Comparative Essay (Compare and Contrast)
1. Read the prompt carefully. Make sure that you understand what it is asking you to do.
• Look for clues in the prompt that direct you. Does the prompt focus on one or more of the “Factors that Impact History”?: economic, social, cultural, political, environmental. If so, which one(s)?
2. Identify: what is the main difference, and what is the main similarity, that you are going to focus on?
• If possible, identify one (1) category from the “Factors That Impact History” for difference and one (1) category for similarity (try to identify those categories from within the question/prompt itself and then identify which fits “difference” and which fits “similarity”). However, you may not be able to separate your argument quite that neatly. As you make your decision about what the difference is and what the similarity is, make sure that decision is historically sound and that you have plenty of evidence to prove your point.
• After you identify the two parts of your argument, write at least four pieces of historical evidence that you are going to use for each side.
• Then, write at least two analytical points that you are going to make about both sides of your argument (in other words, why this matters/the significance/how this is connected to other things/etc.).
• Finally, write a topic sentence for each side of your argument. These sentences should represent the two (2) main points that you are making to prove what you are saying in your thesis The topic sentence is your contention/the statement about what you are going to prove in that paragraph. The topic sentence guides each paragraph (the thesis guides the essay).
3. Finalize and write your thesis.
• Make sure your thesis responds directly to the prompt as a statement of opinion which can be proved!
• Your thesis should be a clear, analytical, and comprehensive statement supported by your two topic sentences.
• Your thesis must use relevant historical content to effectively explain difference and similarity over time.
• The thesis should probably be multiple (2) sentences working together. The first sentence includes the name of the periodization(s) and the years involved. The second sentence should deal with your “argument”—what you are going to try to prove. This statement is something that another historian might agree with OR disagree with, depending on the evidence provided.
4. Write your essay in the following order, making sure that you address the prompt.
Paragraph 1: THESIS
• This must include two parts: the specific time period in which this essay is set in by date AND by name AND a clear statement of your “argument/contention”. You should include “introductory”/background information first, but keep it brief; your focus should be your thesis, which should end the paragraph.
Paragraph 2: DIFFERENCE CATEGORY
• Start with your topic sentence for the change category. This sentence is your first “point” and should support your thesis.
• Describe the change with at least four (4) pieces of relevant, accurate, historical evidence.
• Make sure to include LOTS of analysis rather than simply listing a bunch of historical events. In other words, explicitly explain how and why these things show change.
Paragraph 3: SIMILARITY CATEGORY
• Start with your topic sentence for the continuity category. This sentence is your first “point” and should support your thesis.
• Describe the change with at least four (4) pieces of relevant, accurate, historical evidence.
• Make sure to include LOTS of analysis rather than simply listing a bunch of historical events. In other words, explicitly explain how and why these things show change.
Paragraph 4: RESTATEMENT OF THESIS AND GLOBAL CONNECTION
• Restate your thesis to bring your essay to a close.
• Relate your difference and similarity concepts to a larger world context. Your discussion must make a connection to difference and similatiry
