Compare and Contrast Essay

1
Compare and Contrast Essay

• AP World History

2
Topic Sentences (What to do)

• Intoduce each paragraph. (does your first
  sentence and last sentence in each paragraph
  match up?)
• Brevity Long, rambling sentences can be
  confusing.
• Clarity Likewise, dont beat around the bush.
  Say exactly what you want to say. Try not to
  engage in wordplay and dont speak in vague
  terms.
• Precision Dont be too broad when introducing
  the topic that youre going to discuss.

3
What not to do (Topic Sentences)

• Dont use facts as topic sentences. Remember, you
  are using the topic sentence to introduce a point
  you are trying to make, or your opinion.
• Dont just talk about the what talk about the
  why as well. That is, dont just think about
  the effect, but its cause.

4
Compare and Contrast
5
Rubric

• Comparison means to say what is the same and what
  is different.
• This says at LEAST one, you need THREE.
• Rule of 3!
• Analyze means to say why.
• Why is there a difference or similarity?

6
The Question
7
Formatting the Essay

• You only get points for pointing out the
  similarities and differences.
• Organization is very important!
• Consider the following examples

8
Example 1

• This is not a good idea.
• What is bad about this example?
• ANSWER
• Where are you going to compare and contrast?

9
Example 2

• This can work, but not always.
• Why would this not always work?

10
Example 3

• This requires a lot of prewriting.
• If you have time, do this, but do not use the
  broad social, economic or political categories.
• Narrow the categories to themes and concepts.
• Why would you want to narrow them?

11
Organize Your Essay Before Writingexample
Thesis Address question, use groups, include
time period if noted and give defining
categories.
Political (in a more defining category) Comparing
and Contrasting
Political (in a more defining category) Comparing
and contrasting
Political (in a more defining category) Comparing
and Contrasting
Evidence
Evidence
Evidence
Conclusion with some historical context
12
Common Problems

• Describing the two things or events separately
  (with a lot of evidence) but never comparing
  and/or contrasting.
• You will not earn any points for describing.
• Confusing dates, people, and places
• Running out of time and not finishing

13
General Problemsfor all essays

• Not addressing the prompt.
• Similar but not different.
• Losing focus.
• Giving up.
• Never, never, never give up!

14
Comparative Statements

• AP World History

15
How are Comparative Statements written?

• Example A
• The British ruled their empire through local
  intermediaries. France created a bureaucracy
  staffed by French soldiers and civilian
  servants.
• Example B
• The British ruled their empire through local
  intermediaries. Where as France created a
  bureaucracy staffed by French soldiers and
  civilian servants.
• Do you notice the difference?