Assignment #2 – Organization for Comparison/Contrast Essays (30 points)
Read the information at the first link. It clearly explains the organizational options for a comparison/contrast essay.
B. In addition, watch the two YouTube clips that explain the same. Read and watch all three. You are now ready to tell me, in your own words, how to organize the Point by Point or the Block (Topic vs. Topic) essay.
C. Write a brief paragraph and explain which format you think you will like and say why that is your choice. (There is no wrong answer. I want you to explain your choice.)
https://www.thoughtco.com/beef-up-critical-thinking-writing-skills-7826 (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Comparison and Contrast Essay (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Points: 30
Assignment #3
Searching for Topics and Information
The subjects you choose for your research and writing need to be meaningful to you. It is easy to pick cats vs. dogs for your topic. Unless you have been the owner of both, you do not have the authority to use this topic. Besides that, it is overused! Avoid that topic!
Instead, think of something that you like or dislike. The best writing happens when you actually care about your topic!
For example, maybe you like to eat out. If you are into fast food due to time and money, you might compare two fast food options. To branch off from that, you might consider comparing eating out to dining at home. The options for topics are almost endless. Another possibility from this would be to compare buying coffee at one of the ever-popular local coffee stores to preparing coffee at home.
For any of the food related topics, you would probably consider cost, taste, and perhaps time or ease. Health benefits could also be considered with anything related to food.
Maybe you are into sports. If it is watching or playing, the comparisons and contrasts could be powerful. Ask yourself questions. Is it more fun to go to a sporting event such as baseball at Chase Field, or is it better to watch baseball from home? For a topic similar to this, you might consider cost, time, and surroundings or options during the game. (You do NOT need to select baseball. This idea works with all sports.)
The topic choice is yours. FOLLOW THESE STEPS and show your work.
1. Pick two activities, events, or items to compare.
Here is a link to possible topics: https://www.thoughtco.com/compare-and-contrast-essay-topics-7822 (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site. Do NOT select cats vs. dogs. I have read that essay topic too many times. There are MANY other topics to select.
Decide if you will use Point by Point or Item vs. Item organizational pattern. See Assignment #2 for more information about the organizational patterns.
Begin your research. For each item in the essay you need to consult at least two reliable sources.
Take notes. Show your work and identify your sources. Keep in mind that research notes may come from interviews, personal experiences, brochures, magazines, reliable Internet sources, books, etc.
Use one of the organizational patterns to keep track of your notes.
State what you will be comparing and contrasting.
Block format (Topic vs. Topic)
Topic A __________ Topic B __________
Point #1 __________ Point #1 __________
Source: __________ Source: __________
Topic A __________ Topic B __________
Point #2 __________ Point #2 __________
Source: __________ Source: __________
Topic A __________ Topic B __________
Point #3 __________ Point #3 __________
Source: __________ Source: __________
Point by Point Format
Point #1
Topic A
Topic B
Sources
Point #2
Topic A
Topic B
Sources
Point #3
Topic A
Topic B
Sources
Post your notes. At the very least, keep track of the URLs and name of folks you interview.
https://www.thoughtco.com/beef-up-critical-thinking-writing-skills-7826
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyS3bTjiqDc
https://www.thoughtco.com/compare-and-contrast-essay-topics-7822