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Structure,
Sound & Sense:
Essay Writing:
Compare and Contrast
Essay
Task 4: Body
Writing the body of your
essay can be a formidable task, but it doesn’t have to be if
you let the tools you’ve amassed—your topic, points of
comparison, and your outline—do the heavy lifting for you.
1. With your outline as a
guide, turn each of your points of comparison into a
paragraph or two.
2. Once you’ve fleshed
out the bones of your essay, go back and connect the
paragraphs into a cohesive narrative. Be sure to use strong
topic sentences as transitions between the paragraphs. Your
goal is to make clear to the reader why you presented the
information in the order you did. Tip: Be sure to cite
any information you borrowed from another author—that is,
any fact or opinion that is not your own.
3. Read through your
essay with a critical eye. Does each topic sentence clearly
summarize the point of the paragraph? Does the sequence of
your paragraphs work?
4. If time permits, take
a break. Put your essay out of sight for a day or two and
forget about it. This way your eye and your perspective will
be fresh when you next review the essay.
Task 5: Introduction
and conclusion
Your essay’s introduction
and conclusion reinforce the key points you make in your
paper.
1. Use your introduction
to state what you will compare and contrast and to identify
the points of comparison. Your introduction should also grab
the reader’s attention and make them want to read on.
Including a surprising fact or anecdote about your topic can
help grab attention.
2. Use your conclusion to
summarize the key similarities and differences. Don’t
restate your findings word for word—your goal is to provide
a sense of closure and to leave the reader with a final
perspective on your topic.
Task 6: Bibliography
If you did any research
for your compare and contrast essay, you’ll need to include
a bibliography. A bibliography is a list of the sources you
used in your research. It is usually included as a separate
page or pages at the end of your essay and titled
“Bibliography,” “References,” or “Works Cited.”
1. Gather all the source
information you jotted down when you were taking notes.
2. Assemble your sources
into a single list, alphabetized by author’s last name.
Sources that don't have authors (encyclopedia articles, for
example) should be alphabetized by title.
3. Properly format each
item in your source list according to an accepted
bibliographic style. One common bibliographic style is
provided below, but there are many acceptable styles for
bibliographies. Be sure to use the format that your teacher
specified.
Common Bibliographic
Style
This bibliographic style follows the MLA Handbook for
Writers of Research Papers, 5th edition, written by
Joseph Gibaldi and published in 1999 in New York by the
Modern Language Association of America.
Book
Author Last Name, Author First Name. Book Title.
Publication Location: Publisher, Publication Year.
Encyclopedia article
"Article Title," Encyclopedia Name. Edition Year
ed.
Newspaper, magazine, or journal article
Author Last Name, Author First Name. "Article Title"
Publication Title Publication Date: page numbers.
Book review
Reviewer Last Name, Reviewer First Name. Rev. of Book
Title by Book Author First and Last Name. Publication
Location: Publisher, Publication Year.
Film, movie
Movie Title. Dir. Director First and Last Name. Studio
or Distributor, Movie Release Date.
Internet source
Author Last Name, Author First Name. "Article or Page
Title." Site Name. Institution or organization
affiliated with the site. <URL>.
Task 7: Final draft
Put the final touches on
your essay. Don’t be tempted to skip these steps—nothing
detracts from a good essay more than grammar or spelling
errors.
1. Run a spell check on
your essay and fix any problems.
2. Read your essay from
start to finish, the same way your teacher will. Fix any
grammar mistakes or other errors you find.
3. Once you’re satisfied
that your essay represents your best effort, get a second
opinion. Ask a parent or other trusted person to read your
essay critically and to give you feedback. Make any changes
you think necessary.
4. Read the essay one
last time to make sure you didn’t introduce any new errors.
5. Finally … hand in your
essay. Congratulations!
Source:
Encarta Encyclopedia 2004
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