Every student must write a comparative essay at least once during school. Comparative essays can analyze two works of literature, such as two poems, or a poem and a novel. Comparative literature essays should have some kind of ground for comparison, or a reason that comparing or contrast them is interesting or meaningful. An argumentative essay can compare two sides of an issue, such as abortion, and then argue for either one. In science class, students can also compare the practicality, cost and even ethicality of a scientific method.
Comparing and contrasting two or more characters from a literary work can help illuminate the significance of the text. Highlighting the contrasts between characters reveals to readers how authors create characters by using other characters as backdrops. Compare-and-contrast writing activities don't have to be limited to fiction; analyzing nonfictional characters from biographies or autobiographies can make for a fascinating study. Students can compare what character traits make the subjects of the biographies famous, heroic, successful or historically significant.
College students will benefit from compare-and-contrast writing activities that have real-world significance. For business and communications courses, students can write feasibility reports, which assess the reasonableness of a plan by weighing the pros and cons, as well as comparative reports, which evaluate similar items on the basis of specific criteria. Both assignments will likely require sources, and thus students can also hone their research evaluation skills.
No matter the form or topic, students should construct all compare-and-contrast writing activities in accordance with one of two possible patterns. The first, block pattern, involves discussing one item fully and then moving on to the next one, which the essay also discusses fully. Another option, the point-by-point pattern, has the writer discuss one point about both items or ideas, and then move on to the next point. The second format works better for topics that involve concepts or facts that are difficult to remember when spread out.