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ENG 131
Compare and Contrast Essay

General information
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.
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.

Structure
There are two main ways to structure a compare and contrast essay, namely using a block
structure 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 essay. For the point-by-point structure, each similarity for one object is followed
immediately by the similarity for the other; or each difference for one object is followed
immediately by the difference for the other. Both types of structure have their merits. The block
is easier to write, while the point-by-point 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.

Block
Introduction
Object 1 – Point 1
Object 1 – Point 2
Object 1 – Point 3
Transition sentence/paragraph
Object 2 – Point 1
Object 2 – Point 2
Object 2 – Point 3
Conclusion
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Point-by-point
Introduction
Point 1
Object 1 ➤ Object 2
Point 2
Object 1 ➤ Object 2
Point 3
Object 1 ➤ Object 2
Conclusion

Compare and Contrast Structure Words

Compare
• Similarly
• Likewise
• also
• both… and…
• not only… but also…
• neither… nor…
• just like (+ noun)
• similar to (+ noun)
• to be similar (to)
• to be the same as
• to be alike
• to compare (to/with)

Examples
• Computers can be used to communicate easily, for example via email.
Similarly/Likewise, the mobile phone is a convenient tool for communication.
• Both computers and mobile phones can be used to communicate easily with other people.
• Just like the computer, the mobile phone can be used to communicate easily with other
people.
• The computer is similar to the mobile phone in the way it can be used for easy
communication.
Contrast
• However
• In contrast
• On the other hand
• while
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• whereas
• but
• to differ from
• to be different (from)
• to be dissimilar to
• to be unlike

Examples
• Computers, although increasingly small, are not always easy to carry from one place to
another. However, the mobile phone can be carried with ease.
• Computers are generally not very portable, whereas the mobile phone is.
• Computers differ from mobile phones in their lack of portability.
• Computers are unlike mobile phones in their lack of portability.

Criteria for comparison/contrast

• Aaron is tall and strong. In contrast, Bruce is handsome and very intelligent.

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).

• Aaron and Bruce differ in four ways. The first difference is height. Aaron is tall, while
Bruce is short. A second difference is strength. Aaron is strong. In contrast, Bruce is
weak. A third difference is appearance. Aaron, who is average looking, differs from Bruce,
who is handsome. The final difference is intelligence. Aaron is of average intelligence.
Bruce, on the other hand, is very intelligent.

PTO

Below is a sample of a compare and contrast essay. This essay uses the point-by-point structure
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Note: the point is in bold, and then Object 1 is mentioned with regard to the point then Object
2 is mentioned with regard to the point.

Methods of communication used today and 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, nowadays 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.