Comparison and Contrast Paragraphs

A comparison and contrast paragraph  show similarities or differences between two people, objects, or ideas and convince or show that one thing is better or worse than another. Comparison indicates similarities while contrast indicates differences between those two objects, people, or ideas.

A single paragraph may include only similarities, only differences, or both similarities and differences depending on the topic and purpose. Usually, the purpose of comparison and contrast is always stated in the topic sentence of a paragraph.

The Ideas Organization

Comparison and contrast can be outlined in two approaches: point-by-point and block-by-block (all-of-one).

The Point-by-point Approach

In this approach, the writer compares or contrasts point 1 of X to point 1 of Y. Then he compares or contrasts point 2 of X to point 2 of Y. He proceeds until he has covered all the points. Thus, it looks like this:

Topic Sentence: Comparison or Contrast between X and Y
Supporting idea 1 -- First Comparison or Contrast
• point 1 of X
• point 1 of Y
Supporting idea 2 -- Second Comparison or Contrast
• point 2 of X
• point 2 of Y
Supporting idea 3 -- Second Comparison or Contrast
• point 3 of X
• point 3 of Y
Concluding sentence -- restate, summarize, predict, or suggest

See this paragraph:

High School and College

Even though high school and college are both places of learning, they differ in at least three ways. The first difference is their social atmospheres. ^(X1) In high school the class is usually smaller, so most students know one another well. ^(Y1) In college, students don’t know one another well as students are constantly coming and going. The second difference is their accountability. ^(X2) In high school, the students are forced to learn; if they don’t learn, it could be the teachers’ fault. ^(Y2) In college, in college the students are expected to learn. If they don’t learn, it is the students’ fault. The third and last difference is their success. ^(X3) The students succeed in high school when they can complete the assigned work. ^(Y3) In college, the students’ success is determined when they do the unassigned work. That is extra research that relates their lessons to the application in real life. In spite of these differences between high school and college, they both serve the same purpose — to prepare an individual for the real world.

The Block-by-block Approach

In this approach, the writer compares or contrasts all points of X before compare or contrast all points of Y. Thus, it looks like this:

Topic sentence: Comparison or Contrast between X and Y
A. Supporting idea 1 -- Features of X
• point 1 of X
• point 2 of X
• point 3 of X
B. Supporting idea 2 -- Features of Y
• point 1 of X
• point 2 of X
• point 3 of X
Concluding sentence  -- restate, summarize, predict, or suggest

See this paragraph:

High School and College

High school and college are both places of learning, they, however, differ in some ways. ^(X1)In high school, the students have more sense of community. The class is usually smaller, so most students know each other well. ^(X2) The teachers have more responsibility, too. The students are forced to learn; if they don’t learn, it could be the teachers’ fault. ^(X3) Moreover, the students rate their success by completing the assigned work. In college, however, it is different. ^(Y1) The students don’t really know one another well as they are constantly coming and going. ^(Y2) The students need to be more responsible; they are expected to learn. If they don’t learn, it is their fault. ^(Y3) Also, their success is determined by doing the unassigned work. That is the extra research that relates their lessons to the application in real life. In spite of these differences between high school and college, they both serve the same purpose — to prepare an individual for the real world.