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by Katharine Hansen, Ph.D.

A comparative essay points out the similarities and/or differences in two or more works or two or more components or aspects of one or more works (or two or more authors, two or more theories, two or more historical figures, two or more works of art, or in fact, two or more of anything). Since comparisons are important building blocks of research papers and other college writing, professors will often assign comparative essays as practice for other genres.

Clearly, when you are writing a comparative essay, it is crucial that you completely grasp both of the items you are comparing. You also need a frame of reference for comparison. As Kerry Walk of Harvard University's Writing Center notes, the frame of reference could be an "idea, theme, question, problem, or theory." For example, in comparing two 20th-cetury artists, painter Alice Neel and Diane Arbus, the frame of reference could be that both women captured in their art the zeitgeist of the experience of mid-century American women. Typically, Walk says, you'll use transition words and phrases, such as "similarly," "moreover," "on the contrary," "conversely," and "on the other hand," to move smoothly from comparison point to comparison point and hold your essay together.

Next, you need grounds for comparison; in other words, what is your rationale for choosing the items you're comparing? In the preceding example of Alice Neel and Diane Arbus, the grounds for comparison could include the facts that both women were producing art at about the same time, and they were both portraitists (who even portrayed some of the same people).

It's useful to know a couple of time-honored ways to structure this type of paper:

Both common structures begin with a thesis statement (which all your comparison points will link back to) that clearly shows the relationship of the two items you are comparing and often includes the word "whereas:"

Thesis: Whereas painter Alice Neel and photographer Diane Arbus used completely different media, both women captured in their art the zeitgeist of the experience of mid-century American women.

Parallel-Order Comparison (also called a Text-by-Text Comparison):

1. Thesis statement
2. First similarity
1. First work
2. Second work
3. Second similarity
1. First work
2. Second work
4. First difference
1. First work
2. Second work
5. Second difference
1. First work
2. Second work
6. Conclusion that refers back to thesis statement

Point-by-Point Comparison:

1. Thesis statement
2. First point
1. Similarities between the two works (or components/aspects of works)
2. Differences between the two works
3. Second point
1. Similarities between the two works
2. Differences between the two works
4. Third point
1. Similarities between the two works
2. Differences between the two works
5. Conclusion that refers back to thesis statement

Common flaws with comparative essays include:

• Unbalanced comparisons that give too much emphasis to some points while shortchanging others.
• Conclusions that do no more than summarize what you've said in the body of the essay.
• Conclusions that don't really make a point because they state that the items being compared are similar yet different.

Final Thoughts
The comparative essay is a favorite of professors, especially for essay exams. Be prepared to make comparisons in writing any time you have a looming essay test.

Return to A Student's Brief Overview of Expository Writing.

Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key academic terms by going to our College Success Glossary.

Katharine Hansen, Ph.D., is an educator, author, and blogger who provides content for MyCollegeSuccessStory.com. Katharine, who earned her PhD in organizational behavior from Union Institute & University, Cincinnati, OH, is author of Dynamic Cover Letters for New Graduates and A Foot in the Door: Networking Your Way into the Hidden Job Market (both published by Ten Speed Press), as well as Top Notch Executive Resumes (Career Press); and with Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., Dynamic Cover Letters, Write Your Way to a Higher GPA (Ten Speed), and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Study Skills (Alpha). She is also Creative Director and Associate Publisher at Quintessential Careers, edits QuintZine, an electronic newsletter for jobseekers, and blogs about storytelling in the job search at A Storied Career. Visit her personal Website or reach her by e-mail at kathy(at)quintcareers.com.

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