Select one of the topics below and write a compare and/or contrast essay, using a block or point- by-point format. Be sure to use plenty of concrete details to support your thesis and your main points. Be sure to narrow the topic to an appropriate size for an essay of this length.
Topics:
1. Two friends or relatives
2. Camosun College and your last school
3. Two sports
4. Two art forms
5. You today and you five years ago
6. You and one of your parents/two of your parents or guardians
7. How you expect your life to be similar or different from the lives of your
parents/guardians
8. Two places you have lived (could be houses, neighbourhoods, cities, countries)
9. Two spaces (parks, pubs, libraries, etc.)
Tips:
Make and outline before starting writing.
Please proofread before submitting! Take time to rid your essay of unnecessary errors so those fabulous ideas can shine through.
Content Compare and/or contrast items are logical; the same criteria are used for each item; the format chosen is sensible; ideas are insightful.
Thesis Takes a position and clearly states what you are setting out to explore/prove in your essay.
Evidence and Support Specific and persuasive reasons are clearly stated in support of thesis; detailed examples support and/or illustrate points.
Explanations of Evidence and Support Ideas are rigorously explained or explored; the link between examples and ideas is explained.
Spelling, Grammar, Mechanics, and Formatting There are no errors in spelling; sentences are grammatically correct; mechanics are used correctly; MLA formatting is used.
Organization Introduction provides all necessary background information; each paragraph is introduced with a topic sentence and is unified; conclusion summarizes main points and thesis in a compelling manner; information is presented in a logical order.
Word Choice, Sentence Construction, and Transitions Effective words that enhance the topic are used; sentences are varied in construction and length; transitions are used to show the relationship of ideas.
