Critical Review (Researching Organisation and Management)
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HowtoWriteaComparativeAnalysis.pptxTutorial How to Write a Comparative Analysis
Dr Keith Y. N. Ng
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Comparison & Contrast Essay Writing
Comparison - how two or more things are similar
Contrast - how two or more things are different
For academic writing - the two are combined for analysis
In essence, you will be creating an extended analogy
An analogy explains one thing by comparing/contrasting it to a more familiar thing
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Comparison & Contrast Essay Writing
Essay weighs A and B equally (the two things being compared and contrasted)
May be about two similar things that have crucial differences
May be about two similar things that have crucial differences, yet surprising commonalities
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Comparison & Contrast Essay Writing
Both things must have enough in common in order to justify the analysis
Be sure to move beyond the obvious
If the two things are very similar, writing about the differences may be more enlightening
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Brainstorming
As a small-group, brainstorm the similarities and differences between A and B.
Using the paper provided, organize your answers into a Venn Diagram.
Using any materials pertaining to the activity to construct your answers.
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Brainstorming
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A
B
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Brainstorming
Determine the focus of your piece
Determine if you will focus on the similarities, the differences, or both
Be sure you treat each text, or thing, the same; each text deserves the same amount of focus
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Comparison & Contrast Essay Writing
In the “lens” or “keyhole” comparison, weigh A with B
You use A as a lens through which to view B
Use A as a framework for understanding B in order to change the way in which B is viewed
Useful for enlightening, critiquing, or challenging the status quo of the thing before your analysis was done
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Comparison & Contrast Essay Writing
Lens comparisons take time into account: earlier texts, events, or historical figures
The difficulty of comparison-contrast papers is that well-developed ones do not merely state all the similarities of A and B and then the differences
To write a critically well-developed compare-contrast paper, you must take raw facts (the similarities and differences you’ve observed) and make them cohere into a meaningful argument; next are five elements required to construct an excellent compare-contrast essay
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Frame of Reference
The context within which you place A and B to compare and contrast; in other words, the “umbrella” under which you have grouped them
Consists of the idea, theme, questions, problem, theory, or group (pair) of similar things which you are exploring
Can consist of biographical or historical information
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Frame of Reference
Constructed from specific sources, not your thoughts and observations
Most assignments, especially ours, provides a frame of reference
An essay without this context would have no perspective on the material, or focus and frame, for the writer to construct a meaningful argument
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Grounds for Comparison
The grounds for comparison is the rationale behind your choosing A and B
Here, you are arguing the meaningful purpose behind constructing your paper, not merely stating that the course has you do so
You must indicate the reasoning behind the comparison and contrast
Ask yourself: What is my paper attempting to accomplish?
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Thesis
A comparison-and-contrast essay should have a comparative nature to your thesis
Do not merely presenting facts, write argumentatively
A comparison-and-contrast paper should state how A and B actually relate to one another; do they corroborate, complicate, contradict, correct, or debate one another?
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Thesis
Identify not only the subjects being compared and contrasted, but also the overall point you are making by doing so; what is the underlying theme of your piece? In other words, what is your message?
Also indicate if you will focus on merely the similarities or differences, or both
What general statement could you make about these two texts?
Do the points you listed on your Venn Diagram provide enough support for this general statement?
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Thesis
In the most common (the one you are doing) compare-and-contrast paper (especially one focusing on the differences) you can indicate the precise relationship between A and B by using the word “whereas” in your thesis:
Whereas animal nests can be perceived to be the same as houses where people abide , nests lack a certain ambiance that human families create within their homes.
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Thesis
Whether your paper focuses primarily on difference or similarity, you need to make the relationship between A and B clear in your thesis
Your introduction consists of a frame of reference, grounds for comparison, and thesis statement
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Organizational Scheme
The two basic ways to organize the body of your paper is in a text-by-text method, where you discuss all of A, then all of B, or in a point-by-point (feature-by-feature) method, where you alternate points about A with comparable points about B
If you think that B extends A, you’ll probably use a text-by-text scheme
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Organizational Scheme
If you believe A and B are engaged in debate (which for this paper, they are more so) the point-by-point method will draw attention to the conflict
To be sure this scheme does not turn into a ping-pong game of ideas, group more than one point together, therefore cutting down on the number of times you alternate between A and B
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Organizational Scheme
Not necessary to give same time for similarities and differences
Marks given for interesting argument: get to the heart of the matter sooner than later
Usually in a “lens” comparison, you spend less time on A (the lens) than on B (the focal point) organizing the paper in a text-by-text fashion; however, this can be implemented into the point-by-point method
This is because A is merely a tool for helping you discover whether or not B’s nature is actually what expectations have led you to believe it is
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Choose a Method
Be sure to choose either the point-by-point or text-by-text method and stick with it;
Always, as usual, link your points back to your thesis so that your audience can clearly see how each section logically and systematically advance your argument
Also, you must link A and B together in order for the paper to be clear, concise, and consistent
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Conclusion
Summarize the main points of your essay, and
Emphasize your thesis statement using new words
Leave your audience with “food for thought” or enlightening reason for your work
Ensure your conclusion is not merely your introduction rehashed
Extend on the main points in your essay
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Transitional Phrases
To Compare
Similarly, likewise, in like fashion, in like manner,
analogous to, comparatively, accordingly, in the
same way, comparative to, as, also, in
conjunction with this
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Transitional Phrases
To Contrast
On the contrary, contrarily,
notwithstanding, but, however,
nevertheless, in spite of, in contrast, yet,
on one hand, on the other hand, rather, or,
nor, conversely, at the same time, while
this may be true.
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Outline
Introduction
A. Frame of Reference
B. Grounds for Comparison
C. Thesis
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Outline
II. Body Paragraphs (Point-by-Point Method)
A. Main Idea Statement
B. Points about A with Evidence
C. Points about B with Evidence
D. Link A and B
E. Concluding Statement
*This continues for as long as necessary
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Outline
III. Conclusion
A. Summary of Main Points
B. Restate Thesis
C. Enlightening Statement
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Any Questions?
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