Comparative-Essay.pptx Grade 11 (21st Century)

Comparative Essay

1. Comparative Essay

2. A comparative essay is a writing task that requires you to compare two or more items. You may be asked to compare two or more literary works, theories, arguments or historical events. In literature, a comparative essay typically asks you to write an essay comparing two works by the same writer and/or comparing two works from different authors with the same genre. For example, you may be asked to write a comparative essay comparing two plays written by William Shakespeare.  

3. Although an essay may simply state to compare two literary texts, the assumption is that you should contrast the texts as well. In other words, your comparative essay should not only compare but also contrast the literary texts, it should address the similarities and differences found within the texts.  

4. HOW TO START A GOOD COMPARATIVE ESSAY?

5. 1. Identify the Basis for Comparison In writing your comparative essay, you should first identify the basis for the comparison. The basis of comparison allows you to look for the similarities and differences between the two texts. You might be provided with an essay question or you might have to come up with your own topic. In either case you need to begin by identifying the basis for your comparison.

6. For example, an essay question might ask you to compare the representation of women in Jane Austen's “Sense and Sensibility” and in Ernest Hemingway's “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” In this example, the basis for comparison is the representation of women. If the directions only ask you to compare two literary works then you will need to develop your own basis for comparison. For example, a basis for comparison may be representations of women or minorities or theme, mood, tension or any other literary element that appears in both texts.

7. 2. Develop a List of Similarities and Differences After you identify your basis for comparison, you should examine the literary texts for similarities and differences. The similarity and differences should focus on the basis of comparison. For example, you might conclude that in “Sense and Sensibility” women appear strong willed and confident, while in “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” women appear weak willed and two-dimensional. You will use these observations, along with your list of similarities and differences, to construct your thesis statement and an outline for your comparative essay.  

8. 3. Develop a Thesis Statement Once you have compiled a list of similarities and differences and decided what you want to focus on, you should then develop your thesis statement. A thesis statement is the essay’s main argument, and it should reflect the relative significance of each similarity and difference. A good thesis statement will typically include both similarities and differences and take a certain position about which is more important.

9. 4. Develop the essay structure Essays have different structures. A comparative essay is therefore not an exception since it must be organized in such a way that the comparisons made in the essay can be easily followed by the reader.

10. The following are the MAIN METHODS in which a comparative essay can be structured.

11. Alternating Method In this method, the aspect of comparison is fully handled in one paragraph. What this means is that a full paragraph is used in explaining in detail one item of comparison in relation to the first subject. This will then be followed by another paragraph that also explicitly explains the same aspect but now it deals with the second subject. This is to say that the first and second paragraph explains the same aspect of comparison but deals with the first and second subject respectively. This therefore means the third and fourth paragraph will be dealing with another aspect but for the first and second subject respectively. This sequence goes on until the end of the essay.

12. Introduction Body Paragraphs Paragraph 1: Point 1 (Item A) Paragraph 2: Point 1 (Item B) Paragraph 3: Point 2 (Item A) Paragraph 4 ։ Point 2 (Item B) Conclusion

13. Mixed paragraphs method In this method, one paragraph is devoted to explaining the subjects comparison in one aspect. That means you need to explain one item of comparison with respect to both the subjects in a single paragraph.

14. Introduction Body Paragraphs Paragraph 1: Point 1 (Item A and B) Paragraph 2: Point 2 (Item A and B) Paragraph 3: Point 3 (Item A and B) Conclusion

15. Block Method This is quite the easiest method though very dangerous. The basic principle here is to divide the essay into two parts. The first part devoted to one subject and the second part devoted to the other subject. This means that subject one and all the items of comparison involved are explain in the first part then the second part handles only subject two. However, you should be keen to ensure that the order of the first part is strictly followed in the second part to allow for easy following and relation.

16. Introduction Body Paragraphs Paragraph 1: Item A (Point 1, 2, and 3) Paragraph 2: Item B (Point 1, 2, and 3) Conclusion