Comparative Essays: Drawing Parallels and Contrasts for Insightful Writing
Comparative essays are a great way to show your understanding of a topic and to develop your critical thinking skills. By comparing and contrasting two or more things, you can identify the similarities and differences between them, and you can draw conclusions about their relative merits.
The art of insightful writing
Insightful writing is writing that goes beyond superficial observations. It’s writing that makes the reader think, that helps them to see things in a new way. When you write a comparative essay, you have the opportunity to be insightful by exploring the similarities and differences between two or more things in a way that is both interesting and thought-provoking.
Here are a few tips for writing insightful comparative essays:
- Choose your subjects carefully. The two or more things you compare should be similar enough that there are meaningful similarities and differences to explore, but they should also be different enough that the comparison is not superficial.
- Do your research. The more you know about your subjects, the more insightful your comparison will be. Make sure you have a good understanding of the similarities and differences between them, and be prepared to support your claims with evidence.
- Be objective. When you compare two things, it’s easy to get caught up in your own biases. Try to be as objective as possible, and let the evidence speak for itself.
- Be creative. A comparative essay is a chance to show your creativity. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different writing styles and approaches. The more creative you are, the more likely you are to engage your readers and make them think.
Finding the hidden gems in your writing
When you’re writing a comparative essay, it’s important to be on the lookout for hidden gems. These are the unexpected insights that you can only find by comparing two or more things in a new way. Here are a few tips for finding hidden gems in your writing:
2 Sakamoto uses two analogies to contrast the two styles of conversation What does she compare a Westernstyle conversation to Explain the analogy 3 What does Sakamoto compare a Japanesestyle conversation to Explain the analogy 4 In drawing the analogies Sakamoto contrasts the two styles of conversation Explain the diff erences in The Purpose of Comparison and Contrast in Writing Comparison in Writing discusses elements that are similar while contrast in Writing discusses elements that are different A compareandcontrast essay then analyzes two subjects by comparing them contrasting them or both The key to a good compareandcontrast essay is to choose two or Developing Deeper Analysis amp Insights Analysis is a central Writing skill in academic Writing Essentially analysis is what writers do
with evidence to make meaning of it While there are specific disciplinary types of analysis eg rhetorical discourse close reading etc most analysis involves zooming into evidence to understand how TIP SheetWriting A COMPARECONTRAST PAPER A compare and contrast essay examines two or more topics objects people or ideas for example comparing their similarities and contrasting their differences You may choose to focus exclusively on comparing exclusively on contrasting or on bothor your instructor may direct you to do one or bothMatt Ellis Updated on June 2 2022 Students A compareandcontrast essay is a style of essay that points out the similarities and differences between two or more subjects Its ideal for showing what separates and unites related things or concepts particularly if the
subjects are often confused for each other or unjustly lumped togetherComparative essays Printable version of Comparative Essays PDF 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 Comparing and contrasting is also used in all kinds of academic contexts where its 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 Prevent plagiarismComparison and Contrast Writing is used to show a reader the similarities
andor differences between two subjects Comparison Writing focuses on similarities ways things are alike while contrast Writing focuses on differences or ways they are not alike In order to do this the subjects chosen have to be related or share at least some
- Read your essay aloud. Sometimes, you can hear the hidden gems in your writing better when you read it aloud. Pay attention to the parts that make you think, that make you laugh, or that make you feel something. These are the parts that are likely to resonate with your readers.
- Get feedback from others. Ask a friend, family member, or teacher to read your essay and give you feedback. They may be able to spot hidden gems that you missed.
- Trust your instincts. If you think something is a hidden gem, it probably is. Don’t be afraid to include it in your essay, even if it doesn’t fit with the rest of your argument. The unexpected insights are often the most memorable.
Comparative essays are a great way to show your understanding of a topic, develop your critical thinking skills, and write insightfully. By following these tips, you can find the hidden gems in your writing and create essays that your readers will enjoy and remember.