The Meaning of a Comparative Essay
It's barely comparing and contrasting two themes. As a student, you ought to know what a comparative essay entails even before beginning your paper. You need to understand what comparing means and also the meaning of contrasting. Below are detailed steps on how this type of essay should be written:
Determining if the Article is Comparative
In a school setting, the tutor may ask his/her students to directly compare to subjects or give them the freedom to determine if it's a comparative essay that is needed. This requires a lot of attention from the students to figure out what is expected of them. For instance, an economics tutor may ask students to compare the GDP growth rate from different countries or give them free rein to examine other factors such as the inflation rate or the rate of unemployment from the two countries.
H2: Defining Both Sides
Before you start writing your contentions, it is always advisable to briefly define each side individually. Please do thorough research on each one of them objectively without being judgmental. Writing a short insight regarding each side will always give your essay a much helpful introduction.
Determining the Common Ground
As you explain each side, it is always advisable to show why the two scenarios should be compared. It would be best to show all the specific areas that the essay would be based on. By so doing, the reader will be able to figure out what points of interest you are addressing. You may also state the areas you have excluded from your essay.
Reveal the Anticipated Outcome
Give the reasons as to why the two scenarios are being compared and what your expectations are. This should relate to the title of your essay.
Comparing and Contrasting
Before jumping into writing the essay's main body, it is always good to make a list of all the resemblances and variances between the two scenarios. The points written at this stage will help you form the basis of the main body.
Show your Thesis
After writing all the similarities and differences, the writer may now write their problem statement. This is usually siding on one of the two scenarios.
Writing the Main Body
There are two ways of writing the body. These are:
- Alternating pattern
- Block method
When using the alternating method, you will pick a specific point and discuss it on both sides. For each position, you will address the contributions of side A and then proceed to write the grants of front B. This should be done in the same paragraph.
Using the block method, you will discuss all the points from one side completely before proceeding to the other side. You are not supposed to make any direct comparisons when using this method.
Writing the Conclusion
Finish by giving a synopsis of the variances and similarities you outlined in the main body. It would be best if you always gave your stance on the contentions you've made.