compare and contrast essay fruits and vegetables

Fruit vs. Vegetable

A fruit is the mature ovary of a seed plant, usually developed from a flower. Fruits have seeds so they further the reproductive cycle. A vegetable is a plant or that part of a plant which is edible, and does not necessarily have a role in the plant's reproductive cycle. While most vegetables and fruits are easy to distinguish and classify, some are still ambiguous as to whether they are a vegetable or a fruit. Tomatoes, olives and avocados are often considered vegetables, but are actually fruits.

Comparison chart

What is a fruit?

A fruit is defined as the developed ovary of a seed plant with its contents and accessory parts, as the pea pod, nut, tomato, or pineapple. It is the edible part of a plant developed from a flower, with any accessory tissues, as the peach, mulberry, or banana. A fruit is the often sweet and fleshy part of a plant that surrounds the seeds, although some fruits like berries bear the seed on the outside of the fruit.

What is a vegetable?

All other edible plant parts are considered vegetables. A vegetable is an herbaceous plant cultivated for an edible part, such as the root of the beet, the leaf of spinach, or the flower buds of broccoli or cauliflower.

Examples of fruits and vegetables

Here's an interesting list of fruits that are often thought to be vegetables:

• squashes and zucchini
• green, red, and yellow peppers

Apples , eggplants, rose hips and corn kernels are also fruits.

It is also interesting to note that mushrooms are neither fruit nor vegetable; they are a type of fungus.

Types of Vegetables

Examples of vegetables include broccoli, potato, onions]], lettuce, spinach, turnips , cauliflower, . Vegetables are classified according to the part of the plant:

• Bulb vegetables like garlic, onion, shallot
• Tuberous roots like sweet potatoes and yams
• Taproots like radishes and carrots
• Root-like stems such as Florida arrowroot
• Modified plant stems like turmeric, lotus root, taro, water lily, ginger and potato
• Edible Flowers : flowers that are consumed either raw or after cooking. e.g. broccoli, chives, cornflower, cauliflower, basil, bean, okra
• Stems like asparagus, leek, sugar cane
• Leafy vegetables like spinach, lettuce, kale, mustard and cabbage

Differences in popular usage

Fruits and vegetables are vegetarian as well as vegan , hence constitute a big part of the staple diet in almost every household.

Traditionally, most people categorize "vegetables" as foods that are eaten as part of a meal's main course and "fruits" as foods that are eaten for dessert or as a snack.

Most fruits are sweet with bitter seeds, because they contain a simple sugar called fructose , while most vegetables are less sweet because they have much less fructose. The sweetness of fruit encourages animals to eat it and spit out the bitter seeds on the ground so they spread and further the plant's life cycle.

Both fruits and vegetables are very high in nutrition as they contain many vitamins and are low in fat and calories. A cup of fruit may contain more calories than a cup of vegetables because fruits have higher sugar content. However, starchy vegetables like beet and potato are higher in calorie as well as sugar.

Although vegetables and fruits are extensively used in preparations that involve cooking or baking, they provide most nutrition when they are eaten raw.

Because of the combination of high nutrition and low calorie, most weight loss and diet plans recommend high portions of fruits and veggies over processed food.

In the video below, a dietitian talks about the importance of fruits and vegetables to the diet and whether canned or frozen fruits and vegetables are just as nutritious as fresh.

• Fruits - Wikipedia
• Vegetables - Wikipedia

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Comments: Fruit vs Vegetable

Anonymous comments (5).

April 19, 2010, 3:29am Berries are a FRUIT they have a seed therefore it makes it a fruit its not the leaf or stem or root of the plant!!!! — 108.✗.✗.108

June 25, 2011, 7:04am potato is not a fruit! Its a tuber-specialized subterranean stem! It does not develop from a matured ovary.. strawberry is a fruit(accesory fruit)-. In accessory fruits, other tissues develop into the edible portion of the fruit for example the receptacle of the flower in apples and "strawberries". — 173.✗.✗.204

December 12, 2010, 2:17am Potatoes produce small berries that contain seeds. We do not eat the seeds of the potatoe plant, though some potatoes have been cultivated to grow larger, edible fruit marketed as tomatoe replacements. The eyes on potatoes are not seeds, they are roots that have been cut off. The potatoe you eat is a starchy food store that is part of the plant's root system, and is not related to the flowering of seed producing part of the plant in any way. You can grow a potatoe plant with a potatoe, though this is more like growing a tree from a branch cutting as the result is a genetic clone. Strawberries actually due come from the flowering portion of the plant and are fruit by all definitions. — 97.✗.✗.25

August 8, 2009, 3:25pm The strawberry develops from the flower and the potato develops from/as a tuber. — 70.✗.✗.194

March 2, 2014, 6:37pm Biologically, tomato is a fruit. Culinarily, tomato is a vegetable (non-sweet fruit is one type of vegetable). Why does everyone think that fruit and vegetable or mutually exclusive? They're not. — 98.✗.✗.144

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Essay on Fruits And Vegetables

Students are often asked to write an essay on Fruits And Vegetables in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Fruits And Vegetables

What are fruits and vegetables.

Fruits and vegetables are parts of plants that we can eat. Fruits usually have seeds and come from the flower part of the plant. Vegetables can be roots, stems, or leaves. They are important for our health because they have vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Why Are They Good for You?

Eating fruits and vegetables helps your body in many ways. They can protect you from getting sick and help you grow strong. They have few calories but lots of nutrients, which is great for staying healthy and not gaining unwanted weight.

Colors and Types

Fruits and vegetables come in many colors like red, green, yellow, and purple. Each color and type has different good things for your body. For example, oranges have vitamin C, and carrots have vitamin A, which is good for your eyes.

Eating Enough

It is important to eat enough fruits and vegetables every day. Doctors say you should have many servings of these foods. This means eating a variety of them at all your meals, which can make your plate colorful and your body happy.

250 Words Essay on Fruits And Vegetables

Introduction to fruits and vegetables, types of fruits and vegetables.

There are many kinds of fruits like apples, bananas, and oranges. Vegetables include carrots, potatoes, and spinach. Some grow on trees, some under the ground, and others on plants above ground.

Why They Are Good for You

Eating fruits and vegetables is good for you because they have nutrients that help you grow, give you energy, and keep you from getting sick. They do not have bad fats or too much sugar, which can harm your body.

Eating a Rainbow

You might hear people say “eat a rainbow.” This means you should eat fruits and vegetables of different colors because each color has different healthy things in it. For example, orange fruits and vegetables have vitamin C, which is good for your skin and helps your body heal if you get a cut.

Fun Ways to Eat Them

You can eat fruits and vegetables fresh, cook them, or even drink them in smoothies. Try making a fruit salad or adding vegetables to your favorite dishes, like pizza or pasta, to make them healthier and tastier.

Fruits and vegetables are very important for keeping your body strong and healthy. Try to include them in every meal to get the most benefit from their vitamins and minerals. Eating different kinds each day makes sure you get all the good stuff your body needs.

500 Words Essay on Fruits And Vegetables

Why are fruits and vegetables good for us.

Eating fruits and vegetables is good for our bodies in many ways. They have few calories, which means they give us energy without making us gain too much weight. They are full of dietary fiber, which helps our digestion and keeps our stomachs happy. Also, they have lots of vitamins like vitamin C in oranges, which helps our skin and heals cuts, and vitamin A in carrots, which is good for our eyes.

Different Types of Fruits and Vegetables

There are many types of fruits and vegetables. Fruits can be berries, like strawberries; stone fruits, like peaches; or tropical, like bananas. Vegetables can be leafy greens, like lettuce; root vegetables, like potatoes; or stem vegetables, like celery. Each kind has its own special benefits, so eating a variety is best.

How to Eat More Fruits and Vegetables

Growing fruits and vegetables.

Fruits and vegetables can be grown in many places. Some people grow them in their gardens or in pots at home. This can be fun and means you can eat them when they are very fresh. Schools sometimes have gardens where students can learn to grow and take care of plants.

Fun Facts About Fruits and Vegetables

Did you know that tomatoes are actually fruits, not vegetables? Or that the world’s favorite fruit is the banana? There are also vegetables that are actually roots, like carrots and beets. Fruits and vegetables are not just good for us; they are interesting too!

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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Fruits vs. Vegetables Distinction

The arbitrary distinction between fruits and vegetables can be seen when examining some products that are erroneously included in one or another category by consumers. Thus, for example, tomatoes technically belong to the former type while they are not referred to as such (Miller, 2018). From the scientific perspective, they are clearly fruits as there are no vegetables with seeds, but this opinion is questioned by many people from other standpoints (Miller, 2018). The misconception stems from their taste which is not sweet and, therefore, tomatoes are almost never used for desserts (Miller, 2018). Their fleshy texture does not matter in this case because it can be attributed to both types of products. Similarly, green beans are supposed to be vegetables, whereas they are fruits with seeds, crisp texture, and a grassy taste (Miller, 2018). Despite the changing legislation in this regard, these foods are still considered as ingredients for salty dishes (Miller, 2018). Therefore, tomatoes and green beans are fruits viewed by people as vegetables and used accordingly.

In contrast to this case, there are different products that are vegetables but believed to be fruits. One of the most interesting examples of these ingredients frequently used in cooking recipes is avocados. According to Miller (2018), they are technically “a single-seeded, oversized berry,” and this definition means that they belong to this group of foods leading to misconceptions. These fruits are highly nutritious and have sweet and savory flesh and oily texture, which are other determining characteristics in their classification. Another product with similar features is an eggplant, as it is also considered a berry while being used as a vegetable (Miller, 2018). It does not resemble fruits and is added to salty dishes due to its sweet and bitter taste and firm texture.

Miller, Z. (2018). 10 ‘fruits’ that are technically vegetables – and vice versa. The Insider. Web.

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What's the difference between fruit and vegetables?

What's the difference between fruit and vegetables — and why is tomato considered a fruit?

What's the difference between fruit and vegetables? At a glance, the answer to this question may seem pretty simple. Obvious, even. If it's sweet and juicy like a strawberry, it must be a fruit. And if it's savoury and fibrous like a carrot, it must be a vegetable. But is that how these two food groups are officially defined? Or are there any other aspects that need to be taken into account?  

You may have heard that some people consider tomato a fruit. But tomato can sometimes be categorized as a fruit, and sometimes as a vegetable. That's because the exact definitions will depend on whether you're a gardener or a chef, as explained by the European Food Information Council (EUFIC) . Moreover, your language and country of origin may also affect how you perceive this issue. 

Here, we will explain what constitutes a fruit, and what is considered to be a vegetable, according to different definitions. You may be surprised! 

Most people will look at the issue from a culinary standpoint. In that case, fruits and vegetables are separated based on their taste and aroma. According to this definition, fruits are sweet or sour, while vegetables are more mild and savory. These two food groups will also have different culinary uses. Fruits will be predominantly added to desserts, smoothies or juices, while vegetables will form a part of a hearty side dish or the main course.

However, what constitutes fruit and vegetables will look completely different to a botanist. According to the book Postharvest Physiology and Biochemistry of Fruits and Vegetables , fruits are seed-bearing structures that develop from the ovary of a flowering plant. This means that 'vegetables' like tomatoes, cucumbers , peppers, squash, pumpkins, eggplants, corn kernels, and bean and pea pods are actually fruits. Whereas a vegetable is any edible part of a plant that doesn’t happen to be a fruit, as in leaves (spinach, lettuce, cabbage), roots (carrots, beets, turnips), stems (asparagus), tubers (potatoes), bulbs (onions), and flowers (cauliflower and broccoli).

• Related : Which fruits are high in protein?
• Related : 14 ways to eat more vegetables for breakfast

How you perceive fruit and vegetables may also depend on where you're from and the language you speak. In 2011, the journal Public Health Nutrition published a survey that revealed the scope of these cultural differences. According to their findings, rice was considered to be a vegetable by 20% of adult respondents based in the US. When compared with English speakers, Spanish speakers were more likely to call rice a vegetable. On the other hand, Chinese speakers were less likely to do so. Beans, which are often grouped in the vegetable category, also divided opinions. Compared to Spanish speakers, English speakers were more likely to label them as vegetables.

Debate over the difference between fruit and vegetables can sometimes reach such a fever pitch that the law must step in. In the 1893 United States Supreme Court case Nix. v. Hedden , the court ruled unanimously that an imported tomato should be taxed as a vegetable, rather than as a (less taxed) fruit, as described in the Mercer Law Review . The court acknowledged that a tomato is a botanical fruit, but went with what they called the "ordinary" definitions of fruit and vegetable — the ones used in the kitchen. 

Originally published on Live Science. This article was updated on Aug. 24, 2022 by Live Science Health Writer Anna Gora.

Additional resources

To find out more about fruits and what defines them, you can read this article by The New York Botanical Garden , or this in-depth analysis provided by National Geographic . 

For research about the nutritional benefits of fruit and vegetables, head to Harvard’s School of Public Health page . 

Bibliography

"The Role of the Dictionary in Legal Thought". Mercer Law Review Vol. 039 Issue 03-046. https://ursa.mercer.edu/bitstream/handle/10898/7559/49_39MercerLRev961(1987-1988).pdf?sequence=1

"Postharvest physiology and biochemistry of fruits and vegetables". Yahia, E. M., & Carrillo-Lopez, A. (2018). https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=lMlaDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=botanical+definition+fruit+and+vegetables

"The meaning of 'fruits' and 'vegetables'". Public Health Nutrition (2011). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21272414/

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Ailsa is a staff writer for How It Works magazine, where she writes science, technology, history, space and environment features. Based in the U.K., she graduated from the University of Stirling with a BA (Hons) journalism degree. Previously, Ailsa has written for Cardiff Times magazine, Psychology Now and numerous science bookazines. Ailsa's interest in the environment also lies outside of writing, as she has worked alongside Operation Wallacea conducting rainforest and ocean conservation research. 

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What's the Difference Between Fruits and Vegetables? An Expert Weighs In

Yes, avocados are a fruit.

Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner is a writer and recipe developer. She's a regular contributor to The New York Times, Time Out New York, Forbes, and many more publications. She also writes the food newsletter, Specialty.

Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple and previously launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture.

Kristy Del Coro is a registered dietitian nutritionist, RDN, and professionally trained chef with more than 10 years of experience in the field of culinary nutrition. Her strong background in nutrition science, sustainable food systems, and culinary education makes her exceptionally qualified to write about food that is good for us and the planet—while not sacrificing flavor.

• Botanical Differences
• Nutritional Differences
• Culinary Differences
• Fruits Mistaken For Vegetables
• Vegetables Mistaken For Fruits

Richard Drury/Getty Images

Fruits and vegetables are often grouped together as a culinary category, but are distinct in many ways. In fact, many of the vegetables you’ve grown up eating are likely fruits. Seriously. They’re both produce, and they both contain various types of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, but categorically, a lot of the vegetables you’ve always known and loved as veggies, are, in fact, fruits. And we’re not just talking about tomatoes . Here’s what you need to know to distinguish fruits and vegetables, so you can be a little more knowledgeable about the plants you’re eating.

Botanical Differences Between Fruits and Vegetables

“The main difference between fruits and vegetables is how fruits come from the flowering part of a plant and contain seeds,” says Hans Sauter , Senior Vice President, R&D and Agricultural Services and Chief Sustainability Officer, Fresh Del Monte. “In contrast, vegetables are the edible parts of a plant and can consist of leaves, stems, and roots.” Plant foods with seeds, such as cucumbers , zucchini , eggplant , tomatoes, strawberries , and mangos, are all fruits. Foods without seeds, such as broccoli , cauliflower, kale , lettuce, and carrots , are vegetables. 

Nutritional Differences Between Fruits and Vegetables

Consuming both fruits and vegetables is part of a healthy diet, and each group of foods (and individual fruit or veg, for that matter) comes with its own slate of nutrients. Red and pink foods, for example, are high in lycopene—an antioxidant that promotes good bone health , can help maintain healthy blood pressure , and aids skin health , among other things. On the other hand, cruciferous veggies (think broccoli, cauliflower, and kale) are known to be excellent sources of folate and vitamin K , which helps with proper blood clotting. So, are fruits healthier than vegetables, or is it the other way around? According to a 2019 study that appeared in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine and compared the 10 most commonly consumed vegetables versus fruits, veggies may have a slight edge. Still, it really depends. The study found that while vegetables scored higher on the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index and contained fewer calories, less sugar, and more fiber than fruits, fruits scored higher in antioxidant content. In other words, fruits and vegetables are both healthy, but the group you should consume more of depends on the specific nutrients your body needs, which can change over time and depends upon the rest of your diet.

Culinary Differences Between Fruits and Vegetables

If you frequently cook with fruits and vegetables, you’re likely aware that there are culinary differences between the two as well. Fruits can be eaten raw, for example, while many vegetables need to be cooked in order to be properly digested. Zucchini carpaccio, avocado toast , tomato salad, and smashed cucumbers are all raw fruits that humans can easily digest and benefit from. And while plenty of veggies—we’ve all downed a crudités platter or a salad —are also enjoyable and nutritious uncooked, others ( beans , potatoes , rhubarb – yep, that’s a vegetable) need some preparation to help with digestion.  So why do we dub so many greens and more dinner-friendly fruits as vegetables? And why are these apparent fruits sometimes better in a sauce or with a piece of meat, than eaten in juicy bites, like your stereotypical fruit? “In the culinary realm, fruits and vegetables are often separated based on their taste and aroma,” says Sauter. “For instance, people associate fruits with sweetness, and vegetables with savory tastes.”

Fruits That Are Commonly Mistaken For Vegetables

“Despite misconceptions, tomatoes and avocados are both classified as fruits because they carry seeds,” Sauter says. “Overall, tomatoes and avocados lack stereotypical sweetness, compared to many other fruits. Confusion amongst consumers typically exists because, from a culinary perspective, certain fruits are often categorized as vegetables.” Here’s a list of fruits that are commonly mistaken for vegetables:

• Butternut squash

Vegetables That Are Commonly Mistaken For Fruits

Not surprisingly, there are a handful of vegetables that are commonly mistaken for fruits. 

Here’s a list of vegetables that are often thought of as fruits:

• Grape leaves

Legumes, including beans , peas , and lentils , are also vegetables. “Legumes are technically considered a division of vegetables,” Sauter notes. “Vegetables are a broad category that can be further broken down into various [smaller] categories. For instance, vegetables come from different parts of the plant, including leaves, stems, and roots. However, legumes come from one specific family of plants, and only from the seeds or seed pods.” 

And just to confuse you a bit more, several plant-based foods don’t fall into either category. Mushrooms aren’t veggies, or fruits, nor are they even considered plants, technically. “Fungi, like mushrooms, are technically not plants, so they are not classified as fruits or vegetables,” says Sauter. “While they belong to their own separate kingdom, we often treat mushrooms as vegetables in the kitchen, in terms of how we prepare them.”

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How to Write a Compare-and-Contrast Essay

A compare-and-contrast essay is a style of essay that points out the similarities and differences between two or more subjects. It’s ideal for showing what separates and unites related things or concepts, particularly if the subjects are often confused for each other or unjustly lumped together. 

Compare-and-contrast essays have a lot in common with other essay types, but differ in many ways, too—and that’s the heart of comparing and contrasting! By seeing the differences and similarities, the reader better understands each of the subjects by using the other subject as a frame of reference. 

Give your essays extra polish Grammarly helps you write with confidence Write with Grammarly

In this guide, we explain how to write a compare-and-contrast essay, including some advanced tips and examples. We discuss how to structure your essay and how to frame your thesis , but first, let’s take a broader look at why comparison essays are so useful. 

Purpose of a compare-and-contrast essay

Let’s say you want to write an essay about how great renewable resources are, but you spend a lot of your time explaining how fossil fuels work. To truly understand why renewable resources are so amazing, your reader needs a little background on their alternative, fossil fuels—but the essay’s attention is divided so equally that it’s like there are two topics. 

That’s when compare-and-contrast essays function at their best. If two topics relate to each other or define each other, you can better explain them both by showcasing their similarities and differences. That goes double for topics that are often conflated or confused for each other; it helps readers when someone points out exactly what’s the same about them and what’s different. 

Unlike argumentative essays or persuasive essays , compare-and-contrast essays deal with multiple topics instead of focusing on one. The downside is that they don’t describe the individual subjects as much as single-topic essays. They’re also a common assignment for college essays since they show the instructor how well you grasp both subjects. 

How to write a compare-and-contrast essay 

When writing a compare-and-contrast essay, it helps to figure out two things: what your thesis is (the subject matter) and how you plan to structure it. 

First things first: You need to choose which subjects you’re comparing. This isn’t always easy, especially if you have to pick the subjects on your own. 

For inspiration, here are some compare-and-contrast essay example topics:

• fossil fuels and renewable resources
• Coca-Cola and Pepsi 
• Mona Lisa and The Girl with a Pearl Earring
• ’80s punk rock music and ’90s grunge music
• Dorothea Lange and Diane Arbus
• London in the 1600s and London now
• the LGBTQIA+ community before and after Stonewall
• Roman Empire and Greek Empire
• loop quantum gravity and string theory
• evolution and creationism
• liberalism and conservatism
• fascism and despotism

Once you’ve settled on your subjects, you can begin generating ideas. It helps to first list all the similarities and differences between your subjects . When you see them all written down, you can start formulating connections and decide what structure to use for your compare-and-contrast essay. 

If you’re stuck, try making a Venn diagram . This is a visual aid that helps you understand which characteristics your subjects share, and which ones are exclusive. 

Looking at your lists, you can then decide on the thesis. To do so, ask yourself a few questions: What are you trying to show in your compare-and-contrast essay? What do you want your reader to take away? For example, do you want to emphasize that Dorothea Lange’s work influenced Diane Arbus, or that they are two very distinct artists? 

Organization

Compare-and-contrast essays follow our own recommended essay structure . While the linked guide goes into more detail, in a nutshell, your compare-and-contrast essay should follow a simple format of beginning, middle, and end: 

• Introduction: where you explain your thesis or what your essay will discuss
• Body: where you actually list the similarities and differences of your subjects; the largest section
• Conclusion: where you wrap up and summarize your points

The introduction, usually one or two paragraphs, should include a thesis statement to show the reader what to expect for the rest of your essay. You can write your introduction following the same guidelines as other essay types, though be sure to mention all your subjects. Likewise, you can write an essay conclusion with the standard rules and best practices. 

It’s the body where compare-and-contrast essays get tricky. Do you write about both subjects at the same time, or switch back and forth? Let’s talk deeper on this below. 

How to structure a compare-and-contrast essay

The hardest part of structuring a compare-and-contrast essay is knowing when to talk about which subject. Essentially, you have three options: 

• block method (subject by subject): You discuss one subject in full and then move on to the next subject.
• alternating method (point by point): You discuss one subject’s take on a certain aspect and then another subject’s take immediately afterward, followed by a new aspect.
• similarities and differences: You discuss all the similarities between your subjects and then all the differences, or vice versa (differences first and then similarities).

No matter which option you choose, you have to pay particular attention to topic sentences . Paragraphs in compare-and-contrast essays can get complicated, so it’s crucial to have a good topic or introduction sentence for each paragraph to make the flow of ideas clear. 

Block method (subject by subject)

The block method is usually divided into paragraphs: a paragraph about one subject and then a new paragraph about another subject. Take the compare-and-contrast essay example When Nothing Lies Beyond the Mask: Comparing Moby Dick and The Raven . In the first paragraph after the introduction, the author talks only about Ahab from Moby Dick , but in the next paragraph talks only about the narrator from The Raven . Each subject gets its own paragraph. 

Using the block method, you can go back and forth like this for pages, covering as many topics as you need. This approach is best for giving each subject its own attention but tends to slightly weaken the connection between the two. 

Alternating method (point by point)

As another option, you can break paragraphs up by a specific topic and issue, and in each paragraph discuss both or all subjects. Let’s look at another compare-and-contrast essay example, The Reality of Science Fiction: Comparing Clarke to Cruise . Here, both subjects are discussed in the same paragraph, one right after another. 

This approach works best when you want to emphasize the connection between your subjects, or lack thereof. In our example above, the author wishes to highlight just how different the aliens of Arthur Clarke are from those of other authors, particularly H. G. Wells. To emphasize this, the essay author juxtaposes the two points right next to each other in the same paragraph. 

Similarities and differences

The third option is quite similar to the alternating approach, with each subject being discussed side by side in the same paragraph. However, the paragraphs aren’t divided by different topics, but instead by what the subjects have in common and what they don’t. 

Take a look at the compare-and-contrast essay example Government by the People, for the People has Perished from the Earth , which compares the dystopias of George Orwell’s 1984 and Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We . The first paragraph after the introduction discusses what the governments in the two books have in common, but the next paragraph explains how they differ. 

This method works best if you want to focus on a particular similarity or difference between your subjects, or if you want to build up to a powerful conclusion or reveal at the end. 

The writing process for compare-and-contrast essays

Want to know how to write a compare-and-contrast essay step by step? The writing process is the same as all essay writing, although adapted specifically for drawing comparisons:

1   Brainstorming — As mentioned above, brainstorming should involve listing all the similarities and difficulties; creating a Venn diagram is a useful method. 

2   Preparation — Looking at your brainstorming lists, decide which structuring method would best get your point across: block, alternating, or similarities/differences. 

3   Drafting — Here you write your rough draft ; this is the longest and toughest phase. 

4   Revising — Does the structure you’ve chosen work? With the first draft finished, you can more easily identify any areas that need to be fixed, revised, or rewritten from scratch. 

5   Proofreading — Finally, you want to make sure you corrected all the spelling and grammatical mistakes in your draft. With a writing assistant like Grammarly, this phase is a breeze. 

If you want to learn more about this process, read our comprehensive guide on essay writing , which better explains the details. 

Tips for writing compare-and-contrast essays 

Beyond knowing the full process for crafting a compare-and-contrast essay, it helps to learn a few tips to ensure it shines.

Choose topics that are related 

In other words, choose topics that have plenty in common, otherwise, your essay will be all contrasting and no comparing. Typically, subjects in compare-and-contrast essays share a strong connection, such as two people in the same profession or two products in the same category. 

Without this unifying thread, the reader is left wondering, “What’s the point of comparing these two things?” Not only will it confound your audience, but you’ll also struggle more to come up with points when writing. Solve these problems before they start by smartly choosing your subjects at the beginning. 

Write for clarity

Essays with only one subject can be confusing enough—imagine how complicated it gets with two or more subjects. One of the biggest obstacles with compare-and-contrast essays is communicating clearly so your reader knows which points relate to which subject, and what conclusion the entire essay is building toward. 

But when you’re in the heat of a writing session, it can be difficult—and distracting—to stop and evaluate your work for clarity. Luckily, Grammarly offers suggestions to rewrite entire sentences in order to improve the clarity of your writing.

If the writing in your compare-and-contrast essay starts getting messy, Grammarly’s writing suggestions recommend alternative phrasings to clear things up. Just one click and your writing gets the professional editor treatment. Try Grammarly now and see how your writing improves. 

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Compare And Contrast Essay Guide

Compare And Contrast Essay Topics

Last updated on: Feb 9, 2023

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics: 100+ Fresh New Ideas

By: Barbara P.

Reviewed By: Melisa C.

Published on: Mar 10, 2020

A compare and contrast essay revolves around finding and analyzing the similarities and differences between two subjects belonging to the same category.

If you have been assigned a compare and contrast essay, then you’re probably looking for interesting topics that you can write on, right?

Steer forward with us!

Following is the list of interesting topics for a compare and contrast essay that you can use for your essay assignments. As you proceed, you will notice that some of the topics are academic, and others are included for interest.

On this Page

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for Students - 2022 Ideas

A compare and contrast essay is an important academic assignment for school or college students. An essential point that you must keep in mind when choosing a compare and contrast essay topic is to go for the subjects that belong to the same category. For instance, you can’t choose football and 19th-century art.

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for University Students

At the university level, the essay topics are a little different and unique. Also, with a good essay topic, you will easily create the thesis statement and body paragraphs.

If you want to write on a great topic, you can choose from the below-mentioned essay topics.

• Salt vs. sugar
• Teacher vs. Doctor
• Prose vs. poetry
• Short vs. long hair
• Psychosis and antisocial disorder
• Between soft and hard drugs, which is more dangerous?
• Difference between lust and love
• Compare methods of normal and abnormal psychology
• Silver and gold
• Tennis vs. badminton

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for College Students

When students step into college from high school, they are still used to the concept of teachers assigning essay topics. Sometimes the teacher gives you the topic, but you will have to pick one yourself most of the time. So, be creative and challenge yourself to write on different essay topics.

Topics for college students can be difficult to manage at times because teachers can have higher expectations. In such a case, get help from an online writing service with your academic paper.

The compare and contrast essay topics in college are a bit less complicated than in high school. The following are the easy compare and contrast essay topics for college students.

• How does high school differ from college?
• Students with or without part-time jobs
• Essay Vs. Research Paper: What is more challenging?
• Homeschooling Vs. Traditional Schooling
• SAT Vs. GRE: What is more difficult?
• Masters Vs. PhD: What helps strengthen your career?
• Differences between Islam and Christianity
• Introverts Vs. Extroverts
• Real-life dating Vs. Online dating
• How do education and employment compare?

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for High School Students

Essay topics for high school students are much different than the topics for college students. The topics are a little less technical and difficult.

Here are some great compare and contrast essay topics for your ease.

• Friends Vs. Family
• Childhood friendship Vs. High school friendship
• Bikes vs. cars.
• Study abroad Vs. Studying in your country
• Living on your own Vs. At home with my parents.
• Facebook vs. Twitter In-house employees Vs. Freelance contractors
• Texting Vs. In-person conversations
• Working out or dieting
• Being in a relationship or being single

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for Middle School Students

The topics for middle school students are quite interesting and creative. Therefore, the students enjoy the writing process.

We gathered some great compare and contrast essay topics for your help.

• Basketball Vs. Football
• Compare two plays written by Shakespeare
• Running Vs. Walking
• Reading vs. writing
• Doctor Vs. Nurse
• Breakdance Vs. Ballet: What is more difficult?
• World war I Vs. World War II
• Chocolate vs. Ice-cream
• Compare two of your favorite movies
• Reading books Vs. Watching movies

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for 6th Grade

The essay topics for grade 6 are very simple and easy. We collected some essay topics for grade 6 students; pick the one that you find interesting.

• School exams vs. college exams
• Winter holidays vs. summer holidays
• Comparative essay vs. argumentative essay
• Attending school vs. remote learning
• Driving a bike and driving a car
• Vegetables and fruits
• Christianity versus Judaism
• E-books versus textbooks
• An experience I agree to attend a party or stay at home.
• Steroids and boxing
• Handwriting or typing

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Psychology Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

There are certain pros and cons associated with psychology topics. The pros are that the possibilities are endless; one can write as much as possible. This fact is the con as well; since there is so much material to choose from for the essay topic.

• Anxiety vs. Depression
• Therapy vs. medication
• Agoraphobia Vs. Claustrophobia
• Compare suicide and homicide
• Autism Vs. Down syndrome
• B. F. Skinner theory Vs. John B. Watson theory
• Anorexia Vs. Bulimia
• Social anxiety or fear of public speaking
• Nature vs. nurture
• Ego Vs. Superego

Sports Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

The best part about the sports-related topic is the accurate data available online with practical examples. This fact can help you write an even more refined essay.

Take a look at these and topics and choose the best one for your essay.

• Women’s football team, Vs. Men’s
• Chess Vs. Checkers
• Football Vs. Cricket: Which is better?
• Sachin Tendulkar Vs. Ricky Ponting
• Roger Federer Vs. Rafael Nadal
• Rugby and Soccer
• Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi
• Ice climbing Vs. Traditional climbing
• Knicks Vs. Nets
• Aikido Vs. Judo

For all the students who are in sports, these are the best kind of topics. As they say, you write best about subjects you are most interested in.

Art & History Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Writing a compare and contrast essay has its challenges and especially when the topics are art or history-related. Always make sure to gather the necessary data before kick-starting the essay.

• Baroque Vs. Mycenaean Period
• Mosaic Vs. Raku
• Compare the 19th Century Art
• Brunelleschi and The Romans
• Impressionism and Post-Impressionism
• Roxanna and Dorian Gray
• Compare Kafka's Metamorphosis and Albert Camus’ The Stranger
• Macbeth and Othello
• Tapestry Vs. Fresco

Funny Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Funny topics not only refresh the mind of the students but help in the learning process as well. Below given are some great essay topics that you can use for your essay.

• Beyonce Vs. Rihanna
• Kim Kardashian Vs. Paris Hilton
• Ellen DeGeneres Vs. Oprah Winfrey
• Pet dogs Vs. Pet cats
• Pasta vs. pizza
• Lollipops Vs. Popsicles
• Drama Vs. Comedy
• Email Vs. Pigeon Post
• Credit card Vs. Cash
• Star Trek Vs. Star Wars

Medical Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

The medical students are sometimes stuck with selecting the essay topic for their essay assignment. For your help, we compiled some excellent topics that will help in your writing phase.

• Religions that are against traditional medical procedures.
• Vaccination or Medications.
• Operations vs. therapeutic cancer curing.
• Should vaccinations be made mandatory?
• Morning exercise vs. evening exercise.
• Medical history and privacy concerns.
• Wheat and corn grain.
• Chocolate or candies.
• Carrot and pumpkin.
• Rest or training.

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Compare and Contrast Essay Topics on Movies

The compare and contrast essay on movies is an interesting type of essay. Look at these topics that will help in your topic-selection phase.

• Romeo and Juliet.
• Gandalf vs. Dumbledore.
• Comedy vs. horror.
• Harry Potter: book & movie.
• Thrillers and horror movies.
• Fantastic Four or Avengers.
• Bollywood Vs. Hollywood.
• DC or Marvel
• Superman vs. batman.
• Games of thrones vs. the witcher.

Are these topic ideas helpful? Did you get what you were looking for?

Now that you have chosen a topic for your essay, you can start composing it. For that, you have to follow a structured essay outline.

Do you still find it difficult to choose a topic or to write a compare and contrast essay step by step?

It is completely understandable, as essay writing can be tricky at times.

But don’t worry! We have got your back.

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Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

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101 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

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Compare and contrast essays are taught in school for many reasons. For one thing, they are relatively easy to teach, understand, and format. Students can typically understand the structure with just a short amount of instruction. In addition, these essays allow students develop critical thinking skills to approach a variety of topics.

Brainstorming Tip

One fun way to get students started brainstorming their compare and contrast essays is to create a Venn diagram , where the overlapping sections of the circle contain similarities and the non-overlapping areas contain the differing traits.

The following is a list of 101 topics for compare and contrast essays that you are welcome to use in your classroom. As you look through the list, you will see that some items are academic in nature while others are included for interest-building and fun writing activities.

• Apple vs. Microsoft
• Coke vs. Pepsi
• Renaissance Art vs. Baroque Art
• Antebellum Era vs. Reconstruction Era in American History
• Childhood vs. Adulthood
• Star Wars vs. Star Trek
• Biology vs. Chemistry
• Astrology vs. Astronomy
• American Government vs. British Government (or any world government)
• Fruits vs. Vegetables
• Dogs vs. Cats
• Ego vs. Superego
• Christianity vs. Judaism (or any world religion )
• Republican vs. Democrat
• Monarchy vs. Presidency
• US President vs. UK Prime Minister
• Jazz vs. Classical Music
• Red vs. White (or any two colors)
• Soccer vs. Football
• North vs. South Before the Civil War
• New England Colonies vs. Middle Colonies OR vs. Southern Colonies
• Cash vs. Credit Cards
• Sam vs. Frodo Baggins
• Gandalf vs. Dumbledore
• Fred vs. Shaggy
• Rap vs. Pop
• Articles of Confederation vs. U.S. Constitution
• Henry VIII vs. King Louis XIV
• Stocks vs. Bonds
• Monopolies vs. Oligopolies
• Communism vs. Capitalism
• Socialism vs. Capitalism
• Diesel vs. Petroleum
• Nuclear Power vs. Solar Power
• Saltwater Fish vs. Freshwater Fish
• Squids vs. Octopus
• Mammals vs. Reptiles
• Baleen vs. Toothed Whales
• Seals vs. Sea Lions
• Crocodiles vs. Alligators
• Bats vs. Birds
• Oven vs. Microwave
• Greek vs. Roman Mythology
• Chinese vs. Japanese
• Comedy vs. Drama
• Renting vs. Owning
• Mozart vs. Beethoven
• Online vs. Traditional Education
• North vs. South Pole
• Watercolor vs. Oil
• 1984 vs. Fahrenheit 451
• Emily Dickinson vs. Samuel Taylor Coleridge
• W.E.B. DuBois vs. Booker T. Washington
• Strawberries vs. Apples
• Airplanes vs. Helicopters
• Hitler vs. Napoleon
• Roman Empire vs. British Empire
• Paper vs. Plastic
• Italy vs. Spain
• Baseball vs. Cricket
• Jefferson vs. Adams
• Thoroughbreds vs. Clydesdales
• Spiders vs. Scorpions
• Northern Hemisphere vs. Southern Hemisphere
• Hobbes vs. Locke
• Friends vs. Family
• Dried Fruit vs. Fresh
• Porcelain vs. Glass
• Modern Dance vs. Ballroom Dancing
• American Idol vs. The Voice
• Reality TV vs. Sitcoms
• Picard vs. Kirk
• Books vs. Movies
• Magazines vs. Comic Books
• Antique vs. New
• Public vs. Private Transportation
• Email vs. Letters
• Facebook vs. Twitter
• Coffee vs. an Energy Drink
• Toads vs. Frogs
• Profit vs. Non-Profit
• Boys vs. Girls
• Birds vs. Dinosaurs
• High School vs. College
• Chamberlain vs. Churchill
• Offense vs. Defense
• Jordan vs. Bryant
• Harry vs. Draco
• Roses vs. Carnations
• Poetry vs. Prose
• Fiction vs. Nonfiction
• Lions vs. Tigers
• Vampires vs. Werewolves
• Lollipops vs. popsicles
• Summer vs. Winter
• Recycling vs. Landfill
• Motorcycle vs. Bicycle
• Halogen vs. Incandescent
• Newton vs. Einstein
• .. Go on vacation vs. Staycation
• . Rock vs. Scissors
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• Expository Essay Genre With Suggested Prompts
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Home » Life Style » Food » Difference Between Fruit and Vegetable

Difference Between Fruit and Vegetable

The main difference between fruit and vegetable is that fruit is the mature ovary of higher plants whereas vegetable is the edible parts of the plant such as stalks, roots, leaves, tubers, bulbs or even flower buds.

Fruits and vegetables are two parts of plants that are edible. Fruits can be vegetables but, all vegetables are not fruits. Most fruits contain seeds . But vegetables do not contain seeds. Furthermore, most fruits are sweet in taste.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is a Fruit      – Definition, Importance, Classification 2. What is a Vegetable      – Definition, Importance, Classification 3. What are the Similarities Between Fruit and Vegetable      – Outline of Common Features 4. What is the Difference Between Fruit and Vegetable      – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms: Edible Parts, Fruit, Nutrition, Seeds, Vegetable

What is a Fruit

A fruit is a sweet fleshy product of a plant, which contains seeds. The ovary of a plant develops into a fruit after fertilization . Most fruits are edible. Hence, fruits facilitate the dispersal of seeds, the sexual reproductive structures of plants. Fresh fruits are rich in fiber, vitamin C, and water.

Figure 1: Fruits

Classification of Fruits

What is a Vegetable

A vegetable is a part of a plant used as a food. Humans consume vegetables as a part of their meals. Vegetables may include stalks, roots, leaves, tubers, bulbs or even flower buds. The term “vegetables” generally exclude fruits, nuts, and cereal grains. Vegetables supply fiber, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements.

Figure 2: Vegetables

Classification of Vegetables

Similarities Between Fruit and Vegetable

• Fruits and vegetable are edible parts of a plant.
• Both are low in fat and calories and high in natural sugars and fibers.
• Plants are cultivated for both fruit and vegetables.

Fruit: A sweet fleshy matured ovary of a plant, which contains seeds

Vegetable: A part of a plant used as a food

Fruit: Contain seeds either inside or outside the fruit

Vegetable:   Do not contain seeds

Fruit: Have a sweet taste

Vegetable:   Distinct in taste – can be sweet, salty, sore or bitter

Fruit: Color can be red, orange, yellow, green, purple, blue or black

Vegetable:  Mostly green in color

Fruit: Rich in fiber, vitamin C, and water

Vegetable:   Supply fiber, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements

Reproduction

Fruit: Facilitate the sexual reproduction of plants by bearing seeds

Vegetable:  Involved in vegetative reproduction

A fruit is the mature ovary of a plant that contains seeds. A vegetable is a part of a plant that is edible. Both fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber. Fruits contain vitamin C and water as well. Vegetables are important sources of vitamins and other trace elements. The main difference between fruit and vegetable is the origin of each part of a plant.

1. “Fruit: Definition, Types, Benefits & Examples.” Study.com, Available here . 2. “Vegetable.” ScienceDaily, Available here .

Image Courtesy:

1. “Culinary fruits front view” By No machine-readable author provided. Ionutzmovie assumed-Own work assumed (based on copyright claims) (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia 2. “ Marketvegetables ” By Jasper Greek Golangco  (Copyrighted free use) via Commons Wikimedia

About the Author: Lakna

Lakna, a graduate in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, is a Molecular Biologist and has a broad and keen interest in the discovery of nature related things. She has a keen interest in writing articles regarding science.

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Difference Between Fruit and Vegetable

Edited by Diffzy | Updated on: September 15, 2023

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Our articles are well-researched

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We compare similar terms in both tabular forms as well as in points

• Introduction

The word ‘fruit’ comes from the Latin fructus, used to intend delight or praise, as well as crop or harvest. On the other hand, ‘herb’ is associated with its proto-Indo-European origins, wherein it's far an image of strength or vitality, just like the words ‘awakening’ and ‘energy’.

Fruits and vegetables are meal alternatives that may be perplexing. Although both are of plant foundation, they have one-of-a-kind clinical variations, resources, and purposes. The fruit is usually categorized because of the completely advanced pollen of the tree, normally from the flower, which accompanies the seed for fertilization

In different phrases, a herb is a fit for human consumption a part of a plant, however, does no longer participate within the reproductive system. While it is regularly smooth to tell what's which, it's miles difficult to differentiate a few meals from results and vegetables. Examples encompass tomatoes, olives, and avocados, which are often the notion of veggies but are truly the result.

• Fruits v. Vegetable

Many humans believe that the distinction between a fruit and a vegetable is easy. Vegetables are Savory, whereas results are sweet, right? But no longer usually. Fruits and greens are

categorized depending on their flavour within the culinary international. Fruits may be used in chocolates, snacks, or beverages and feature a candy or bitter flavour. Vegetables have a milder or Savory flavour and are typically served as an aspect dish or predominant entrée. The distinction between fruits and veggies cannot be usually clear, as positive greens can taste sweet while others may be utilized in Savory meals. The handiest genuine distinction between a fruit and a vegetable is the part of the plant from where they're derived. Fruits expand from the blossom of a plant, while veggies increase from all different components, which include the stems, roots, and leaves. Botanically, all culmination encompass seeds, which undermines a great deal of what's typically believed concerning fruits and veggies.

• Difference Between Fruits and Vegetables in Tabular Form

• What are Fruits?

A fruit is a developed ovary of a seed plant that develops from the ovary after blooming. Fruits

are the medium thru which blooming flora transmit their seeds. They are the plant's fit-to-be-eaten component and are often consumed by mankind. Fruits have a synergistic dating with the

organism in the query because they supply vitamins when eaten, and animals or human beings resources in seed distribution via sporting the fruit.

Types of Fruits

Fruits are categorized into four varieties based totally on the shape from which they derive: simple result, aggregates result, a couple of culmination, and accent result.

• Simple fruits are the ones that emerge from a single ovary of an unmarried flower. Apple, peach and cherry are most of the examples.
• Aggregate fruits: Fruits made out of many ovaries of an unmarried flower. Examples include raspberry, blackberry, and strawberry.
• More than one result: Fruits that originate from several ovaries of multiple plants. Examples encompass pineapple, fig, and mulberry.
• Accessory culmination is those that include quantities of the flower aside from the ovary. Pear, watermelon, and pomegranate are among the examples.

Effects of Fruits

• Nutritional Advantages: Fruits are excessive in minerals, antioxidants, and nutrients, all of which can be vital for the most desirable fitness. They are also excessive in nutritional Fiber, which promotes good digestion.
• Weight Control: Fruits are decreased in energy and high in Fiber, which makes us sense full and forestalls overeating. Eating fruits before a meal has been proven in research to promote fullness and lower standard calorie intake.
• Skin Health: Fruits include minerals and vitamins which are vital for the well-being of the pores and skin. Berries especially, for example, are excessive in Vitamin C, which enables collagen restoration and immunity.
• Prevent diseases: Fruits consist of phytonutrients that act as antioxidants and can be useful resources in the prevention of continual illnesses such as diabetes, cancers, and heart disorder.
• Inflammation Reduction: Certain culmination, specifically grapes, and blueberries, consist of anti-inflammatory characteristics which could resource inside the discount of infection inside the human body.

Examples of Fruits

Several fruits range in form, length, colour, flavour, and texture. Here are some examples:

• Orange: A primary fruit with an orange coloration and a tart taste. It includes numerous vitamins C, folate, and Fiber.
• Grapes: A simple fruit with a sweet or bitter taste that is crimson, inexperienced, or crimson in coloration. It incorporates loads of antimicrobial retailers, resveratrol, and Diet K.
• Apple: A simple fruit with a candy or tart flavour that is red, inexperienced, or yellow in shade. It has several Fiber, nutrition C, and antioxidants.
• Banana: A fundamental yellow-coloured fruit with a scrumptious flavour. It consists of potassium, vitamin B6, and Fiber.
• What are Vegetables?

Vegetables are plant-edible components that are consumed by humans. They are often categorized according to the component of the plant that is consumed. Vegetables can be eaten raw or cooked in a variety of ways, typically as a Savory rather than a sweet meal. Vegetables are high in minerals, vitamins, and dietary Fiber, all of which are necessary for optimal health. They are lower in calories yet rich in Fiber, which aids with digestion.

Effects of Vegetable

Consuming veggies on an everyday foundation offers numerous health blessings. Here are some of the benefits of incorporating greens into your diet:

• Disease Prevention - Vegetables include plant compounds known as phytochemicals, which own antioxidant houses. These phytochemicals play an important role in preventing continual diseases like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
• Weight Management - Studies have shown that ingesting veggies previous to a meal promotes a sense of fullness, leading to a reduced calorie intake average. This can usefully resource in dealing with weight and preserving a healthful frame mass index.
• Nutritional Perks - Vegetables are rich in crucial minerals, nutrients, and nutritional Fiber. These vitamins are important for preserving the greatest fitness. Despite being low in calories, greens provide an abundant source of Fiber that helps wholesome digestion.
• Improved Digestive Fitness - Vegetables are a terrific source of dietary Fiber, that is crucial for preserving a healthful digestive gadget. Research suggests that Fiber also can enhance the absorption of minerals and nutrients in the body, resulting in extended strength levels.
• Reduced Inflammation - Certain vegetables, consisting of leafy vegetables, are packed with antioxidants and phytochemicals. These useful compounds assist aid the immune machine in fighting infection, leading to advanced overall health.

Examples of Vegetables

Vegetables fluctuate in shape, size, shade, flavour, and texture. Here are some examples:

• Broccoli is a green-blooming vegetable with a harsh flavour. It incorporates a lot of sulforaphane, indole-3-carbinol, and nutrition C.
• Tomato: A pink fruit veggie with a sour flavour. It carries numerous lycopene, diet C, and potassium.
• Spinach is a green-leaf vegetable that has a mild flavour. It consists of iron, folate, and diet K.
• Carrot: An orange-coloured root vegetable with a nice flavour. It incorporates beta-carotene, diet A, and Fiber.
• Main Difference Between Fruits and Vegetables in Points
• Fruits are the matured ovaries of a seed plant, usually generated from a flower, whereas vegetables are planted edible components that do not continually play a function in the plant's reproducing cycle.
• Fruits have a sweet or tart flavour because of the concentration of herbal sugars, even as vegetables have lots of Flavors along with sour, Savory, and earthy.
• Fruits are often picked whilst they are perfectly ripe and colourful, but veggies can be taken at many levels of development, which include when they are young and fragile or completely grown.
• Vegetables are usually served as an issue of the main meal or facet dishes and are cooked in several ways which include boiling, steaming, sauteing, or frying.
• Fruits are typically amassed whilst absolutely ripe and colourful, but greens can be harvested at many degrees of improvement, such as immature and fragile or absolutely grown.
• Fruits regularly have a shorter lifespan than vegetables due to their extra sugar content, and consequently are regularly saved in cold and dry settings. Vegetables may be saved for extended lengths of time, especially when refrigerated or conserved.
• Fruits are sometimes classified as awesome groups from veggies, and there are particular fruit sorts consisting of berries, fruit with citrus, or tropical result. Vegetables, on the other hand, may be divided into subgroups based totally on their characteristics, inclusive of leafy vegetables, root greens, or greens referred to as cruciferous.
• While particular culmination, which includes tomatoes or avocados, can be used in Savory recipes, fruits are frequently related to sweetness. In assessment, vegetables are often employed in Savory cuisines and are the middle factors of many conventional recipes.
• Fruits play a position in flowering plant reproduction due to the fact they comprise seeds that may be spread to create new plants. Vegetables seldom help directly to plant boom.
• Vegetables seldom help directly to plant growth. The squishy or pulpy place round the seeds is generally the safe-to-eat phase of fruits. The edible element of a vegetable might be the plant's leaves, stems, roots, or different non-reproductive sections.

Fruits and veggies are both vital for wholesome fitness. They are excessive in minerals, nutrients, and nutritional Fiber, all of which might be necessary for human health. Including a lot of results and veggies in our weight loss plan can help us stay wholesome and avoid chronic ailments. We have to consume no less than five quantities of fruits and greens every day. By doing so, we might also assure that our bodies receive the vitamins they require to feature successfully.

To summarise, culmination and vegetables are each beneficial to our usual well-being and fitness. They have various residences and dietary profiles, but they're each necessary additives to a balanced diet. We may assure that we're acquiring the essential vitamins that our bodies require with the aid of integrating an array of vegetables and result into our weight loss plan.

• https://blog.freepeople.com/2014/08/mind-blown-fruits-veggies/
• https://themysteriousworld.com/fruits-commonly-mistaken-for-vegetables/
•  https://www.tastingtable.com/1238942/fruits-that-are-commonly-mislabeledvegetables/
• https://www.thedailymeal.com/eat/foods-not-what-you-think/
• https://www.biologyonline.com/tutorials/fruits-flowers-and-seeds
•  https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vegetable            
•  https://www.britannica.com/topic/vegetable
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetable

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Difference Between Fruits and Vegetables

• Categorized under Nature , Vegetables & Fruits | Difference Between Fruits and Vegetables

If you are interested in the technicalities, a fruit is the mature ovary of a flowering plant. The function of the fruit is to bear the seeds, which help in the growth of more plants. That means your eggplants, cucumbers, corn and peas are all really fruit. Even hard and dry nuts are, technically speaking, fruit.

Vegetables refer to the edible portions of a plant. They may include the leaves (as in lettuce), stalks (your favorite celery), the roots (carrots), bulbs (onions) and flowers (as in the broccoli). If you are arguing that the fruit is also an edible part of the plant, you are right. The only difference is that the fruit would be separating from the plant after some time, so that the seeds inside can develop into a new plant.

There is a common misconception that the fruit is the only sweet and soft part of a plant. The rest of the plant is conveniently allocated as vegetables. The truth is that even the tomato is a fruit and not a vegetable!

This is because a fruit is usually found on the part of the tree that is above the ground. As tomatoes grow on vines and not on trees, there is a perennial argument about this poor fruit. People tend to think of fruits as a sweet and succulent part of the part. Moreover, they don’t even use the tomato as they would normally use a fruit. Even the pumpkin and zucchini you so adore are technically speaking part of the fruit family. This is because they are a part of the squash family.

When your dietician asks you to maintain a balance between the fruit and vegetables you are having, make sure you know exactly what you are taking in. A simple thumb rule to follow is to find out whether the confusing thing has seeds or not. If it does, it is in all probability, a fruit.

Both fruit and vegetables are required as part of your daily diet. Fruits provide you with your daily dose of antioxidants, vitamin c and all the fiber you need. The nutritive value of vegetables cannot be ignored either. Vegetables provide you with the roughage you need in your diet. Vegetables also provide you with vitamins and proteins. A diet without vegetables will leave you malnourished and lacking in essential proteins and vitamins. In general, vegetables have less sugar content compared to fruits. Vegetables also provide more fiber compared to fruits.

So, the next time you pick up a carrot and start wondering whether you are taking in a fruit or a vegetable, don’t. The important thing is to mix it up and eat as varied a diet as you possibly can.

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Cite APA 7 Mukherjee, P. (2011, June 14). Difference Between Fruits and Vegetables. Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects. http://www.differencebetween.net/science/nature/difference-between-fruits-and-vegetables/. MLA 8 Mukherjee, Purpa. "Difference Between Fruits and Vegetables." Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects, 14 June, 2011, http://www.differencebetween.net/science/nature/difference-between-fruits-and-vegetables/.

Fruit ripens after it has been picked…..vegtables does not

True but they could tecnectly because when they are squoshy that is riper then when it is not.

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• Comparing and contrasting in an essay | Tips & examples

Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay | Tips & Examples

Published on August 6, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

Comparing and contrasting is an important skill in academic writing . It involves taking two or more subjects and analyzing the differences and similarities between them.

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Table of contents

When should i compare and contrast, making effective comparisons, comparing and contrasting as a brainstorming tool, structuring your comparisons, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about comparing and contrasting.

Many assignments will invite you to make comparisons quite explicitly, as in these prompts.

• Compare the treatment of the theme of beauty in the poetry of William Wordsworth and John Keats.
• Compare and contrast in-class and distance learning. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach?

Some other prompts may not directly ask you to compare and contrast, but present you with a topic where comparing and contrasting could be a good approach.

One way to approach this essay might be to contrast the situation before the Great Depression with the situation during it, to highlight how large a difference it made.

Comparing and contrasting is also used in all kinds of academic contexts where it’s not explicitly prompted. For example, a literature review involves comparing and contrasting different studies on your topic, and an argumentative essay may involve weighing up the pros and cons of different arguments.

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As the name suggests, comparing and contrasting is about identifying both similarities and differences. You might focus on contrasting quite different subjects or comparing subjects with a lot in common—but there must be some grounds for comparison in the first place.

For example, you might contrast French society before and after the French Revolution; you’d likely find many differences, but there would be a valid basis for comparison. However, if you contrasted pre-revolutionary France with Han-dynasty China, your reader might wonder why you chose to compare these two societies.

This is why it’s important to clarify the point of your comparisons by writing a focused thesis statement . Every element of an essay should serve your central argument in some way. Consider what you’re trying to accomplish with any comparisons you make, and be sure to make this clear to the reader.

Comparing and contrasting can be a useful tool to help organize your thoughts before you begin writing any type of academic text. You might use it to compare different theories and approaches you’ve encountered in your preliminary research, for example.

Let’s say your research involves the competing psychological approaches of behaviorism and cognitive psychology. You might make a table to summarize the key differences between them.

Or say you’re writing about the major global conflicts of the twentieth century. You might visualize the key similarities and differences in a Venn diagram.

These visualizations wouldn’t make it into your actual writing, so they don’t have to be very formal in terms of phrasing or presentation. The point of comparing and contrasting at this stage is to help you organize and shape your ideas to aid you in structuring your arguments.

When comparing and contrasting in an essay, there are two main ways to structure your comparisons: the alternating method and the block method.

The alternating method

In the alternating method, you structure your text according to what aspect you’re comparing. You cover both your subjects side by side in terms of a specific point of comparison. Your text is structured like this:

Mouse over the example paragraph below to see how this approach works.

One challenge teachers face is identifying and assisting students who are struggling without disrupting the rest of the class. In a traditional classroom environment, the teacher can easily identify when a student is struggling based on their demeanor in class or simply by regularly checking on students during exercises. They can then offer assistance quietly during the exercise or discuss it further after class. Meanwhile, in a Zoom-based class, the lack of physical presence makes it more difficult to pay attention to individual students’ responses and notice frustrations, and there is less flexibility to speak with students privately to offer assistance. In this case, therefore, the traditional classroom environment holds the advantage, although it appears likely that aiding students in a virtual classroom environment will become easier as the technology, and teachers’ familiarity with it, improves.

The block method

In the block method, you cover each of the overall subjects you’re comparing in a block. You say everything you have to say about your first subject, then discuss your second subject, making comparisons and contrasts back to the things you’ve already said about the first. Your text is structured like this:

• Point of comparison A
• Point of comparison B

The most commonly cited advantage of distance learning is the flexibility and accessibility it offers. Rather than being required to travel to a specific location every week (and to live near enough to feasibly do so), students can participate from anywhere with an internet connection. This allows not only for a wider geographical spread of students but for the possibility of studying while travelling. However, distance learning presents its own accessibility challenges; not all students have a stable internet connection and a computer or other device with which to participate in online classes, and less technologically literate students and teachers may struggle with the technical aspects of class participation. Furthermore, discomfort and distractions can hinder an individual student’s ability to engage with the class from home, creating divergent learning experiences for different students. Distance learning, then, seems to improve accessibility in some ways while representing a step backwards in others.

Note that these two methods can be combined; these two example paragraphs could both be part of the same essay, but it’s wise to use an essay outline to plan out which approach you’re taking in each paragraph.

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If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
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• False cause fallacy
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College essays

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Some essay prompts include the keywords “compare” and/or “contrast.” In these cases, an essay structured around comparing and contrasting is the appropriate response.

Comparing and contrasting is also a useful approach in all kinds of academic writing : You might compare different studies in a literature review , weigh up different arguments in an argumentative essay , or consider different theoretical approaches in a theoretical framework .

Your subjects might be very different or quite similar, but it’s important that there be meaningful grounds for comparison . You can probably describe many differences between a cat and a bicycle, but there isn’t really any connection between them to justify the comparison.

You’ll have to write a thesis statement explaining the central point you want to make in your essay , so be sure to know in advance what connects your subjects and makes them worth comparing.

Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:

• The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
• The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.

It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.

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• Why 5 A Day? - NHS
• What Counts as a Vegetable Serving? - WebMD
• Vegetables and Fruits - Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
• Top 10 Reasons to Eat More Fruits and Vegetables - Fruits & Veggies More Matters
• The 14 Healthiest Vegetables on Earth - Healthline
• Fruits and Vegetables - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Dietary fiber: Essential for a healthy diet - Mayo Clinic

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23 Compare and Contrast

Comparison  in writing discusses elements that are similar, while  contrast  in writing discusses elements that are different. A  compare-and-contrast essay , then, analyzes two subjects by comparing them, contrasting them, or both.

The key to a good compare-and-contrast essay is to choose two or more subjects that connect in a meaningful way. The purpose of conducting the comparison or contrast is not to state the obvious but rather to illuminate subtle differences or unexpected similarities. For example, if you wanted to focus on contrasting two subjects you would not pick apples and oranges; rather, you might choose to compare and contrast two types of oranges or two types of apples to highlight subtle differences. For example, Red Delicious apples are sweet, while Granny Smiths are tart and acidic. Drawing distinctions between elements in a similar category will increase the audience’s understanding of that category, which is the purpose of the compare-and-contrast essay.

Figure 5.7 Apples, Green and Red

Similarly, to focus on comparison, choose two subjects that seem at first to be unrelated. For a comparison essay, you likely would not choose two apples or two oranges because they share so many of the same properties already. Rather, you might try to compare how apples and oranges are quite similar. The more divergent the two subjects initially seem, the more interesting a comparison essay will be.

Writing at Work

Comparing and contrasting is also an evaluative tool. In order to make accurate evaluations about a given topic, you must first know the critical points of similarity and difference. Comparing and contrasting is a primary tool for many workplace assessments. You have likely compared and contrasted yourself to other colleagues. Employee advancements, pay raises, hiring, and firing are typically conducted using comparison and contrast. Comparison and contrast could be used to evaluate companies, departments, or individuals.

Exercise 13

Brainstorm an essay that leans toward contrast. Choose one of the following three categories. Pick two examples from each. Then come up with one similarity and three differences between the examples.

• Romantic comedies
• Internet search engines
• Cell phones

Exercise 14

Brainstorm an essay that leans toward comparison. Choose one of the following three items. Then come up with one difference and three similarities.

• Department stores and discount retail stores
• Fast food chains and fine dining restaurants
• Dogs and cats

The Structure of a Comparison and Contrast Essay

The compare-and-contrast essay starts with a thesis that clearly states the two subjects that are to be compared, contrasted, or both and the reason for doing so. Remember, the point of comparing and contrasting is to provide useful knowledge to the reader. Take the following thesis as an example that focuses on contrast.

Thesis statement : Organic vegetables may cost more than those that are conventionally grown, but they are definitely worth every extra penny.

Here the thesis sets up the two subjects to be compared and contrasted (organic versus conventional vegetables), and it makes a claim about the results that might prove useful to the reader.

You may organize compare-and-contrast essays in one of the following two ways:

• According to the subjects themselves, discussing one then the other
• According to individual points, discussing each subject in relation to each point

The organizational structure you choose depends on the nature of the topic, your purpose, and your audience.

See the chart below, which diagrams the ways to organize the organic versus conventional vegetables thesis.

Figure 5.8 Organization Diagram

Given that compare-and-contrast essays analyze the relationship between two subjects, it is helpful to have some phrases on hand that will cue the reader to such analysis. See the chart below for examples.

Figure 5.9 Phrases of Comparison and Contrast

Exercise 15

Create an outline for each of the items you chose in Exercises 13 and 14. Use the point-by-point organizing strategy for one of them, and use the subject organizing strategy for the other.

Writing a Comparison and Contrast Essay

First, choose whether you want to compare seemingly disparate subjects, contrast seemingly similar subjects, or compare and contrast subjects. Once you have decided on a topic, introduce it with an engaging opening paragraph. Your thesis should come at the end of the introduction, and it should establish the subjects you will compare, contrast, or both as well as state what can be learned from doing so.

The body of the essay can be organized in one of two ways: by subject or by individual points. The organizing strategy that you choose will depend on, as always, your audience and your purpose. You may also consider your particular approach to the subjects as well as the nature of the subjects themselves; some subjects might better lend themselves to one structure or the other. Make sure to use comparison and contrast phrases to cue the reader to the ways in which you are analyzing the relationship between the subjects.

After you finish analyzing the subjects, write a conclusion that reinforces your thesis while drawing a conclusion based on what you have presented. This conclusion is the “and so” statement for your essay, giving you the place to offer a judgement based on the examination you have just offered.

Many business presentations are conducted using comparison and contrast. The organizing strategies—by subject or individual points—could also be used for organizing a presentation. Keep this in mind as a way of organizing your content the next time you or a colleague have to present something at work.

Exercise 16

Choose two people who are significant in your life and have a similar relationship with you (two friends, two siblings, etc). Make a list of similarities and differences between these people. Consult your list, then draw a conclusion based on the presence of these similarities and differences. Outline the similarities and differences, then write a statement that offers an overall conclusion.

Assignment 5

Choose one of the outlines you created in Exercise 15 or 16, and write a full compare-and-contrast essay. Be sure to include an engaging introduction, a clear thesis, well-defined and detailed paragraphs, and a fitting conclusion that ties everything together.

Key Takeaways

• A compare-and-contrast essay analyzes two subjects by either comparing them, contrasting them, or both.
• The purpose of writing a comparison or contrast essay is not to state the obvious but rather to illuminate subtle differences or unexpected similarities between two subjects.
• The thesis should clearly state the subjects that are to be compared, contrasted, or both, and it should state what is to be learned from doing so.
• Organize by the subjects themselves, one then the other.
• Organize by individual points, in which you discuss each subject in relation to each point.
• Use phrases of comparison or phrases of contrast to signal to readers how exactly the two subjects are being analyzed.

External Links

“ Disability ” (https://tinyurl.com/y99te6e2) by Nancy Mairs: In “Disability,” writer Nancy Mairs discusses the experience of being a disabled person in a world focused on the able-bodied. It seems to be titled “Hers” but it is the correct essay.

“ Friending, Ancient or Otherwise ” (https://tinyurl.com/y85u8ae8) by Alex Wright: In “Friending, Ancient or Otherwise,” writer Alex Wright explores the evolution and purpose of friendship in the age of social media.

“ Sex, Lies and Conversation: Why Is It So Hard for Men and Women to Talk to Each Other ? ” (https://tinyurl.com/y95dpehx) by Deborah Tannen. In this essay, Tannen compares and contrasts conversation styles. You can view the essay  here  (https://tinyurl.com/y9vnjqv8) also.

Example Comparison and Contrast Essay

“A South African Storm”

By Allison Howard – Peace Corps Volunteer: South Africa (2003-2005)

It’s a Saturday afternoon in January in South Africa. When I begin the 45–minute walk to the shops for groceries, I can hear thunder cracking in the distance up the mountain in Mageobaskloof. But at 4 p.m. the sky is still light and bright and I am sure—famous last words—I will be fine without an umbrella.

Just the basics: eggs, bread, Diet Coke in a bag slung into the crook of my elbow. Halfway from town, two black South African women—domestic workers in the homes of white Afrikaner families—stop me with wide smiles. They know me; I’m the only white person in town who walks everywhere, as they do. They chatter quickly in northern Sotho: “Missus, you must go fast. Pula e tla na! The rain, it comes!” They like me, and it feels very important to me that they do.“Yebo, yebo, mma,” I say—Yes, it’s true—and I hurry along in flip-flops, quickening my pace, feeling good about our brief but neighborly conversation. These are Venda women.

My black South African friends tell me it’s easy to tell a Venda from a Shangaan from a Xhosa from a Pedi. “These ones from Venda , they have wide across the nose and high in the cheekbones,” they say. But I don’t see it; I’m years away from being able to distinguish the nuances of ethnicity. Today, I know these women are Vendas simply because of their clothing: bright stripes of green and yellow and black fabric tied at one shoulder and hanging quite like a sack around their bodies. They’ve already extended a kindness to me by speaking in northern Sotho. It’s not their language but they know I don’t speak a word of Afrikaans (though they don’t understand why; Afrikaans is the language of white people). They know I struggle with Sotho and they’re trying to help me learn. So they speak Sotho to me and they’re delighted and amused by my fumbling responses. And I am, quite simply, delighted by their delight.

The Venda ladies are right: the rain, it comes. Lightly at first, and by habit I begin trotting to hurry my way home. Just a little rain at first and there are plenty of us out in it. I can see others up ahead on the street and others still just leaving the shops to get back before the real rain begins.

The people who are walking along this swath of tar road are black. Black people don’t live in this neighborhood—or in my town at all, for the most part. They work and board here as domestic workers, nannies, gardeners. Their families live in black townships and rural villages—some just outside of my town; others far away, in places like Venda.

Today, we’re walking together in the rain, and I’m quickening my pace because—after all , it’s raining . That’s what you do in the rain. And even though it’s coming down noticeably harder, it’s 80 degrees and I’m not cold, I’m just wet. My hair is stuck to my forehead and my T-shirt is soaked … and I’m the only one running for cover. And I think: So what? It’s just water and in the middle of the January summer, it’s warm, refreshing water. Why run? Why do we run from the rain?

In my life back in the United States, I might run because I was carrying a leather handbag, or because I wore an outfit that shouldn’t get wet. I would run because rain dishevels and messes things up. Mostly though, we run because we just do; it’s a habit. I’ve done it a hundred times: running to my car or the subway station with a newspaper sheltering my head. I have never not quickened my pace in the rain until today.

It took all of my 27 years and a move to Africa , where I don’t have a leather handbag to shelter or a pretty outfit to protect. I’m wearing an old cotton skirt and a T-shirt, and I’m drenched, and I love it. I learn things here in the most ordinary circumstances. And I feel like a smarter, better woman today because I got groceries in the rain.

But on the long walk home, positively soaked and smiling like a fool, I notice a car pulling over and a man yelling in Afrikaans to get in, get in. I look in the direction I’ve come from and several meters behind me is a woman with a baby tied to her back and an elderly man carrying bags, leading a young boy by the hand. On the road ahead, a woman about my age carries a parcel wrapped in plastic, balanced precariously on her head. There are maybe 20 people walking with me in my reverie of rain and they are black. And the man in the car is white and he’s gesturing frantically for me to get in. Why me? Why not the others? Because I’m white and it’s about race. Everything is about race here.

This man in the car is trying to do something kind and neighborly. He wants to help me and his gesture is right, but his instincts are so wrong. How do you resent someone who is, for no benefit of his own, trying to help? But I do. I resent him and I resent the world he lives in that taught him such selective kindness. This whole event unravels in a few seconds’ time. He’s leaned over and opened the car door, urging me in … and I get in. And we speed past my fellow walkers and he drops me at my doorstep before I have time to think of anything besides giving him directions.

It feels like a mistake because I’m ashamed to think what the Venda women would have felt if he’d ignored them and they had watched me climb into that car. In some ways, the whole episode seems absurd. I’m not going to atone for 400 years of South African history by walking with black people in the rain. If I’d refused his ride, he wouldn’t have thought anything besides the fact that I was certifiably crazy. That’s the thing about being here: I’m not going to change anything. But I believe it matters in some infinitesimal way that people like the Venda women, and the dozens of people who may walk alongside me on any given day, know that I’m there. In black South African culture, it is polite to greet every person you pass. That’s what they do, so I do it, too. On the occasional morning, someone might greet me as “sesi,” sister. I have to believe that matters; I know it matters to me.

I was disappointed in myself for getting into the car because I acted according to the same habit that makes us think rain an inconvenience. Just as we run from the rain, I hopped into that car because I’m supposed to. Conventionally, it makes sense. But convention compels us to do so many things that don’t make any sense at all. Convention misinforms our instincts. And in a larger sense, it is convention that propels Afrikaner culture anachronistically into the future. Ten years after the supposed end of apartheid, I’m living in a world of institutionalized racism. Convention becomes institution—and it’s oppressive and it’s unjust. I know that if I’m going to make it here for two more years, I need to walk in the rain. It’s a small, wasted gesture, but it’s an uncorrupted instinct that makes me feel human.

So much about living here feels like that fraction of a second when the Afrikaner man was appealing to my conventional sensibilities and the people on the street were appealing to my human instincts. It may feel unnatural to reject those sensibilities just as, at first, it feels unnatural to walk in the rain. But if I lose a hold on my instincts here, I’ll fail myself and I’ll fail to achieve those tiny things that matter so much. It’s simple and it’s small; and it’s everything. Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Indeed. Let it rain.

Example Comparison and Contrast Essay #2

Comparing and Contrasting London and Washington, DC

Both Washington, DC, and London are capital cities of English-speaking countries, and yet they offer vastly different experiences to their residents and visitors. Comparing and contrasting the two cities based on their history, their culture, and their residents show how different and similar the two are.

Both cities are rich in world and national history, though they developed on very different time lines. London, for example, has a history that dates back over two thousand years. It was part of the Roman Empire and known by the similar name, Londinium. It was not only one of the northernmost points of the Roman Empire but also the epicenter of the British Empire where it held significant global influence from the early sixteenth century on through the early twentieth century. Washington, DC, on the other hand, has only formally existed since the late eighteenth century. Though Native Americans inhabited the land several thousand years earlier, and settlers inhabited the land as early as the sixteenth century, the city did not become the capital of the United States until the 1790s. From that point onward to today, however, Washington, DC, has increasingly maintained significant global influence. Even though both cities have different histories, they have both held, and continue to hold, significant social influence in the economic and cultural global spheres.

Both Washington, DC, and London offer a wide array of museums that harbor many of the world’s most prized treasures. While Washington, DC, has the National Gallery of Art and several other Smithsonian galleries, London’s art scene and galleries have a definite edge in this category. From the Tate Modern to the British National Gallery, London’s art ranks among the world’s best. This difference and advantage has much to do with London and Britain’s historical depth compared to that of the United States. London has a much richer past than Washington, DC, and consequently has a lot more material to pull from when arranging its collections. Both cities have thriving theater districts, but again, London wins this comparison, too, both in quantity and quality of theater choices. With regard to other cultural places like restaurants, pubs, and bars, both cities are very comparable. Both have a wide selection of expensive, elegant restaurants as well as a similar amount of global and national chains. While London may be better known for its pubs and taste in beer, DC offers a different bar-going experience. With clubs and pubs that tend to stay open later than their British counterparts, the DC night life tend to be less reserved overall.

Both cities also share and differ in cultural diversity and cost of living. Both cities share a very expensive cost of living—both in terms of housing and shopping. A downtown one-bedroom apartment in DC can easily cost $1,800 per month, and a similar “flat” in London may double that amount. These high costs create socioeconomic disparity among the residents. Although both cities’ residents are predominantly wealthy, both have a significantly large population of poor and homeless. Perhaps the most significant difference between the resident demographics is the racial makeup. Washington, DC, is a “minority majority” city, which means the majority of its citizens are races other than white. In 2009, according to the US Census, 55 percent of DC residents were classified as “Black or African American” and 35 percent of its residents were classified as “white.” London, by contrast, has very few minorities—in 2006, 70 percent of its population was “white,” while only 10 percent was “black.” The racial demographic differences between the cities is drastic.

Even though Washington, DC, and London are major capital cities of English-speaking countries in the Western world, they have many differences along with their similarities. They have vastly different histories, art cultures, and racial demographics, but they remain similar in their cost of living and socioeconomic disparity.

Attributions

Content taken from Chapter 5 – Rhetorical Modes  by Jenifer Kurtz is licensed under a  Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

English 101: Journey Into Open Copyright © 2021 by Christine Jones is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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