SUU English 101 :
Practice with Comparing and Contrasting
OK, onliners, here's your task for today: In a substantial paragraph, make a point about the differences between what people think of a group to which you belong and the truth about the group as you see it.
Your audience will be me and other independent study students.
Tips for success
The real trick to succeeding in writing any kind of comparison or contrast is to figure out WHY you want to look at differences or similarities. It might help to realize that this is the same sort of process you must go through on an everyday basis. You must constantly make choices: what to buy, where to live or work, what to study, whom to vote for, and even what to eat for dinner.
Almost every choice requires you to evaluate people, ideas, or things by comparing and /or contrasting them.
You may use a comparison and contrast essay:
- to assert a point about the significance of the differences you've
observed between two people, place, things or ideas.
- to show that one person, place, thing, or idea is better than
another.
Other helpful hints:
- Begin your comparison and/or contrast with a topic sentence (for a
paragraph) or a thesis statement (for an essay) that makes a significant point.
- Don't just say that two things are similar or different!
- Also, be careful about oversimplifying. Few subjects are completely
identical or entirely different. It's fine to say that sailing a boat is like steering a car,
but show the differences, unless you want your readers to drown. Or, it's fine to say
that car A is better than car B, but don't overgeneralize and say that car B has nothing good about it.
- Finally, BE SPECIFIC. Even in a paragraph, there's room to give
brief examples of what you mean.
Organization:
You have at least two organizational plans open to you when you
compare and contrast, whole-to-whole and part-to-part:
-
Discuss everything about one side of the contrast first. Then discuss
everything about the second side. Just be sure you raise the same points in the same order. Here's an example by Scott Forsyth, who briefly describes the characteristics often ascribed to music majors before he goes on to undercut those stereotypes one after another.
Have you ever walked past the Music Building on the campus of
Southern Utah University and wondered, "What kind of freaks live in there?" And
have you noticed that people go in but never seem to come out? Since, I'm one of
those Music Major freaks, I feel qualified to point out that we have been fighting a
stereotype for the past eight years on our beloved campus. We have been told that we don't work hard, don't give anything back to the school, and never have events for the student body to attend. Quite the contrary is true. The average music major spends15 hours a week practicing his or her instrument for the twelve-plus concerts performed eachquarter. Over the past two years, the SUU Band has performed at many elite ceremonies, including the Inauguration Ceremony for Governor Leavitt. The students in the Music Department have tons of school pride and spirit and have
performed at all of the football games this fall. No wonder I am very proud to be a
music major!
Part-to-Part
Discuss both sides of each topic as you go along. Just make sure you
raise the same side of the contrast first. Here's an example written by Julie Fotheringham. Notice that she asserts a particular stereotype and then explains what's wrong with it IMMEDIATELY before she goes on to the next stereotype.
When people think of gymnasts they often picture anorexic little girls who are pushed too hard by dictating coaches. That is a harsh stereotype that is only true in very few cases. There are some gymnasts who fall into eating disorders because of the pressure to look good when competing in a leotard. But most of the gymnastics clubs teach their athletes to eat a healthy balanced diet, and watch for cases of anorexia or bulimia. It is also assumed that gymnasts are forced to train for too long and are pushed to work through injuries that may cause further damage. The truth is that most gymnasts are pushed by their own motivation and dedication, and coaches know to let an injury rest. Opposed to what people who are not in the sport think,gymnastics is a healthy, self image building activity.
Transitions
Transitional words helpful in comparing ideas: also, as well as, both
each of, in the same way, neither, similarly, the same, too, likewise.
Transitional words helpful in contrasting ideas: although, but,
however, despite, instead of, nevertheless, nor, on the other hand, though, unlike,
while.
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