Cathy A.
Cathy A.

Compare and Contrast Essay Outline - Step by Step Guide

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Published on: Mar 1, 2020

Last updated on: Jan 3, 2023

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Compare and contrast essay is an exciting type of essay writing. It allows a writer to make an analysis between two subjects or topics and draw a conclusion. A well written essay also has a strong outline.

Has your teacher assigned you a task where you have to compare your two favorite movies? This blog can help you create a well-structured outline for your compare and contrast essay.

High school and middle school students often get to write such essays. It helps to polish their analytical skills and critical thinking skills.

Get ready to write an effective outline for your essay and impress your teacher. Writing a compare and contrast essay can be a technical task to do as there are so many points of comparison that a writer might get confused.

Also, an essay needs to be in an organized manner. When it comes to a compare and contrast essay, everything must flow and relate to each other.

Many techniques can help you to keep your essay organized. However, one of the most important things to keep an essay organized by items in the essay is by composing an outline.

An essay outline has an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. It might sound simple, but it is a challenging task to do.

Compare and Contrast Essay Outline

An outline for a compare and contrast essay is essential. It makes the writing process way more manageable. Also, it makes the content readable and understandable for the reader.

Creating an outline will allow you to structure your essay and interlink all the elements correctly.

A compare and contrast essay falls into the category of some important essays. The readers rely on your analysis to make a decision. Thus, you have no chance to add false information and confuse readers.

Creating an outline for your compare and contrast essay will benefit you in the following ways:

  • It will make your composition look professional.
  • It will give a systematic order to the content you write.
  • An outline guides a reader through the essay.
  • Creating an outline saves time while start writing an essay.
  • It gives you a better understanding of the number of aspects.
  • A compare and contrast essay outline will help you organize all the points of comparison properly in your essay.

How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay Outline?

To write a good compare and contrast essay, make sure that you have explored the similarities and differences in an orderly manner. You might use a Venn diagram or simple lists to do that.

Once you have collected the raw data, the next step is to arrange it in the form of an essay. For this purpose, you need an outline. By creating an outline, you will ensure that you do not miss out on any important point.

A compare and contrast essay outline has the following elements.

  1. Introduction
  2. Body paragraphs
  3. Conclusion

These are the elements that are present in the outline for nearly all types of essays. The method of writing an introductory part of an essay is the same for all essay types.

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Compare and Contrast Essay Introduction

The introduction of a compare and contrast essay must be written to let the reader know about the overall theme of the essay. Also, the reader should know the reason why you chose this topic.

To convey all this information, the writer needs to write the introduction properly. A strong and appropriate introduction of a compare and contrast essay has the following parts:

  1. A Hook Statement

    It is a statement with which we start our compare and contrast essay. We can use a famous quotation, an interesting fact, or a question as a hook for our essay.

    A hook statement helps to seek the reader’s attention and convince the reader to read the complete essay.

  2. Background Information

    Providing background information for a compare and contrast essay topic leaves a good impression on the reader. In the background information, you must mention the purpose of why you have chosen this particular topic for the essay.

    In the background information, also let your readers know what scope do you expect from this essay.

  3. Thesis Statement

    A thesis statement is the essence of an entire essay. It is a sentence or two that explains the whole theme and topic of your essay.

    The thesis statement is stated at the end of the introduction before the body paragraphs start. Ensure that the thesis statement you write is arguable, meaningful, and strong enough to support your essay.

    Make sure that you end the introduction with good transition words. It helps to show a logical connection with the rest of the essay’s body.

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Compare And Contrast Essay Body

Writing any type of essay is the same, but not for a compare and contrast essay. To write the body of a compare and contrast essay, there are two standard methods.

It might use a 5 paragraph essay format, but the content in the body paragraphs is different. Though, the body paragraph, in any case, starts with a topic sentence.

Both methods are significant, and it depends on the writer in which way they want to go. The two methods for writing the body of a compare and contrast essay are discussed below.

  1. Point By Point Method for Compare and Contrast Essay Outline

    The point-by-point arrangement is usually followed when a comparison essay of longer length is expected to be written. It has the following structure.

    • Body Paragraph 1:
    • Analysis of 1st feature
    1. Object A (what is the significance of feature 1 in A?)
    2. Object B (what is the significance of feature 1 in B?)
    • Body Paragraph 2:
    • Analysis of feature 2
    1. A (what is the significance of feature 2 in A?)
    2. B (what is the significance of feature 2 in B?)
    • Body Paragraph 3:
    • Analysis of feature 3
    1. A (what is the significance of feature 3 in A?)
    2. B (what is the significance of feature 3 in B?)
    • Conclusion

    By the structure of the point-by-point outline, you might have got an idea of how things work in this pattern. This pattern allows us to analyze the features of each subject one by one. In this pattern, we proceed with the features of both the subject’s side by side.

    This pattern is relatively easier than the other method.

  2. Block Method for Compare And Contrast Essay Outline

    An outline is created using the block method when a writer has to write a short compare and contrast essay. In this method, the features of both subjects are explained separately.

    Following is the format for creating an outline using the block method.

    Paragraph 1 (discusses Object A)

    1. Feature 1
    2. Feature 2
    3. Feature 3

    Paragraph 2: (discusses Object B)

    1. Feature 1
    2. Feature 2
    3. Feature 3

    Conclusion

    The block pattern is quite easy to follow. Also, it is easier for the reader to understand a comparison essay written by this method.

Compare and Contrast Essay Conclusion

Once you are done writing the introduction and body paragraphs in the outline, it's time to draw a conclusion.

A good conclusion is neither too long nor too short. Usually, the conclusion comprises six sentences at maximum. In these sentences, you are supposed to provide a summary of all the main points of comparison you have discussed in your essay.

The conclusion includes a reiteration of the thesis statement in a more effective way. Make sure that the content you add in conclusion is directly referring to the rest of the essay.

Add a small sentient to evaluate the significant points and give a good concluding statement at the end.

Compare and Contrast Essay Outline Examples

Examples can help you understand the concept of the essay outline in a better way. Here are some well-written examples and compare and contrast essay outline sample for your help. Use them as a guide to create a good outline.

Such an essay is assigned to the students of primary schools as well. It helps them to enhance their analytical skills and improve essay writing. Are you looking for a compare and contrast essay outline - 4th grade? Or even a cats and dogs compare and contrast essay outline, you will find suitable outlines here:

Half of the job is done once the outline for an essay is created. It is not easy for most of us and this is why most of the students find shortcuts but end up getting bad grades.

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At CollegeEssay.org, we provide you with the best writing services at the most reasonable prices.

We have a team of professional writers who will take care of your compare and contrast papers and any other research paper. Get in touch with our customer support team and let us wipe away all your stress.

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FAQs

How do you structure a compare and contrast essay?

Here are two ways that will help you to structure a compare and contrast essay. 

  • Point-by-point pattern 
  • Block pattern 
Cathy A.

WRITTEN BY

Cathy A. (Literature, Marketing)

For more than five years now, Cathy has been one of our most hardworking authors on the platform. With a Masters degree in mass communication, she knows the ins and outs of professional writing. Clients often leave her glowing reviews for being an amazing writer who takes her work very seriously.

For more than five years now, Cathy has been one of our most hardworking authors on the platform. With a Masters degree in mass communication, she knows the ins and outs of professional writing. Clients often leave her glowing reviews for being an amazing writer who takes her work very seriously.

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