C/C Structure

 This is given to help you, not meant to be a blueprint. You are free to come up with your own comparisons and contrasts for your topic

Compare and contrast 2 articles on the same topic.
First establish the basis for comparison--perhaps you will discuss headlines, length, and point of view
Next, consider differences between the two magazines or newspapers on the topic
Two articles on the same topic both have headlines, are written to a length determined by the paper/website/magazine, and represent a particular point of view:
Headlines                  Length             Point of View                   
--#1                            -- #1                 -- #1
--#2                            -- #2                 --#2

Compare and contrast children's books on the same topic--one from the past, and one in the present; first, establish basis for comparison, then differences
Both books contain graphics, information and present characters, which involves race/gender/nationality
Graphics                  Accuracy of Information               Race/Gender/Nationality
--#1                            -- #1                                             -- #1
--#2                            -- #2                                              --#2

Compare and contrast local and world news broadcasts. First, establish basis for comparison; next, consider their differences:
Both newscasts contain: news, features, weather
News                                                      Features                                      Weather
--local news/                                        --local                                      --local
immediate surroundings              
--world: national/world                       -- world                                    --world

************************************************************************



Comparison of two articles—websites, magazines, newspapers-- on the same topic

Basis of comparison--as seen above: --headlines--length--point of view

STRUCTURE of the C/C

1^st paragraph: gets readers’ attention; provide background necessary; and states the common features in both: headlines, length, point of view) and presents THESIS STATEMENT

Body of paper: contrast

Conclusion: conclusion

HOW to structure a comparison/contrast essay?

Headlines                                                       Article #1

--News Source #1                                          --headlines

--News Source #2                                          --length

                                                                       --point of view

Length

--News Source #1              OR               Article #2

--News Source #2                                         --headlines

                                                                      --length

Point of View                                                --point of view

--News Source #1

--News Source #2

TOPIC: Children’s Books: Past and Present on the Subject of   ??

Graphics                                                               Book #1

--Bk 1                                                                  --graphics

--Bk 2                                                                 --accuracy of information

 Accuracy of Information       OR                 --race/gender/nationality

--Bk1

--Bk2                                                                 Book #2

                                                                          --graphics

Race/Gender/Nationality                                     --accuracy of information

--Bk 1                                                                --race/gender/nationality

--Bk 2

AN EXAMPLE--by the way--NO! You may not compare USA Today and Huffington Post, online since they are my working examples. You may use ONE of them and compare it to another online news source, but do not compare those two.

THESIS STATEMENT: Do NOT state the obvious; do NOT write that between the two elements you have similarities and differences. 

DO NOT WRITE: Most of my information comes from USA Today and Huffington Post, both found online; however, there are many similarities and differences between news articles in USA Today and Huffington Post.

Better:  Most of my information comes from USA Today and the Huffington Post, both found online. While USA Today often has the eye-catching headlines, Huffington Post’s articles seem to provide more in-depth reporting. Both USA Today and Huffington Post seem to present news articles in a fair, intelligent, and unbiased manner.

First section of the body of the paper will focus on: – USA TODAY

Recent headlines in UT have read: 2 (at least) examples – explain what those headlines illustrate—that UT has bold, provocative headlines.

On next section – UT – the length of most USA T. articles is relatively short; for example, in a recent issue ________ received only a few brief paragraphs of coverage;

UT is geared to people who have limited time to explore national news events.

UT’s journalists are educated, and present the new in an unbiased manner—give an example--or TWO