Page 439 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

Paper

The first step in setting up a comparison-contrast composition is to

choose your points of comparison or contrast and decide whether to

compare or contrast. One way to decide is to prewrite. That way, you

can see whether your primary focus is on comparison or on contrast.

Following is a sample brainstorming for a paragraph or essay.

Brainstorming—Two Teachers

Kimball Bettman

extremely good teacher excellent teacher

liked by students liked by students

funny but disorganized organized lectures—hints about lectures, test
questions

multiple-choice tests essay tests

group project assignment easy to research paper approachable and friendly
talk to

Though there are several points of comparison, the contrasting points

“lectures,” “tests,” and “assignments” may make a more interesting
paragraph than the points of comparison. These points will also be

more valuable to a reader who is trying to decide which class to take.