You might use it to compare different theories and approaches you’ve encountered in your preliminary research, for example. Consider what you’re trying to accomplish with any comparisons you make, and be sure to make this clear to the reader.Ĭomparing and contrasting as a brainstorming toolĬomparing and contrasting can be a useful tool to help organize your thoughts before you begin writing any type of academic text. Every element of an essay should serve your central argument in some way. This is why it’s important to clarify the point of your comparisons by writing a focused thesis statement. However, if you contrasted pre-revolutionary France with Han-dynasty China, your reader might wonder why you chose to compare these two societies. 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.įor 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. Making effective comparisonsĪs the name suggests, comparing and contrasting is about identifying both similarities and differences. 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. 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.Ĭomparing and contrasting is also used in all kinds of academic contexts where it’s not explicitly prompted. General prompt Discuss the effects of the Great Depression in the United States. 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. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach?
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