Compare and Contrast

Essay 6: Comparison/Contrast (In-Class) The basic idea: For this assignment, you will compare/contrast 2 stories or 2 characters from the text options listed on this sheet. Remember that comparison consists of discussing how two or more things are similar, whereas contrasting consists of discussing how two or more things are different. You may focus just on comparing or just on contrasting, or you may do both. However, keep in mind that you do not want to waste time discussing elementary surface level things, such as “Text A is about a boy and Text B is about a girl.” Be sure to compare/contrast meaning. You need to think about why the similarities or differences you’ve found matter. How is our understanding of the texts deepened by noticing these similarities or differences? Furthermore, how is our understanding of the texts complemented by reading them alongside each other? A note on sources: You will have at least 3, total: 1-2 short stories and 2 pieces of academic research. First, focus on the 2 texts you have chosen to compare/contrast and use your thoughts to formulate the essay’s major ideas. At its heart, this essay should be your interpretation of the texts, supported by evidence from the texts. You will use a minimum of 2 secondary sources to further support your interpretive argument. Story options: John Updike’s “A&P” John Updike’s “Outage” Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark” Hints: Focus your analysis on the stories’ cultural commentary re: consumerism, scientific advancement, or society’s reliance on technology. As a result of one of these things, what has happened to society/humanity as seen in Updike’s and/or Hawthorne’s work? Your essay should have: • A descriptive title • An argumentative thesis--the last sentence (or two) in your introductory paragraph • A minimum of 5 substantial paragraphs • Engagement with the texts in question (not just a report!) • Textual support (using well-integrated & discussed QUOTES!) • Proper MLA formatting (header, margins, citations, Works Cited page, etc.) • A well-developed introduction & conclusion • Excellent, logical organization, including clear transitions connecting ideas, sentences, & paragraphs • Content that shows skilled critical thinking • Varied sentence structure • Evidence of careful planning, drafting, and proofreading Naturally, your essay needs a clearly stated thesis, and this thesis must be argumentative. You will not be stating a fact; you will be proving a point. To determine what your point will be and what you will argue about the text, it would be wise to compile a detailed list of the similarities and differences of the texts you have chosen. Think about why these similarities and differences matter and how they relate to the meanings of the texts. How is our understanding of the texts deepened or complemented by reading one alongside another? You should make one major argumentative claim about the texts and spend your entire essay arguing this point. Just to give you an example of how you should approach this essay, I am including the intro/thesis for what is at heart a comparison and contrast essay on The Outsiders and Rebel Without a Cause: When looking at what The Outsiders’ narrator, Ponyboy Curtis, says and the implications of the ending of Rebel Without a Cause, it becomes apparent that the two have very different viewpoints regarding who is responsible for solving the juvenile delinquent problem. In The Outsiders, Ponyboy crafts his narrative in a romanticized, film-like fashion to follow in the tradition of juvenile delinquent films, but he concludes his narrative quite differently in order to challenge traditional juvenile delinquent stereotypes. Therefore, what saves Hinton’s The Outsiders from being a mere cliché, making it different from other mainstream portrayals of juvenile delinquents, is its placement of responsibility in the hands of adolescents instead of in the hands of society or parents. . See the list of sample essays on the second page inside of your book’s front cover.*