Expository EssayExpository EssayInstructions for the Comparison or Contrast Essay

Do I want this car … ?

Do I want this car … ?

… or do I want that

other car?

… or do I want that

other car?

Do I want this guy … ?

Do I want this guy … ? … or do I

want that guy?

… or do I want that

guy?

Do I want to visit Egypt on my next vacation

… ?

Do I want to visit Egypt on my next vacation

… ?

… or do I want to go to Las

Vegas?

… or do I want to go to Las

Vegas?

Do I want to eat something

healthy… ?

Do I want to eat something

healthy… ?

… or do I want something

bad?

… or do I want something

bad?

Understand what comparison or contrast requires you to do.Understand what comparison or contrast requires you to do.

Always choose two equal items—two cars, two vacations, two sports stars—not two unequal items, like a car and an octopus.

Next, decide if you want to compare or contrast as your primary strategy. The essay should be 80/20 in favor of one strategy, not 50/50.

Your job is to interest the reader. Choose points to discuss that are not immediately obvious.

Now let’s test your understanding . . .

A baby is like a vacuum cleaner.A baby is like a vacuum cleaner.

WRONG!WRONG!

Even though my little brother Fred is 20 years my junior, he and I have much in common.

Even though my little brother Fred is 20 years my junior, he and I have much in common.Yeah, Yeah, baby!baby!

My sister and I look alike, have common hobbies, and enjoy the same foods.

My sister and I look alike, have common hobbies, and enjoy the same foods.

Boring!Boring!

Even though Venus and Serena Williams are both professional tennis stars, they differ in their opinions about men, movies, and music.

Even though Venus and Serena Williams are both professional tennis stars, they differ in their opinions about men, movies, and music.

Excellent!Excellent!

Make the comparison or contrast interesting.Make the comparison or contrast interesting.

Be sure that your essay has a Be sure that your essay has a purposepurpose. Ask . Ask yourself this important question: Why would yourself this important question: Why would anyone want to read this comparison or anyone want to read this comparison or contrast?contrast?Consider giving the essay a Consider giving the essay a specific specific audienceaudience. Imagine the essay is a . Imagine the essay is a letterletter to a to a specific person.specific person.

Dear Mom and Dad,

My current car is a death trap! Do you want me to be the reason I-4 traffic is at a standstill? For this reason, I want you to consider helping me pay for my dream car, a 2011 Honda Accord …

Pick a pattern for your essay.Pick a pattern for your essay.

Pattern A is a typical 5-paragraph essay.

The thesis statement will read like this:

Because of X, Y, and Z, Subject A is similar to [or different from] Subject B.

Each body paragraph will discuss both Subject A and Subject B.

IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction

All about All about Point XPoint XAll about All about Point XPoint X

All about All about Point YPoint YAll about All about Point YPoint Y

All about All about Point ZPoint ZAll about All about Point ZPoint Z

ConclusionConclusionConclusionConclusion

I.Point XA. Subject A

1.Detail 12.Detail 23.Detail 3

B. Subject B1.Detail 12.Detail 23.Detail 3

I.Point XA. Subject A

1.Detail 12.Detail 23.Detail 3

B. Subject B1.Detail 12.Detail 23.Detail 3

Roman numerals address the X, Y, and Z from the thesis statement.

Capital letter A is always for the first subject; capital letter B is always for the second subject.

A detail for Subject A must correspond to a detail for Subject B.

Format the Pattern A outline correctly.Format the Pattern A outline correctly.

I. Point XA. Gorillas in

the Mist1. 2. 3.

B. Aliens1. 2. 3.

I. Point XA. Gorillas in

the Mist1. 2. 3.

B. Aliens1. 2. 3.

II. Point YII. Point YA.A. Gorillas in Gorillas in

the Mistthe Mist1.1. 2.2. 3.3.

B.B. AliensAliens1.1. 2.2. 3.3.

II. Point YII. Point YA.A. Gorillas in Gorillas in

the Mistthe Mist1.1. 2.2. 3.3.

B.B. AliensAliens1.1. 2.2. 3.3.

Thesis statement: The two Sigourney Weaver movies, Aliens and Gorillas in the Mist, have three important points of comparison [or contrast]: X, Y, and Z.

Thesis statement: The two Sigourney Weaver movies, Aliens and Gorillas in the Mist, have three important points of comparison [or contrast]: X, Y, and Z.

III. Point ZIII. Point ZA.A. Gorillas in Gorillas in

the Mistthe Mist1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

B.B. AliensAliens1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

III. Point ZIII. Point ZA.A. Gorillas in Gorillas in

the Mistthe Mist1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

B.B. AliensAliens1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

Decide the topic for your actual essay:Decide the topic for your actual essay:Your comparison/contrast essay will discuss the similarities/differences between the Disney version of Cinderella or Snow White and the Brothers Grimm or Anne Sexton version or the Vietnamese Cinderella.

DisneyDisneyDisneyDisney VSBrothers Grimm,Brothers Grimm,

Anne Sexton, Anne Sexton, oror

““The Story of Tam and The Story of Tam and CamCam””

Brothers Grimm,Brothers Grimm,Anne Sexton, Anne Sexton,

oror““The Story of Tam and The Story of Tam and

CamCam””

Consider these points of comparison or contrast:Consider these points of comparison or contrast:

CharactersCharacters

AnimalsAnimals

Costume and settingCostume and setting

ViolenceViolence

Parents and step-parentsParents and step-parents

LessonsLessons

Reading and viewingReading and viewing

Remember that you needa purpose for the comparison / contrast. So decide which fairytale version you would share with a specific child.

Title:Title: CinderellaCinderellaDirectors:Directors: Clyde Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Jackson, and Hamilton LuskeHamilton LuskeStudio:Studio: Walt Walt Disney PicturesDisney PicturesYear:Year: 1950 1950

Title: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Director: David Hand

Studio: Walt Disney Pictures

Year: 1937

Your two movie options:Your two movie options:

Add support with direct quotations.Add support with direct quotations.

First, introduce the quotation with an introductory tag. The Queen says, … According to “Little Snow White,” …

Then use the exact words from the source in quotation marks.

You can make small changes with brackets like these: [ ] You can omit chunks of text with ellipses, three periods in a row

where you have removed words in the middle or at the end.

Follow with an in-text citation [aka parenthetical reference]

If you have one or more authors, use the name(s) of the author(s) in parentheses: (Grimm and Grimm)

If you do not have an author, use the abbreviated title of the work in parentheses: (“The Story”)

For a poem, use line number(s): (line 8) or (lines 7-9)

Format the quotations like this:Format the quotations like this:

According to _____ [story or poem’s title], “Exact words” (In-text citation).

__________ says, “Exact words” (In-text citation).

According to “Little Snow White,” our heroine “was as beautiful as the day, and more beautiful than the Queen herself” (Grimm and Grimm).

The queen says, “[B]ring me her heart … and I will salt and eat it” (lines 44-45).

Note these rules about names:Note these rules about names:

If you refer to the character, treat his/her name as your own and just capitalize.

If you refer to the short story or poem, use quotation marks and capitalize all major words.

If you refer to the movie, use italics and capitalize all major words.

Draft the introduction.Draft the introduction.Draft the introduction.Draft the introduction.

Remember that you are explaining which version of the story is appropriate for a specific child.

Use the introduction to give your reader background on that child.

Write 5 - 7 sentences that explain the child’s personality and/or situation.

Have these sentences lead up to your thesis statement.

Consider a Consider a twotwo -- sentence sentence thesis statement:thesis statement:

DisneyDisney’’s ______ differs from s ______ differs from _______ in Point A, Point B, _______ in Point A, Point B, and Point C. Because of and Point C. Because of

these differences, I will share these differences, I will share _____ with _____._____ with _____.

  I remember taking my four-year-old cousin Maria

to Sea World the first time. The whole day she would

n’t shut up, but everything changed when she met

Shamu, the killer whale. The entire show she sat

quietly staring at Shamu as he jumped in and out of

the water. When Shamu began splashing the audience, a

high-pitched scream started ringing in my ears. Maria

thought that Shamu was going to eat her! Ever since

that day, Maria screams whenever she’s scared. It’s

impossible to watch a violent movie without thinking

I am going deaf. Because of the difference in the

parents, animals, and level of violence, I think

Disney’s Cinderella would be much better for Maria

than the short story by the Grimm Brothers.

  I remember taking my four-year-old cousin Maria

to Sea World the first time. The whole day she would

n’t shut up, but everything changed when she met

Shamu, the killer whale. The entire show she sat

quietly staring at Shamu as he jumped in and out of

the water. When Shamu began splashing the audience, a

high-pitched scream started ringing in my ears. Maria

thought that Shamu was going to eat her! Ever since

that day, Maria screams whenever she’s scared. It’s

impossible to watch a violent movie without thinking

I am going deaf. Because of the difference in the

parents, animals, and level of violence, I think

Disney’s Cinderella would be much better for Maria

than the short story by the Grimm Brothers.

Children are a bunch of little brats. They are

filled with pride and think the world revolves around

them. I personally think children should not be

allowed in public until they are eighteen, especially

my seven-year-old niece Mia. She always breaks into

my room and paints what she calls “works of art” all

over my clothes with my make-up and tangles my

jewelry into one huge knot. She believes that only

she deserves to look dolled up. Disney’s Snow White

and the Seven Dwarfs differs from “Little Snow-White”

in setting, characters and violence. Since “Little

Snow-White” is more gruesome and violent, I will

share it with my niece Mia so I can terrify her into

submission.

Children are a bunch of little brats. They are

filled with pride and think the world revolves around

them. I personally think children should not be

allowed in public until they are eighteen, especially

my seven-year-old niece Mia. She always breaks into

my room and paints what she calls “works of art” all

over my clothes with my make-up and tangles my

jewelry into one huge knot. She believes that only

she deserves to look dolled up. Disney’s Snow White

and the Seven Dwarfs differs from “Little Snow-White”

in setting, characters and violence. Since “Little

Snow-White” is more gruesome and violent, I will

share it with my niece Mia so I can terrify her into

submission.

AlsoAlsoBy the same By the same tokentokenIn comparisonIn comparisonLikewiseLikewiseSimilarlySimilarly

AlthoughAlthoughButButEven thoughEven thoughHoweverHoweverIn contrastIn contrastOn the contraryOn the contraryOn the other On the other handhandYetYet

Comparison and Contrast TransitionsComparison and Contrast Transitions

Most importantly, I don’t want my young nieces

exposed to violence. Compared to Disney’s Cinderella,

“The Story of Tam and Cam” is too vulgar and rough.

Disney’s movie, though, had no real violence. The worst

thing to happen is that the evil step-mother and step-

sisters neglect Cinderella. They make her do all of the

housework, so she was more a servant than a daughter. In

“The Story of Tam and Cam,” Tam is also required to do

all of the housework, but she doesn’t have a choice. Tam

will be flogged if she doesn’t comply. We learn that the

step-mother “always flogged Tam as hard as she could”

(“The Story”). I don’t want my nieces to think that they

are required to do slave work, and if they don’t, my

family will beat them.

Most importantly, I don’t want my young nieces

exposed to violence. Compared to Disney’s Cinderella,

“The Story of Tam and Cam” is too vulgar and rough.

Disney’s movie, though, had no real violence. The worst

thing to happen is that the evil step-mother and step-

sisters neglect Cinderella. They make her do all of the

housework, so she was more a servant than a daughter. In

“The Story of Tam and Cam,” Tam is also required to do

all of the housework, but she doesn’t have a choice. Tam

will be flogged if she doesn’t comply. We learn that the

step-mother “always flogged Tam as hard as she could”

(“The Story”). I don’t want my nieces to think that they

are required to do slave work, and if they don’t, my

family will beat them.

First Draft DirectionsFirst Draft Directions

To earn all of the points on your prewriting sheet, do the following:

Be sure to include a correct heading at the top left of the first page.

Be sure that the essay has a correct and interesting title.

Remember that rough drafts can be messy.

Be sure that you have written 500+ words.

Be sure to work in at least three quotations that have in-text citations.

Prepare the final draft of the essay.Prepare the final draft of the essay.

Be sure that you have MLA-style page numbering on every page.

The works cited page should be the last page of the essay.

Confirm that you have three quotations—correctly integrated and cited—from your print source.

Know how many points each skill is worth on the evaluation sheet.

Visit the Writing Center [5-155] for advice.Be sure to read and follow all of the format

guidelines on your syllabus.Send the essay as an email attachment before

you arrive to class!

The End.The End.

Look, I don’t have time for this. I’m going to get to work.

Look, I don’t have time for this. I’m going to get to work.