Comparison and Contrast Essay Examples

A comparison and contrast essay is written with the purpose of comparing and contrasting two people, places, things, or ideas. In a comparison and contrast essay, the writer may choose to talk about the two different things separately and then do a single discussion of how they are alike and different. Or, the writer may choose to do a point by point comparison of the two items.

The comparison and contrast essay is often assigned to students who are asked to compare two different literary texts, or compare how an idea is presented in two different texts. For example, a student may be asked to think about how the idea of love is presented in two different poems or two different stories.

The structure of the comparison and contrast essay is similar no matter the topic. The writer should present points of similarity and difference in the two items or ideas, as well as point out the significance or overarching theme that results from the comparison.

Example of Comparison and Contrast Essay

Introduction

As we move into election season, you will begin to hear and see advertisements for both of the candidates who are running for mayor of our town. These two candidates have survived primary elections and emerged as two distinct choices for our next mayor. While both candidates have distinguished careers in public service, it is important for voters to be informed when they go to the ballot box. The two candidates share many of the same values, but would represent different directions for our town moving forward.

Body Paragraph (Comparison/Contrast on Single Point)

Both Police Chief Hayes and Judge Sayor can be described as "tough on crime." Under Chief Hayes, our town has experienced a sharp decline in violent crime, and a no nonsense approach to arresting and prosecuting those who step outside of the law. Judge Sayor, likewise, has presented a no nonsense attitude toward those who come before her in the courtroom. When the evidence is clear, criminals face stiff consequences for their crimes. However, Chief Hayes and Judge Sayor differ in terms of a proactive versus punitive approach to enforcing the law. Chief Hayes has stated that he favors harsher sentences for those convicted of crimes. In addition, in order to minimize the cost to taxpayers for housing criminals, he proposes a plan for those housed in our jail to provide services to the town-custodial services, lawn care services, etc. Judge Sayor, on the other hand, favors a proactive approach to addressing minor crimes. She has stated that many crimes in our community related to drugs, traffic violations, and even domestic issues could be better addressed through consequences that mandate therapy or attendance in an education program rather than a jail sentence.