ENC 1101: Compare / Contrast Essay Topics
Choose one of the following topics and create an outline. Make the thesis and three topic sentences complete sentences. Make the thesis a general thesis or a three-pronged thesis. The A, B, C, D’s (or details) that you will use in the body paragraphs do not have to be written in complete sentences, but the order in which they will appear in the essay should be listed on the outline.
Chose to write about only similarities or differences.
Choose semi-block OR point-by point organization for all body paragraphs. Identify which you are using to organize the compare / contrast. Be sure to use appropriate transitions. Use third person.
Have a reason, a point for comparing or contrasting.
Remember to name the subject in the thesis and topic sentences and to narrow the thesis comment in topic sentences.
Choose one of the following prompts:
Two candidates for president OR democrats and republican
How men and women approach ______________ similarly or differently
2 film characters OR two superheroes
2 pop start OR two hip hop artists
Two approaches to _________________
Two social media websites
Two tv shows or two characters in the show
Siblings
ENC 1101 Comparison / Contrast Essay (650 – 700 words)
The goal of this writing assignment is to compare two subjects OR to contrast to subjects.
Remember to use vivid details, transitions between two subjects and points when needed; and use examples. Do not use outside sources for this essay. An essay less than 650 words is considered incomplete.
Essay Format and Grading
Your essay must be titled, and it must contain a strong introductory paragraph, a well-developed body, and a conclusion. Use third person and an appropriate tense. Essay must be typed in MLA format as outlined in syllabus. Submit essay on Canvas Turn It In. In grading, special attention will be given to the following:
Purpose No major technical errors:
Title fragment, comma splice, run-on
Introduction strategies no first (I, we) or second person (you)
Document format Comma use
Thesis sentence Wordiness
Topic sentences Pronoun reference
Development of body paragraphs Shifts in number and person
Paragraph unity and cohesion Parallel structure
Conclusion strategies
Introduction (about 6 sentences): Use one or more of the introduction strategies from textbook. The thesis sentence must identify the essay’s two subjects and a reason to write about them such as favoring one, explaining both are bad or good (for example, both superheroes are interesting characters, one social media platform is better than another).
Example: Cats are much better house pets than dogs are. (opinion that favors cats)
Body paragraphs 2, 3, 4 (about 8-10 sentences):
Begin each body paragraph with a topic sentence that identifies main idea being used for compare / contrast. Be sure the topic sentence unifies with the thesis sentence by renaming both subjects in same order. Be sure to align each point (A. B. C. ) with the same point for both subjects. Be consistent each body paragraph construction with either semi-block or point-by-point.
Tie up each body paragraph with a concluding sentence that emphasizes the significance of the topic sentence but does not repeat the topic sentence.
Conclusion (6 sentences): Begin by referring back to the significance or thesis sentence. Reiterate your reason for writing the comparison or contrast. The answer to the question, So what? For example, encourage readers to take time deciding before getting a house pet; predict the future after choice has been made (the company of a calm, quiet, independent experience of a cat’s presence), etc.