Difference between Comparison and Contrast Essay

 The Essay

Difference between Comparison and Contrast Essay

1- Essay Developed by Comparison:

  A comparison essay deals with similar aspects or characteristics of two different things, persons, ideas or subjects. Writing a comparison essay can be done in two different ways. Suppose we have subject A and subject B; we can write all the points related to subject A then all the similar points related to subject B. Or we can use the point-by-point method; that is, we can deal with one similar point between subject A and subject B then move on to another similar point between them and deal with it in relationship with both subjects and so on as it is the case in the following essay developed by comparison.

When writing the comparison essay, you very often use expressions that show you are dealing with similarities: like, similarly, likewise in the same way, both, in comparison with…

2- Essay Developed by Contrast:

The contrast essay is unlike the comparison essay in that it deals with the differences between two subjects or qualities. Like the comparison essay, the contrast essay can be developed either by mentioning all the points related to a given topic A. then all the points related to topic B or by using the point-by-point method. In other words, it uses either the point-by-point method or the separate method. When you are contrasting, you may have recourse to expressions such as unlike, on the one hand … on the other (hand), as opposed to, in contrast to, however …

3-Essay developed by Comparison and Contrast:

The above-mentioned methods which include the separate method, and the point-by-point method are also used when writing the comparison and contrast essay.