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A comprehensive guide to crafting a successful comparison essay.

Comparison essays are a common assignment in academic settings, requiring students to analyze and contrast two or more subjects, concepts, or ideas. Writing a comparison essay can be challenging, but with the right approach and guidance, you can craft a compelling and informative piece of writing.

In this comprehensive guide, we will provide you with valuable tips and examples to help you master the art of comparison essay writing. Whether you’re comparing two literary works, historical events, scientific theories, or any other topics, this guide will equip you with the tools and strategies needed to create a well-structured and persuasive essay.

From choosing a suitable topic and developing a strong thesis statement to organizing your arguments and incorporating effective evidence, this guide will walk you through each step of the writing process. By following the advice and examples provided here, you’ll be able to produce a top-notch comparison essay that showcases your analytical skills and critical thinking abilities.

Understanding the Basics

Before diving into writing a comparison essay, it’s essential to understand the basics of comparison writing. A comparison essay, also known as a comparative essay, requires you to analyze two or more subjects by highlighting their similarities and differences. This type of essay aims to show how these subjects are similar or different in various aspects.

When writing a comparison essay, you should have a clear thesis statement that identifies the subjects you are comparing and the main points of comparison. It’s essential to structure your essay effectively by organizing your ideas logically. You can use different methods of organization, such as the block method or point-by-point method, to present your comparisons.

Additionally, make sure to include evidence and examples to support your comparisons. Use specific details and examples to strengthen your arguments and clarify the similarities and differences between the subjects. Lastly, remember to provide a strong conclusion that summarizes your main points and reinforces the significance of your comparison.

Choosing a Topic for Comparison Essay

When selecting a topic for your comparison essay, it’s essential to choose two subjects that have some similarities and differences to explore. You can compare two books, two movies, two historical figures, two theories, or any other pair of related subjects.

Consider selecting topics that interest you or that you are familiar with to make the writing process more engaging and manageable. Additionally, ensure that the subjects you choose are suitable for comparison and have enough material for analysis.

It’s also helpful to brainstorm ideas and create a list of potential topics before making a final decision. Once you have a few options in mind, evaluate them based on the relevance of the comparison, the availability of credible sources, and your own interest in the subjects.

Remember that a well-chosen topic is one of the keys to writing a successful comparison essay, so take your time to select subjects that will allow you to explore meaningful connections and differences in a compelling way.

Finding the Right Pairing

When writing a comparison essay, it’s crucial to find the right pairing of subjects to compare. Choose subjects that have enough similarities and differences to make a meaningful comparison. Consider the audience and purpose of your essay to determine what pairing will be most effective.

Look for subjects that you are passionate about or have a deep understanding of. This will make the writing process easier and more engaging. Additionally, consider choosing subjects that are relevant and timely, as this will make your essay more interesting to readers.

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box when finding the right pairing. Sometimes unexpected combinations can lead to the most compelling comparisons. Conduct thorough research on both subjects to ensure you have enough material to work with and present a balanced comparison.

Structuring Your Comparison Essay

When writing a comparison essay, it is essential to organize your ideas in a clear and logical manner. One effective way to structure your essay is to use a point-by-point comparison or a block comparison format.

Point-by-Point Comparison	Block Comparison
In this format, you will discuss one point of comparison between the two subjects before moving on to the next point.	In this format, you will discuss all the points related to one subject before moving on to the next subject.
Allows for a more detailed analysis of each point of comparison.	Provides a clear and structured comparison of the two subjects.
Can be helpful when the subjects have multiple similarities and differences to explore.	May be easier to follow for readers who prefer a side-by-side comparison of the subjects.

Whichever format you choose, make sure to introduce your subjects, present your points of comparison, provide evidence or examples to support your comparisons, and conclude by summarizing the main points and highlighting the significance of your comparison.

Creating a Clear Outline

Before you start writing your comparison essay, it’s essential to create a clear outline. An outline serves as a roadmap that helps you stay organized and focused throughout the writing process. Here are some steps to create an effective outline:

1. Identify the subjects of comparison: Start by determining the two subjects you will be comparing in your essay. Make sure they have enough similarities and differences to make a meaningful comparison.

2. Brainstorm key points: Once you have chosen the subjects, brainstorm the key points you want to compare and contrast. These could include characteristics, features, themes, or arguments related to each subject.

3. Organize your points: Arrange your key points in a logical order. You can choose to compare similar points side by side or alternate between the two subjects to highlight differences.

4. Develop a thesis statement: Based on your key points, develop a clear thesis statement that states the main purpose of your comparison essay. This statement should guide the rest of your writing and provide a clear direction for your argument.

5. Create a structure: Divide your essay into introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each section should serve a specific purpose and contribute to the overall coherence of your essay.

By creating a clear outline, you can ensure that your comparison essay flows smoothly and effectively communicates your ideas to the reader.

Engaging the Reader

When writing a comparison essay, it is crucial to engage the reader right from the beginning. You want to hook their attention and make them want to keep reading. Here are some tips to engage your reader:

Start with a strong opening statement or question that entices the reader to continue reading.
Use vivid language and descriptive imagery to paint a clear picture in the reader’s mind.
Provide interesting facts or statistics that pique the reader’s curiosity.
Create a compelling thesis statement that outlines the purpose of your comparison essay.

By engaging the reader from the start, you set the stage for a successful and impactful comparison essay that keeps the reader engaged until the very end.

Point-by-Point vs Block Method

When writing a comparison essay, you have two main options for structuring your content: the point-by-point method and the block method. Each method has its own advantages and may be more suitable depending on the type of comparison you are making.

Point-by-Point Method: This method involves discussing one point of comparison at a time between the two subjects. You will go back and forth between the subjects, highlighting similarities and differences for each point. This method allows for a more detailed and nuanced analysis of the subjects.
Block Method: In contrast, the block method involves discussing all the points related to one subject first, followed by all the points related to the second subject. This method provides a more straightforward and organized comparison but may not delve as deeply into the individual points of comparison.

Ultimately, the choice between the point-by-point and block methods depends on the complexity of your comparison and the level of detail you want to explore. Experiment with both methods to see which one best suits your writing style and the specific requirements of your comparison essay.

Selecting the Best Approach

When it comes to writing a comparison essay, selecting the best approach is crucial to ensure a successful and effective comparison. There are several approaches you can take when comparing two subjects, including the block method and the point-by-point method.

The block method: This approach involves discussing all the similarities and differences of one subject first, followed by a thorough discussion of the second subject. This method is useful when the two subjects being compared are quite different or when the reader may not be familiar with one of the subjects.

The point-by-point method: This approach involves alternating between discussing the similarities and differences of the two subjects in each paragraph. This method allows for a more in-depth comparison of specific points and is often preferred when the two subjects have many similarities and differences.

Before selecting an approach, consider the nature of the subjects being compared and the purpose of your comparison essay. Choose the approach that will best serve your purpose and allow for a clear, organized, and engaging comparison.

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Best Inspiration for Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for Students

Updated 20 Aug 2024

Do you think that writing a compare and contrast essay on one topic is difficult? Then you probably feel that you will struggle to finish a compare-and-contrast essay because it has two topics. But this is not quite right. Comparative essays are easy to write. They allow you to explore the differences and similarities between the two subjects or themes.

If you struggle with finding inspiration, our bright compare-and-contrast essay topics list will help you submit your assignment on time. It suggests intriguing subjects that can help to finish an excellent task without any delays.

Try choosing a suitable one from compare and contrast topics list as objects that go under comparison should belong to the same category. They should also demonstrate some depth that you reveal in your writing. This is why you must work hard to pick relevant themes to learn how to write my essay about them.

How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay?

As a student, you are assigned to various types of tasks. Compare and contrast essay writing explores the resemblance between two themes or topics and how they differ. This type of academic writing promotes critical thinking. It motivates you to come up with an attention-grabbing analysis that reflects your character, opinion, as well as understanding.

You usually receive a question from your professor or teacher. It is your job to build a paper that analyzes this topic fully. This type of writing is common in various academic levels at any US university, with topics picked or tailored based on subjects studied.

There are various genres of prompts that will inspire you to finish an excellent academic paper. The analysis you create shows what you believe in and how it makes sense.

Right Compare and Contrast Essay Structure

Academic success in USA colleges and universities depends on your ability to follow the rules while adding a personal touch that makes you stand out among your peers. In this type of paper, one must follow the adequate compare-and-contrast essay outline and structure with format to submit an excellent task.

By browsing compare-and-contrast essay examples, one can see that a typical assignment is composed of three sections: an introduction, a discussion of the main idea, and the particular issues to study.

Get your Paper Started

In the introduction paragraph, mention your thesis statement plus a brief explanation of the main topic that you will explore. It should be inspiring enough to encourage readers to keep on reading. Next, discuss and analyze the subject fully. Mention similarities and how the two ideas differ. Include an arguable thesis statement.

Work on the Body

One of the most successful ways to submit this type of writing is to brainstorm for thought-provoking concepts. Note down all similarities and differences in points for easy reference. Start by listing down a paragraph that highlights similarities between the two ideas. Next, devote a separate section to explain how each one of them is unique.

You can use visuals like a Venn diagram to explain your opinion. It highlights the distinctive features of each subject plus how they relate to each other. Lists are also excellent tools to clarify ideas.

Paragraphs should be of equal weight and importance. All should contain relevant evidence that gives your paper credibility and shows that you’ve worked hard to finish it. Use reliable scientific resources. Refer to a previous reading or a personal experience to support your point of view. Your argument should be based on your own opinion. It should be supported by enough examples that tempt people to read the rest of your essay.

Develop a convincing argument using the facts you have mentioned. Make sure they add value to the audience. Explore the counterarguments. Study opinions that oppose your thesis statement or belief.

In the conclusion paragraph, sum up your idea. This section provides your readers with a quick summary of your research and explains why you’ve reached this conclusion. It should give a different interpretation of your thesis sentence. Think about how it relates to your argument.

Choosing Suitable Compare and Contrast Essay Ideas

Academically suitable compare contrast essay topics should be stimulating as well as attention-grabbing. USA professors and teachers usually advise you to stay away from mainstream ideas. Be creative.

First, your paper subject should be relevant to the academic material you are studying. You can explore various situations, places, and historical events, investigate past events, or the lives of fictional or real people.

Head to the library to do some research related to your theme. Find some inspiration while watching TV news, series, and documentaries. Stay tuned for the latest events, and link them to our past. Read the most trending articles and see what people talk about. The Internet is another excellent source for exceptional compare and contrast essay ideas. However, make sure that you are relying on academically accurate information. Do not believe everything online.

Read also: Best Definition Essay Topics Guide for an A Grade

Best Writing Tips for Your Success

Even if creating a compare and contrast essay is not your favorite activity, you can still submit an exceptional and high-quality assignment that will grant you the best academic recognition. Here are some tips to help you finish your task just the way you want to:

You can’t learn how to write a compare and contrast essay unless you do some reading first. Read about the two topics you selected. Take notes of the most intriguing ideas you can think of. These notes will help you later when you are working on this task.
Be as organized as possible. List all similarities and differences in two columns that will help in crafting comprehensive paragraphs. Add all the details that you can think of. They might come in handy later on.
Pick the most relevant and significant point to build your central argument. This should be the basis of your future work.
Make sure that you follow the right outline and format. A compare and contrast essay should comprise 5 or 6 paragraphs. The introduction should provide a general idea of your work while each body paragraph should contain a clear statement. Don’t forget to restate what you think or feel in the concluding paragraph.
Use transitional words. They help make your writing more logical and allow readers to move smoothly from idea to another.
Edit. Don’t throw all your work in the gutter, use a grammar checker and make sure your submit work that doesn't contain spelling, grammar or even punctuation errors. Teacher will definitely value an exceptional composition that contains no mistakes.
Ask for feedback. It is always a good idea to get a second opinion. Ask your friends, family, or other professors to read your assignment before submission. A new set of eyes can highlight areas that you’ve missed.

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for 2024

Are you stressed about finding suitable topics to compare and contrast? Don’t worry. Choosing the right compare and contrast essay topics is essential for a compelling essay, and a personal statement writing service can help you articulate your thoughts and experiences effectively. We can help you find the necessary inspiration by offering astounding comparative essay topics that you can use. Here are different compare and contrast essay topics divided into several categories:

Compare and Contrast Topics on Education

Online learning vs. traditional classroom learning.
Public schools vs. private schools: Benefits and drawbacks.
Standardized testing: A necessary measure or an outdated method?
Montessori method vs. traditional education system.
The impact of technology in education vs. traditional teaching aids.
Year-round schooling vs. traditional school calendars.
The effectiveness of homework: Beneficial practice or unnecessary stress?
Liberal arts education vs. specialized degree programs.
The role of sports in education: Physical education vs. academic focus.
Co-educational schools vs. single-gender schools.
The influence of teacher-student ratio on learning outcomes.
STEM education vs. arts education: Shaping future professionals.
The impact of school uniforms on student behavior and school culture.
Early childhood education: Play-based vs. academic-focused approaches.
The role of parental involvement in public vs. private schooling.
Distance learning vs. on-campus education in universities.
The effectiveness of bilingual education vs. English-only programs.
Traditional grading systems vs. pass/fail assessments.
The influence of class size on student achievement and teacher effectiveness.
Vocational training vs. academic education: Preparing for the workforce.

History, Anthropology, and Political Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Democracy vs. authoritarianism: Outcomes and societal impacts.
The industrial revolution in Europe vs. America: Paths and consequences.
Ancient Egypt vs. Ancient Mesopotamia: Societal structures and innovations.
The Cold War: American vs. Soviet strategies and ideologies.
World War I vs. World War II: Causes, strategies, and aftermath.
The French Revolution vs. The American Revolution: Goals and outcomes.
Capitalism vs. socialism: Economic and social implications.
The Roman Empire vs. The Han Dynasty: Administration and expansion.
The impact of colonialism in Africa vs. India.
Feminism in the 20th century vs. the 21st century: Progress and challenges.
The civil rights movement in the USA vs. apartheid in South Africa.
Ancient Greek democracy vs. modern democratic systems.
The Mongol Empire vs. The British Empire: Conquest and legacy.
The Renaissance vs. The Enlightenment: Cultural and intellectual revolutions.
Native American societies before vs. after European colonization.
The Ottoman Empire vs. The Byzantine Empire: Culture and administration.
The Vietnam War vs. The Korean War: Conflict and international involvement.
The Crusades vs. The Islamic Golden Age: Religious and cultural exchanges.
The impact of the printing press vs. the internet on information dissemination.
The development of agriculture in the Americas vs. the Middle East.

Opposite Things to Compare and Contrast

Introverts vs. extroverts: Social interaction and energy sources.
Rural living vs. urban living: Lifestyle and opportunities.
Traditional books vs. e-books: Reading experiences and convenience.
Working from home vs. working in an office: Productivity and communication.
Organic food vs. processed food: Health impacts and sustainability.
Morning people vs. night owls: Productivity and lifestyle patterns.
Cats vs. dogs: Pet ownership experiences.
Summer vs. winter: Activities and mood effects.
Coffee vs. tea: Cultural significance and health benefits.
Renting vs. owning a home: Financial implications and stability.
Physical exercise vs. mental exercise: Benefits and importance.
Handwriting vs. typing: Memory retention and speed.
Classical music vs. modern pop music: Influence and characteristics.
Paper maps vs. GPS technology: Navigation and reliability.
Public transportation vs. personal vehicles: Convenience and environmental impact.
Eating out vs. cooking at home: Cost and health considerations.
Traditional art vs. digital art: Techniques and expression.
Watching movies at home vs. in the theater: Experience and ambiance.
Saving money vs. spending money: Financial security and enjoyment.
Living alone vs. living with roommates: Independence and social interaction.

Compare and Contrast Topics for Beginners

Chocolate ice cream vs. vanilla ice cream: Flavor preferences.
Biking vs. walking: Exercise and enjoyment.
Rainy days vs. sunny days: Activities and mood.
Reading vs. watching TV: Entertainment and learning.
Indoor games vs. outdoor games: Engagement and fun.
Pencils vs. pens: Writing tools and usage.
Breakfast vs. dinner: Meals and importance.
Fiction vs. non-fiction books: Reading preferences.
Swimming in a pool vs. swimming in the ocean: Experience and safety.
Drawing vs. painting: Artistic expression and techniques.
City parks vs. national parks: Recreation and nature.
Superheroes vs. villains: Character traits and appeal.
Board games vs. video games: Social interaction and entertainment.
School vs. summer vacation: Learning and leisure.
Trains vs. airplanes: Travel experience and convenience.
Zoos vs. aquariums: Animal viewing experiences.
Comedy movies vs. horror movies: Entertainment and emotions.
Apples vs. oranges: Taste and nutritional value.
Skateboarding vs. rollerblading: Skills and popularity.
Breakfast cereals vs. oatmeal: Morning meal choices.

IT and Social Media Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Facebook vs. Twitter: Social networking and user engagement.
Online learning platforms vs. traditional classrooms: Education and accessibility.
Android vs. iOS: Operating systems and user experience.
Email vs. instant messaging: Communication efficiency and formality.
Traditional blogging vs. vlogging: Content creation and audience interaction.
Wired internet connections vs. Wi-Fi: Speed and convenience.
Digital privacy vs. digital security: Protection and threats.
E-commerce vs. brick-and-mortar stores: Shopping experiences and trends.
Virtual reality vs. augmented reality: Technology and applications.
Cloud storage vs. local storage: Data accessibility and security.
LinkedIn vs. traditional resumes: Professional networking and job searching.
Online gaming vs. offline gaming: Community and experience.
Smartphones vs. tablets: Portability and functionality.
Cybersecurity vs. physical security: Threats and protections.
Artificial intelligence vs. human intelligence: Capabilities and ethics.
Social media influencers vs. traditional celebrities: Influence and credibility.
Streaming services vs. cable TV: Viewing habits and content availability.
Online forums vs. social media groups: Community engagement and discussion.
Digital art tools vs. traditional art tools: Creativity and technique.
Tech startups vs. established tech companies: Innovation and stability.

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Movies, Music, and Art

Classical music vs. modern pop music: Complexity and popularity.
Hollywood movies vs. independent films: Production values and storytelling.
Graffiti vs. traditional painting: Artistic expression and public perception.
Live theater vs. cinema: Experience and engagement.
Vinyl records vs. streaming music: Audio quality and convenience.
Animated movies vs. live-action movies: Creativity and realism.
Art museums vs. online art galleries: Viewing experience and accessibility.
Rock music vs. hip-hop music: Cultural impact and musical elements.
Traditional photography vs. digital photography: Technique and outcome.
Sculpture vs. painting: Dimensionality and artistic expression.
Film scores vs. pop soundtracks: Emotional impact and memorability.
Street art vs. gallery art: Accessibility and legitimacy.
Classical literature adaptations vs. modern retellings in cinema.
Acoustic music vs. electronic music: Sound and production.
Silent films vs. talkies: Storytelling and historical significance.
Ballet vs. modern dance: Discipline and creativity.
Concept albums vs. single hits: Musical storytelling and consumption.
Black and white photography vs. color photography: Mood and realism.
Music festivals vs. concert hall performances: Atmosphere and experience.
Portrait painting vs. self-portraits: Expression and introspection.

Literature Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Shakespearean tragedies vs. comedies: Themes and character development.
Classic novels vs. contemporary bestsellers: Literary merit and popularity.
Poetry vs. prose: Expression and structure.
Autobiographies vs. biographies: Perspective and insight.
Dystopian novels vs. utopian novels: Visions of society and humanity.
Graphic novels vs. traditional novels: Narrative and visual storytelling.
American literature vs. British literature: Cultural themes and influences.
Science fiction vs. fantasy literature: World-building and themes.
Gothic literature vs. horror fiction: Mood and motifs.
Historical fiction vs. non-fiction history books: Engagement and accuracy.
Modernist literature vs. postmodernist literature: Style and themes.
Children's literature vs. adult literature: Complexity and themes.
Detective fiction vs. thriller novels: Suspense and structure.
Epistolary novels vs. diary novels: Narrative voice and intimacy.
Feminist literature vs. traditional gender roles in literature.
Satire vs. parody in literature: Humor and critique.
Short stories vs. novels: Brevity and depth.
Realism vs. magical realism in literature: Reality and fantasy.
Classic fairy tales vs. their modern adaptations.
First-person vs. third-person narratives: Perspective and reliability.

Scientific Compare and Contrast Topics

Quantum mechanics vs. classical physics: Understanding the universe.
Renewable energy sources vs. fossil fuels: Impact on the environment.
The theory of evolution vs. intelligent design: Origins of life.
Traditional agriculture vs. genetically modified crops: Food security.
The human brain vs. artificial intelligence: Cognitive capabilities.
Vaccination vs. natural immunity: Disease prevention.
Antibiotics vs. bacteriophages: Approaches to bacterial infections.
Black holes vs. neutron stars: Cosmic phenomena.
Chemical vs. physical sunscreens: Skin protection.
The placebo effect vs. actual drug effects: Medical outcomes.
Invasive species vs. native species: Ecosystem impacts.
Organic vs. inorganic compounds: Chemical structure and uses.
Conventional medicine vs. alternative medicine: Health benefits.
Climate change vs. natural climate variability: Earth's climate.
The Big Bang Theory vs. Steady State Theory: Universe origins.
Mitosis vs. meiosis: Cellular division.
Electric cars vs. gasoline cars: Environmental impact.
Animal testing vs. computer simulations: Research ethics.
Water filtration vs. water purification: Drinking water safety.
Aerobic vs. anaerobic exercise: Health benefits.

Philosophy Compare and Contrast Essay Ideas

Stoicism vs. Epicureanism: Paths to happiness.
Realism vs. Idealism: Understanding reality.
Utilitarianism vs. Deontological ethics: Moral decision-making.
Eastern vs. Western philosophy: Conceptual differences.
Existentialism vs. Nihilism: Meaning of life.
Democracy vs. Authoritarianism: Political philosophy.
Free will vs. Determinism: Human behavior.
Rationalism vs. Empiricism: Sources of knowledge.
Individualism vs. Collectivism: Social philosophy.
Materialism vs. Dualism: Mind-body problem.
Hedonism vs. Asceticism: Pursuit of pleasure.
Socratic method vs. Scientific method: Gaining knowledge.
Capitalism vs. Socialism: Economic systems.
Absolutism vs. Relativism: Moral principles.
Human nature: Innate goodness vs. inherent evil.
Feminist philosophy vs. Traditional gender roles.
Environmental ethics vs. Anthropocentrism: Nature's value.
Philosophy of art: Aestheticism vs. Functionalism.
The concept of justice in Plato vs. Aristotle.
The philosophy of language: Structuralism vs. Post-structuralism.

Religion Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Monotheism vs. Polytheism: Concepts of divinity.
Buddhism vs. Hinduism: Paths to enlightenment.
Christianity vs. Islam: Religious texts and beliefs.
Religious rituals: Baptism vs. Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
Atheism vs. Agnosticism: Belief in the divine.
Protestantism vs. Catholicism: Christian denominations.
Eastern vs. Western Christianity: Historical and theological differences.
Religious fasting: Ramadan vs. Lent.
The concept of karma in Hinduism vs. Buddhism.
Heaven vs. Nirvana: Afterlife beliefs.
Creation myths: Biblical creation vs. Native American creation stories.
The role of women in Islam vs. Christianity.
Confucianism vs. Taoism: Chinese philosophical religions.
Religious pilgrimages: Hajj vs. Camino de Santiago.
The Reformation vs. The Counter-Reformation: Impact on Christianity.
Shamanism vs. Organized religion: Spiritual practices.
The concept of sin in Christianity vs. the concept of dharma in Hinduism.
Religious symbolism: Cross vs. Crescent.
Judaism vs. Zoroastrianism: Ancient religious traditions.
Religious law: Sharia vs. Canon Law.

Intriguing Topics for Middle School Students

School uniforms: Pros and cons.
Homework: Necessary learning tool vs. unnecessary stress.
Traditional books vs. eBooks in education.
Team sports vs. individual sports: Benefits for students.
Science classes vs. Art classes: Importance in education.
Public schools vs. Homeschooling: Social and academic impacts.
School lunches: Packed lunch vs. cafeteria food.
Summer vacation vs. year-round schooling.
Handwriting vs. Typing: Effects on learning.
In-person learning vs. Virtual classrooms: Student engagement.
School field trips vs. In-class learning: Educational value.
Reading for pleasure vs. Reading for school.
Group projects vs. Solo projects: Learning outcomes.
School libraries vs. Internet research.
Physical education: Mandatory vs. Optional.
Standardized tests: Measure of ability vs. Pressure on students.
School start times: Early vs. Late start.
Learning a second language in school: Importance and challenges.
School science fairs vs. Art exhibitions: Showcasing student talents.
Classroom learning vs. Experiential learning: Impact on retention.

6th Grade Comparative Essay Topics

Cats vs. Dogs: The better pet for families.
Summer vs. Winter: The best season for outdoor activities.
Reading books vs. Watching movies: Imaginative experience.
Living in the city vs. The countryside: Lifestyle differences.
Dinosaurs: Herbivores vs. Carnivores.
Studying alone vs. Group study: Effectiveness for learning.
Superheroes vs. Real-life heroes: Concepts of heroism.
Bicycles vs. Scooters: Preferred mode of transportation.
Traditional fairy tales vs. Modern adaptations.
Chocolate vs. Vanilla: Favorite ice cream flavor.
Playing video games vs. Outdoor play: Impact on health.
Solar system: Earth vs. Mars.
School cafeteria food vs. Packed lunch from home.
Handmade gifts vs. Store-bought gifts: Personal value.
Science fiction vs. Fantasy literature.
Swimming in a pool vs. The ocean.
Drawing vs. Sculpting: Expressing creativity.
Math vs. English: Challenging subjects.
Recycling vs. Composting: Environmental impact.
Board games vs. Card games: Family entertainment.

General Essay Writing Prompts

The benefits of early morning exercise vs. evening workouts.
Traditional classrooms vs. Open learning spaces.
The influence of music on productivity vs. Silence.
Living with pets vs. Without pets: Emotional impact.
Eating at home vs. Dining out: Health and social aspects.
Online shopping vs. In-store shopping: Consumer experience.
Fictional books vs. Non-fictional books: Leisure reading.
Traditional painting vs. Digital art: Artistic expression.
Public transport vs. Personal vehicles: Commuting preferences.
Watching sports live vs. On TV: Viewing experience.
Indoor plants vs. Outdoor gardens: Benefits and maintenance.
Traditional mail vs. Email: Communication styles.
Paper notebooks vs. Digital note-taking apps.
Coffee shops vs. Home office: Productivity spaces.
Breakfast: The most important meal of the day vs. Myth.
Manual vs. Automatic cars: Driving experience.
Renting vs. Homeownership: Financial and lifestyle aspects.
Traditional vs. Alternative medicine: Health outcomes.
City life vs. Rural life: Quality of life.
Saving money vs. Investing: Financial growth.

Everyday Matters

Morning routines vs. Night routines: Starting and ending the day.
Cooking meals vs. Ordering takeout: Convenience and health.
Cycling vs. Walking: Daily commuting and exercise.
Using cash vs. Credit cards: Spending habits.
Listening to music vs. Podcasts: Leisure activities.
DIY home projects vs. Hiring professionals: Cost and satisfaction.
Traditional diaries vs. Blogging: Personal expression.
Indoor vs. Outdoor exercise: Motivation and environment.
Watching movies at home vs. Going to the cinema: Experience and comfort.
Manual cleaning vs. Using cleaning gadgets: Efficiency and thoroughness.
Reading newspapers vs. Online news: Information sources.
Breakfast cereals vs. Traditional breakfasts: Morning meals.
Taking notes on paper vs. Laptops: Retention and convenience.
Shopping in malls vs. Local markets: Shopping experience.
Driving vs. Public transportation: Daily commute.
Preparing coffee at home vs. Buying from a café: Taste and cost.
Traditional watches vs. Smartwatches: Functionality and style.
Home workouts vs. Gym memberships: Fitness goals and motivation.
City parks vs. Beaches: Relaxation and activities.
Baking vs. Cooking: Skills and enjoyment.

Read also: 50 Unique Problem Solutions Topics in 2023

Decided on the topic but still need help?

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Written by David Kidwell

David is one of those experienced content creators from the United Kingdom who has a high interest in social issues, culture, and entrepreneurship. He always says that reading, blogging, and staying aware of what happens in the world is what makes a person responsible. He likes to learn and share what he knows by making things inspiring and creative enough even for those students who dislike reading.

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Free Comparative Literature Essay Examples & Topics

Comparative literature explores the relationship between works of fiction of different cultures and times. Its purpose is to establish the connection between specific genres, styles, and literary devices and the historical period. At the same time, it provides an insight into the meaning hidden between the lines of a given text.

What is a literary comparison essay? This academic paper requires a specific methodology but follows the typical rules. A student is expected to perform comparative textual analysis of a short story, novel, or any other piece of narrative writing. However, it is vital to remember that only the pieces with something in common are comparable.

This is where all the challenges start. Without an in-depth literature review, it is not always clear which works can and should be compared. Which aspects should be considered, and which could be left out? The structure of a comparative essay is another stumbling rock.

For this reason, our team has prepared a brief guide. Here, you will learn how to write a successful comparative literature essay and, more importantly, what to write in it. And that is not all! Underneath the article, we have prepared some comparative literary analysis essay examples written by students like you.

Comparative literary analysis requires you to know how to correlate two different things in general. So let us start from the basics. This section explains how to write a comparative paper.

A good comparison essay structure relies on two techniques:

Alternating or point-by-point method.

Using this technique, you dedicate two paragraphs for each new comparison aspect, one for each subject. It is the best way to establish similar and different features in the two novels. Such comparative analysis works best for research, providing a detailed and well-structured text.

1st Body Paragraph: Social problems in Steinback’s works.

2nd Body Paragraph: Social problems in Hemingway’s works.

3rd Body Paragraph: Psychological problems in Steinback’s works.

4th Body Paragraph: Psychological problems in Hemingway’s works.

5th Body Paragraph: Interpersonal problems in Steinback’s works.

Block or subject-by-subject method .

This approach means that you divide your essay in two. The first part discusses one text or author, and the second part analyzes the other. The challenge here is to avoid writing two disconnected papers under one title.

For this purpose, constantly refer the second part to the first one to show the differences and similarities. You should use the technique if you have more than two comparison subjects (add another paragraph for each next one). It also works well when there is little in common between the subjects.

1-3 Body Paragraphs: Description of rural labor in Steinback’s works.

4-6 Body Paragraphs: Description of rural labor in Hemingway’s works.

You will formulate a thesis and distribute the arguments and supporting evidence depending on the chosen structure. You can consult the possible options in our comparative literature essay examples.

Let us move to the main point of this article: the comparison of literature. In this section, we will discuss how to write an ideal essay in this format.

We suggest you stick to the following action plan:

Choose literary works to compare. They should have some features in common. For example, the protagonist faces the same type of conflict, or the setting is the same. You should know the works well enough to find the necessary passages. Check the comparative literature examples below if you struggle with the step.
Select the topic, thinking of similarities. The broader the matter, the more challenging the writing. A comparative study of the protagonists in two books is harder than analyzing the same theme that appears in them. Characters may have little in common, making the analysis more complicated.
Find both differences and similarities. Once you’ve formulated the topic , make a list of features to compare. If the subjects are too different, choose the block method of contrasting them. Otherwise, the alternating technique will do.
Formulate a thesis statement that has a comparative nature. It should convey the gist of the essay’s argument. Highlight the relationship between the books. Do they contradict, supplement, develop, or correct each other? You can start the thesis statement with “whereas.” For example, “Whereas Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights and Darcy in Pride and Prejudice are full of pride, this trait leads them to different troubles.”
Outline and list key elements. Select three to six comparable aspects depending on your essay’s expected length. Then, plan in what order you’ll present them and according to which technique.
Link elements and write. Distribute the features among the comparative paragraphs. If you wish to prove that the books are more different than alike, start with the most diverging factors and move to the most similar ones.

That’s it! Thank you for reading this article. For more examples of comparative literature essays, check the links below.

706 Best Essay Examples on Comparative Literature

Compare and contrast wordsworth and keats.

Words: 2298

Comparing Two Poems

Words: 1124

Feminist Perspective: “My Last Duchess”, “To His Coy Mistress”, and “The Secretary Chant”

Words: 1321

Hamlet, Laertes, Fortinbras: Revenge for the Deaths of Their Fathers

Racism in the “dutchman” by amiri baraka.

Words: 1401

William Blake’ Poems Comparison: “The Lamb” and “The Tyger”

William shakespeare “romeo and juliet” and “a midsummer night’s dream”.

Words: 1773

Imagery and Theme in William Blake’s Poems

Gilgamesh and odysseus: a comparison.

Words: 1373

A High-Toned Old Christian Women by Wallace Stevens

Blindness in oedipus rex & hamlet.

Words: 2788

The Aspects of Human Nature That George Orwell Criticizes in His Work 1984 Compared to Today’s World

Words: 1098

Characterization’s Importance in Literature

Words: 1135

Dante and Chaucer: The Divine Comedy and The Canterbury Tales Comparison

The absurd hero as an interesting type of hero in literature and movies.

Words: 1248

Comparison of “Hamlet”, “King Lear” and “Othello” by Shakespeare

Words: 1687

Little Things are Big by Jesus Colon and Thank You M’am by Langston Hughes Analysis + Summary

Animals as symbols of the human behaviour.

Words: 2856

“Appointment With Love” and “The Gift of the Magi” Comparison

Words: 1529

Comparing Robert Frost’s Poems: The Road Not Taken and A Question

“the lady with the pet dog”: oates & chekhov [analysis], defoe’s “robinson crusoe” and swift’s “gulliver” comparative analysis, ‘what’s your name girl’ and ‘me talk pretty one day’: comparison and contrast.

Words: 1028

Rama and Odysseus as Eastern and Western Heroes

Words: 1191

Atwood’s “Dancing Girls” and Achebe’s “The Madman”

Words: 2787

The Mother Image in a Poem, a Song, and an Article

Words: 1494

“The Namesake” and “The Overcoat”

Anne bradstreet and mary rowlandson comparison of famous puritan writers – compare and contrast essay.

Words: 1890

Symbolism in Ozymandias by P.B. Shelley, The Sick Rose by W. Blake, The Road Not Taken by R. Frost

Words: 1762

“Annabel Lee” and “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe

“the epic of gilgamesh” and “the bhagavad gita” comparison, compare and contrast “to his coy mistress” & “to the virgins”.

Words: 2413

Tim Burton Interpretation of “Alice in Wonderland”

Words: 3660

“Mirror Image” by Coakley and “A Secret Lost in the Water” by Carrier

William faulkner and flannery o’connor: comparison.

Words: 2094

Lamb to the Slaughter: Movie vs. Book

Words: 1384

Hamlet and King Oedipus Literature Comparison

Macbeth & frankenstein: compare & contrast.

Words: 2483

The Concept of True Love

Words: 1369

Incomplete Families: “The Drover’s Wife,” “The Chosen Vessel,” and “Good Country People”

Words: 2033

Divine Comedy and The Odyssey as Epics

Words: 1378

Oedipus: Three-Way Compare and Contrast

Relationship between parents and children, analysis of the poems “elephant eternity” (adrian mitchell) and “washing the elephant” (barbara ras), the play “trifles” and the short story “a jury of her peers” by glaspell, “the bacchae” by euripides, and “the secret history” by donna tartt.

Words: 1920

“The Epic of Gilgamesh” and “The Death of Ivan Ilyich”

Comparison of douglass and jacobs narratives.

Words: 1486

Role of Fate and Divine Intervention in Oedipus and The Odyssey

Words: 1163

Love for Nature: A Symptom of a Lovesick Heart

Words: 1010

Power and Corruption in Shakespeare’s Plays

Words: 2918

William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway Comparison

Harriet jacobs and frederick douglass literature comparison.

Words: 2254

Comparing poems “To My Dear and Loving Husband” by Anne Bradstreet and “Stop All the Clocks” by W.H. Auden

Comparing and contrasting “the tyger” by william blake with “traveling through the dark” by william stafford, genre diversity in literature.

Words: 4133

Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher” and “The Black Cat”

The drover’s wife by murray bail and henry lawson comparison, robert frost and walt whitman: poems comparison, comparison: the algonquin cinderella (america) vs tam and cam (vietnam).

Words: 1472

Sex and Sexuality in “Dracula” and “The Bloody Chamber”

Words: 2053

Comparison of G. Orwell’s “1984”, R. Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” and A. Huxley’s “Brave New World”

Words: 1716

The Fairy Tales “Beauty and the Beast”, “The Frog King”, and “The Pig King”

Words: 2062

“Punishment” by Tagore vs. “The Stranger” by Camus

Words: 1114

“Stardust” by Gaiman and “The Dispossessed” by Le Guin

Words: 3031

Appearance vs. Reality in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex”

Words: 1831

“The Hobbit”: Book vs. Movie

Words: 2495

Comparativing of the poem “Richard Cory” and “The Unknown Citizen”

‘out, out’ by robert frost: themes of moving on and sorrow, “the fall of the house of usher” & “the cask of amontillado”: summaries, settings, and main themes.

Words: 1258

Hindu Creation Myth

Comparison of shakespeare’s and donne’s works.

Words: 1113

“Love Poem” by Nims and “The Forms of Love” by Oppen

Words: 1004

Novels by Conrad and Forster Comparison

Words: 1479

Nathaniel Hawthorne and Flannery O’Connor’s Works Comparison

The dystopian societies of “1984” and brave new world, transcendentalist vs dark romantic literature.

Words: 1407

Realism in American and British Literature

Comparison between sun tzu’s art of war and machiavelli’s art of war.

Words: 1108

On His Blindness: A Response to the Poem

Beauty and the beast.

Words: 2364

Racial Discrimination in American Literature

Homer’s the iliad and john milton’s lost paradise.

Words: 1907

“A Doll’s House” and “Death of a Salesman” Comparison

Words: 1414

Sartre’s “Why Write?” and Miller’s “Narrative”

Nothing gold can stay vs. because i could not stop for death.

Words: 2314

“The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid” by C.K. Prahalad

Words: 2902

Concept of Science Fiction Genre in Books “Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed” by Ray Bradbury, and “Nightfall” by Isaac Asimov

Words: 1086

Joy Harjo’s “She Had Some Horses” Analytical Essay

Words: 1215

Homage to My Hips

The analysis of two literary works, a life lesson from shakespeare’s macbeth play vs. beowulf poem, comparison of ideas thomas more’s ‘utopia’ and machiavelli’s ‘the prince’.

Words: 1502

John Donne’s and Edmund Spenser’s Works Comparison

Words: 1250

Mary Prince and Frederick Douglass: Works Comparison

Words: 1393

A Critical Comparison of Two Readings

Words: 1182

Peter Singer and Onara O’Neill: Comparative Position

Comic heroines in “as you like it” and twelfth night.

Words: 1673

Gregor’s Relationship With His Father in “The Matamorphosis”

Words: 1983

Confessional Poetry

Words: 1137

Two Opposite Worlds: “Utopia” and “1984”

Opus of love, sacrifice, and irony.

Words: 1194

Comic Books and Picture Books

Words: 1210

Nascent Colonialism in Robinson Crusoe and Gulliver

Words: 2993

Binary Opposition in “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Poe and “Young Goodman Brown” by Hawthorne

Words: 2852

“Dancing Girls” and “Madman” by Margaret Atwood and Chinua Achebe

Words: 2433

“Hills Like White Elephants”: Argument Comparison

Speciesism in shakespeare’s othello and dick’s do androids dream of electric sheep.

Words: 1859

Women’s Roles: 1001 Nights and The Iliad

Words: 1969

Comparative Literature for Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Words: 2289

Othello and Oedipus Rex Characters’ Traits

Kincaid’s “the girl” vs. chopin’s “the story of an hour”, “mending wall” by robert frost and “the lottery” by shirley jackson, auden’s “the unknown citizen” and piercy’s “the market economy”, the death of ivan ilych and the metamorphosis.

Words: 3084

Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” & “Things Fall Apart” by Achebe: Comparison

Words: 1183

Bronte’s “Jane Eyre” and Rhys’ “Wide Sargasso Sea”

Words: 1545

The Book “Fahrenheit 451” and the Movie “Equilibrium”

Words: 1127

Matthew Arnold’s and Thomas Hardy’s Poems Theme

“the holy man of mount koya” and “the narrow road to oku”: comparison of emotions in journey narratives.

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Comparative Essay

How to Write a Comparative Essay – A Complete Guide

10 min read

What is a Comparative Essay?

A comparative essay is a type of essay in which an essay writer compares at least two or more items. The author compares two subjects with the same relation in terms of similarities and differences depending on the assignment.

The main purpose of the comparative essay is to:

Highlight the similarities and differences in a systematic manner.
Provide great clarity of the subject to the readers.
Analyze two things and describe their advantages and drawbacks.

A comparative essay is also known as compare and contrast essay or a comparison essay. It analyzes two subjects by either comparing them, contrasting them, or both. The Venn diagram is the best tool for writing a paper about the comparison between two subjects.

Moreover, a comparative analysis essay discusses the similarities and differences of themes, items, events, views, places, concepts, etc. For example, you can compare two different novels (e.g., The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Red Badge of Courage).

However, a comparative essay is not limited to specific topics. It covers almost every topic or subject with some relation.

Comparative Essay Structure

A good comparative essay is based on how well you structure your essay. It helps the reader to understand your essay better.

The structure is more important than what you write. This is because it is necessary to organize your essay so that the reader can easily go through the comparisons made in an essay.

The following are the two main methods in which you can organize your comparative essay.

Point-by-Point Method

The point-by-point or alternating method provides a detailed overview of the items that you are comparing. In this method, organize items in terms of similarities and differences.

This method makes the writing phase easy for the writer to handle two completely different essay subjects. It is highly recommended where some depth and detail are required.

Below given is the structure of the point-by-point method.

Block Method

The block method is the easiest as compared to the point-by-point method. In this method, you divide the information in terms of parameters. It means that the first paragraph compares the first subject and all their items, then the second one compares the second, and so on.

However, make sure that you write the subject in the same order. This method is best for lengthy essays and complicated subjects.

Here is the structure of the block method.

Therefore, keep these methods in mind and choose the one according to the chosen subject.

Mixed Paragraphs Method

In this method, one paragraph explains one aspect of the subject. As a writer, you will handle one point at a time and one by one. This method is quite beneficial as it allows you to give equal weightage to each subject and help the readers identify the point of comparison easily.

How to Start a Comparative Essay?

Here, we have gathered some steps that you should follow to start a well-written comparative essay.

Choose a Topic

The foremost step in writing a comparative essay is to choose a suitable topic.

Choose a topic or theme that is interesting to write about and appeals to the reader.

An interesting essay topic motivates the reader to know about the subject. Also, try to avoid complicated topics for your comparative essay.

Develop a List of Similarities and Differences

Create a list of similarities and differences between two subjects that you want to include in the essay. Moreover, this list helps you decide the basis of your comparison by constructing your initial plan.

Evaluate the list and establish your argument and thesis statement .

Establish the Basis for Comparison

The basis for comparison is the ground for you to compare the subjects. In most cases, it is assigned to you, so check your assignment or prompt.

Furthermore, the main goal of the comparison essay is to inform the reader of something interesting. It means that your subject must be unique to make your argument interesting.

Do the Research

In this step, you have to gather information for your subject. If your comparative essay is about social issues, historical events, or science-related topics, you must do in-depth research.

However, make sure that you gather data from credible sources and cite them properly in the essay.

Create an Outline

An essay outline serves as a roadmap for your essay, organizing key elements into a structured format.

With your topic, list of comparisons, basis for comparison, and research in hand, the next step is to create a comprehensive outline.

Here is a standard comparative essay outline:

Subject A

Subject B

Analysis

Subject A

Subject B

Analysis

How to Write a Comparative Essay?

Now that you have the basic information organized in an outline, you can get started on the writing process.

Here are the essential parts of a comparative essay:

Comparative Essay Introduction

Start off by grabbing your reader's attention in the introduction . Use something catchy, like a quote, question, or interesting fact about your subjects.

Then, give a quick background so your reader knows what's going on.

The most important part is your thesis statement, where you state the main argument , the basis for comparison, and why the comparison is significant.

This is what a typical thesis statement for a comparative essay looks like:

Comparative Essay Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs are where you really get into the details of your subjects. Each paragraph should focus on one thing you're comparing.

Start by talking about the first point of comparison. Then, go on to the next points. Make sure to talk about two to three differences to give a good picture.

After that, switch gears and talk about the things they have in common. Just like you discussed three differences, try to cover three similarities.

This way, your essay stays balanced and fair. This approach helps your reader understand both the ways your subjects are different and the ways they are similar. Keep it simple and clear for a strong essay.

Comparative Essay Conclusion

In your conclusion , bring together the key insights from your analysis to create a strong and impactful closing.

Consider the broader context or implications of the subjects' differences and similarities. What do these insights reveal about the broader themes or ideas you're exploring?

Discuss the broader implications of these findings and restate your thesis. Avoid introducing new information and end with a thought-provoking statement that leaves a lasting impression.

Below is the detailed comparative essay template format for you to understand better.

Comparative Essay Format

Comparative Essay Examples

Have a look at these comparative essay examples pdf to get an idea of the perfect essay.

Comparative Essay on Summer and Winter

Comparative Essay on Books vs. Movies

Comparative Essay Sample

Comparative Essay Thesis Example

Comparative Essay on Football vs Cricket

Comparative Essay on Pet and Wild Animals

Comparative Essay Topics

Comparative essay topics are not very difficult or complex. Check this list of essay topics and pick the one that you want to write about.

How do education and employment compare?
Living in a big city or staying in a village.
The school principal or college dean.
New Year vs. Christmas celebration.
Dried Fruit vs. Fresh. Which is better?
Similarities between philosophy and religion.
British colonization and Spanish colonization.
Nuclear power for peace or war?
Bacteria or viruses.
Fast food vs. homemade food.

Tips for Writing A Good Comparative Essay

Writing a compelling comparative essay requires thoughtful consideration and strategic planning. Here are some valuable tips to enhance the quality of your comparative essay:

Clearly define what you're comparing, like themes or characters.
Plan your essay structure using methods like point-by-point or block paragraphs.
Craft an introduction that introduces subjects and states your purpose.
Ensure an equal discussion of both similarities and differences.
Use linking words for seamless transitions between paragraphs.
Gather credible information for depth and authenticity.
Use clear and simple language, avoiding unnecessary jargon.
Dedicate each paragraph to a specific point of comparison.
Summarize key points, restate the thesis, and emphasize significance.
Thoroughly check for clarity, coherence, and correct any errors.

Transition Words For Comparative Essays

Transition words are crucial for guiding your reader through the comparative analysis. They help establish connections between ideas and ensure a smooth flow in your essay.

Here are some transition words and phrases to improve the flow of your comparative essay:

Transition Words for Similarities

Correspondingly
In the same vein
In like manner
In a similar fashion
In tandem with

Transition Words for Differences

On the contrary
In contrast
Nevertheless
In spite of
Notwithstanding
On the flip side
In contradistinction

Check out this blog listing more transition words that you can use to enhance your essay’s coherence!

In conclusion, now that you have the important steps and helpful tips to write a good comparative essay, you can start working on your own essay.

However, if you find it tough to begin, you can always hire our college paper writing service .

Our skilled writers can handle any type of essay or assignment you need. So, don't wait—place your order now and make your academic journey easier!

Frequently Asked Question

How long is a comparative essay.

A comparative essay is 4-5 pages long, but it depends on your chosen idea and topic.

How do you end a comparative essay?

Here are some tips that will help you to end the comparative essay.

Restate the thesis statement
Wrap up the entire essay
Highlight the main points

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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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Keep reading

127 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

13 December, 2020

13 minutes read

Author: Elizabeth Brown

Crafting a compare and contrast essay is typically much more interesting and fun than working on a dissertation. With this piece of writing, a student gets his chance to be creative. Besides, one doesn’t have to re-invent the bicycle: these essays already have a purpose and a topic. All you have to do is find similarities or differences between specific notions. And yes, there is one more problem to it.

Half of the success of a compare and contrast essay lies in a properly-chosen topic. Now, this can be tricky.

Just think about it: would want to read a piece on a beaten topic like “Books vs. Television”? Or would you rather give a read to an unusual compare and contrast Korean and Vietnam war essay? While you know everything about the first one, the second topic actually sounds interesting.

Choosing compare and contrast essay topics can be time-consuming and daunting. However, with the guide our essay writer prepared, you will find a great title with no problem.

By the way, if you need a reminder of what such writing looks like and what components it consists of, don’t hesitate to read our guide on how to write a compare and contrast essay . It will help you structure and organize your knowledge in this regard.

And here is a short introduction to what this type of academic writing should really look like.

How to write a compare and contrast essay

Depending on the task you received from your tutor, in this particular academic paper you are either to compare several things or notions or contrast them.

Here is what a structure of this type of writing looks like:

An engaging opening with a “hook.”
A thesis statement that explains what is the focus of your writing and whether you’ll be comparing or contrasting the notions.
If you don’t know how to write a thesis statement , here is a guide that will explain you all the details step by step.
An argument #1 that supports the thesis statement.
Evidence proving the author’s position.
A short conclusion.
A short reminder of a problem described in the essay.
A brief overview of the similarities or differences (aka supporting arguments).
A call to action or a interesting question to the audience.

Any A-grade essay would follow this structure. Thus, if you aim to receive better grades, consider taking this structure into account.

Meanwhile, as a student you get tons of other writing assignments. If you’re currently struggling with choosing good argumentative essay topics , don’t hesitate to take a look at our recent guide!

Finally, let’s dive into the search. After all, this is a key to crafting an excellent piece.

What makes good compare and contrast essay topics

Several factors make some topics your best option compared to the rest.

No matter how great the topic of your choice is, the target audience can sense when you genuinely care about what you are writing, and when you’re simply following the structure with no personal interest in the subject. If you write yawning and find it hard to find any evidence to support your position, chances are you’ve chosen a wrong topic. A compare and contrast dog and cat essay might be a good topic for a person deeply loving these furry little creatures. But someone not that much into domestic animals won’t be able to write a single line of an essay comparing dogs and cats. So, choose your topic wisely.

Availability of trusted sources.

In some cases, you have to use trusted sources to prove your point. Otherwise, your position might seem biased and subjective. That is why we strongly recommend you to check whether the compare and contrast essay titles you opted can be supported by evidence found at the trusted sources.

Recommendation of a tutor.

Last but not least, ask for recommendations. With years of experience under his belt, your tutor might have an eye for great topics. So, why not using his experience for your own good? Besides, apart from good topics suggestions, he can also provide you with great sources to explore. So, don’t lose an opportunity to make your life easier with his assistance!

Proper formatting style.

Proper formatting is hard to overestimate when it comes to A-grade essay writing. A great deal of your grade depends on it. That is why we recommend you to check out our essay format guide to figure out what your piece should look like.

These are the criteria that help you pick a good theme for your paper. But where should you look for theme to choose from in the first place? We know the answer.

If you aren’t sure you have the time and energy to craft a piece yourself, we’re here to help. Handmade Writing is a reliable place to order your academic papers from.

Sources of interesting topics

Basically, there are six sources students can go to these days:

Social media.
Scientific journals.

Each one of them is filled with personalities, facts, events, and locations to contrast and compare. Therefore, don’t hesitate to explore these right sources.

By the way, if you are looking for ideas or inspiration on how to write a scholarship essay , we’ve got something for you. We’ve gathered a guide that will walk you step by step through the process of composing a good essay that’ll get you college scholarship!

Easy compare and contrast essay topics for college students

High school vs college.
McDonalds and Burger King: Explain how these two fast food chains similar or different from each other.
Public schools and homeschooling: Which do you prefer?
Basketball and football: Popularity, speed of play, dependency on athleticism, personal preference, etc.
Lamborgini vs. Bugatti.
Virtual vs. Augmented reality: Which technology is the future?
Star Wars vs. Star Trek: Which is better?
Communism vs. Socialism: The good, the bad, and the ugly.
American English vs British English.
Conventional or E-learning: What would you choose?
Computer and video games: Which is more fun?
Inner beauty and outer beauty.
Snapchat and Instagram: What makes them similar (different)?
Stalin or Hitler: Which is a bigger evil? Or what in their management style was similar?
Living in the big city or living in the country: What would you choose?
Italian vs. Spanish cuisines.
Active vacation in the mountains vs. passive rest by the sea.
Facebook vs. Twitter.
Windows vs. Linux.
Android or iOS: Which is the future?

Funny compare and contrast essay topics

Chandler, Joey and Ross: Which one of them is cooler?
Pizza or pasta: If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, which of these would you choose?
Batman vs. SuperMan; Avengers vs. Justice League.
Soccer vs football: How are they different apart from their name?
Iron Man or Hulk: Which one is the best superhero of his time?
Michael Jackson vs. Elvis Presley.
George and Lennie.
Harry Potter vs. Ronald Weasley: One is way cooler than the other.
Simpsons or the South Park?
Eternal summer or eternal winter: Which is the least of all evil?

Historical topics

WW1 and WW2: Reasons, participants, number of dead and wounded, etc.
Renaissance and Barocco.
Roman and Greek mythology.
Crusaders vs. Saracens.
The European economics before and after WW2.
Abolition of slavery in the USA and Europe.
Japanese and European feudalism essay.
Gender roles in the Roman Empire vs Ottoman Empire.
British colonization and Spanish colonization.
Lincoln and Kennedy.
Reconstruction in America against the Industrial Age.
Mongolian Empire and Persian Empire.
Monaco vs Luxembourg: Countries’ history comparison.
Worker unions history in the USA vs. Great Britain.
Julius Caesar or Alexander the Great.

Compare and contrast essay between two jobs

Marketer vs. Digital Marketer.
Anthropologist vs. Philosopher vs. Psychologist
Software Engineer vs. Software Architect.
Film producer and a Film Director.
Working from home and working at an office.
Linguist and a Grammarian.
Developer or a Coder?
QA Specialist or a Test Engineer.
Dean or a Principal.
Accountant vs. Economist.
Journalist vs. Reporter.
Recruiter vs. HR Generalist.
Copywriter vs. Content Marketer.

Compare and contrast essay between two cultures

Egypt and Mesopotamia compare and contrast essay
Modern European and American culture.
Urbanism and ruralism.
Vegetarianism vs. pescetarianism.
Compare and contrast Mexico and United States essay.
Emo culture and gothic.
Compare and contrast Sparta and Athens essay.
Bookworms vs. Film Buffs.
Culture and ethnicity.
Christianity, Islam and Judaism essay.

Interesting topics about literature

Bible vs. Quran.
1984 vs. Fahrenheit 451.
Chronicles of Narnia: Film or the book series?
The Great Gatsby vs. The Catcher in the Rye.
Fiction against non-fiction.
Divine Comedy vs. Paradise Lost.
Lord of the Rings: The book against the latest film production?
Expository and Persuasive writing.
Harry Potter vs. Lord of the Rings.
Anne Frank’s Diary vs. I am Malala.
Classic poetry against the modern one.
Paper books against the e-books: The never-ending battle.
Anne of Green Gables vs. Pollyanna.
Pride and Prejudice vs. Bridget Jones’ Diary.
Bronte sisters vs. Jane Austen.
Drama and Comedy.
To Kill a Mockingbird or The Help.
Little Women vs. Little Men.
Poetry and prose: What makes them different?

Topics related to movies and cinematography

Wolf of Wall Street vs. Great Gatsby.
Main differences between European and American films.
Horror films and thrillers.
House M.D. against Grey’s Anatomy.
Sherlock Holmes: The old series or the new episodes?
Polyanna: Which is better – a film or the book?
Japanese horror films vs. American.
Home Alone 1 vs. Home Alone 4.
The Wizard of Oz against Gone With the Wind.
The Sound of Music vs. Mary Poppins.
Beverly Hills, 90210 or Melrose Place.
Friends vs. The Office.
Charlie Chaplin and Mr. Bean.
The Pianist or Schindler’s List.
Romeo and Juliet: 1968, 1996, and 2013 productions.
Forrest Gump or The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
300 or Gladiator.
Lord of the Rings: extended edition vs. director’s cut.
Ben-Hur (1959) vs. Ben-Hur (2016).
Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) and Prince of Egypt.
Dunkirk vs. Saving Private Ryan.
The Green Mile vs. The Shawshank Redemption.
Les Miserables (2012) vs. The Greatest Showman.

Music and arts-related topics

Beyonce vs. Rihanna.
Whitney Houston against Adele.
Britney Spears against Madonna.
Mona Lisa vs. Girl with a Pearl Earring.
Van Gogh against Picasso.
Impressionism against Expressionism.
Opera and ballet.
Spotify or Deezer.
Records or Live concerts.
Jazz or classical music.
Musical theatre vs. Play with music.
Renaissance and Enlightenment epochs in arts.
African vs. Asian art.
Rock music of the XX century vs. today.
Religious hymns and secular songs about Christmas.
Music people listened to in their twenties in the XX century and now.
Protagonist of the modern pop music culture and that of the 1960s.

We guarantee that you can easily find a good title among the ones we suggested. If you find it hard to compose a good compare and contrast essay even after choosing one of our topics, don’t hesitate to us a line asking for help.

A life lesson in Romeo and Juliet taught by death

Due to human nature, we draw conclusions only when life gives us a lesson since the experience of others is not so effective and powerful. Therefore, when analyzing and sorting out common problems we face, we may trace a parallel with well-known book characters or real historical figures. Moreover, we often compare our situations with […]

Ethical Research Paper Topics

Writing a research paper on ethics is not an easy task, especially if you do not possess excellent writing skills and do not like to contemplate controversial questions. But an ethics course is obligatory in all higher education institutions, and students have to look for a way out and be creative. When you find an […]

Art Research Paper Topics

Students obtaining degrees in fine art and art & design programs most commonly need to write a paper on art topics. However, this subject is becoming more popular in educational institutions for expanding students’ horizons. Thus, both groups of receivers of education: those who are into arts and those who only get acquainted with art […]

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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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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.

Behaviorism	Cognitive psychology
Dominant from the 1920s to the 1950s	Rose to prominence in the 1960s
Mental processes cannot be empirically studied	Mental processes as focus of study
Focuses on how thinking is affected by conditioning and environment	Focuses on the cognitive processes themselves

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.

A Venn diagram showing the similarities and differences between World War I, World War II, and the Cold War.

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.

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!

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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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Mentor Texts

Writing Comparative Essays: Making Connections to Illuminate Ideas

Breathing new life into a familiar school format, with the help of Times journalism and several winning student essays.

By Katherine Schulten

Our new Mentor Text series spotlights writing from The Times and from our student contests that teenagers can learn from and emulate.

This entry aims to help support those participating in our Third Annual Connections Contest , in which students are invited to take something they are studying in school and show us, via parallels found in a Times article, how it connects to our world today. In other words, we’re asking them to compare ideas in two texts.

For even more on how to help your students make those kinds of connections, please see our related writing unit .

I. Overview

Making connections is a natural part of thinking. We can’t help doing it. If you’re telling a friend about a new song or restaurant or TV show you like, you’ll almost always find yourself saying, “It’s like _________” and referencing something you both know. It’s a simple way of helping your listener get his or her bearings.

Journalists do it too. In fact, it’s one of the main tools of the trade to help explain a new concept or reframe an old one. Here are just a few recent examples:

A science reporter explains the behavior of fossilized marine animals by likening them to humans making conga lines.

A sportswriter describes the current N.B.A. season by framing it in terms of Broadway show tunes.

An Op-Ed contributor compares today’s mainstreaming of contemporary African art to “an urban neighborhood undergoing gentrification.”

Sometimes a journalist will go beyond making a simple analogy and devote a whole piece to an extended comparison between two things. Articles like these are real-world cousins of that classic compare/contrast essay you’ve probably been writing in school since you could first hold a pen.

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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.

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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?

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Compare and Contrast Essay - A Complete Guide With Topics & Examples

Good Compare and Contrast Essay Examples For Your Help

Compare and Contrast Essay Outline - Template & Examples

Instructor Resources

Comparative essay.

Compare two or more literary works that we have studied in this class. Your comparative essay should not only compare but also contrast the literary texts, addressing the similarities and differences found within the texts.

Step 1: Identify the Basis for Comparison

Identify the basis of comparison. In other words, what aspect of the literature will you compare? (Theme, tone, point of view, setting, language, etc.)

Step 2: Create a List of Similarities and Differences

Carefully examine the literary texts for similarities and difference using the criteria you identified in step 1.

Step 3: Write a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is the author’s educated opinion that can be defended. For a comparative essay, your thesis statement should assert why the similarities and differences between the literary works matter.

Step 4: Create a Structure

Before drafting, create an outline. Your introduction should draw the reader in and provide the thesis statement. The supporting paragraphs should begin with a topic sentence that supports your thesis statement; each topic sentence should then be supported with textual evidence. The conclusion should summarize the essay and prompt the reader to continue thinking about the topic.

Word Count: approximately 1500 words

Outside Sources needed: none (but use plenty of textual evidence)

Comparative Essay. License : CC0: No Rights Reserved

101 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Great Ideas for Essays

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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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Comparative Analysis

What It Is and Why It's Useful

Comparative analysis asks writers to make an argument about the relationship between two or more texts. Beyond that, there's a lot of variation, but three overarching kinds of comparative analysis stand out:

Coordinate (A ↔ B): In this kind of analysis, two (or more) texts are being read against each other in terms of a shared element, e.g., a memoir and a novel, both by Jesmyn Ward; two sets of data for the same experiment; a few op-ed responses to the same event; two YA books written in Chicago in the 2000s; a film adaption of a play; etc.
Subordinate (A → B) or (B → A ): Using a theoretical text (as a "lens") to explain a case study or work of art (e.g., how Anthony Jack's The Privileged Poor can help explain divergent experiences among students at elite four-year private colleges who are coming from similar socio-economic backgrounds) or using a work of art or case study (i.e., as a "test" of) a theory's usefulness or limitations (e.g., using coverage of recent incidents of gun violence or legislation un the U.S. to confirm or question the currency of Carol Anderson's The Second ).
Hybrid [A → (B ↔ C)] or [(B ↔ C) → A] , i.e., using coordinate and subordinate analysis together. For example, using Jack to compare or contrast the experiences of students at elite four-year institutions with students at state universities and/or community colleges; or looking at gun culture in other countries and/or other timeframes to contextualize or generalize Anderson's main points about the role of the Second Amendment in U.S. history.

"In the wild," these three kinds of comparative analysis represent increasingly complex—and scholarly—modes of comparison. Students can of course compare two poems in terms of imagery or two data sets in terms of methods, but in each case the analysis will eventually be richer if the students have had a chance to encounter other people's ideas about how imagery or methods work. At that point, we're getting into a hybrid kind of reading (or even into research essays), especially if we start introducing different approaches to imagery or methods that are themselves being compared along with a couple (or few) poems or data sets.

Why It's Useful

In the context of a particular course, each kind of comparative analysis has its place and can be a useful step up from single-source analysis. Intellectually, comparative analysis helps overcome the "n of 1" problem that can face single-source analysis. That is, a writer drawing broad conclusions about the influence of the Iranian New Wave based on one film is relying entirely—and almost certainly too much—on that film to support those findings. In the context of even just one more film, though, the analysis is suddenly more likely to arrive at one of the best features of any comparative approach: both films will be more richly experienced than they would have been in isolation, and the themes or questions in terms of which they're being explored (here the general question of the influence of the Iranian New Wave) will arrive at conclusions that are less at-risk of oversimplification.

For scholars working in comparative fields or through comparative approaches, these features of comparative analysis animate their work. To borrow from a stock example in Western epistemology, our concept of "green" isn't based on a single encounter with something we intuit or are told is "green." Not at all. Our concept of "green" is derived from a complex set of experiences of what others say is green or what's labeled green or what seems to be something that's neither blue nor yellow but kind of both, etc. Comparative analysis essays offer us the chance to engage with that process—even if only enough to help us see where a more in-depth exploration with a higher and/or more diverse "n" might lead—and in that sense, from the standpoint of the subject matter students are exploring through writing as well the complexity of the genre of writing they're using to explore it—comparative analysis forms a bridge of sorts between single-source analysis and research essays.

Typical learning objectives for single-sources essays: formulate analytical questions and an arguable thesis, establish stakes of an argument, summarize sources accurately, choose evidence effectively, analyze evidence effectively, define key terms, organize argument logically, acknowledge and respond to counterargument, cite sources properly, and present ideas in clear prose.

Common types of comparative analysis essays and related types: two works in the same genre, two works from the same period (but in different places or in different cultures), a work adapted into a different genre or medium, two theories treating the same topic; a theory and a case study or other object, etc.

How to Teach It: Framing + Practice

Framing multi-source writing assignments (comparative analysis, research essays, multi-modal projects) is likely to overlap a great deal with "Why It's Useful" (see above), because the range of reasons why we might use these kinds of writing in academic or non-academic settings is itself the reason why they so often appear later in courses. In many courses, they're the best vehicles for exploring the complex questions that arise once we've been introduced to the course's main themes, core content, leading protagonists, and central debates.

For comparative analysis in particular, it's helpful to frame assignment's process and how it will help students successfully navigate the challenges and pitfalls presented by the genre. Ideally, this will mean students have time to identify what each text seems to be doing, take note of apparent points of connection between different texts, and start to imagine how those points of connection (or the absence thereof)

complicates or upends their own expectations or assumptions about the texts
complicates or refutes the expectations or assumptions about the texts presented by a scholar
confirms and/or nuances expectations and assumptions they themselves hold or scholars have presented
presents entirely unforeseen ways of understanding the texts

—and all with implications for the texts themselves or for the axes along which the comparative analysis took place. If students know that this is where their ideas will be heading, they'll be ready to develop those ideas and engage with the challenges that comparative analysis presents in terms of structure (See "Tips" and "Common Pitfalls" below for more on these elements of framing).

Like single-source analyses, comparative essays have several moving parts, and giving students practice here means adapting the sample sequence laid out at the " Formative Writing Assignments " page. Three areas that have already been mentioned above are worth noting:

Gathering evidence : Depending on what your assignment is asking students to compare (or in terms of what), students will benefit greatly from structured opportunities to create inventories or data sets of the motifs, examples, trajectories, etc., shared (or not shared) by the texts they'll be comparing. See the sample exercises below for a basic example of what this might look like.
Why it Matters: Moving beyond "x is like y but also different" or even "x is more like y than we might think at first" is what moves an essay from being "compare/contrast" to being a comparative analysis . It's also a move that can be hard to make and that will often evolve over the course of an assignment. A great way to get feedback from students about where they're at on this front? Ask them to start considering early on why their argument "matters" to different kinds of imagined audiences (while they're just gathering evidence) and again as they develop their thesis and again as they're drafting their essays. ( Cover letters , for example, are a great place to ask writers to imagine how a reader might be affected by reading an their argument.)
Structure: Having two texts on stage at the same time can suddenly feel a lot more complicated for any writer who's used to having just one at a time. Giving students a sense of what the most common patterns (AAA / BBB, ABABAB, etc.) are likely to be can help them imagine, even if provisionally, how their argument might unfold over a series of pages. See "Tips" and "Common Pitfalls" below for more information on this front.

Sample Exercises and Links to Other Resources

Common Pitfalls
Advice on Timing
Try to keep students from thinking of a proposed thesis as a commitment. Instead, help them see it as more of a hypothesis that has emerged out of readings and discussion and analytical questions and that they'll now test through an experiment, namely, writing their essay. When students see writing as part of the process of inquiry—rather than just the result—and when that process is committed to acknowledging and adapting itself to evidence, it makes writing assignments more scientific, more ethical, and more authentic.
Have students create an inventory of touch points between the two texts early in the process.
Ask students to make the case—early on and at points throughout the process—for the significance of the claim they're making about the relationship between the texts they're comparing.
For coordinate kinds of comparative analysis, a common pitfall is tied to thesis and evidence. Basically, it's a thesis that tells the reader that there are "similarities and differences" between two texts, without telling the reader why it matters that these two texts have or don't have these particular features in common. This kind of thesis is stuck at the level of description or positivism, and it's not uncommon when a writer is grappling with the complexity that can in fact accompany the "taking inventory" stage of comparative analysis. The solution is to make the "taking inventory" stage part of the process of the assignment. When this stage comes before students have formulated a thesis, that formulation is then able to emerge out of a comparative data set, rather than the data set emerging in terms of their thesis (which can lead to confirmation bias, or frequency illusion, or—just for the sake of streamlining the process of gathering evidence—cherry picking).
For subordinate kinds of comparative analysis , a common pitfall is tied to how much weight is given to each source. Having students apply a theory (in a "lens" essay) or weigh the pros and cons of a theory against case studies (in a "test a theory") essay can be a great way to help them explore the assumptions, implications, and real-world usefulness of theoretical approaches. The pitfall of these approaches is that they can quickly lead to the same biases we saw here above. Making sure that students know they should engage with counterevidence and counterargument, and that "lens" / "test a theory" approaches often balance each other out in any real-world application of theory is a good way to get out in front of this pitfall.
For any kind of comparative analysis, a common pitfall is structure. Every comparative analysis asks writers to move back and forth between texts, and that can pose a number of challenges, including: what pattern the back and forth should follow and how to use transitions and other signposting to make sure readers can follow the overarching argument as the back and forth is taking place. Here's some advice from an experienced writing instructor to students about how to think about these considerations:

a quick note on STRUCTURE

Most of us have encountered the question of whether to adopt what we might term the “A→A→A→B→B→B” structure or the “A→B→A→B→A→B” structure. Do we make all of our points about text A before moving on to text B? Or do we go back and forth between A and B as the essay proceeds? As always, the answers to our questions about structure depend on our goals in the essay as a whole. In a “similarities in spite of differences” essay, for instance, readers will need to encounter the differences between A and B before we offer them the similarities (A d →B d →A s →B s ). If, rather than subordinating differences to similarities you are subordinating text A to text B (using A as a point of comparison that reveals B’s originality, say), you may be well served by the “A→A→A→B→B→B” structure.

Ultimately, you need to ask yourself how many “A→B” moves you have in you. Is each one identical? If so, you may wish to make the transition from A to B only once (“A→A→A→B→B→B”), because if each “A→B” move is identical, the “A→B→A→B→A→B” structure will appear to involve nothing more than directionless oscillation and repetition. If each is increasingly complex, however—if each AB pair yields a new and progressively more complex idea about your subject—you may be well served by the “A→B→A→B→A→B” structure, because in this case it will be visible to readers as a progressively developing argument.

As we discussed in "Advice on Timing" at the page on single-source analysis, that timeline itself roughly follows the "Sample Sequence of Formative Assignments for a 'Typical' Essay" outlined under " Formative Writing Assignments, " and it spans about 5–6 steps or 2–4 weeks.

Comparative analysis assignments have a lot of the same DNA as single-source essays, but they potentially bring more reading into play and ask students to engage in more complicated acts of analysis and synthesis during the drafting stages. With that in mind, closer to 4 weeks is probably a good baseline for many single-source analysis assignments. For sections that meet once per week, the timeline will either probably need to expand—ideally—a little past the 4-week side of things, or some of the steps will need to be combined or done asynchronously.

What It Can Build Up To

Comparative analyses can build up to other kinds of writing in a number of ways. For example:

They can build toward other kinds of comparative analysis, e.g., student can be asked to choose an additional source to complicate their conclusions from a previous analysis, or they can be asked to revisit an analysis using a different axis of comparison, such as race instead of class. (These approaches are akin to moving from a coordinate or subordinate analysis to more of a hybrid approach.)
They can scaffold up to research essays, which in many instances are an extension of a "hybrid comparative analysis."
Like single-source analysis, in a course where students will take a "deep dive" into a source or topic for their capstone, they can allow students to "try on" a theoretical approach or genre or time period to see if it's indeed something they want to research more fully.
DIY Guides for Analytical Writing Assignments

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The Comparative Essay

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What is a comparative essay?

A comparative essay asks that you compare at least two (possibly more) items. These items will differ depending on the assignment. You might be asked to compare

positions on an issue (e.g., responses to midwifery in Canada and the United States)
theories (e.g., capitalism and communism)
figures (e.g., GDP in the United States and Britain)
texts (e.g., Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Macbeth )
events (e.g., the Great Depression and the global financial crisis of 2008–9)

Although the assignment may say “compare,” the assumption is that you will consider both the similarities and differences; in other words, you will compare and contrast.

Make sure you know the basis for comparison

The assignment sheet may say exactly what you need to compare, or it may ask you to come up with a basis for comparison yourself.

Provided by the essay question: The essay question may ask that you consider the figure of the gentleman in Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations and Anne Brontë’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall . The basis for comparison will be the figure of the gentleman.
Developed by you: The question may simply ask that you compare the two novels. If so, you will need to develop a basis for comparison, that is, a theme, concern, or device common to both works from which you can draw similarities and differences.

Develop a list of similarities and differences

Once you know your basis for comparison, think critically about the similarities and differences between the items you are comparing, and compile a list of them.

For example, you might decide that in Great Expectations , being a true gentleman is not a matter of manners or position but morality, whereas in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall , being a true gentleman is not about luxury and self-indulgence but hard work and productivity.

The list you have generated is not yet your outline for the essay, but it should provide you with enough similarities and differences to construct an initial plan.

Develop a thesis based on the relative weight of similarities and differences

Once you have listed similarities and differences, decide whether the similarities on the whole outweigh the differences or vice versa. Create a thesis statement that reflects their relative weights. A more complex thesis will usually include both similarities and differences. Here are examples of the two main cases:

While Callaghan’s “All the Years of Her Life” and Mistry’s “Of White Hairs and Cricket” both follow the conventions of the coming-of-age narrative, Callaghan’s story adheres more closely to these conventions by allowing its central protagonist to mature. In Mistry’s story, by contrast, no real growth occurs.

Although Darwin and Lamarck came to different conclusions about whether acquired traits can be inherited, they shared the key distinction of recognizing that species evolve over time.

Come up with a structure for your essay

A	Paragraph 1 in body	new technology and the French Revolution
B	Paragraph 2 in body	new technology and the Russian Revolution
A	Paragraph 3 in body	military strategy and the French Revolution
B	Paragraph 4 in body	military strategy and the Russian Revolution
A	Paragraph 5 in body	administrative system and the French Revolution
B	Paragraph 6 in body	administrative system and the Russian Revolution

Note that the French and Russian revolutions (A and B) may be dissimilar rather than similar in the way they affected innovation in any of the three areas of technology, military strategy, and administration. To use the alternating method, you just need to have something noteworthy to say about both A and B in each area. Finally, you may certainly include more than three pairs of alternating points: allow the subject matter to determine the number of points you choose to develop in the body of your essay.

A	Paragraphs 1–3 in body	How the French Revolution encouraged or thwarted innovation
B	Paragraphs 4–6 in body	How the Russian Revolution encouraged or thwarted innovation

When do I use the block method? The block method is particularly useful in the following cases:

You are unable to find points about A and B that are closely related to each other.
Your ideas about B build upon or extend your ideas about A.
You are comparing three or more subjects as opposed to the traditional two.

Essay Editor

Comparative Analysis Essay Topics in Education

Delving into comparative analysis essays in education challenges us to dissect and debate pivotal learning themes. Our carefully selected "Top 20 Topics, Prompts, Ideas, and Questions" aim to ignite critical thought, pushing you to evaluate and contrast varied educational frameworks and the efficacy of instructional approaches.

In drafting your essay, strive for a cohesive argument that elevates your analysis beyond the obvious. These topics are springboards for broader discussion, offering a lens through which to reevaluate and potentially reshape the educational narrative.

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Comparative Literature Essay

Comparative literature essay generator.

When you hear the words comparative and literature in one sentence, what do you mostly think about? Do words comparing two or more literary works come to mind? What about if you add the word essay to the mix? Do you think it means comparing two or more literary works from different points of views and writing it down in the form of an essay and stating your opinion about it? If you ask yourself these types of questions and want to know the answers, why don’t you check this one out?

3+ Comparative Literature Essay Examples

1. comparative literature essay template.

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2. Sample Comparative Literature Essay

3. Comparative Literature Essay Example

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4. Printable Comparative Literature Essay

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The Definition for Comparative

Defining the term comparative, this means to compare two or more things with each other. Compare, to consider the difference, to connect two things to each other.

The Description for Comparative Literature

This essay gives the writer the task to compare two or more literary works from the same writer. To compare the arguments, theories, events and the plot from different people’s points of view. Typically a comparative literary essay asks you to write and compare different literary genres and add your opinion about it. Of course this takes extensive research on the part of the writer as well.

Use of Comparative Literature

The use of a comparative literature essay for either a job, for education or for a journal is to expound on comparing two or more literary works and give out your explanation for the works you choose to talk about. More often than not, these types of literary essays are translated from different languages to the language you speak. It is also quite difficult to compare two literary works being criticized by different writers. This uses more analytical techniques than most essays.

Tips to Write a Good Comparative Literature Essay

As this is a type of essay that deals with comparing more than two literary genres and stories together, it may come off as difficult. But that issue has a solution as well. Here are some tips to help you write out a good comparative literature essay either for your class, a journal or for your job. This type of essay can also be helpful in practicing your comparing skills.

Choose two topics: As this is to compare two or more literary pieces, choose the topic. Also choose two different people who are talking about the topic you choose.
Do Research: Continuing from the first tip, do your research on each of the writer’s point of view . What do they think about the topic they wrote about? Who are you going to agree and disagree on? Your research will also help you make your own choice and write about it.
Weigh each compared text as equal as possible: You may choose a side when writing this but also as you are comparing, weigh each subtopic you found in your research as equal as possible. Give a few opinions here and there but stick to the researched facts as well as focusing on the similarities of the two articles and their differences.
Watch out for grammatical errors, misspelled words and incorrect punctuations: Just like any other essay you write, watch your spelling and grammar. Put the correct punctuations in the right place.
Revision is key: Once you are done, revise anything that needs to be revised. Check everything if you have the right information in place.

How many topics do I need to compare?

Choose one literary writing. Do some research on what other writers say about the literary writing you chose and compare what they have written.

How many paragraphs do I need to write this type of essay?

3 full paragraphs. The first would be your introduction to the topic you are going to be comparing to, the second which is the body consists of weighing each of the text, comparing and contrast. The last paragraph is your conclusion.

Should I cite some of the research that I did on my essay?

Whether you are using the quotation of the writers you searched for, always cite where you seen it, and the date. This is to avoid plagiarism.

How many words does this essay take?

60,000 and 75,000 if you are making more than one essay.

This type of essay can be tricky compared to the rest of the essays. But with extensive research and practice, you are sure to write and compare the same way as most professionals are able to do. Good Luck!

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Explore the theme of love in literature across two different cultures in a Comparative Literature Essay

Analyze how two authors from different periods address social injustice in a Comparative Literature Essay

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The ultimate topic list: 81 comparative essay topics.

December 27, 2018

During your career as a student, you will no doubt encounter the comparative essay – if you haven’t encountered it already. It is also known as the compare and contrast essay. This is a pretty complex writing assignment, we agree. However, we can assure you that you can surely write it. Furthermore, we are certain that you will manage to get a top grade. All you need to do is learn how to write comparative essay and then find some exceptional, original comparative essay topics. In this blog post, we will focus on helping you find the best comparative essay topics possible with minimal effort. In fact, we will provide 81 topics for you to choose from. Of course, you can change these best topics 2018 as you like. And yes, the topics are free for you to use as you desire. We are here to help college students with their assignments, and our professional writers are more than happy to provide you with the tips and topics you need to succeed.

What Is a Comparative Essay?

Before we start, let’s talk a bit about the comparative essay. We noticed that many students are having a hard time understanding what this assignment is and what it implies.

Basically, a comparative essay requires you to compare two subjects. Of course, these subjects must have at least some similarities. In your essay, you will compare the subjects – which can be anything you can think of – and note the similarities and the differences. It may sound easy, but be aware that everything you write needs to be properly researched and referenced. Remember, this paper must be written following all relevant academic writing standards.

If you are not familiar with academic writing, we suggest you start learning about it. Another option is to get some help online from an academic writer who has extensive experience with this kind of assignment (and with original comparative essay topics).

Why Comparative Essay Topics Are So Important

Most often, college students who know how to write an academic paper will start writing about the easiest topic they can come across. This is not the way to do it though! You need very interesting comparative essay topics if want a top grade on your paper. Why? Because professors pay a lot of attention to the topic you choose to write about. Think of it this way: your teacher has read hundreds of papers, all of them written on the same couple of topics. It tends to get boring. When you come up with some original, intriguing comparative essay topics, you instantly get bonus points. When you pique the interest of your professor, you can be sure that your paper will stand out from the rest in your class. This is why comparative essay topics are so important.

Ultimate List of 81 Comparative Essay Topics

Beginner’s topics.

Comparing apples and pears
Feeling sad versus feeling lonely comparison
A comparison between hiking and surfing
Comparing coffee and tea (with effects)
Driving the car or taking the bus: which is better?
Stay in a village or move to a big city?
Humans and orangutans: similarities

General Interest Topics

The differences between high school and college
The PhD versus the Master’s degree
Are education and employment so different after all?
The major similarities between US and UK English
Comparing Donald Trump to Barrack Obama
Are argumentative and persuasive essays the same thing?
Major differences between the Catholic and the Orthodox churches.
The differences between legal cannabis use in two states of your choosing.

History Topics

Comparing the Baroque Epoch to the Renaissance Epoch
Are there any similarities between the Soviet government and the American government?
Was King Louis the XIV better than King Henry the VIII?
Differences between the North and the South ideologies during the Civil War.
What changed from World War I to World War II (why casualties were far higher in WWII)?
Comparing Stalin’s regime to Hitler’s regime.
How similar were Washington’s ideas to Lincoln’s ideas?
Comparing the United States to the European Union in terms of prosperity.

Political Topics

Comparing the attributes of the UK Prime Minister to the US President
Were Fascism and Nazism the same? If not, why?
Similarities between Barrack Obama and George W. Bush
President Trump’s border protection measures compared to Obama’s measures
All political parties are the same in many aspects. Why?
Compare the situation in Ukraine to the Syrian war.
The differences between civil union and marriage in the United States
Comparing the 1950s political regime to Trumps’ administration

Opposite Subjects

The major differences between male humans and female humans
Compare eBooks to printed books and find out which is better
A quick comparison between the Moon and the Sun
Coke versus Pepsi: which one is better?
Attending university or getting hired: which is better?
Comparing red and green: any similarities?
What are the major similarities between asylums and jails?
A comparison between Star Trek and Star Wars: Why they are different in all aspects

Social Media Topics

Facebook and Twitter – Which one to choose?
Facebook image posting or video posting?
Comparing Facebook in the US with Facebook in Russia
Facebook or Myspace when it comes to opportunities to interact with other users
Social media marketing versus traditional marketing
Online dating or real-life dating: which is better and why?
Selling products on Facebook compared to selling products on eBay
Facebook or Instagram – which is more damaging to college students?
Comparing emails to traditional mailing: the similarities
Which is more engaging, video games or smartphone games?
Searching for jobs traditionally versus searching for jobs online
Comparing Booking.com to AirBnb: major differences
Comparing Kaspersky Labs antivirus to BitDefender antivirus
Wide screen monitors versus ultra-wide monitors for productivity
AMD or Intel processor? Why?
Virtual Reality versus real life: similarities
Comparing Alphabet to Microsoft in terms of product innovation

Philosophy Topics

Comparing the philosophical views about life and death
The difference between physical needs and mental needs of human beings
Choosing a fantasy world over the real world: why?
Hamlet and Macbeth: comparing the main ideas
Are historians and philosophers similar? If not, why?
What makes good good and evil bad?
Humans are as wild as wild animals in some cases: comparing the two

Literature Topics

Comparing the Indo-European languages to the Sino-Tibetan languages
Comparing a drama to a comedy: major differences
Non-fiction versus fiction literature
What do you prefer, prose or poetry? Why?
Comparing Lord of the Rings to Harry Potter (the books, not the movies)
Comparing Shakespeare’s Othello to his Hamlet
Comparing a British author to an American Author: Similarities and Differences
Comparing the Greek Mythology to the Roman Mythology
Comparing your two most bellowed authors. Any similarities between writing styles?

How to Write Comparative Essay: Tips and Tricks

Now that you understand why you need new essay topics and have selected a topic from the comprehensive list above, it’s time for some comparative essay tips. The first tip is to start early – as early as possible. Make sure you have plenty of time to finish your work and then proofread it at least twice (this is the second tip). Make effective use of an outline, which must be created before you start writing the sections. Speaking of sections, make sure you familiarize yourself with the five paragraph essay structure. It’s simple to use, and you don’t even need to know how to write comparative essay to use it. Of course, another tip would be to find the most interesting comparative essay topics. However, make sure that you know at least something about the topic, otherwise it can be pretty difficult to write a paper about it. These tips will surely help you write the best comparative essay in your class. And remember, our best topics 2020 are free to use. Good luck!

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125 Intriguing Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for Kids and Teens

Android vs. iPhone? Capitalism vs. communism? Hot dog vs. taco?

First day of school vs. the last day of school.

In compare and contrast essays , writers show the similarities and differences between two things. They combine descriptive writing with analysis, making connections and showing dissimilarities. Remind students that in this type of writing, they’re not necessarily trying to sway the reader to one opinion or another—they’re just presenting and analyzing facts. These compare and contrast essay topics will give them plenty of practice.

School and Work Essay Topics
Friends and Family Essay Topics
Life and Health Essay Topics
Entertainment Essay Topics
History and Politics Essay Topics
Just for Fun Essay Topics

School and Work Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Going to college vs. starting work full-time

Going to college vs. starting work full-time
Public and private schools
Charter schools and traditional public schools
Online school and in-person school
Block scheduling vs. traditional scheduling
Any two schools or colleges
Working your way through college as you go or taking out student loans
Elementary school and high school
Single gender vs. coed schools
Learning to read vs. learning to write
The importance of any two school subjects
Recess vs. physical education class
Group work and individual work
First day of school vs. last day of school
High school and college
Volunteering and paid work
Quitting vs. getting fired
Traditional job vs. starting a small business
Employee and manager
Work-life balance in U.S. vs. Europe

Friends and Family Compare and Contrast Topics

Friendship vs. romantic love
You and your best friend
Online friends vs. IRL friends
Old friends and new friends
Best friend vs. group of friends
Your teacher vs. your parent/guardian
Only child vs. having siblings
Parents and grandparents
Siblings and cousins
Nuclear family vs. extended family
Adoptive families vs. biological families
Single-parent families and two-parent families
Parents vs. aunts and uncles
Oldest child and youngest child
Big family vs. small family

Life and Health Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Car ownership and public transportation
Learning to ride a bike vs. learning to drive a car
Cooking at home and dining out
Wearing glasses vs. having braces
Nature vs. nurture
Anxiety and depression
Introverts vs. extroverts
Summer and winter
Fall and spring
City life vs. country life

Vegetarian and vegan
Mondays and Fridays
Mornings vs. evenings
Giving vs. receiving gifts
Phone calls and texting
Electric cars vs. gas-powered cars
Shopping online and shopping in person
Cardio vs. strength training
Traditional medicine and alternative medicine
Mental health vs. physical health

Entertainment Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Xbox vs. PlayStation
iPhone vs. Android
Laptop vs. tablet
Instagram vs. X
YouTube and TikTok
Traditional camera vs. phone camera
Football vs. soccer
Baseball vs. basketball
Horse racing vs. NASCAR
Team sports and individual sports
Ping-Pong vs. tennis
Sprint vs. marathon
A movie based on a book and the book it was based on
Reading and watching TV
Ebooks vs. paper books

Poetry and rap music
DC vs. Marvel
Netflix and YouTube
Opera music and pop music
Rock music and hip-hop
Going to a play vs. going to a movie
Reality TV and documentaries
Playing a video game and watching a movie
Video games and board games
Playing sports vs. watching sports

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Two political candidates in a current race

Two political candidates in a current race
Capitalism vs. communism
Socialism vs. communism
Monarchy/dictatorship and democracy
Spanish flu pandemic vs. COVID-19 pandemic
World War I and World War II
American pioneers vs. first space explorers
Gen X vs. Gen Z
Gen Z vs. Gen Alpha
Any two historic eras

Any two U.S. states
Abraham Lincoln vs. Barack Obama (or any other two presidents)
Queen Elizabeth I vs. Queen Elizabeth II
Hitler and Stalin
The first airplane flight vs. the first manned spaceflight
Civil Rights movement vs. women’s suffrage movement
United States vs. China
United Nations and the League of Nations
Cold War vs. the War on Terror
Roman Empire vs. British Empire

American president vs. U.K. prime minister

American president vs. U.K. prime minister
Fox News vs. CNN
Legislative branch and executive branch and/or judicial branch
Equality and equity
Elected politicians vs. lobbyists
Republicans and Democrats
Conservatism vs. Liberalism
Presidential systems and parliamentarian systems
Direct democracy vs. representative democracy
Federal government and state government

Just for Fun Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Dogs vs. cats as pets
Paper books or e-books
Hot dogs vs. tacos
Big Mac vs. Whopper
Coke vs. Pepsi
Frozen yogurt and ice cream
Hurricane vs. tornado
Birthday as a kid and birthday as an adult
Going barefoot vs. wearing shoes
Mountain vacation vs. beach vacation

Appetizers and desserts
Pants vs. skirts
Chocolate shake vs. hot chocolate
Any two superheroes or villains
Christmas vs. birthdays

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Development and validation of the high school students’ Mathematics Discourse Feedback Skills Scale (MDFSS)

Published: 07 September 2024

Cite this article

Hao Chen 1 , 2 ,
Sanyi Tang 3 ,
Shang Zhang 1 ,
Jie Xu 1 &
Guangsheng Wang 3

This study aimed to develop an instrument for assessing high school students’ mathematics discourse feedback skills (MDFS) in order to measure their feedback literacy performance in mathematics. First, the researcher constructed a theoretical framework of MDFS, including comparative analysis, expressing communication, mathematical reasoning, monitor and adjust, diagnostic evaluation, and implementation capacity, through literature review, and designed the mathematics discourse feedback skills scale (MDFSS) questions accordingly. Subsequently, 9 experts conducted two rounds of content validity tests on the theoretical framework and scale questions, while 32 high school student volunteers conducted surface validity tests. Then, 273 high school students participated in the item analysis of the scale. Ultimately, 1681 high school students assessed the structural validity of the scale. In these assessments, exploratory factor analysis was conducted on 841 high school students, and confirmatory factor analysis with first-order and second-order models was conducted on 840 students. The study also conducted reliability, validity, and measurement invariance tests on the survey questionnaire. Based on the results of these analyses, the researcher confirmed that the final version of the scale consisted of 24 items. The results of the study indicated that the scale provided a valid evidence for measuring the MDFS of high school students. The study is of great significance to academic and educational practice, as it not only deepens the research on student feedback literacy in mathematics, but also provides a valuable reference tool for improving the academic quality of mathematics among high school students in China and other Asian countries.

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Data availability

The data generated during the current study are not publicly available since they constitute an excerpt of research in progress. Data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all those who participated in this study. They are also grateful to Professor Robert A. Cheke from the UK for language editing, and to the Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments on this paper.

This study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC: 12031010).

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Hao Chen, Shang Zhang & Jie Xu

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Hao Chen drafted the manuscript. Sanyi Tang and Guangsheng Wang served as the research advisor. Guangsheng Wang and Hao Chen contributed significantly to the conception, the data analysis, and manuscript revision. Shang Zhang and Jie Xu collected the data and worked as writer’s assistant. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

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Chen, H., Tang, S., Zhang, S. et al. Development and validation of the high school students’ Mathematics Discourse Feedback Skills Scale (MDFSS). Curr Psychol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-06578-1

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Development and validation of the high school students ...
This study aimed to develop an instrument for assessing high school students' mathematics discourse feedback skills (MDFS) in order to measure their feedback literacy performance in mathematics. First, the researcher constructed a theoretical framework of MDFS, including comparative analysis, expressing communication, mathematical reasoning, monitor and adjust, diagnostic evaluation, and ...