although the words ‘exotic’ and ‘wild’ are frequently used interchangeably, many people do not fully understand how these categories differ when it comes to pets. ‘A wild animal is an indigenous, non-domesticated animal, meaning that it is native to the country where you are located,’ Blue-McLendon explained. ‘For Texans, white-tailed deer, pronghorn sheep, raccoons, skunks, and bighorn sheep are wild animals … an exotic animal is one that is wild but is from a different continent than where you live.’ For example, a hedgehog in Texas would be considered an exotic animal, but in the hedgehog’s native country, it would be considered wildlife.”
Read the full essay: Exotic, Domesticated, and Wild Pets at Texas A&M University
Sample lines: “The pros and cons of zoos often come from two very different points of view. From a legal standard, animals are often treated as property. That means they have less rights than humans, so a zoo seems like a positive place to maintain a high quality of life. For others, the forced enclosure of any animal feels like an unethical decision. … Zoos provide a protected environment for endangered animals, and also help in raising awareness and funding for wildlife initiatives and research projects. … Zoos are key for research. Being able to observe and study animals is crucial if we want to contribute to help them and repair the ecosystems. … Zoos are a typical form of family entertainment, but associating leisure and fun with the contemplation of animals in captivity can send the wrong signals to our children.”
Read the full essay: Should Zoos Be Banned? Pros & Cons of Zoos at EcoCation
Plus, if you liked these compare and contrast essay examples check out intriguing compare and contrast essay topics for kids and teens ..
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Published on August 6, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.
Comparing and contrasting is an important skill in academic writing . It involves taking two or more subjects and analyzing the differences and similarities between them.
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When should i compare and contrast, making effective comparisons, comparing and contrasting as a brainstorming tool, structuring your comparisons, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about comparing and contrasting.
Many assignments will invite you to make comparisons quite explicitly, as in these prompts.
Some other prompts may not directly ask you to compare and contrast, but present you with a topic where comparing and contrasting could be a good approach.
One way to approach this essay might be to contrast the situation before the Great Depression with the situation during it, to highlight how large a difference it made.
Comparing and contrasting is also used in all kinds of academic contexts where it’s not explicitly prompted. For example, a literature review involves comparing and contrasting different studies on your topic, and an argumentative essay may involve weighing up the pros and cons of different arguments.
As the name suggests, comparing and contrasting is about identifying both similarities and differences. You might focus on contrasting quite different subjects or comparing subjects with a lot in common—but there must be some grounds for comparison in the first place.
For example, you might contrast French society before and after the French Revolution; you’d likely find many differences, but there would be a valid basis for comparison. However, if you contrasted pre-revolutionary France with Han-dynasty China, your reader might wonder why you chose to compare these two societies.
This is why it’s important to clarify the point of your comparisons by writing a focused thesis statement . Every element of an essay should serve your central argument in some way. Consider what you’re trying to accomplish with any comparisons you make, and be sure to make this clear to the reader.
Comparing and contrasting can be a useful tool to help organize your thoughts before you begin writing any type of academic text. You might use it to compare different theories and approaches you’ve encountered in your preliminary research, for example.
Let’s say your research involves the competing psychological approaches of behaviorism and cognitive psychology. You might make a table to summarize the key differences between them.
Behaviorism | Cognitive psychology |
---|---|
Dominant from the 1920s to the 1950s | Rose to prominence in the 1960s |
Mental processes cannot be empirically studied | Mental processes as focus of study |
Focuses on how thinking is affected by conditioning and environment | Focuses on the cognitive processes themselves |
Or say you’re writing about the major global conflicts of the twentieth century. You might visualize the key similarities and differences in a Venn diagram.
These visualizations wouldn’t make it into your actual writing, so they don’t have to be very formal in terms of phrasing or presentation. The point of comparing and contrasting at this stage is to help you organize and shape your ideas to aid you in structuring your arguments.
When comparing and contrasting in an essay, there are two main ways to structure your comparisons: the alternating method and the block method.
In the alternating method, you structure your text according to what aspect you’re comparing. You cover both your subjects side by side in terms of a specific point of comparison. Your text is structured like this:
Mouse over the example paragraph below to see how this approach works.
One challenge teachers face is identifying and assisting students who are struggling without disrupting the rest of the class. In a traditional classroom environment, the teacher can easily identify when a student is struggling based on their demeanor in class or simply by regularly checking on students during exercises. They can then offer assistance quietly during the exercise or discuss it further after class. Meanwhile, in a Zoom-based class, the lack of physical presence makes it more difficult to pay attention to individual students’ responses and notice frustrations, and there is less flexibility to speak with students privately to offer assistance. In this case, therefore, the traditional classroom environment holds the advantage, although it appears likely that aiding students in a virtual classroom environment will become easier as the technology, and teachers’ familiarity with it, improves.
In the block method, you cover each of the overall subjects you’re comparing in a block. You say everything you have to say about your first subject, then discuss your second subject, making comparisons and contrasts back to the things you’ve already said about the first. Your text is structured like this:
The most commonly cited advantage of distance learning is the flexibility and accessibility it offers. Rather than being required to travel to a specific location every week (and to live near enough to feasibly do so), students can participate from anywhere with an internet connection. This allows not only for a wider geographical spread of students but for the possibility of studying while travelling. However, distance learning presents its own accessibility challenges; not all students have a stable internet connection and a computer or other device with which to participate in online classes, and less technologically literate students and teachers may struggle with the technical aspects of class participation. Furthermore, discomfort and distractions can hinder an individual student’s ability to engage with the class from home, creating divergent learning experiences for different students. Distance learning, then, seems to improve accessibility in some ways while representing a step backwards in others.
Note that these two methods can be combined; these two example paragraphs could both be part of the same essay, but it’s wise to use an essay outline to plan out which approach you’re taking in each paragraph.
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Some essay prompts include the keywords “compare” and/or “contrast.” In these cases, an essay structured around comparing and contrasting is the appropriate response.
Comparing and contrasting is also a useful approach in all kinds of academic writing : You might compare different studies in a literature review , weigh up different arguments in an argumentative essay , or consider different theoretical approaches in a theoretical framework .
Your subjects might be very different or quite similar, but it’s important that there be meaningful grounds for comparison . You can probably describe many differences between a cat and a bicycle, but there isn’t really any connection between them to justify the comparison.
You’ll have to write a thesis statement explaining the central point you want to make in your essay , so be sure to know in advance what connects your subjects and makes them worth comparing.
Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:
It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.
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A compare and contrast essay explores two personalities, ideas, or other comparable items regarding their similarities and differences. You can limit yourself to highlighting point-by-point the diverging features or add a paragraph on their likeness.
The structure usually consists of two body paragraphs describing the two items and a third one bringing it all together in a final analysis. For instance, in Plato’s and Aristotle’s literary criticism essay you should first outline Plato’s legacy, then mention Aristotle’s merits, and conclude by underlining their differences.
The free compare and contrast essay examples you’ll find below have been written by students like you and shared here to help you understand the genre requirements.
Compare and contrast your first dog vs. your current dog.
“the murder” by john steinbeck and “an error in chemistry” by william faulkner.
Comparing the challenges that being black creates for douglass and obama.
Surrealist photography and experimental photography, comparison and contrast of two plays: “comedy of errors” by william shakespeare and “oedipus the king” by sophocles, differences in processing of information between the young and elderly people.
The change of gender roles.
Compare and contrast: «the searchers» and «dances with the wolves».
Hrm in the middle east – uae vs saudi arabia.
Comparing istanbul and london.
Small & medium enterprises and e-commerce websites.
Articles on intelligence research, usa and the kingdom of saudi arabia international business transactions.
Compare and evaluate reform in one policy sector in two countries.
‘lin and chang debate’ summary.
Compare and contrast essays are academic papers in which a student analyses two or more subjects with each other. To compare means to explore similarities between subjects, while to contrast means to look at their differences. Both subjects of the comparison are usually in the same category, although they have their differences. For example, it can be two movies, two universities, two cars etc.
Good compare and contrast papers from college essay writer focus on a central point, explaining the importance and implications of this analysis. A compare and contrast essay thesis must make a meaningful comparison. Find the central theme of your essay and do some brainstorming for your thesis.
This type of essay is very common among college and university students. Professors challenge their students to use their analytical and comparative skills and pay close attention to the subjects of their comparisons. This type of essay exercises observance and analysis, helps to establish a frame of reference, and makes meaningful arguments about a subject. Let's get deeper on how to write a compare and contrast essay with our research writing services .
Now that you know what is compare and contrast essay and are set with your topic, the first thing you should do is grab a piece of paper and make a list with two columns: similarities and differences. Jot down key things first, the most striking ones. Then try to look at the subjects from a different angle, incorporating your imagination.
If you are more of a visual learner, creating a Venn diagram might be a good idea. In order to create it, draw two circles that overlap. In the section where it overlaps, note similarities. Differences should be written in the part of the circle that does not overlap.
Let’s look at a simple example of compare and contrast essay. Let one of the subjects be oranges, and the other one be apples. Oranges have thick peel, originally from India, and are tropical fruit. These characteristics pertain only to oranges and should be in the part of the circle that does not overlap. For the same section on apples, we put thin peel, originated in Turkey or Kazakhstan, and moderate to subtropical. In the section that overlaps, let’s say that they are both fruit, can be juiced, and grow on trees. This simple, yet good example illustrates how the same concept can be applied to many other complicated topics with additional points of comparison and contrast.
This format of visual aid helps to organize similarities and differences and make them easier to perceive. Your diagram will give you a clear idea of the things you can write about.
Another good idea for brainstorming in preparation for your comparison contrast essay is to create a list with 2 columns, one for each subject, and compare the same characteristics for each of them simultaneously. This compare and contrast format will make writing your comparison contrast paper argument a breeze, as you will have your ideas ready and organized.
One mistake you should avoid is simply listing all of the differences or similarities for each subject. Sometimes students get too caught up in looking for similarities and differences that their compare and contrast essays end up sounding like grocery lists. Your essay should be based on analyzing the similarities and differences, analyzing your conclusions about the two subjects, and finding connections between them—while following a specific format.
So, how do you structure this compare and contrast paper? Well, since compare and contrast essay examples rely heavily on factual analysis, there are two outline methods that can help you organize your facts. You can use the block method, or point-by-point method, to write a compare and contrast essay outline.
While using the block structure of a compare and contrast essay, all the information is presented for the first subject, and its characteristics and specific details are explained. This concludes one block. The second block takes the same approach as the first for the second subject.
The point-by-point structure lists each similarity and difference simultaneously—making notes of both subjects. For example, you can list a characteristic specific to one subject, followed by its similarity or difference to the other subject.
Both formats have their pros and cons. The block method is clearly easier for a compare and contrast essay writer, as you simply point out all of the information about the two subjects, and basically leave it to the reader to do the comparison. The point-by-point format requires you to analyze the points yourself while making similarities and differences more explicit to the reader for them to be easier to understand. Here is a detailed structure of each type presented below.
Example thesis: Cars and motorcycles make for excellent means of transportation, but a good choice depends on the person’s lifestyle, finances, and the city they live in.
Body Paragraph 1 - LIFESTYLE
Body Paragraph 2 - FINANCES
Body Paragraph 3 - CITY
Body Paragraph 1
Body Paragraph 2
Body Paragraph 3
Use the last paragraph to evaluate the comparisons and explain why they’re essential. Giving a lot of facts can be intense. To water it down, try to give the reader any real-life applications of these facts.
Depending on the structure selected, you can begin to create an outline for your essay. The typical comparison essay follows the format of having an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion — though, if you need to focus on each subject in more detailed ways, feel free to include an extra paragraph to cover all of the most important points.
To make your compare and contrast essay flow better, we recommend using special transition words and phrases. They will add variety and improve your paper overall.
For the section where you compare two subjects, you can include any of the following words: similarly, likewise, also, both, just like, similar to, the same as, alike, or to compare to. When contrasting two subjects, use: in contrast, in comparison, by comparison, on the other hand, while, whereas, but, to differ from, dissimilar to, or unlike.
Arguments for any essay, including compare and contrast essays, need to be supported by sufficient evidence. Make good use of your personal experiences, books, scholarly articles, magazine and newspaper articles, movies, or anything that will make your argument sound credible. For example, in your essay, if you were to compare attending college on campus vs. distance-based learning, you could include your personal experiences of being a student, and how often students show up to class on a daily basis. You could also talk about your experience taking online classes, which makes your argument about online classes credible as well.
The biggest tip dissertation writing services can give you is to have the right attitude when writing a compare contrast essay, and actively engage the reader in the discussion. If you find it interesting, so will your reader! Here are some more compare and contrast essay tips that will help you to polish yours up:
Now that you know everything there is to know about compare and contrast essays, let’s take a look at some compare and contrast examples to get you started on your paper or get a hand from our essay helper .
Different countries across the world have diverse cultural practices, and this has an effect on work relationships and development. Geert Hofstede came up with a structured way of comparing cultural dimensions of different countries. The theory explains the impacts of a community’s culture on the values of the community members, and the way these values relate to their behaviors. He gives scores as a way to help distinguish people from different nations using the following dimensions: long-term orientation, individualism, power distance, indulgence, necessity avoidance, and masculinity. Let us examine comparisons between two countries: the United Kingdom and China — based on Hofstede’s Six Dimensions of Culture.
Over the last two decades, the demand from consumers for organic foods has increased tremendously. In fact, the popularity of organic foods has exploded significantly with consumers, spending a considerably higher amount of money on them as compared to the amount spent on inorganic foods. The US market noted an increase in sales of more than 10% between 2014 and 2015 (Brown, n.p). The increase is in line with the views of many consumers that organic foods are safer, tastier, and healthier compared to the inorganic foods. Furthermore, considering the environmental effects of foods, organic foods present less risk of environmental pollution — compared to inorganic foods. By definition, organic foods are those that are grown without any artificial chemical treatment, or treatment by use of other substances that have been modified genetically, such as hormones and/or antibiotics (Brown, n.p).
Still feeling confused about the complexities of the compare and contrast essay? Feel free to contact our paper writing service to get a professional writing help.
When choosing a topic for your comparison essay, remember that subjects cannot be drastically different, because there would be little to no points of comparison (similarities). The same goes for too many similarities, which will result in poor contrasts. For example, it is better to write about two composers, rather than a composer and a singer.
It is extremely important to choose a topic you are passionate about. You never want to come across something that seems dull and uninspiring for you. Here are some excellent ways to brainstorm for a topic from essay writer :
Use our rewrite essay service when you need help from professionals.
College students should consider providing themselves with a chance to use all topic examples. With enough revision, an advantage is gained. As it will be possible to compare arguments and contrast their aspects. Also, discuss numerous situations to get closer to the conclusion.
For example:
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Choosing a topic can be a challenging task, but there are plenty of options to consider. In the following sections, we have compiled a list of 150 compare and contrast essay topics to help you get started. These topics cover a wide range of subjects, from education and technology to history and politics. Whether you are a high school student or a college student, you are sure to find a topic that interests you. So, read on to discover some great compare and contrast essay ideas.
When attending a college, at any time your professor can assign you the task of writing this form of an essay. Consider these topics for college students from our team to get the grades you deserve.
Some topics for the compare and contrast essay format can be boring. To keep up motivation, doing a research , have a look at these topics. Maybe they can serve you as research paper help .
When writing essays for high school, it is good to keep them informative. Have a look at these compare and contrast sample topics.
At some point, every science student will be assigned this type of essay. To keep things at flow, have a look at best compare and contrast essay example topics on science:
Studying Physical Education? Or a gym fanatic? Have a look at our compare and contrast essay topics for sports and leisure.
Culture can have several meanings. If you’re a Religious Studies or Culture student, take a look at these good compare and contrast essay topics about culture.
What about writing an essay which is out of the ordinary? Consider following these topics to write a compare and contrast essay on, that are unique.
Sometimes, it may be a requirement to take it back a notch. Especially if you’re new to these style of writing. Consider having a look at these good compare and contrast essay topics that are pretty easy to start off.
We all enjoy at least one of these things. If not, all of them. Why not have a go at writing a compare and contrast essay about what you have been recently watching or listening to?
Sometimes, art students are required to write this style of essay. Have a look at these compare and contrast essay topics about the arts of the centuries.
Almost every student at any stage of academics is assigned this style of writing. If you’re lacking inspiration, consider looking at some of the best compare and contrast essay topics to get you on track with your writing.
In all types of academics, these essays occur. If you’re new to this style of writing, check our easy compare and contrast essay topics.
Deciding upon good compare and contrast essay topics for psychology assignments can be difficult. Consider referring to our list of 10 psychology compare and contrast essay topics to help get the deserved grades.
From time to time, your teacher will assign the task of writing a compare and contrast essay. It can be hard to choose a topic, especially for beginners. Check out our easy compare and contrast essay topics for sixth graders.
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How to start a compare and contrast essay, how to write a thesis for a compare and contrast essay.
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This organizational pattern is most effective when used on longer essays, such as a comparison of two articles, short stories, or novels. The body of such an essay is organized by discussing one point at a time and how it applies to each subject before moving on to the next point. For long works, at least three points should be examined if not more.
Paragraph | Function | Example |
---|---|---|
Introduction | Introduce the two or more subjects being compared and lead to a thesis statement or argument. | While they are both based on works by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings trilogy surpasses The Hobbit trilogy in both scope and box office returns while still using practical effects to attain greater realism and focused more on story telling rather than “filmable moments” that added little to the plot. |
First Body Paragraph | Discuss point #1 of both subjects, comparing and contrasting the manifestation of this point in each subject. | The Lord of the Rings trilogy was planned as a trilogy which allowed for a cheaper and easier production, unlike The Hobbit trilogy which was originally designed as a single movie but was later stretched into three films. |
Second Body Paragraph | Discuss point #2 of both subjects, comparing and contrasting the manifestation of this point in each subject. | Adjusting for inflation, The Lord of the Rings trilogy made $5.4 million at the box office but The Hobbit trilogy only made $3.8 million. |
Third Body Paragraph | Discuss point #3 of both subjects, comparing and contrasting the manifestation of this point in each subject. | The Lord of the Rings trilogy relied on practical effects for a majority of their shots with CGI being used to enhance what was physically present while most of The Hobbit trilogy's special effects were CGI and completed in post-production. |
Conclusion | Without repeating any claims or adding any new information, emphasize the importance of the similarities and differences between the two subjects as they are relevant to your thesis. | With the amount of time, effort, and positive response at the box office, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy is the superior adaptation. |
What this handout is about.
This handout will help you first to determine whether a particular assignment is asking for comparison/contrast and then to generate a list of similarities and differences, decide which similarities and differences to focus on, and organize your paper so that it will be clear and effective. It will also explain how you can (and why you should) develop a thesis that goes beyond “Thing A and Thing B are similar in many ways but different in others.”
In your career as a student, you’ll encounter many different kinds of writing assignments, each with its own requirements. One of the most common is the comparison/contrast essay, in which you focus on the ways in which certain things or ideas—usually two of them—are similar to (this is the comparison) and/or different from (this is the contrast) one another. By assigning such essays, your instructors are encouraging you to make connections between texts or ideas, engage in critical thinking, and go beyond mere description or summary to generate interesting analysis: when you reflect on similarities and differences, you gain a deeper understanding of the items you are comparing, their relationship to each other, and what is most important about them.
Some assignments use words—like compare, contrast, similarities, and differences—that make it easy for you to see that they are asking you to compare and/or contrast. Here are a few hypothetical examples:
Notice that some topics ask only for comparison, others only for contrast, and others for both.
But it’s not always so easy to tell whether an assignment is asking you to include comparison/contrast. And in some cases, comparison/contrast is only part of the essay—you begin by comparing and/or contrasting two or more things and then use what you’ve learned to construct an argument or evaluation. Consider these examples, noticing the language that is used to ask for the comparison/contrast and whether the comparison/contrast is only one part of a larger assignment:
You may want to check out our handout on understanding assignments for additional tips.
Sometimes you may want to use comparison/contrast techniques in your own pre-writing work to get ideas that you can later use for an argument, even if comparison/contrast isn’t an official requirement for the paper you’re writing. For example, if you wanted to argue that Frye’s account of oppression is better than both de Beauvoir’s and Bartky’s, comparing and contrasting the main arguments of those three authors might help you construct your evaluation—even though the topic may not have asked for comparison/contrast and the lists of similarities and differences you generate may not appear anywhere in the final draft of your paper.
Making a Venn diagram or a chart can help you quickly and efficiently compare and contrast two or more things or ideas. To make a Venn diagram, simply draw some overlapping circles, one circle for each item you’re considering. In the central area where they overlap, list the traits the two items have in common. Assign each one of the areas that doesn’t overlap; in those areas, you can list the traits that make the things different. Here’s a very simple example, using two pizza places:
To make a chart, figure out what criteria you want to focus on in comparing the items. Along the left side of the page, list each of the criteria. Across the top, list the names of the items. You should then have a box per item for each criterion; you can fill the boxes in and then survey what you’ve discovered.
Here’s an example, this time using three pizza places:
Pepper’s | Amante | Papa John’s | |
---|---|---|---|
Location | |||
Price | |||
Delivery | |||
Ingredients | |||
Service | |||
Seating/eating in | |||
Coupons |
As you generate points of comparison, consider the purpose and content of the assignment and the focus of the class. What do you think the professor wants you to learn by doing this comparison/contrast? How does it fit with what you have been studying so far and with the other assignments in the course? Are there any clues about what to focus on in the assignment itself?
Here are some general questions about different types of things you might have to compare. These are by no means complete or definitive lists; they’re just here to give you some ideas—you can generate your own questions for these and other types of comparison. You may want to begin by using the questions reporters traditionally ask: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? If you’re talking about objects, you might also consider general properties like size, shape, color, sound, weight, taste, texture, smell, number, duration, and location.
By now you have probably generated a huge list of similarities and differences—congratulations! Next you must decide which of them are interesting, important, and relevant enough to be included in your paper. Ask yourself these questions:
Suppose that you are writing a paper comparing two novels. For most literature classes, the fact that they both use Caslon type (a kind of typeface, like the fonts you may use in your writing) is not going to be relevant, nor is the fact that one of them has a few illustrations and the other has none; literature classes are more likely to focus on subjects like characterization, plot, setting, the writer’s style and intentions, language, central themes, and so forth. However, if you were writing a paper for a class on typesetting or on how illustrations are used to enhance novels, the typeface and presence or absence of illustrations might be absolutely critical to include in your final paper.
Sometimes a particular point of comparison or contrast might be relevant but not terribly revealing or interesting. For example, if you are writing a paper about Wordsworth’s “Tintern Abbey” and Coleridge’s “Frost at Midnight,” pointing out that they both have nature as a central theme is relevant (comparisons of poetry often talk about themes) but not terribly interesting; your class has probably already had many discussions about the Romantic poets’ fondness for nature. Talking about the different ways nature is depicted or the different aspects of nature that are emphasized might be more interesting and show a more sophisticated understanding of the poems.
The thesis of your comparison/contrast paper is very important: it can help you create a focused argument and give your reader a road map so they don’t get lost in the sea of points you are about to make. As in any paper, you will want to replace vague reports of your general topic (for example, “This paper will compare and contrast two pizza places,” or “Pepper’s and Amante are similar in some ways and different in others,” or “Pepper’s and Amante are similar in many ways, but they have one major difference”) with something more detailed and specific. For example, you might say, “Pepper’s and Amante have similar prices and ingredients, but their atmospheres and willingness to deliver set them apart.”
Be careful, though—although this thesis is fairly specific and does propose a simple argument (that atmosphere and delivery make the two pizza places different), your instructor will often be looking for a bit more analysis. In this case, the obvious question is “So what? Why should anyone care that Pepper’s and Amante are different in this way?” One might also wonder why the writer chose those two particular pizza places to compare—why not Papa John’s, Dominos, or Pizza Hut? Again, thinking about the context the class provides may help you answer such questions and make a stronger argument. Here’s a revision of the thesis mentioned earlier:
Pepper’s and Amante both offer a greater variety of ingredients than other Chapel Hill/Carrboro pizza places (and than any of the national chains), but the funky, lively atmosphere at Pepper’s makes it a better place to give visiting friends and family a taste of local culture.
You may find our handout on constructing thesis statements useful at this stage.
There are many different ways to organize a comparison/contrast essay. Here are two:
Begin by saying everything you have to say about the first subject you are discussing, then move on and make all the points you want to make about the second subject (and after that, the third, and so on, if you’re comparing/contrasting more than two things). If the paper is short, you might be able to fit all of your points about each item into a single paragraph, but it’s more likely that you’d have several paragraphs per item. Using our pizza place comparison/contrast as an example, after the introduction, you might have a paragraph about the ingredients available at Pepper’s, a paragraph about its location, and a paragraph about its ambience. Then you’d have three similar paragraphs about Amante, followed by your conclusion.
The danger of this subject-by-subject organization is that your paper will simply be a list of points: a certain number of points (in my example, three) about one subject, then a certain number of points about another. This is usually not what college instructors are looking for in a paper—generally they want you to compare or contrast two or more things very directly, rather than just listing the traits the things have and leaving it up to the reader to reflect on how those traits are similar or different and why those similarities or differences matter. Thus, if you use the subject-by-subject form, you will probably want to have a very strong, analytical thesis and at least one body paragraph that ties all of your different points together.
A subject-by-subject structure can be a logical choice if you are writing what is sometimes called a “lens” comparison, in which you use one subject or item (which isn’t really your main topic) to better understand another item (which is). For example, you might be asked to compare a poem you’ve already covered thoroughly in class with one you are reading on your own. It might make sense to give a brief summary of your main ideas about the first poem (this would be your first subject, the “lens”), and then spend most of your paper discussing how those points are similar to or different from your ideas about the second.
Rather than addressing things one subject at a time, you may wish to talk about one point of comparison at a time. There are two main ways this might play out, depending on how much you have to say about each of the things you are comparing. If you have just a little, you might, in a single paragraph, discuss how a certain point of comparison/contrast relates to all the items you are discussing. For example, I might describe, in one paragraph, what the prices are like at both Pepper’s and Amante; in the next paragraph, I might compare the ingredients available; in a third, I might contrast the atmospheres of the two restaurants.
If I had a bit more to say about the items I was comparing/contrasting, I might devote a whole paragraph to how each point relates to each item. For example, I might have a whole paragraph about the clientele at Pepper’s, followed by a whole paragraph about the clientele at Amante; then I would move on and do two more paragraphs discussing my next point of comparison/contrast—like the ingredients available at each restaurant.
There are no hard and fast rules about organizing a comparison/contrast paper, of course. Just be sure that your reader can easily tell what’s going on! Be aware, too, of the placement of your different points. If you are writing a comparison/contrast in service of an argument, keep in mind that the last point you make is the one you are leaving your reader with. For example, if I am trying to argue that Amante is better than Pepper’s, I should end with a contrast that leaves Amante sounding good, rather than with a point of comparison that I have to admit makes Pepper’s look better. If you’ve decided that the differences between the items you’re comparing/contrasting are most important, you’ll want to end with the differences—and vice versa, if the similarities seem most important to you.
Our handout on organization can help you write good topic sentences and transitions and make sure that you have a good overall structure in place for your paper.
To help your reader keep track of where you are in the comparison/contrast, you’ll want to be sure that your transitions and topic sentences are especially strong. Your thesis should already have given the reader an idea of the points you’ll be making and the organization you’ll be using, but you can help them out with some extra cues. The following words may be helpful to you in signaling your intentions:
For example, you might have a topic sentence like one of these:
You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Need help writing a compare and contrast essay check out these tips and examples to get you started.
A compare and contrast essay is a differentiation of two or more topics, explaining similarities and differences between them through an essay writing format. It is essential that each topic is clearly highlighted in order to be accurately compared.
This form of academic writing works best for essay topics that have similarities to be compared to each other. For example, you can compare and contrast two novels or authors, or two school subjects or cuisines. In order to write this type of essay well, it is important to conduct research and use reliable sources to ensure the accuracy of your work.
If you want to write high-quality compare-and-contrast essays, we recommend using Jenni.ai's Free Essay Writer for AI assistance. Get your essays done 10x faster with the help of artificial intelligence!
A compare and contrast essay is a type of written work where the writer analyzes and compares two or more subjects to identify their similarities and differences (e.g., cats and dogs as pets). This essay is a useful tool for gaining a deeper understanding of the subjects being compared and for improving our knowledge of them.
In a compare and contrast essay, the first step is to identify the subjects that will be analyzed. This could also be two books, historical events, pieces of art, or any other subjects that can be compared. The writer must then gather information on each of the subjects in order to develop a strong thesis statement.
The body of the essay is where the writer compares and contrasts the subjects. This can be done in a point-by-point or block comparison format. The conclusion should summarize the main points of the essay and restate the thesis statement in a new, more insightful way.
A compare-and-contrast type of essay has two main approaches. There is the block method and the point-by-point style. Let's dive a little deeper into each one!
Block Method - The block method presents all arguments related to the initial statement in the essay and compares them directly to the opposing statement. The purpose is to provide an in-depth analysis of each point by presenting supporting evidence in the form of examples that focuses on one statement over the other.
Phrases such as "in relation to" or "in the same way" is best used in the block method as it helps establish the relationship between each argument. Keep in mind that in order for the points to be presented effectively, these quotes are presented in relation directly to the initial statement in order to analyze the relationship between the two subjects.
Point-by-point Method - The point-by-point method presents an argument for each point that is directly compared against the opposing statement. In this method, the writer focuses on one point or aspect at a time, describing both statements and how they are similar or different in a precise manner.
This method is used more in academic writing and essay writing because it is simpler and easier to use than the block method. However, writers are not discouraged from using either approach as long as they understand how to effectively use each of them.
Creating a compare and contrast essay is relatively simple once you understand the basic concepts behind it. Here are some helpful tips to get you started with creating a high-quality essay:
Create a general overview that defines each of the paragraphs and how they relate to each other. This is essential after doing research to give the readers a general idea of what the essay will be about.
Create a structure for your paper by creating a roadmap for each paragraph that clearly outlines how the information will be presented. This will help the writer structure their thoughts and ideas and make sure nothing is left out or forgotten about during the editing process.
Transitions are very useful in comparing and contrasting essays as they provide a clear connection between each point being discussed and how it relates to the other points.
Create symmetrical comparisons when presenting your ideas to the readers to ensure everything is explained properly. For example, if you are comparing and contrasting two literary works, it should be clear for the reader how the ideas presented in one work relate to the ideas presented in the other work.
After finishing your entire essay, make sure to proofread and edit accordingly to make sure that all the relevant talking points are panned out correctly throughout the whole essay structure.
Now that we have talked about the basics of a compare and contrast essay, we will now talk about the process and steps for outlining to help you out accomplish your essay effectively.
Block Method Outline:
In a block format compare and contrast essay, the writer discusses all the similarities and differences between one subject before moving on to the next subject.
Here is an example of how the block format in a compare and contrast essay might be structured:
I. Introduction Paragraph
A. Background information on the subjects being compared and contrasted
B. Thesis statement outlining the purpose of the essay
II. Block format of Subject 1
A. Detailed description of Subject 1
B. Analysis of the similarities and differences between Subject 1 and Subject 2
III. Block format of Subject 2
A. Detailed description of Subject 2
B. Analysis of the similarities and differences between Subject 2 and Subject 1
IV. Conclusion
A. Summary of the main points of the essay
B. Restatement of the thesis statement in a new, more insightful way
In this format, the writer first provides a detailed description of one subject and then analyzes its similarities and differences with the other subject. This is repeated for the second subject, ensuring that all similarities and differences are thoroughly discussed. This format allows the writer to provide a comprehensive analysis of each subject before moving on to the next, making it a useful format for writing a detailed and thorough compare-and-contrast essay.
Point by point Method:
A point-by-point compare and contrast essay is a type of essay where the writer compares and contrasts two or more subjects by discussing a specific aspect or point of each subject in relation to the other.
Here is an example of how a point-by-point compare and contrast essay might be structured:
I. Introductory Paragraph
II. Point 1: Comparison of aspect 1 of Subject 1 and Subject 2
A. Analysis of aspect 1 of Subject 1
B. Analysis of aspect 1 of Subject 2
C. Comparison and contrast of aspect 1 of Subject 1 and Subject 2
III. Point 2: Comparison of aspect 2 of Subject 1 and Subject 2
A. Analysis of aspect 2 of Subject 1
B. Analysis of aspect 2 of Subject 2
C. Comparison and contrast of aspect 2 of Subject 1 and Subject 2
IV. Point 3: Comparison of aspect 3 of Subject 1 and Subject 2
A. Analysis of aspect 3 of Subject 1
B. Analysis of aspect 3 of Subject 2
C. Comparison and contrast of aspect 3 of Subject 1 and Subject 2
V. Conclusion
In this format, the writer focuses on one aspect or point at a time, comparing and contrasting it between the two subjects. This allows the writer to provide a detailed and thorough analysis of each aspect, making it a useful format for writing a highly specific and focused compare-and-contrast essay.
Now that we have talked about all the essential things needed to create a compare and contrast essay, let's move on to some examples that will inspire you to create your very own essay!
"The iPhone vs. Android comparison is a never-ending debate on which one is best. It will likely never have a real winner, but we're going to try and help you to find your personal pick all the same.
The latest version of both operating systems — iOS 16 and Android 13 — are both excellent, but in slightly different ways. Many of their features overlap, but design-wise they look quite different, aside from the basic touchscreen-focused layout. Whichever of the best phones available today you buy, they'll be running one of these two OSes.
Pitting iPhone vs. Android, we take a look at the respective strengths of each mobile platform, so you can pick the right one for you the next time you buy a smartphone. If you want to see the current flagships for Android and iOS, be sure to check out our Pixel 7 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro Max and Pixel 7 vs. iPhone 14 face-offs. And if you're convinced to want to leave your iPhone, read more about Google's new Switch To Android app that will help you move over.
You're invested in Apple's ecosystem. This might seem like a shallow reason, but Apple obviously makes a wide breadth of tech products, and if you already own a Mac, iPad or Apple Watch, getting an iPhone makes a lot of sense.
Apple has designed a multitude of continuity features that allow you to carry over work and data from one of its devices to another, and these features can certainly save you time. Take Handoff, for example, where calls on your iPhone and web pages in Safari can move seamlessly between iOS and macOS. Universal Clipboard makes text copied on one platform usable on the other. Another one of our favourites is Continuity Camera, which allows you to take pictures and scan documents using your iPhone's camera, and then view and edit them on your Mac. You can even complete purchases on your Mac by using biometric authentication features on your iPhone via Apple Pay.
Only a handful of Android phone makers have hardware ecosystems that approach Apple's, and even for some that come close, like Samsung, you won't get the depth of integration possible between the iPhone and other Apple-built devices. Microsoft is helping Google close the gap somewhat with its new Your Phone app for Windows, which allows Android users to respond to texts and notifications on their PCs, though the experience is a little clunky and there is still work to be done."
"A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE TINY HOUSE MOVEMENT
Interestingly, the modern tiny house movement sprouted in the 1980s, increasing in popularity these last three decades. Thanks to blogging, books, and magazine spotlights, the tiny house bug has spread and grown significantly.
While the real estate crisis has had an impact on the tiny house movement’s popularity, that’s not all that makes it appealing.
People love the tiny house options for practical, ethical, and emotional reasons.
PRACTICAL REASONS
Additionally, choosing a smaller home can save you lots of money. You’ll spend less on utilities. Maintenance will cost you less as there is not so much house to maintain and remodel. They are more economical than a stick-built home, and your property taxes are something to brag about.
Another practical point is minimalism in your belongings. In a tiny home, you will have no choice but to whittle down your belongings to what you will actually use. There is freedom in this.
ETHICAL REASONS
From an ethical standpoint, tiny house proponents are environmentally friendly. They use less CO2 than the average home. Due to the smaller space, energy spent on heating and cooling is greatly reduced. Oftentimes these tiny homes are made out of recycled materials. They are usually self-sufficient, making use of renewable energies such as rainwater. Thus they provide homeowners with everything they need.
Homeowners like to choose the way of the tiny home in an effort to help the environment.
There you have it. A brief scoop on the mobile home vs tiny house movement. We hope you found this article interesting and helpful."
Creating compare-and-contrast essays is quite fun to write especially if you have familiarized yourself with the topics at hand. Just make sure to keep our tips in mind to create high-quality essays.
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Learning objectives.
Comparison in writing discusses elements that are similar, while contrast in writing discusses elements that are different. A compare-and-contrast essay , then, analyzes two subjects by comparing them, contrasting them, or both.
The key to a good compare-and-contrast essay is to choose two or more subjects that connect in a meaningful way. The purpose of conducting the comparison or contrast is not to state the obvious but rather to illuminate subtle differences or unexpected similarities. For example, if you wanted to focus on contrasting two subjects you would not pick apples and oranges; rather, you might choose to compare and contrast two types of oranges or two types of apples to highlight subtle differences. For example, Red Delicious apples are sweet, while Granny Smiths are tart and acidic. Drawing distinctions between elements in a similar category will increase the audience’s understanding of that category, which is the purpose of the compare-and-contrast essay.
Similarly, to focus on comparison, choose two subjects that seem at first to be unrelated. For a comparison essay, you likely would not choose two apples or two oranges because they share so many of the same properties already. Rather, you might try to compare how apples and oranges are quite similar. The more divergent the two subjects initially seem, the more interesting a comparison essay will be.
Comparing and contrasting is also an evaluative tool. In order to make accurate evaluations about a given topic, you must first know the critical points of similarity and difference. Comparing and contrasting is a primary tool for many workplace assessments. You have likely compared and contrasted yourself to other colleagues. Employee advancements, pay raises, hiring, and firing are typically conducted using comparison and contrast. Comparison and contrast could be used to evaluate companies, departments, or individuals.
Brainstorm an essay that leans toward contrast. Choose one of the following three categories. Pick two examples from each. Then come up with one similarity and three differences between the examples.
Brainstorm an essay that leans toward comparison. Choose one of the following three items. Then come up with one difference and three similarities.
The compare-and-contrast essay starts with a thesis that clearly states the two subjects that are to be compared, contrasted, or both and the reason for doing so. The thesis could lean more toward comparing, contrasting, or both. Remember, the point of comparing and contrasting is to provide useful knowledge to the reader. Take the following thesis as an example that leans more toward contrasting.
Thesis statement: Organic vegetables may cost more than those that are conventionally grown, but when put to the test, they are definitely worth every extra penny.
Here the thesis sets up the two subjects to be compared and contrasted (organic versus conventional vegetables), and it makes a claim about the results that might prove useful to the reader.
You may organize compare-and-contrast essays in one of the following two ways:
See Figure 10.1 “Comparison and Contrast Diagram” , which diagrams the ways to organize our organic versus conventional vegetables thesis.
Figure 10.1 Comparison and Contrast Diagram
The organizational structure you choose depends on the nature of the topic, your purpose, and your audience.
Given that compare-and-contrast essays analyze the relationship between two subjects, it is helpful to have some phrases on hand that will cue the reader to such analysis. See Table 10.3 “Phrases of Comparison and Contrast” for examples.
Table 10.3 Phrases of Comparison and Contrast
Comparison | Contrast |
---|---|
one similarity | one difference |
another similarity | another difference |
both | conversely |
like | in contrast |
likewise | unlike |
similarly | while |
in a similar fashion | whereas |
Create an outline for each of the items you chose in Note 10.72 “Exercise 1” and Note 10.73 “Exercise 2” . Use the point-by-point organizing strategy for one of them, and use the subject organizing strategy for the other.
First choose whether you want to compare seemingly disparate subjects, contrast seemingly similar subjects, or compare and contrast subjects. Once you have decided on a topic, introduce it with an engaging opening paragraph. Your thesis should come at the end of the introduction, and it should establish the subjects you will compare, contrast, or both as well as state what can be learned from doing so.
The body of the essay can be organized in one of two ways: by subject or by individual points. The organizing strategy that you choose will depend on, as always, your audience and your purpose. You may also consider your particular approach to the subjects as well as the nature of the subjects themselves; some subjects might better lend themselves to one structure or the other. Make sure to use comparison and contrast phrases to cue the reader to the ways in which you are analyzing the relationship between the subjects.
After you finish analyzing the subjects, write a conclusion that summarizes the main points of the essay and reinforces your thesis. See Chapter 15 “Readings: Examples of Essays” to read a sample compare-and-contrast essay.
Many business presentations are conducted using comparison and contrast. The organizing strategies—by subject or individual points—could also be used for organizing a presentation. Keep this in mind as a way of organizing your content the next time you or a colleague have to present something at work.
Choose one of the outlines you created in Note 10.75 “Exercise 3” , and write a full compare-and-contrast essay. Be sure to include an engaging introduction, a clear thesis, well-defined and detailed paragraphs, and a fitting conclusion that ties everything together.
There are two main organizing strategies for compare-and-contrast essays.
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Last Updated: May 12, 2023 Approved
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The purpose of a compare and contrast essay is to analyze the differences and/or the similarities of two distinct subjects. A good compare/contrast essay doesn’t only point out how the subjects are similar or different (or even both!). It uses those points to make a meaningful argument about the subjects. While it can be a little intimidating to approach this type of essay at first, with a little work and practice, you can write a great compare-and-contrast essay!
To write a compare and contrast essay, try organizing your essay so you're comparing and contrasting one aspect of your subjects in each paragraph. Or, if you don't want to jump back and forth between subjects, structure your essay so the first half is about one subject and the second half is about the other. You could also write your essay so the first few paragraphs introduce all of the comparisons and the last few paragraphs introduce all of the contrasts, which can help emphasize your subjects' differences and similarities. To learn how to choose subjects to compare and come up with a thesis statement, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No
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Comparison and contrast.
There are two different, equally useful, patterns for comparison and contrast:
Writers using side by side pattern deal with all of the information for one of the things being compared first, before moving to all of the information for the other thing being compared. However, within each side, the points of comparison/contrast need to be dealt with in exactly the same order.
Side by Side
Note that with side by side format, you may end up with only two topic sentences, or you may end up with general topic sentences to introduce each side, and then a series of more specific topic sentences for each point.
Here’s a graphic organizer for the Side by Side Comparison and Contrast pattern.
Writers using point by point pattern deal with each point of comparison/contrast in an order that makes sense given the two things being compared. However, under each point, the same side always needs to come first.
Point by Point
The idea for either pattern is to maintain careful and equal balance when comparing or contrasting two items, persons, ideas, etc.
Here’s a graphic organizer for the Point by Point Comparison and Contrast pattern.
For a clear overview of comparison and contrast essays, view the following video.
Make sure to read sample Comparison and Contrast essays in the Sample Essays section of this text.
We’re reviewing our resources this spring (May-August 2024). We will do our best to minimize disruption, but you might notice changes over the next few months as we correct errors & delete redundant resources.
Writing a comparison usually requires that you assess the similarities and differences between two or more theories, procedures, or processes. You explain to your reader what insights can be gained from the comparison, or judge whether one thing is better than another according to established criteria.
1. Establish a basis of comparison
A basis of comparison represents the main idea, category, or theme you will investigate. You will have to do some preliminary reading, likely using your course materials, to get an idea of what kind of criteria you will use to assess whatever you are comparing. A basis of comparison must apply to all items you are comparing, but the details will be different.
For example, if you are asked to “compare neoclassical architecture and gothic architecture,” you could compare the influence of social context on the two styles.
2. Gather the details of whatever you are comparing
Once you have decided what theme or idea you are investigating, you will need to gather details of whatever you are comparing, especially in terms of similarities and differences. Doing so allows you to see which criteria you should use in your comparison, if not specified by your professor or instructor.
Based on this information, you could focus on how ornamentation and design principles reveal prevailing intellectual thought about architecture in the respective eras and societies.
3. Develop a thesis statement
After brainstorming, try to develop a thesis statement that identifies the results of your comparison. Here is an example of a fairly common thesis statement structure:
e.g., Although neoclassical architecture and gothic architecture have [similar characteristics A and B], they reveal profound differences in their interpretation of [C, D, and E].
4. Organize your comparison
You have a choice of two basic methods for organizing a comparative essay: the point-by-point method or the block method.
The point-by-point method examines one aspect of comparison in each paragraph and usually alternates back and forth between the two objects, texts, or ideas being compared. This method allows you to emphasize points of similarity and of difference as you proceed.
In the block method, however, you say everything you need to say about one thing, then do the same thing with the other. This method works best if you want readers to understand and agree with the advantages of something you are proposing, such as introducing a new process or theory by showing how it compares to something more traditional.
Building a point-by-point essay.
Using the point-by-point method in a comparative essay allows you to draw direct comparisons and produce a more tightly integrated essay.
1. Introduction
2. Body Sections/Paragraphs
3. Conclusion
Using the block method in a comparative essay can help ensure that the ideas in the second block build upon or extend ideas presented in the first block. It works well if you have three or more major areas of comparison instead of two (for example, if you added in a third or fourth style of architecture, the block method would be easier to organize).
How to build your compare and contrast essay structure and examples.
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How to write a compare and contrast essay.
3. make an outline.
7. include the analysis, 8. proofread your essay, what is the structure of a compare and contrast paragraph.
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BMC Health Services Research volume 24 , Article number: 1007 ( 2024 ) Cite this article
Metrics details
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death and the second most common cancer diagnosis among the Hispanic population in the United States. However, CRC screening prevalence remains lower among Hispanic adults than among non-Hispanic white adults. To reduce CRC screening disparities, efforts to implement CRC screening evidence-based interventions in primary care organizations (PCOs) must consider their potential effect on existing screening disparities. More research is needed to understand how to leverage existing implementation science methodologies to improve health disparities. The Coaching to Improve Colorectal Cancer Screening Equity (CoachIQ) pilot study explores whether integrating two implementation science tools, Causal Pathway Diagrams and practice facilitation, is a feasible and effective way to address CRC screening disparities among Hispanic patients.
We used a quasi-experimental, mixed methods design to evaluate feasibility and assess initial signals of effectiveness of the CoachIQ approach. Three PCOs received coaching from CoachIQ practice facilitators over a 12-month period. Three non-equivalent comparison group PCOs received coaching during the same period as participants in a state quality improvement program. We conducted descriptive analyses of screening rates and coaching activities.
The CoachIQ practice facilitators discussed equity, facilitated prioritization of QI activities, and reviewed CRC screening disparities during a higher proportion of coaching encounters than the comparison group practice facilitator. While the mean overall CRC screening rate in the comparison PCOs increased from 34 to 41%, the mean CRC screening rate for Hispanic patients did not increase from 30%. In contrast, the mean overall CRC screening rate at the CoachIQ PCOs increased from 41 to 44%, and the mean CRC screening rate for Hispanic patients increased from 35 to 39%.
The CoachIQ program merges two implementation science methodologies, practice facilitation and causal pathway diagrams, to help PCOs focus quality improvement efforts on improving CRC screening while also reducing screening disparities. Results from this pilot study demonstrate key differences between CoachIQ facilitation and standard facilitation, and point to the potential of the CoachIQ approach to decrease disparities in CRC screening.
Peer Review reports
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death and the second most common cancer diagnosis among the Hispanic population in the United States (US) [ 1 ]. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults age 45–75 screen for CRC as screening reduces CRC incidence and mortality [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. However, CRC screening prevalence remains lower among Hispanic adults 45 years of age and older than among non-Hispanic white adults (64% vs. 74% in 2020) [ 5 ]. Primary care organizations (PCOs) have a range of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) to utilize for increasing CRC screening, including small media, clinician assessment and feedback, and patient reminders [ 6 ]. To reduce CRC screening disparities, it is imperative that efforts to implement CRC screening EBIs also consider their potential effect on existing screening disparities. Yet, there is no established approach for ensuring equity is integrated into implementation efforts in PCOs.
There have been recent calls to bring more of an equity focus to implementation science [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Brownson et al. suggest further examination of how to leverage existing implementation science methodologies to address equity determinants and improve health disparities [ 7 ]. Practice facilitation (PF) is an established implementation method for guiding PCOs in implementing EBIs [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. PF draws on the Model for Improvement [ 14 ], which guides practice facilitators to ask three key questions: (1) What are we trying to accomplish? (2) How will we know that a change is an improvement? (3) What change can we make that will result in improvement? In order to select what changes to make, PF involves assessing existing systems, barriers to improvement, and potential interventions for improvement [ 14 ]. PF may be an approach to improving health equity, however, minimal research has been done on how or the degree to which PF may decrease health disparities [ 15 ].
A complementary implementation science visualization tool, the causal pathway diagram (CPD), provides a structure for implementers to be explicit about the outcomes they are trying to influence, barriers that are inhibiting those outcomes, and change strategies that may be poised to bring out improved outcomes [ 16 ]. By carefully articulating how strategies work, CPDs aim to improve their effectiveness [ 17 , 18 ]. CPDs help implementers to consider whether a strategy will work under the local conditions by considering what is necessary for the strategy to work (i.e., preconditions) and what might enhance or diminish the effectiveness of the strategy (i.e., moderators). Within the context of PF, there could be potential in applying CPDs as a means to help facilitators ensure that the EBIs PCOs choose and the quality improvement (QI) strategies PCOs apply have genuine potential to address important local barriers to decreasing CRC screening disparities.
The Coaching to Improve Colorectal Cancer Screening Equity (CoachIQ) pilot study explores whether integrating CPDs into PF is a feasible and effective way to address disparities in CRC screening among Hispanic patients. The goal of this paper is to describe the CoachIQ practice facilitation approach and report changes in overall CRC screening rates and changes in CRC screening disparities before and after CoachIQ PF.
For our pilot study, we used a quasi-experimental, mixed methods design to evaluate feasibility and assess initial signals of effectiveness of the CoachIQ approach. Study procedures were reviewed by the University of Washington Human Subjects Division (STUDY00016086) and deemed to be human subjects research that qualifies for exempt status. Participants provided informed consent prior to participation.
We partnered with the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (WWAMI) region Practice and Research Network and the Washington Association for Community Health to recruit PCOs with Hispanic patient populations and CRC screening disparities. Of the eight PCOs approached directly about participating in CoachIQ, four had the capacity and interest to participate, and the study team selected the three PCOs with the larger Hispanic patient populations for inclusion. Coaching was provided at the organization level at three PCOs located in Wyoming ( n = 1), Washington ( n = 1), and Idaho ( n = 1), and involved 4 practices. Two of the PCOs were federally qualified health centers and one was a hospital affiliated health center. We provided $1500 to each PCO to compensate them for time spent on research activities.
We worked with an organization that provides PF support to Washington state PCOs to improve CRC screening to identify and engage PCOs for the non-equivalent comparison group. Of the five PCOs approached to participate, three had the interest and capacity to share CRC screening data for the study. The three PCOs received coaching support during the same time period as the CoachIQ intervention. The three non-equivalent comparison group PCOs were federally qualified health centers and included 24 practices across three organizations providing care in Washington. Coaching support was provided at the organization level. We provided $500 to each comparison group PCO to compensate them for time spent on study-specific evaluation activities.
Throughout the study period (January 2023 – December 2023), the two CoachIQ practice facilitators kept field notes on their work with practices. At the end of each month, the two CoachIQ practice facilitators and the one comparison group practice facilitator completed a survey about coaching and QI activities. The survey was developed collaboratively with all three practice facilitators to include standard practice facilitator activities along with coaching elements related to CPD, such as whether the facilitator worked with the PCOs to understand how QI activities were expected to affect a prioritized barrier. The three practice facilitators received standardized instructions on how to interpret and respond to the survey questions. A copy of the survey is available in supplementary materials.
For each study site, we requested data on CRC screening rates from the electronic health records at two time points, the beginning and ending of coaching as was feasible for the participating practices. Data included CRC screening rates overall, among Hispanic patients, and among non-Hispanic patients. Additionally, we collected descriptive data about the participating PCOs and demographics information about their patient populations. Patient demographics data came from electronic health records data prior to the start of coaching (January 2024 for intervention practices, 2019 for comparison group practices).
For our qualitative analysis, we used a basic qualitative descriptive approach [ 19 ] as the aim of the qualitative work was to identify and illustrate case examples of the CoachIQ approach as experienced by participating PCOs. A trained and experienced qualitative analyst (BI) independently reviewed and hand-coded practice facilitator field notes for examples of the facilitator and PCO applying CPDs to the QI work. The qualitative analyst created data displays of poignant examples of the application of the CoachIQ approach and reviewed these displays with the larger study team (AC, AJ, and RM) to reflect on their accurate representation of the data and experiences of practices.
For our quantitative analysis, we conducted descriptive analyses. We determined the baseline CRC screening disparity by calculating the difference between the non-Hispanic CRC screening rate and the Hispanic CRC screening rate. We compared baseline data with post-coaching data for the CoachIQ and comparison PF organizations. We also conducted descriptive analyses of participant PCO descriptive information and practice facilitator monthly coaching activity data.
Each CoachIQ organization received approximately 12 months of QI support from two practice facilitators (one lead and one support) and a clinical advisor, who were also members of the study team. The CoachIQ organizations had no prior coaching on improving CRC screening. CoachIQ practice facilitators had 8 years (BI) and 3 years (AJ) of prior coaching experience. The clinical advisor was a family medicine physician (AC). The CoachIQ study team also collaborated with an implementation scientist with expertise in CPDs (RM) who trained the CoachIQ practice facilitators and clinical advisor on the CPD methodology and contributed to the CoachIQ program development.
The CoachIQ program design was derived from creating a CPD model specific to decreasing CRC screening disparities in primary care (Fig. 1 ) and blending that model into standard PF approaches. The structure of the CoachIQ program was an adaptation of key elements of study team members’ (BI and AC) prior QI work around supporting PCOs in implementing system based changes to improve opioid prescribing, The Six Building Blocks, particularly the use of three facilitation stages: prepare, implement, and sustain [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. The CoachIQ program incorporated an equity focus and used CPDs to inform the strategies used in three practice facilitation stages as outlined in Table 1 and detailed below.
CoachIQ Causal Pathway Diagram
The first stage, Prepare, occurred during the first four months of the intervention and involved building the QI team, assessing baseline, and prioritizing the work. When building their QI team, PCOs were encouraged to consider including members who represented the targeted underserved demographics, Hispanic patients, and representatives with knowledge and experience about CRC screening. To assess the baseline, the QI team completed a survey and individual members participated in interviews with the practice facilitator to assess current CRC screening practices, past improvement activities, existing barriers to screening, potential strategies to overcome those barriers, and factors that might support or impede the success of those strategies. To prioritize work, the QI team participated in a coaching meeting to discuss results of the baseline assessment and identify and prioritize barriers faced by their Hispanic patient populations, and QI improvement strategies to try that could potentially overcome those prioritized barriers. The practice facilitator used CPDs to lead the team in vetting the effectiveness of alternative strategies by assessing (1) whether strategies were clearly matched with the barriers by facilitating discussions on how the strategy would address the barrier (i.e., the mechanism), (2) whether strategies were feasible by considering the preconditions for a strategy to work and factors that could moderate how well it works, and (3) what early indicators would signal whether the strategy was working to reduce the prioritized barrier. The final product of the meeting was a CPD Action Plan outlining steps to achieve “SMART” (specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and timebound) goals and outlining the relationships in the related CPD figures guiding the work.
During the seven months of the second stage, Implement, the QI team implemented the work prioritized during Stage 1 using CPD Action Plans developed at each monthly QI meeting with the practice facilitator. During monthly meetings, the facilitator used the CPD to guide the PCO in assessing their progress, reviewing early outcomes and equitable screening data, and adjusting implementation plans, as needed. A key aspect of the CoachIQ practice facilitator’s role was to interrogate whether QI team implementation activities were targeting the prioritized barriers identified during CPD assessment work in Stage 1. CoachIQ practice facilitators also aided the QI team in investigating why QI strategy implementation was struggling by checking in on the necessary strategy preconditions (e.g., clinicians available to attend the health equity training) or moderators (e.g., training materials relevant to clinician CRC screening work) that might be reducing the effectiveness of the strategy. Finally, CoachIQ practice facilitators worked with the QI team to review early outcome measures that were expected as a precursor to eventual decreasing of CRC screening disparities.
During the last month of the program, the practice facilitator worked with the QI team to assess progress and what facilitated and held back the work. The practice facilitator met with the team to discuss work left to accomplish, and helped the PCO make a sustainability plan to continue the work.
Throughout the study period, each PCO in the comparison group received approximately 12 months of QI support from one practice facilitator. The comparison group practice facilitator had 7 years of prior coaching experience and was not affiliated with the study. The comparison group practices had been receiving coaching on improving CRC screening for several years prior to the study start and were focused on reestablishing effective CRC screening practices and sustaining those still in effect. The QI strategies for the study period were chosen by PCOs from a list of EBIs provided by the practice facilitator. PF support involved quarterly meetings where the practice facilitator checked in on QI activities, worked through challenges, and connected the QI team to resources. There was also financial support available to these practices for staffing, patient navigation, population tracking, and patient colonoscopies.
The characteristics of the CoachIQ and comparison group PF organizations are shown in Table 2 . CoachIQ PCOs ranged in size from 11 to 36 primary care clinicians. The comparison group PCOs ranged in size from 19 to 74 primary care clinicians. All CoachIQ PCOs and comparison group PCOs reported using clinician reminders as an evidence-based CRC screening intervention at the start of the study. Two organizations in the comparison group and one organization in CoachIQ reported efforts to reduce structural barriers to CRC screening.
Each participating PCO reported patient characteristics for the population of patients eligible for CRC screening. In the CoachIQ PCOs, the proportion of patients identified as Hispanic ranged from 8 to 13%, and in the comparison group organizations, the range was 4–6% Hispanic. At one CoachIQ PCO, the proportion of patients without health insurance was 20%. At the remaining CoachIQ and comparison group organizations, the proportions of patients without health insurance ranged from 1 to 9%.
The two CoachIQ practice facilitators and the single comparison group practice facilitator entered data each month to record the coaching activities. For each activity, we calculated the proportion of months during the 12-month coaching cycle that the practice facilitator reported doing the coaching activity. CoachIQ practice facilitators reported discussing equity in the majority (75%) of monthly coaching encounters, compared to the comparison group practice facilitator who reported discussing equity in only 25% of coaching encounters (Table 3 ). The CoachIQ practice facilitators also reported that they facilitated prioritization of QI activities, facilitated development of an action plan, reviewed process steps and measures, and reviewed CRC screening disparities during a higher proportion of coaching encounters, compared to the comparison group practice facilitator. The comparison group practice facilitator reported providing technical support or education, connecting to others doing similar work, and sharing relevant resources at a higher proportion of coaching encounters than the CoachIQ practice facilitators.
In addition to examining the differences reported by practice facilitators in monthly surveys about their coaching activities, we developed two case examples of how CoachIQ practice facilitators used CPDs to guide the selection and implementation of QI activities with an equity focus (see the two example CPDs in supplementary materials).
The first example involved a PCO QI team that needed to adjust their implementation approach to meet a precondition for the strategy to be effective. This PCO planned to use educational brochures to address the barriers of (1) Hispanic patients’ limited knowledge of the need for CRC screening and (2) clinicians forgetting to recommend screening. The PCO QI team theorized that the brochures would help Hispanic patients learn about the importance of CRC screening and motivate them to ask about screening during busy appointments with their primary care clinician. During a CoachIQ meeting, the QI team reported that they received the brochures and placed them in their waiting rooms. The CoachIQ practice facilitator used the CPD to prompt the team to think through whether this deployment of educational brochures would be effective. It emerged that an important precondition for the strategy to be effective might not be met. If the brochures were only in the waiting rooms, it was unclear whether the patients would notice and access them prior to their appointments. Therefore, the team adjusted their implementation approach to instead incorporate giving the brochures to patients during rooming, which would make it much more likely that the brochures would address their intended barriers and outcomes.
The CoachIQ practice facilitator also helped the QI teams use early outcome measures to confirm the strength of the strategy and barrier match. The second CPD example was for a practice using targeted patient reminders to address two prioritized barriers: (1) Patients not knowing about or forgetting about needing to be screened, (2) clinicians forgetting to recommend screening. During each CoachIQ meeting with the practice facilitator, the early outcome measure of number of Hispanic patients due for screening without a referral in the chart was monitored. This PCO made targeted outreach calls to Hispanic patients who were due for screening to encourage them to schedule an appointment and to enter information in their chart highlighting their CRC screening gap. After implementing targeted patient reminders, the number of Hispanic patients without referrals who were due for screening went from 188 in May 2023 to 16 in October 2023, serving as a strong initial indicator that the strategy was working as planned.
Figure 2 summarizes the pre/post change in the primary outcomes for the CoachIQ PCOs and the comparison group PCOs: mean CRC screening rate overall, Hispanic CRC screening rate, and non-Hispanic CRC screening rate. While the mean overall CRC screening rate in the comparison PCOs increased from 34 to 41%, the mean CRC screening rate for Hispanic patients did not increase from 30% after the period of coaching. In contrast, the mean overall CRC screening rate in the CoachIQ PCOs increased from 41 to 44%, and the mean CRC screening rate for Hispanic patients increased from 35 to 39%.
Pre-Post Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates
In Table 4 , we report the baseline CRC screening rate, change in overall CRC screening rate, baseline CRC screening disparity, and change in CRC screening disparity for each of the CoachIQ and comparison group PCOs. The change in disparity for the CoachIQ PCOs ranged from growing by 1% in PCO 3 to reducing by 6% in PCO 1. In the comparison group, the change in disparity ranged from growing by 2% in PCO 1 to growing by 22% in PCO 3.
This study designed and piloted the CoachIQ program which utilized a novel application of CPD within a PF model for decreasing CRC screening disparities. CoachIQ practice facilitators worked with PCO QI teams to prioritize barriers to equitable CRC screening and design and implement QI strategies to overcome those barriers. We demonstrate that CPD can be utilized to guide practice facilitators and PCOs in their efforts to decrease disparities in CRC screening. CPD provides an operational approach to principles for equitable QI outlined by Galifant et al., [ 23 ] including using tools for health disparity tracking and understanding contextual differences when planning implementation. The practice facilitators used CPD to help guide QI teams in selecting QI activities (i.e., strategies) that would be feasible within their context considering existing circumstances (i.e., preconditions and moderators) and those that had a clear relationship to prioritized local barriers to equitable CRC screening (i.e., outcome). The practice facilitators also took time to explore how the QI teams anticipated the activities would work to affect the barriers (i.e., mechanisms), and how to measure what the QI teams expected to see as an early result of implementation (i.e., early outcomes). Through the CoachIQ approach, the practice facilitators tracked the details of the CPDs for QI teams, prompting them through targeted questions during meetings to fine tune their QI implementation. One potential strength of the CoachIQ model is that the integration of CPD methods was accomplished with the practice facilitators, rather than direct training in the method to PCO QI teams. PCO QI teams may not have sufficient time or expertise to translate implementation science methods into actionable QI activities, [ 24 ] and the CoachIQ model provides a means to bring implementation science to PCOs without the burden of them having to identify and learn these methods.
In this study, CoachIQ practice facilitators recorded completing several activities at a greater proportion of coaching encounters compared to the comparison group practice facilitator: (1) incorporated identified barriers and prioritized activities into Action Plans for the PCOs, (2) kept equity at the forefront of coaching, and (3) consistently assessed progress to check that QI activities were having the intended effect. These activities align with the core components of CPD, suggesting practice facilitators maintained fidelity to the CoachIQ approach. Few published studies describing PF programs provide detailed data about the activities performed by practice facilitators [ 25 ]. Our approach for collecting this data was assessed as feasible by the practice facilitators and may contribute to future efforts to better characterize and compare PF approaches. Demonstrating feasible measurement and documentation of implementation strategies is a critical need in the field of implementation science [ 26 ].
QI efforts have historically failed to address, or even exacerbated health disparities [ 27 , 28 , 29 ]. In our study, among the three practices receiving support through CoachIQ, all three increased their CRC screening rates overall, and two practices successfully reduced CRC screening disparities for Hispanic patients. In the comparison practices, there was an increase in the Hispanic/Non-Hispanic CRC screening disparity in all three practices, despite improved overall CRC screening rates. Although we are uncertain as to why all comparison group practices increased CRC screening disparities, including a significant increase in disparities in comparison group PCO 3, we hypothesize that without intentionally focusing on equity through the QI process, there is risk for further exacerbating disparities [ 30 ]. A strength of the CoachIQ program is using both the dynamic role of the practice facilitator and a systematic approach (CPD) to potentially help the PCO engage with equity as an ongoing practice rather than a QI project finished after one cycle [ 23 ]. Improving health equity requires a systematic approach that aligns well with the CPD approach [ 31 ].
Though we did compare CRC screening outcomes for organizations receiving support from CoachIQ practice facilitators to the CRC screening outcomes for organizations receiving standard coaching through an ongoing practice facilitation program, these two groups were non-equivalent. Despite the lack of equivalency, the detailed description of the CoachIQ program and its incorporation of CPD into practice facilitation, and the demonstration that practices receiving CoachIQ support made progress in improving equitable CRC screening contributes important data on a promising implementation science approach to decreasing CRC screening disparities. The organizations in the two arms received different financial incentives, which is a potential cofounder of the effect observed. For the pilot study, CoachIQ teams were encouraged to include Hispanic patients. Future versions of the program could go farther and include patients more intentionally as part of the baseline assessment process, and throughout implementation.
The CoachIQ program merges two implementation science methodologies, PF and CPD, to help PCOs focus QI efforts on improving CRC screening while also reducing screening disparities. Results from this pilot study demonstrate key differences between CoachIQ facilitation and standard facilitation, and point to the potential of the CoachIQ approach in decreasing disparities in CRC screening.
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Coaching to Improve Colorectal Cancer Screening Equity
Causal Pathway Diagram
Colorectal Cancer
Evidence Based Intervention
Primary Care Organization
Practice Facilitation
Quality Improvement
United States
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Funding for this study comes from the National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute (5P50CA244432-03).
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Brooke Ike, Ashley Johnson & Allison Cole
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AC conceived the original research idea. BI, AJ, RM, and AC contributed to the design and development of the study. BI, AJ, and AC took field notes. BI and AC conducted the analyses with additional input from AJ and RM. BI, AJ, and AC drafted the manuscript. All authors read, edited, and approved the final manuscript.
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Supplementary Material 1: Additional File 1: CoachIQ Causal Pathway Diagram Example 1. Description of data: A diagram outlining the first case study example of applying the Causal Pathway Diagram in the CoachIQ program.
Supplementary Material 2: Additional File 2: CoachIQ Causal Pathway Diagram Example 2. Description of data: A diagram outlining the second case study example of applying the Causal Pathway Diagram in the CoachIQ program.
Supplementary Material 3: Additional File 3: CoachIQ Practice Facilitator Monthly Survey. Description of data: A monthly electronic survey practice facilitators completed about coaching activities conducted with each primary care organization during the prior month.
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Ike, B., Johnson, A., Meza, R. et al. Integrating causal pathway diagrams into practice facilitation to address colorectal cancer screening disparities in primary care. BMC Health Serv Res 24 , 1007 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11471-5
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Make sure they have enough similarities and differences to make a meaningful comparison. 2. Brainstorm key points: Once you have chosen the subjects, brainstorm the key points you want to compare and contrast. These could include characteristics, features, themes, or arguments related to each subject. 3.
When writing a point-by-point compare and contrast essay, it's essential, to begin with, an introduction paragraph that provides background information on the subjects. The essay's body should then be structured around each paragraph, focusing on a single point and providing a detailed analysis of how the elements are similar or different.
Example essay. Below is a compare and contrast essay. This essay uses the point-by-point structure. Click on the different areas (in the shaded boxes to the right) to highlight the different structural aspects in this essay, i.e. similarities, differences, and structure words.
Research and brainstorm the points that make them similar and different. Create and add your main statement and claim. Create a Venn diagram and show the similarities and differences. Choose the design through which you will present your arguments and claims. Create compare and contrast essay outline.
A typical point-by-point compare/contrast essay has three parts or sections: an introduction paragraph, a body section, and a conclusion. The essay should have at least three body paragraphs. You can structure your essay as outlined below: Introduction. Introduce Items or subjects (works/ people, places, things, objects.
Matt Ellis. Updated on June 2, 2022 Students. A compare-and-contrast essay is a style of essay that points out the similarities and differences between two or more subjects. It's ideal for showing what separates and unites related things or concepts, particularly if the subjects are often confused for each other or unjustly lumped together.
Animals Compare and Contrast Essay Examples Compare and Contrast Paragraph—Dogs and Cats. Sample lines: "Researchers have found that dogs have about twice the number of neurons in their cerebral cortexes than what cats have. Specifically, dogs had around 530 million neurons, whereas the domestic cat only had 250 million neurons.
In the block method, you cover each of the overall subjects you're comparing in a block. You say everything you have to say about your first subject, then discuss your second subject, making comparisons and contrasts back to the things you've already said about the first. Your text is structured like this: Subject 1. Point of comparison A.
Free Compare and Contrast Essay Examples. 333 samples. A compare and contrast essay explores two personalities, ideas, or other comparable items regarding their similarities and differences. You can limit yourself to highlighting point-by-point the diverging features or add a paragraph on their likeness.
Compare and Contrast Essay Outline. The point-by-point method uses a standard five-paragraph essay structure: Introduction (contains the attention-getter, preview of main points, and thesis) Body ...
Well, since compare and contrast essay examples rely heavily on factual analysis, there are two outline methods that can help you organize your facts. You can use the block method, or point-by-point method, to write a compare and contrast essay outline. ... Your thesis statement should clearly state the main points of comparison and contrast ...
Second Body Paragraph. Discuss point #2 of both subjects, comparing and contrasting the manifestation of. this point in each subject. Adjusting for inflation, The Lord of the Rings trilogy made $5.4 million at the box office but The Hobbit trilogy only made $3.8 million. Third Body Paragraph. Discuss point #3 of both subjects,
There are two main ways that you can organize your compare-contrast paragraph: 1. Block Method. When using the block method, begin by discussing all the main points about the first topic you are discussing, then move on and make all the points you want to make about the second topic (and then the third topic, etc., if you are comparing and ...
Contrast. Emphasizes the differences between two things, ideas, concepts, or points of view. ison/Contrast Essay:The two items should make sense to. compare or contrast. For example, you might compare two baseball teams, but not a football team. and a baseball team. As you select your topic, keep in mind that you won't merely be describing ...
Point-by-point comparison and contrast uses a separate section or paragraph for each point. Point #1 for your paper could be information about the ... Sample Compare and Contrast Essays The Senate and the House of Representatives The government of the United States is made up of three branches: the legislative branch, the executive ...
One of the most common is the comparison/contrast essay, in which you focus on the ways in which certain things or ideas—usually two of them—are similar to (this is the comparison) and/or different from (this is the contrast) one another. ... I might devote a whole paragraph to how each point relates to each item. For example, I might have ...
A point-by-point compare and contrast essay is a type of essay where the writer compares and contrasts two or more subjects by discussing a specific aspect or point of each subject in relation to the other. Here is an example of how a point-by-point compare and contrast essay might be structured: I. Introductory Paragraph
A compare and contrast block method essay will begin with an introductory paragraph, the same as that used in the point-by-point method. The topic will be introduced, along with both subjects ...
The compare-and-contrast essay starts with a thesis that clearly states the two subjects that are to be compared, contrasted, or both and the reason for doing so. The thesis could lean more toward comparing, contrasting, or both. Remember, the point of comparing and contrasting is to provide useful knowledge to the reader.
4. Outline your body paragraphs based on point-by-point comparison. This is the more common method used in the comparison and contrast essay. [6] You can write a paragraph about each characteristic of both locations, comparing the locations in the same paragraph.
Point By Point Compare And Contrast Essay Writing a Point by Point Compare and Contrast Essay can be a challenging task that requires careful planning, organization, and critical thinking. The complexity arises from the need to analyze and present similarities and differences between two or more subjects in a structured manner. Here are some of the difficulties one might encounter while ...
Learn this method for writing a Comparison/Contrast Essay. The video covers the structure of this method and provides examples. Here are some more great thi...
Writers using point by point pattern deal with each point of comparison/contrast in an order that makes sense given the two things being compared. However, under each point, the same side always needs to come first. Point by Point. Introduction leading to Thesis; Body Topic sentence for Point 1 Side 1; Side 2; Topic sentence for Point 2 Side 1 ...
4. Organize your comparison You have a choice of two basic methods for organizing a comparative essay: the point-by-point method or the block method. The point-by-point method examines one aspect of comparison in each paragraph and usually alternates back and forth between the two objects, texts, or ideas being compared.
Good Compare and Contrast Essay Topics At this point, it might be a good idea to research the top topics for such essays in 2024. Be sure to choose a topic that you can justify to both sides. Simply focusing on one side of comparison or contrast will not solve any of your problems. Some of the good compare and contrast essay ideas are listed here:
In contrast, the mean overall CRC screening rate at the CoachIQ PCOs increased from 41 to 44%, and the mean CRC screening rate for Hispanic patients increased from 35 to 39%. The CoachIQ program merges two implementation science methodologies, practice facilitation and causal pathway diagrams, to help PCOs focus quality improvement efforts on ...