comparative analysis
Writing a Comparative Analysis/Comparative Critique of an Essay
The following is a general overview of the required paragraphs that you must have in your essay. They must be included in your analysis of the article/argument. Below the outline (on the second page) are other, optional body paragraphs that can be included in your analysis, if you would like.
I. Your Introduction:
Must introduce authors’ names and titles of the articles
Must include your claim re: your overall view of which article is more rhetorically effective and why.
II. Your First Body Paragraph: Title
Quote the titles of the articles. Are they well-written? Strong? Weak? Do they stand out? Do they grab the audience’s attention? Are they too long? Too short? Are they catchy? Do they represent the articles well? Which article has the better title? Why?
Explain specifically why each is strong or weak. If one of them is weak, then give a suggestion for a strong title.
III. Your Second Body Paragraph: Claim
What is each author’s claim? Quote it.
Is each claim strong or weak and why?
Is each claim backed up by the evidence, or is each quickly forgotten/abandoned?
What might have been a more fitting claim for the evidence provided, in concern with each article?
Which article has the better claim? Why?
IV. Your Third Body Paragraph: Opposition
What is the “other side” mentioned in each article (the one that disagrees with the author of the
article)? Quote it. Is the opposition represented fairly and appropriately in each article? Explain why it is represented fairly or why it is not. Be specific. If it is not, then tell what should have been there to make it an effective opposition. Which article is most successful in terms of fairly representing/presenting the opposition? Why?
V. Your Fourth Body Paragraph: Common Ground
Quote the common ground in each article (the place where there is a “meeting of the minds,” the point where both sides agree before they part ways). If there is not one, mention that as a negative
and tell what should have been stated to show common ground re: the topic. Which article is better in this particular area of analysis? Why?
VI. Your Fifth Body Paragraph: Statistics and Other Supporting Evidence
Give quotes of the strong and weak types of supporting evidence used in the articles
(1 of each). Tell why each is positive or negative. Tell what should have been written to make each strong if it is weak. (e.g. What is the name of the study/survey? When was it done? Who did
it? How many people were used/asked? How many males, females, etc? What racial
diversity was used? Where was the study/survey done?) Which article is more rhetorically effective in this area? Why?
VII. Your Sixth Body Paragraph: Experts/Credibility
Give examples (at least 2) of experts used in each article and tell why those people are or are not experts. What position do they hold and for how long? What vested interest do these people have and why? What makes them credible? Explain. What makes them not credible? What degree do
they have? From where? What should have been mentioned in order to prove to the reader
that this person, organization, people are experts? Which article does it better? Why?
VIII. Your Conclusion:
Give your overall analysis of the articles. Be specific. Are these articles you would recommend
for someone else to read? Why or why not? In this paragraph, you can also tell whether you
Other options for additional analysis/body paragraphs: Rhetorical appeals, logical fallacies, assumptions made by the author, inappropriate language used.