compare and contrast essay in spanish

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

Spanish Comparisons: How to Compare and Contrast with Ease, Plus Practice Tips

Should you move to Spain or Argentina?

Would you rather eat churros and chocolate or dulce de leche ice cream?

You have to know how to make comparisons in Spanish to make decisions.

So in this blog post, you’ll learn the nine Spanish comparative phrases and how to make comparisons correctly .

Additionally, you’ll explore ways to get tons of Spanish comparisons practice.

How to Use Spanish Comparatives of Inequality

• Más/menos + adjective + que
• Más/menos + adverb + que 
• Más/menos + noun + que

Más/menos + de

How to use superlatives in spanish, el/la/lo + más/menos, el/la + noun + más/menos + adjective + de.

• El/la + mejor/peor

How to Use Spanish Comparisons of Equality

Tan + adjective/adverb + como, tanto + noun + como, other expressions to make comparisons in spanish, how to get solid spanish comparisons practice, and one more thing….

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

M ás/menos + adjective + que

Meaning: more/less than

This phrase is used when you want to say one thing is more or less than another.

The first way you can use this formula is with adjectives. This means “someone is more/less (adjective) than someone else.”

Jose es más  alto  que Ana. (Jose is taller than Ana.)

  Argentina es más grande que España. (Argentina is bigger than Spain.)

Más/menos + adverb + que  

Meaning: “more/less than [action]”

This phrase is used to describe differences in how something is done.

This phrase needs the help of an adverb, which is a word that ends in -mente in Spanish (or,  -ly in English).

  Ella escribe más lenta mente que nosotros. (She writes slower than we do.)

  Yo hablo más rápida mente que Juan. (I talk faster than Juan.)

  Jorge canta más ruidosa mente que yo. (Jorge sings louder than me).

It’s also important to note that just like in English, some adverbs in Spanish have an irregular form in spoken language.

  Corro rápidamente  →   Corro rápido (I run fast)

  Camino lentamente  →   Camino lento (I walk slow)

Bailas increíblemente  →   Bailas increíble (You’re a great dancer/You dance great)

Más/menos + noun +  que

Meaning: “more/less of something than” 

This phrase is used to express that someone has more of something than someone else.

  Juan tiene más autos que Josefina. (Juan has more cars than Josefina.)

  Tengo menos  libros  que Juan. (I have fewer books than Juan.)

Meaning: “more/less than [number]”

This phrase is used to describe the amount of something.

  Esa camisa cuesta  más de $20. (That shirt costs more than $20.)

  Quedan menos de diez galletas. (There are fewer than 10 cookies left.)

The exception to this is when you’re saying you don’t have a certain number of something as a negative. In this situation, you use que to essentially mean “no more than [number].”

  No tengo más que diez dólares.  (I only have 10 dollars. / I have no more than 10 dollars.)

  Ella no tiene más que un hijo.   (She only has one son. / She has no more than one son.)

Meaning: “the most/the least”

This phrase describes something that is the most or the least. 

Spanish uses the pronouns lo  and  la when you’re not using the noun directly. So el/la/lo más means “the most” and el/la/lo menos means “the least.”

  Esta frase es  la más útil de todas.  (This sentence is the most helpful of all.)

  Él es el   menos  alborotador de la clase.  (He’s the least disruptive in the class.)

  Lo más gracioso de la película fue la canción del villano. (The funniest [part] of the movie was the villain’s song.)

This phrase describes something or someone that is the most or least of something.

When you’re not replacing the noun, you can use the regular definite articles  el and  la  followed by  más/menos .

By adding  de , it’s like saying “the most” or “the least”  of something .

  Él es el chico más lindo de la escuela. (He is the best-looking boy in school.)

  Ella es la jugadora más rápida del equipo. (She is the fastest player on the team.)

El/la +  mejor/peor

Meaning: “the best/the worst”

This phrase is used to describe someone or something that is the best or worst.

Two extremely useful superlatives you’ll definitely need are:

el/la mejor; los/las mejores (pl.) — the best

el/la peor; los/las peores (pl.) — the worst

  De todos estos libros, este es el mejor. (Of all these books, this is the best [one].)

  Gracias, Karen, eres la mejor. (Thanks, Karen, you’re the best [one].)

Sometimes, you’ll see the article  lo used before  mejor or  peor .

This is because  lo is used with uncountable nouns to mean “the best/worst thing ,” while el/la have the same function, but for countable nouns, as in “the best/worst one .”

  Comer cuando uno tiene hambre es lo mejor.     (Eating when you’re hungry is the best [thing]).

  La lluvia es lo peor.   (The rain is the worst [thing]).

As you can see, you can’t count rain or eating, which is why we have to use  lo instead of  el or  la .

Not sure who’s better looking? Are those two restaurants more or less the same? You might want to use comparisons of equality.

Meaning: “as/as”

This phrase is used to describe the equality of two things (or people).

  Ella es tan linda como su hermana. (She is as beautiful as her sister.)

  Juan es tan rico como Josefina. (Juan is just as rich as Josefina.)

  El tiempo está  tan  lluvioso hoy  como  ayer.  (The weather is as rainy today as yesterday.)

  No puedo comer tan rápido como tú. (I can’t eat as fast as you.)

Meaning: “as much as”

Use this phrase to say two things are equal.

The only tricky thing to remember here is to make sure that tanto/a agrees with your noun, so it needs to be either masculine or feminine, and singular or plural.

  Josefina tiene tantos libros como Juan. (Josefina has as many books as Juan).

  Hay  tanta  lluvia hoy  como ayer.  (There is as much rain today as yesterday.)

  Elisa comió  tantas  hamburguesas  como  Luis.  (Elisa ate as many hamburgers as Luis.)

For verbs, you don’t need to worry about making anything agree. You can just use verb + tanto + como.

  Yo entiendo tanto como ella. (I understand as much as she does.)

Other ways to make comparisons of inequality are to use various descriptive phrases.

  Son muy differentes (They are very different)

  Son opuestos (They are the opposite)

  No se los puede comparar (They can’t be compared)

To say things are the same and avoid all the tanto  malarkey, you can simply say:

  Son iguales   (They’re the same)

  Son lo mismo (They’re the same)

  Son más o menos lo mismo (They’re more or less the same)

Of course, using these last few expressions won’t give you the chance to show off your Spanish, but they may be useful to end a particularly tiresome debate about which Netflix series is better, which restaurant serves the best type of fries or which flavor of candy is the tastiest.

• Press “play” on fun videos. Watching TV and seeking out content on  YouTube  are great ways of picking up comparisons. Watching with the subtitles off is a great additional challenge because you’ll need to pay close attention and you can hone your  listening skills  at the same time.
• Read like you mean it. Reading in Spanish gets a lot of press as a way to expand vocabulary, but it’s also great for learning grammar—including comparisons. Regardless of whether or not you’re already reading Spanish regularly, the next time you pick up a Spanish book, you can use it to learn about making comparisons.
• Listen to popular music. Find a few songs that use comparisons and start learning the lyrics. Spend some quality time listening to songs in Spanish—whether it’s on your car  radio or via streaming—and if you hear a comparison, go ahead and look up the lyrics. Try committing the verse to memory or the whole song if you want to.
• Find fresh ways to compare daily. Once you’ve heard, read and sung enough comparisons to get the hang of them,  try writing and then rewriting some comparisons of your own.

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month)

Try FluentU for FREE!

• Take online quizzes. Many sites offer practice quizzes for Spanish comparisons, such as this one from SpanishDict , this comparisons of inequality quiz and this comparisons of equality quiz from StudySpanish.com.

So should you move to Argentina or Spain?

Well, we couldn’t possibly say—though we can tell you what the differences are between the Spanish in both countries.

Now, you can weigh the pros and cons of the two countries—along with anything else you want to compare—on your own.

If you've made it this far that means you probably enjoy learning Spanish with engaging material and will then love FluentU .

Other sites use scripted content. FluentU uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the Spanish language and culture over time. You’ll learn Spanish as it’s actually spoken by real people.

FluentU has a wide variety of videos, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native videos within reach with interactive transcripts. You can tap on any word to look it up instantly. Every definition has examples that have been written to help you understand how the word is used. If you see an interesting word you don’t know, you can add it to a vocab list.

Review a complete interactive transcript under the Dialogue tab, and find words and phrases listed under Vocab .

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU’s robust learning engine. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you’re on.

The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you’re learning, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. Every learner has a truly personalized experience, even if they’re learning with the same video.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

Enter your e-mail address to get your free PDF!

We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe

• Books / Audiobooks
• Learning Method
• Spanish Culture
• Spanish Grammar
• Spanish Travel
• Spanish Vocabulary and Expressions
• Study Guide

A Simple Guide to Making Comparisons in Spanish

0  Comments

BY Annabel Beilby

September 5, 2018

Follow Us Now

When learning a new language, it’s quite important to learn how to compare things. In this blog article, we’ll look at Spanish comparatives and superlatives, learn about making comparisons in Spanish, and also some handy phrases that can be slipped into conversation or writing!

A comparative compares two things, while a superlative describes something to the highest possible degree. For example:

Comparatives

Let’s start with comparatives—those are the words which often end in –er in English. We need to know how to say that A is ‘more + adjective’ or ‘less + adjective’ than B. The formula is pretty simple. The words for ‘more’ and ‘less’ are these:

All you have to do is stick más or menos before the adjective (that’s the word which describes a noun), then add que , meaning ‘than.’

 So that's:  más   or  menos + adjective + que

Let’s look at some examples:

This formula also works for adverbs (words which describe verbs), as you can see here:

Superlatives

Superlatives allow us to say that something is ‘the most + adjective’ or ‘the least + adjective.’ All you have to do is add el / la / los / las before más or menos . You choose whichever one matches the noun, and remember to make sure the adjective also agrees with the noun.

Some examples will make it clearer.

Top tip: to make something plural, you’ll need to add –s or –es .

As usual, you won’t get away with learning Spanish without learning exceptions to the rules! There aren’t too many to learn, but they are really common, so it’s worth taking time to practice them.

Don’t forget, we have these irregularities in English, too! You wouldn’t describe something as ‘gooder’ or ‘badder’ than something else, you’d say ‘better’ or ‘worse.’ The same kinds of words are irregular in Spanish.

*As well as adjectives, you may want to use comparatives and superlatives with adverbs. It’s the difference between “you did a  good  job” and “you did the job  well .”

Más de/Menos de

So far we’ve looked at más and menos with que . There are some occasions when you’ll need to use más de or menos de . This is for when you’re using numbers or quantities.

Phrases that use comparatives

There are several phrases that are super useful to know, and they all involve some form of comparison. Let’s take a look:

*This is legit how Spanish speakers write ‘haha,’ which makes sense, because the Spanish ‘ j ’ sound is quite like the English ‘h’ sound! Jajaja.

What ~better~ way to finish off than to have a little practice?! Use the guide above to help you translate the following sentences from Spanish into English. If you’re feeling daring, try and translate the English phrases into Spanish, too!

In case you need it, this glossary has some of the words used in the context of the quiz!

1.  Hay más adultos* que niños.

Click to reveal the answer

There are more adults than children.

*Note that we can use comparatives with nouns, too!

2.  Tengo menos dinero que tú.

I have less money than you.

3. Carolina baila más hermosamente que Juana.

Carolina dances more beautifully than Juana.

4.  Salgo menos frecuentemente que mi gemelo.

I go out less frequently than my twin.

5. Clara es la más valiente.

Clara is the bravest.

6. Miguel es el menos egoísta.

Miguel is the least selfish.

7. Soy una persona buena, pero mi marido es mejor.

I am a good person, but my husband is better.

8. Ayer fue un día malo. Hoy fue peor.

Yesterday was a bad day. Today was worse.

9. Yo canto mejor que ella.

I sing better than her.

10. Mi hermano es mayor que yo.

My brother is older than me.

11. Más que nada, quiero verte.

More than anything else, I want to see you.

12. Vi más de 150 coches.

I saw more than 150 cars.

13. Juanca es menor que yo.

Juanca is younger than me.

14. Eres tan terco que tu papá.

You’re as stubborn as your dad.

15. Es cada vez más difícil.

It gets more and more difficult.

16. La casa está más o menos lista.

The house is more or less ready.

17. ¡Qué examen más difícil!

What a difficult exam!

BONUS QUESTIONS:

18.  Pedro dances more often than Laura.

Pedro baila más frecuentemente que Laura.

19.  I want to spend as much as possible.

Click to reveal the correct answer

Quiero gastar lo más posible.

20.  Cristina is more important than him.

Cristina es más importante que él.

I understand Spanish better.

Entiendo mejor el español.

Well done for getting through the quiz; there were some tough ones in there!

Hopefully this has given you a solid basis for making comparisons in Spanish. Remember to make a daily learning habit—practice a little every day, and you should see your Spanish going de bien en mejor!

About the author 

Annabel Beilby

Annabel is a language-enthusiast from the UK. She studied Spanish and French at the University of Southampton (with an Erasmus study year in Madrid!) and recently graduated. She has interests across the Spanish-speaking world, and is a fan of language in general.

Session expired

Please log in again. The login page will open in a new tab. After logging in you can close it and return to this page.

Comparatives & Superlatives in Spanish: The Ultimate Guide

One of the most common ways to describe someone or something in Spanish is to compare it against something similar. If you think about it, people compare things against each other on a daily basis. As a result, you should take the time to master Spanish superlatives and comparatives. 

Comparisons and superlative adjectives are an important part of learning Spanish. For that reason, in this guide, you’ll find essential information about what these structures are, when to use them and how to form them. Here is a quick overview of the topics we’ll cover:

• Formulas for Spanish comparatives

Irregular comparatives

• Creating superlatives structures
• Irregular superlative adjectives

You’ll know how and when to use both comparatives and superlatives structures in Spanish by the end of it. 

What Are Spanish Comparatives and When to Use Them?

Comparatives in Spanish are structures that allow people to compare and contrast someone or something’s characteristics against others. In other words, comparatives express how similar or different these things are from each other. 

For instance:

Mi perro es tan lindo como el tuyo.  My dog is as cute as yours. 

Ruth es más alta que Ben.  Ruth is taller than Ben. 

If you check these previous examples, you’ll notice that we’re comparing and contrasting characteristics that the two subjects share. In example #1, the characteristic is “cute”, and we’ve determined that both dogs are equally cute . However, if you compare Ruth against Ben, you’ll realize that they don’t share the same height. 

As you can see from these examples, comparatives in Spanish are classified into:

• Comparisons of equality express that things being compared have the same characteristics. 
• Comparisons of inequality imply that the objects being compared don’t have the same attributes. 

Many new learners think that Spanish comparatives are only limited to describing objects and people. However, you can also make comparisons between actions and amounts. Check these examples: 

Elvira come más rápido que Leo.  Elvira eats faster than Leo. 

Esta computadora cuesta menos de $20,000 pesos.  This computer costs less than $20,000 pesos. 

Forming Spanish comparatives

To build regular comparatives in Spanish, you must always use certain elements. The formulas you need to form comparatives will vary depending on whether you’re making a comparison of equality or inequality. 

Comparisons of equality in Spanish

As mentioned before, you use comparisons of equality when you’re expressing that two subjects have the same characteristics or perform an action in the same way. To form this type of Spanish comparative, you should use one of the following comparative structures:

… tan + [adjective/adverb] + como… 

• … igual + de + [adjective/adverb] + que…

Both of these structures can be translated as “equally” or “as [adjective/adverb] as”. As a rule of thumb, every time that you’re comparing people or things (or nouns for grammar freaks), you must use the Spanish verb ‘ser’ . 

Here are some examples of how to build comparatives sentences in Spanish:

[Subject 1] + [‘ser’ conjugated] + tan + [adj / adv] + como + [subject 2]

Clive no es tan inteligente como ustedes.  Clive is not as intelligent as you guys. 

Tus flores son tan bonitas como las mías.  Your flowers are as pretty as mine. 

[Subject 1] + [‘ser’ conjugated] + igual de + [adj/adv] + que + (subject 2)

Tu carro es igual de rápido que el mío.  Your car is as fast as mine. 

Leslie es igual de amable que su mamá.  Leslie is as nice as her mom. 

Take Note: Tan always precedes an adjective or adverbs. However, this word will change to tanto if a noun immediately follows it . This type of structure compares the quantity of a noun against another. ‘Tanto’ agrees in gender and number with the noun. 

Tengo tanto dinero como tú.  I have as much money as you. 

Oliver no come tantos tacos como Mateo.  Oliver doesn’t eat as many tacos as Mateo. 

Comparing actions

On the other hand, if you want to compare how two people perform an action , you’ll change ‘ ser’ for any verb you need. Aside from this, the structure remains the same:

[Subject 1] + [verb conjugated] + [comparative structure] + [subject 2]

Ellie corre igual de lento que tú.  Ellie runs as slow as you. 

Sally habla tan rápido como Tobey.  Sally speaks as fast as Tobey. 

Mi mamá cocina tan rico como mi abuela.  My mom’s cooking is as delicious as my grandma’s. 

If you want to take your Spanish to the next level, there is also another structure that you can use when comparing actions. In this case, you won’t need to use adjectives or adverbs because the comparison is only focused on the activity being done rather than how it was performed. 

[Subject 1] + [verb conjugated] + tanto como + [subject 2]

El camión se tarda tanto como el tren The truck takes as long to arrive as the train. 

Tu hermano no come tanto como el mío.   Your brother doesn’t eat as much as mine. 

Te quiero tanto como tú a mí.  I love you as much as you love me. 

Comparatives of inequality  

As established at the beginning of this guide to comparatives in Spanish, comparisons of inequality are used to explain that two subjects don’t have the same level of a particular attribute. In fact, comparisons of inequality indicate that an object has more or less of a given characteristic than the other. 

The formulas to build comparatives of inequality in Spanish are:

… más + [adjective/adverb] + que… 

… menos + [adjective/adverb] + que… 

These structures are translated as more than and less than, respectively. As you already know, you can use comparatives in Spanish to contrast people, things, and activities. Let’s start with some simple examples:

[Subject 1] + [‘ser’ conjugated] + más/menos + [adj/adv] + que + [subject 2]

Lucía era más inteligente que Paco.  Lucia was more intelligent than Paco. 

Mi celular es menos resistente que el tuyo.  My phone is less resistant than yours. 

La pizza es más cara que la pasta.  The pizza is more expensive than the pasta.

If you pay attention to these examples, you’ll notice that they express that one of the subjects has a higher or lower degree of the characteristic described. For instance, in example #1 that attribute is intelligence, and we know that Lucía had a higher level of that attribute than Paco. 

Take Note: Depending on the adjective you use, the English translation for comparatives of inequality could be translated as more than, or you’ll simply add the ‘er’ ending to the adjective. 

Chuck es más alto que Tony.  Chuck is tall er than Tony. 

Comparing Actions or Activities

Remember that if you’re describing activities, you’ll need to use verbs other than ‘ser’. Additionally, in some cases, the adverb might not be necessary since you may not want to provide extra information on how the action was performed. 

  [Subject 1] + [verb conjugated] + más/menos + (adverb) + que + [subject 2] 

Zoe preparó su maleta más rápido que todos.  Zoe prepared her bag faster than everyone else. 

Estos audífonos cuestan menos que los tuyos.  These earphones cost less than yours. 

When it comes to inequality comparatives , some adjectives cannot follow the same pattern we’ve learned so far. These are irregular comparatives that you need to memorize. Luckily, there are just 4 of them, and you’ll only use them when building structures with ‘más que’ .

The four irregular comparative forms in Spanish are:

Está galleta sabe más mal que la anterior.  This cookie tastes worse than the previous one. 

Está galleta sabe peor que la anterior.  This cookie tastes worse than the previous one. 

Take Note: Even though it’s grammatically incorrect, Spanish speakers use the adjectives grande and pequeño with the structure ‘más qué’ in informal conversations. 

Spanish Superlatives: Definition, Types and Uses

Spanish superlatives are closely related to comparative sentences since they describe the level of an attribute that a person, activity, or thing has. However, Spanish superlatives are words or structures that help you express that a subject is at the top or at the bottom of a group. 

In simple words, you use superlatives in Spanish to: 

• Express that a subject inside a group has outstanding characteristics that differentiate him from his peers. 
• Emphasize that a subject has the highest level of a certain quality. 

Check these sentences:

Molly habla rapid ísimo .  Molly speaks super fast . 

Antonio es el más guapo del salón. Antonio is the most handsome in the room. 

El chico nuevo es buen ísima onda.  The new guy is very cool . 

Compare example #2 against instance #3. In example #2, Antonio is being compared to the other men inside of that room , and he turns out to be the most handsome one. However, in example #3, the new guy is not being compared to anyone. We’re just emphasizing the fact that he’s very cool. 

Based on this information, there are two types of superlatives in Spanish. 

• Absolute superlative
• Relative superlative 

Examples #1 and 3 is an illustration of absolute superlatives in Spanish. This means that the superlativo absoluto doesn’t rely on a comparison. On the other hand, relative superlatives are a comparison to determine what subject has the most outstanding characteristics of that group. 

How to form superlatives in Spanish?

Like comparatives, Spanish superlatives use different formulas depending on the message you want to convey. Below are the structures that you need to know for each case: 

Forming Absolute Superlatives

As mentioned above, absolute superlatives express and emphasize that a subject has a remarkable or extraordinary characteristic. Because of this, Spanish absolute superlatives don’t require you to compare one object with another. 

The most common way to form this type of superlative is to change the adjective or adverb by adding the ending ‘-ísimo’ or its feminine form ‘-ísima’. Let’s see some examples:

[Noun] + [verb conjugated] + [adjective/adverb] + ísimo

Espérame, caminas rapid ísimo . Wait for me, you walk extremely fast.

Estos zapatos están barat ísimos . These shoes are super cheap .

La comida de mi mamá es buen ísima . My mom’s food is great .

Take Note: When adding the ‘-ísimo’ ending to an adjective or adverb, there are certain spelling rules that you need to keep in mind. For example, adjectives ending in ‘-co’, ‘-ca’, ‘-ga’ or ‘-go’ change to ‘-qu’ and ‘-gu’, respectively. 

Example #1: Adjective ending with ‘-co’ or -‘ca’ (rico). 

El pastel está riquísimo .  The cake is delicious.

  Example #2: Adjective ending with ‘-go’ or -‘ga’ (larga). 

La película estuvo largu ísima . The movie was very long . 

Forming Relative Superlative

Unlike absolute superlatives in Spanish, relative superlatives actually rely on a comparison . The purpose of this structure is to express that a person or thing inside a group has the most or least outstanding characteristics of all. 

To put it another way, this type of superlative locates the subject either at the bottom or at the top of a group based on a determined quality. In this case, the formulas we use are:

… [definite article] + más + [adjective]

… [definite article] + menos + [adjective] 

Something to notice is that Spanish superlatives are always built with the verb ‘ser’ . You also need to make sure that the adjectives and Spanish definite articles agree in number and gender with the noun. Here are some examples:

[Noun] + [‘ser’ conjugated] + [definite article] + más / menos + [adjective] 

Quiero el pastel más rico que venda. I want the tasti est cake you sell.

Eres la persona más amable que he conocido. You’re the nicest person I’ve ever met.

Sonia y Joselyn son las menos pacientes .  Sonia and Joselyn are the least patient .

In some cases, you might need to mention the group that you’re using for your comparison to make your sentence clearer. Here is how you do this:

[Relative superlative structure] + de + [definite article] + [noun]

 Eres la más divertida de toda la familia . You are the funniest in the whole family .

Celia y Henry son los mejor pagados de la empresa .  Celia and Henry are the highest paid in the company . 

El halcón peregrino es el pájaro más rápido del mundo . The peregrine falcon is the fastest bird in the world . 

Take Note: Notice that, depending on the adjective you use, Spanish superlatives can either be translated as: the most, the least or you’ll simply add the ‘-est’ ending to the adjective you’re working with (e.g. fastest, slowest, etc.). 

Irregular Superlatives in Spanish

Below, you’ll find a table with the irregular superlatives in Spanish:

Ustedes son los mejores amigos que pueda tener. You are the best friends that I can have. 

Estos celulares son los peores del mercado.  These phones are the worst on the market. 

Take Note: Although it’s not grammatically correct, many Spanish speakers use ‘grande’, ‘joven’ and ‘pequeño’ with el más or la más structure. 

Key Points: Comparatives and Superlatives 

Spanish superlatives and comparatives are essential structures that can help you describe people and objects more precisely. As a result, these types of sentences are extremely common in your daily conversations. 

Here are some key points that you should keep in mind when working with these structures:

• Spanish comparatives contrast and describe how different two things are based on a characteristic. 
• There are two types of comparatives : comparison of inequality and comparison of equality. 
•  tan + [adjective/adverb] + como… 
• …más + [adjective/adverb] + que… 
• ……menos + [adjective/adverb] + que… 
• Comparatives in Spanish can be used to compare actions, nouns, and objects. 
• Spanish superlatives express, differentiate, and emphasize the degree of an adjective.
• Absolute superlatives emphasize a remarkable characteristic. It doesn’t compare . 
• Relative superlatives rely on a comparison . They establish who has the most or least outstanding characteristics in relation to a group. 
• Absolute superlatives can describe activities, nouns, and objects. These types of superlatives are formed by adding the ‘-ísimo’ ending to the adjective or adverb. 
• …[definite article] + más + [adjective] 
• …[definite article] + menos + [adjective] 
• When using comparative and superlative sentences, the adjective and articles must agree in gender and number with the noun. 

See? Comparatives and superlatives son facilísimos. Now, you’re ready to start implementing these structures into your conversations. 

Daniela Sanchez

¡Hola! Soy Daniela Sanchez, I've been studying Spanish professionally as well as teaching it in Mexico and online for over 10 years. I’ve taught Spanish to a wide array of foreigners from many backgrounds. Over the years, I've made it my mission to work hard on refining many challenging to understand grammar topics to make my students' learning experiences easier, faster and more enjoyable. Read More About Me

Recent Posts

Verbs Like Gustar in Spanish: Conjugations + Must-Know List

Gustar and verbs like gustar convey the feelings and emotions that the subject provokes on someone or something. Their key differentiator is that they inverse the sentence order. Unlike most...

Muy vs Mucho: Key Differences Explained (+ Examples)

Muy means ‘very’. It intensifies the qualities described by an adjective or another adverb. Mucho is the equivalent of ‘a lot’ or ‘very much’, and it conveys the intensity or degree of an...

Pin It on Pinterest

Comparing and Contrasting

What this handout is about.

This handout will help you first to determine whether a particular assignment is asking for comparison/contrast and then to generate a list of similarities and differences, decide which similarities and differences to focus on, and organize your paper so that it will be clear and effective. It will also explain how you can (and why you should) develop a thesis that goes beyond “Thing A and Thing B are similar in many ways but different in others.”

Introduction

In your career as a student, you’ll encounter many different kinds of writing assignments, each with its own requirements. One of the most common is the comparison/contrast essay, in which you focus on the ways in which certain things or ideas—usually two of them—are similar to (this is the comparison) and/or different from (this is the contrast) one another. By assigning such essays, your instructors are encouraging you to make connections between texts or ideas, engage in critical thinking, and go beyond mere description or summary to generate interesting analysis: when you reflect on similarities and differences, you gain a deeper understanding of the items you are comparing, their relationship to each other, and what is most important about them.

Recognizing comparison/contrast in assignments

Some assignments use words—like compare, contrast, similarities, and differences—that make it easy for you to see that they are asking you to compare and/or contrast. Here are a few hypothetical examples:

• Compare and contrast Frye’s and Bartky’s accounts of oppression.
• Compare WWI to WWII, identifying similarities in the causes, development, and outcomes of the wars.
• Contrast Wordsworth and Coleridge; what are the major differences in their poetry?

Notice that some topics ask only for comparison, others only for contrast, and others for both.

But it’s not always so easy to tell whether an assignment is asking you to include comparison/contrast. And in some cases, comparison/contrast is only part of the essay—you begin by comparing and/or contrasting two or more things and then use what you’ve learned to construct an argument or evaluation. Consider these examples, noticing the language that is used to ask for the comparison/contrast and whether the comparison/contrast is only one part of a larger assignment:

• Choose a particular idea or theme, such as romantic love, death, or nature, and consider how it is treated in two Romantic poems.
• How do the different authors we have studied so far define and describe oppression?
• Compare Frye’s and Bartky’s accounts of oppression. What does each imply about women’s collusion in their own oppression? Which is more accurate?
• In the texts we’ve studied, soldiers who served in different wars offer differing accounts of their experiences and feelings both during and after the fighting. What commonalities are there in these accounts? What factors do you think are responsible for their differences?

You may want to check out our handout on understanding assignments for additional tips.

Using comparison/contrast for all kinds of writing projects

Sometimes you may want to use comparison/contrast techniques in your own pre-writing work to get ideas that you can later use for an argument, even if comparison/contrast isn’t an official requirement for the paper you’re writing. For example, if you wanted to argue that Frye’s account of oppression is better than both de Beauvoir’s and Bartky’s, comparing and contrasting the main arguments of those three authors might help you construct your evaluation—even though the topic may not have asked for comparison/contrast and the lists of similarities and differences you generate may not appear anywhere in the final draft of your paper.

Discovering similarities and differences

Making a Venn diagram or a chart can help you quickly and efficiently compare and contrast two or more things or ideas. To make a Venn diagram, simply draw some overlapping circles, one circle for each item you’re considering. In the central area where they overlap, list the traits the two items have in common. Assign each one of the areas that doesn’t overlap; in those areas, you can list the traits that make the things different. Here’s a very simple example, using two pizza places:

To make a chart, figure out what criteria you want to focus on in comparing the items. Along the left side of the page, list each of the criteria. Across the top, list the names of the items. You should then have a box per item for each criterion; you can fill the boxes in and then survey what you’ve discovered.

Here’s an example, this time using three pizza places:

As you generate points of comparison, consider the purpose and content of the assignment and the focus of the class. What do you think the professor wants you to learn by doing this comparison/contrast? How does it fit with what you have been studying so far and with the other assignments in the course? Are there any clues about what to focus on in the assignment itself?

Here are some general questions about different types of things you might have to compare. These are by no means complete or definitive lists; they’re just here to give you some ideas—you can generate your own questions for these and other types of comparison. You may want to begin by using the questions reporters traditionally ask: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? If you’re talking about objects, you might also consider general properties like size, shape, color, sound, weight, taste, texture, smell, number, duration, and location.

Two historical periods or events

• When did they occur—do you know the date(s) and duration? What happened or changed during each? Why are they significant?
• What kinds of work did people do? What kinds of relationships did they have? What did they value?
• What kinds of governments were there? Who were important people involved?
• What caused events in these periods, and what consequences did they have later on?

Two ideas or theories

• What are they about?
• Did they originate at some particular time?
• Who created them? Who uses or defends them?
• What is the central focus, claim, or goal of each? What conclusions do they offer?
• How are they applied to situations/people/things/etc.?
• Which seems more plausible to you, and why? How broad is their scope?
• What kind of evidence is usually offered for them?

Two pieces of writing or art

• What are their titles? What do they describe or depict?
• What is their tone or mood? What is their form?
• Who created them? When were they created? Why do you think they were created as they were? What themes do they address?
• Do you think one is of higher quality or greater merit than the other(s)—and if so, why?
• For writing: what plot, characterization, setting, theme, tone, and type of narration are used?
• Where are they from? How old are they? What is the gender, race, class, etc. of each?
• What, if anything, are they known for? Do they have any relationship to each other?
• What are they like? What did/do they do? What do they believe? Why are they interesting?
• What stands out most about each of them?

Deciding what to focus on

By now you have probably generated a huge list of similarities and differences—congratulations! Next you must decide which of them are interesting, important, and relevant enough to be included in your paper. Ask yourself these questions:

• What’s relevant to the assignment?
• What’s relevant to the course?
• What’s interesting and informative?
• What matters to the argument you are going to make?
• What’s basic or central (and needs to be mentioned even if obvious)?
• Overall, what’s more important—the similarities or the differences?

Suppose that you are writing a paper comparing two novels. For most literature classes, the fact that they both use Caslon type (a kind of typeface, like the fonts you may use in your writing) is not going to be relevant, nor is the fact that one of them has a few illustrations and the other has none; literature classes are more likely to focus on subjects like characterization, plot, setting, the writer’s style and intentions, language, central themes, and so forth. However, if you were writing a paper for a class on typesetting or on how illustrations are used to enhance novels, the typeface and presence or absence of illustrations might be absolutely critical to include in your final paper.

Sometimes a particular point of comparison or contrast might be relevant but not terribly revealing or interesting. For example, if you are writing a paper about Wordsworth’s “Tintern Abbey” and Coleridge’s “Frost at Midnight,” pointing out that they both have nature as a central theme is relevant (comparisons of poetry often talk about themes) but not terribly interesting; your class has probably already had many discussions about the Romantic poets’ fondness for nature. Talking about the different ways nature is depicted or the different aspects of nature that are emphasized might be more interesting and show a more sophisticated understanding of the poems.

Your thesis

The thesis of your comparison/contrast paper is very important: it can help you create a focused argument and give your reader a road map so they don’t get lost in the sea of points you are about to make. As in any paper, you will want to replace vague reports of your general topic (for example, “This paper will compare and contrast two pizza places,” or “Pepper’s and Amante are similar in some ways and different in others,” or “Pepper’s and Amante are similar in many ways, but they have one major difference”) with something more detailed and specific. For example, you might say, “Pepper’s and Amante have similar prices and ingredients, but their atmospheres and willingness to deliver set them apart.”

Be careful, though—although this thesis is fairly specific and does propose a simple argument (that atmosphere and delivery make the two pizza places different), your instructor will often be looking for a bit more analysis. In this case, the obvious question is “So what? Why should anyone care that Pepper’s and Amante are different in this way?” One might also wonder why the writer chose those two particular pizza places to compare—why not Papa John’s, Dominos, or Pizza Hut? Again, thinking about the context the class provides may help you answer such questions and make a stronger argument. Here’s a revision of the thesis mentioned earlier:

Pepper’s and Amante both offer a greater variety of ingredients than other Chapel Hill/Carrboro pizza places (and than any of the national chains), but the funky, lively atmosphere at Pepper’s makes it a better place to give visiting friends and family a taste of local culture.

You may find our handout on constructing thesis statements useful at this stage.

Organizing your paper

There are many different ways to organize a comparison/contrast essay. Here are two:

Subject-by-subject

Begin by saying everything you have to say about the first subject you are discussing, then move on and make all the points you want to make about the second subject (and after that, the third, and so on, if you’re comparing/contrasting more than two things). If the paper is short, you might be able to fit all of your points about each item into a single paragraph, but it’s more likely that you’d have several paragraphs per item. Using our pizza place comparison/contrast as an example, after the introduction, you might have a paragraph about the ingredients available at Pepper’s, a paragraph about its location, and a paragraph about its ambience. Then you’d have three similar paragraphs about Amante, followed by your conclusion.

The danger of this subject-by-subject organization is that your paper will simply be a list of points: a certain number of points (in my example, three) about one subject, then a certain number of points about another. This is usually not what college instructors are looking for in a paper—generally they want you to compare or contrast two or more things very directly, rather than just listing the traits the things have and leaving it up to the reader to reflect on how those traits are similar or different and why those similarities or differences matter. Thus, if you use the subject-by-subject form, you will probably want to have a very strong, analytical thesis and at least one body paragraph that ties all of your different points together.

A subject-by-subject structure can be a logical choice if you are writing what is sometimes called a “lens” comparison, in which you use one subject or item (which isn’t really your main topic) to better understand another item (which is). For example, you might be asked to compare a poem you’ve already covered thoroughly in class with one you are reading on your own. It might make sense to give a brief summary of your main ideas about the first poem (this would be your first subject, the “lens”), and then spend most of your paper discussing how those points are similar to or different from your ideas about the second.

Point-by-point

Rather than addressing things one subject at a time, you may wish to talk about one point of comparison at a time. There are two main ways this might play out, depending on how much you have to say about each of the things you are comparing. If you have just a little, you might, in a single paragraph, discuss how a certain point of comparison/contrast relates to all the items you are discussing. For example, I might describe, in one paragraph, what the prices are like at both Pepper’s and Amante; in the next paragraph, I might compare the ingredients available; in a third, I might contrast the atmospheres of the two restaurants.

If I had a bit more to say about the items I was comparing/contrasting, I might devote a whole paragraph to how each point relates to each item. For example, I might have a whole paragraph about the clientele at Pepper’s, followed by a whole paragraph about the clientele at Amante; then I would move on and do two more paragraphs discussing my next point of comparison/contrast—like the ingredients available at each restaurant.

There are no hard and fast rules about organizing a comparison/contrast paper, of course. Just be sure that your reader can easily tell what’s going on! Be aware, too, of the placement of your different points. If you are writing a comparison/contrast in service of an argument, keep in mind that the last point you make is the one you are leaving your reader with. For example, if I am trying to argue that Amante is better than Pepper’s, I should end with a contrast that leaves Amante sounding good, rather than with a point of comparison that I have to admit makes Pepper’s look better. If you’ve decided that the differences between the items you’re comparing/contrasting are most important, you’ll want to end with the differences—and vice versa, if the similarities seem most important to you.

Our handout on organization can help you write good topic sentences and transitions and make sure that you have a good overall structure in place for your paper.

Cue words and other tips

To help your reader keep track of where you are in the comparison/contrast, you’ll want to be sure that your transitions and topic sentences are especially strong. Your thesis should already have given the reader an idea of the points you’ll be making and the organization you’ll be using, but you can help them out with some extra cues. The following words may be helpful to you in signaling your intentions:

• like, similar to, also, unlike, similarly, in the same way, likewise, again, compared to, in contrast, in like manner, contrasted with, on the contrary, however, although, yet, even though, still, but, nevertheless, conversely, at the same time, regardless, despite, while, on the one hand … on the other hand.

For example, you might have a topic sentence like one of these:

• Compared to Pepper’s, Amante is quiet.
• Like Amante, Pepper’s offers fresh garlic as a topping.
• Despite their different locations (downtown Chapel Hill and downtown Carrboro), Pepper’s and Amante are both fairly easy to get to.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Make a Gift

• Walden University
• Faculty Portal

Writing a Paper: Comparing & Contrasting

A compare and contrast paper discusses the similarities and differences between two or more topics. The paper should contain an introduction with a thesis statement, a body where the comparisons and contrasts are discussed, and a conclusion.

Address Both Similarities and Differences

Because this is a compare and contrast paper, both the similarities and differences should be discussed. This will require analysis on your part, as some topics will appear to be quite similar, and you will have to work to find the differing elements.

Make Sure You Have a Clear Thesis Statement

Just like any other essay, a compare and contrast essay needs a thesis statement. The thesis statement should not only tell your reader what you will do, but it should also address the purpose and importance of comparing and contrasting the material.

Use Clear Transitions

Transitions are important in compare and contrast essays, where you will be moving frequently between different topics or perspectives.

• Examples of transitions and phrases for comparisons: as well, similar to, consistent with, likewise, too
• Examples of transitions and phrases for contrasts: on the other hand, however, although, differs, conversely, rather than.

For more information, check out our transitions page.

Structure Your Paper

Consider how you will present the information. You could present all of the similarities first and then present all of the differences. Or you could go point by point and show the similarity and difference of one point, then the similarity and difference for another point, and so on.

Include Analysis

It is tempting to just provide summary for this type of paper, but analysis will show the importance of the comparisons and contrasts. For instance, if you are comparing two articles on the topic of the nursing shortage, help us understand what this will achieve. Did you find consensus between the articles that will support a certain action step for people in the field? Did you find discrepancies between the two that point to the need for further investigation?

Make Analogous Comparisons

When drawing comparisons or making contrasts, be sure you are dealing with similar aspects of each item. To use an old cliché, are you comparing apples to apples?

• Example of poor comparisons: Kubista studied the effects of a later start time on high school students, but Cook used a mixed methods approach. (This example does not compare similar items. It is not a clear contrast because the sentence does not discuss the same element of the articles. It is like comparing apples to oranges.)
• Example of analogous comparisons: Cook used a mixed methods approach, whereas Kubista used only quantitative methods. (Here, methods are clearly being compared, allowing the reader to understand the distinction.

Related Webinar

Didn't find what you need? Email us at [email protected] .

• Previous Page: Developing Arguments
• Next Page: Avoiding Logical Fallacies
• Office of Student Disability Services

Walden Resources

Departments.

• Academic Residencies
• Academic Skills
• Career Planning and Development
• Customer Care Team
• Field Experience
• Military Services
• Student Success Advising
• Writing Skills

Centers and Offices

• Center for Social Change
• Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services
• Office of Degree Acceleration
• Office of Research and Doctoral Services
• Office of Student Affairs

Student Resources

• Doctoral Writing Assessment
• Form & Style Review
• Quick Answers
• ScholarWorks
• SKIL Courses and Workshops
• Walden Bookstore
• Walden Catalog & Student Handbook
• Student Safety/Title IX
• Legal & Consumer Information
• Website Terms and Conditions
• Cookie Policy
• Accessibility
• Accreditation
• State Authorization
• Net Price Calculator
• Contact Walden

Walden University is a member of Adtalem Global Education, Inc. www.adtalem.com Walden University is certified to operate by SCHEV © 2024 Walden University LLC. All rights reserved.

Writing an Essay in Spanish: Tips for a Great Essay

When learning Spanish, many students put all their energy into practicing speaking. They chat with classmates, engage in conversations with native speakers, and tune into Spanish TV shows or podcasts. But amidst this flurry of spoken practice, writing often gets pushed aside like yesterday's homework.

Yet, without honing those writing chops, achieving true fluency in Spanish—or any language for that matter—can be tough. That's why, in this article, we're jumping into writing an essay in Spanish, showing why it's not just a dreaded task but a great chance to boost your language skills. ¡Vamos!

Quick Tips on Writing in Spanish

Now that you're ready to tackle Spanish essay writing, let's make sure you're armed with some handy tips from our Spanish essay writer :

• Mind Your Spelling : Pay close attention to how words are spelled. Good spelling can make your writing look professional and help you avoid embarrassing mistakes.
• Use Transition Words : Incorporate transition words like 'sin embargo' (however), 'por lo tanto' (therefore), and 'además' (moreover) to connect your ideas and make your essay flow smoothly.
• Stick to Simple Sentences : Keep your sentences straightforward and easy to understand. Avoid using overly complicated phrases that might confuse your reader.
• Practice Grammar Regularly : Brush up on grammar rules to avoid common mistakes. Pay attention to verb conjugations, noun-adjective agreement, and sentence structure.
• Expand Your Vocabulary : Learn new Spanish words and phrases regularly to enrich your writing. Try using a Spanish-English dictionary or language-learning app to discover new vocabulary.
• Read Spanish Texts : Read books, articles, and essays written in this language to familiarize yourself with the language's structure and style. Pay attention to how sentences are constructed and how ideas are expressed.

With these quick tips in mind, let’s now check out a step-by-step guide to crafting an essay in Spanish.

Choose a Compelling Subject

When you start your essay, picking a compelling subject is your first step. Choose a topic that you care about. It will show in your writing, making it more engaging and lively.

Think about what excites you or what you want to know more about. Maybe there's a part of Spanish culture that fascinates you, like flamenco dancing or the traditional food of a specific region. Or perhaps you're intrigued by a historical figure or a current issue in Spanish-speaking countries.

Once you settle on a topic, dig into it. Look up articles, watch videos, and gather as much information as you can. This background work will not only beef up your knowledge but also give you plenty of material to draw from when you sit down to write your essay.

Generate Ideas

Brainstorming can really kick things into gear by helping you develop a deep and varied pool of thoughts related to your topic. Start by jotting down everything that comes to mind about your subject. Don't worry about organizing these ideas yet; the goal is to get all your thoughts out on paper. You might be surprised by what you come up with!

Use mind maps to help visualize the connections between different ideas. Draw a circle in the center of a page, write your main topic in it, and then branch out with related ideas, connecting them with lines to show how they relate to each other and to the central theme.

Asking questions can also spark more ideas. What? Who? Where? When? Why? How? These questions can lead you to consider different angles of your topic that you might not have thought about before.

Once you have a good list of ideas, look for patterns or themes that could form the backbone of your essay. Choose the ones that are most interesting to you, or that have plenty of information available, and you'll find your essay starts to take shape naturally from there.

Craft an Opening

The opening, or introduction, should not only introduce your topic but also pique the reader's curiosity. Here's how you can create an engaging introduction:

• Start with a hook : Begin with an intriguing statement, a surprising fact, or a provocative question related to your topic. For example, if you're writing about the influence of Spanish cinema, you might start with statistics about the international awards Spanish films have won.
• Provide some background : After grabbing the reader's attention, give a bit of background to place your topic in context. This doesn't have to be detailed but should provide enough information to understand the importance of the topic and why it's relevant.
• State your thesis : End your introduction with a clear thesis statement that will guide the rest of your essay, making sure it's specific and directly related to your topic.

Structure the Essay

A well-organized essay makes it easier for your readers to follow your arguments and understand the points you're making. As previously mentioned, your introduction should start with a hook to capture interest, provide some background information to set the scene and conclude with a strong thesis statement that outlines your main argument or perspective.

As for the body section, start each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph. This sentence should link back to your thesis statement and indicate how this paragraph will support your overall argument. Then, follow the topic sentence with evidence, examples, and explanations to flesh out your argument.

Lastly, begin your conclusion by briefly summarizing the key points you have discussed. Then, reinforce your thesis statement with a fresh rephrasing, showing how the body of your essay has supported it throughout.

Recap the Content

Now that you've laid out your arguments in the body of your essay, it's time to recap. Briefly go over the main points from each section of your essay. This reminds the reader of what you've discussed and how it all connects. Then, tie each point back to your thesis statement. Also, mention any particularly strong evidence or insightful observations again, reinforcing their importance.

Ensure Coherence and Relevance

Once you've recapped the content of your writing, it's essential to ensure coherence and relevance throughout. You can do this by reviewing the transitions between paragraphs and sections, ensuring they flow smoothly and logically from one idea to the next.

Also, look for any redundant or repetitive information. Remove anything that doesn't add value to your argument or that repeats points you've already made. It's also important to avoid going off on tangents or introducing unrelated information.

Lastly, before finalizing your essay, ask yourself if every part of it is relevant to your main argument. If not, consider revising or removing those sections to maintain focus.

Review for Clarity and Style

Once you've ensured coherence and relevance in your writing, it's time to review for clarity and style. Break down long or convoluted sentences into shorter, more straightforward ones. This helps prevent confusion and keeps your writing clear. You can also read your essay aloud to yourself or have someone else read it to you. This can help you identify awkward phrasing or unclear passages that may need revision.

Edit for Errors

Finally, it's time to edit your essay for errors. This step is crucial for ensuring that your writing is polished and professional. Using a spellchecker or asking a native speaker to proofread your essay for you is usually a good idea. Then, double-check your formatting, including margins, font size, and spacing. Make sure your essay follows any specific formatting guidelines provided by your instructor.

By thoroughly editing your essay for Spanish language errors, you ensure that your final product is polished and ready to impress your readers. Take your time with this step to catch any mistakes and make the necessary revisions for a flawless finish.

Frequently asked questions

She was flawless! first time using a website like this, I've ordered article review and i totally adored it! grammar punctuation, content - everything was on point

This writer is my go to, because whenever I need someone who I can trust my task to - I hire Joy. She wrote almost every paper for me for the last 2 years

Term paper done up to a highest standard, no revisions, perfect communication. 10s across the board!!!!!!!

I send him instructions and that's it. my paper was done 10 hours later, no stupid questions, he nailed it.

Sometimes I wonder if Michael is secretly a professor because he literally knows everything. HE DID SO WELL THAT MY PROF SHOWED MY PAPER AS AN EXAMPLE. unbelievable, many thanks

You Might Also Like

New Posts to Your Inbox!

Stay in touch

• Link to facebook
• Link to linkedin
• Link to twitter
• Link to youtube
• Writing Tips

Tips for Writing a Compare and Contrast Essay

5-minute read

• 19th August 2022

Compare and contrast essays are a specific form of academic essay with unique requirements, so if you’re a student , it’s important that you to know how to write one. Luckily, we’ve pieced together this guide to help you plan, structure, and put together your essay, complete with tips for comparing and contrasting.

Let’s begin.

1. What Is a Compare and Contrast Essay?

As you may have guessed, when writing a compare and contrast essay, you’ll need to do two things:

• Compare the similarities between two or more given subjects.
• Contrast their differences.

Compare and contrast essays are a common essay style because they allow your teacher or lecturer to assess your understanding of two theories, research methods, literary techniques, or other subjects. These subjects are usually related and may sometimes be confused with one another or are in conflict with each other.

By comparing and contrasting the subjects, you can also improve your analysis skills .

Some examples of compare and contrast essay titles include:

Compare and contrast a Shakespearean sonnet with a Petrarchan sonnet. What are the similarities and differences between anabolic and catabolic reactions? How were Nehru’s political beliefs similar to Gandhi’s? How did they differ?

2. Planning a Compare and Contrast Essay

As with any essay, before you begin writing, you should have a plan . In this case, you’ll first need to identify the similarities and differences between your subjects.

You can do this by writing out a list of all the qualities each subject possesses. Then, you can pick out any similar qualities that show up in both lists, and any qualities that are unique to just one of them. If you’re a visual learner, you might want to draw this as a Venn diagram .

Once you have all the similarities and differences prepared, consider which of them will be the most useful to include in your essay. Ask yourself:

• How much can you write about each point?
• What will your conclusion be, and which points support it?
• How will each point fit into your essay’s structure?

To answer that last question, let’s take a look at some ways to structure your essay.

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

3. Structuring a Compare and Contrast Essay

Now that you’ve got a plan for your essay, it’s time to organize it. There are three main structures you can follow when writing a compare and contrast essay: 

• The block structure: All of the information about one subject (e.g., Shakespearean sonnets) is presented in the first few paragraphs, followed by the subject it’s being compared and contrasted with (e.g., Petrarchan sonnets).
• The alternating structure: One similarity or difference between both subjects (e.g., rhyme scheme) is explored in one paragraph, followed by a paragraph on another similarity or difference (e.g., use of imagery), and so on.
• The similarities and differences structure: All the similarities between both subjects are presented, followed by the differences.

There are benefits to each of these structures. The block structure, for example, can be easier to write, while the alternating structure presents each similarity and difference clearly, and the similarities and differences structure focuses on those points rather than the subjects themselves. 

So, when deciding which structure to use, consider what would work best for your essay. If you intend to cover each subject in detail, for example, you might want to choose the block structure. 

On the other hand, if you want to emphasize the connections between each subject, the alternating structure might be best. 

Finally, if you want to conclude that the subjects are either overwhelmingly similar or different to each other, the similarities and differences structure may work in your favor.

Whichever structure you follow, though, you’ll need to include a strong introduction and conclusion.

Your introduction should:

• Establish the subjects you will be comparing and contrasting.
• Provide some background about their connection (e.g., “Shakespearean and Petrarchan sonnets are poetic forms common in the 14th to 19th centuries”).
• Explain what you aim to achieve with your essay.

Meanwhile, your conclusion should:

• Summarize the main similarities and differences you have identified.
• Make a point regarding the relationship between your subjects.

4. Things to Remember

Here are some important tips to keep in mind when writing your compare and contrast essay:

• Ensure you are comparing or contrasting the same criteria between each subject. For example, it wouldn’t make sense to compare the line length of a Shakespearean sonnet with the rhyme scheme of a Petrarchan sonnet, as these are two separate categories.
• Always address both subjects of your essay in any introductions, conclusions, and topic sentences.
• Use comparison words and phrases such as “similarly,” “like,” and “in the same way” when comparing subjects.
• Use contrast words and phrases such as “in contrast,” “however,” and “whereas” when contrasting subjects.
• As with any essay, make sure to back up any arguments you make with evidence and credible sources .

Expert Academic Proofreading

Once you’ve written your compare and contrast essay, don’t forget to have it proofread. Our dedicated essay editing team is available 24/7 to help polish your paper. Try us out with a free proofreading and editing sample .

Share this article:

Post A New Comment

Got content that needs a quick turnaround? Let us polish your work. Explore our editorial business services.

3-minute read

How to Insert a Text Box in a Google Doc

Google Docs is a powerful collaborative tool, and mastering its features can significantly enhance your...

2-minute read

How to Cite the CDC in APA

If you’re writing about health issues, you might need to reference the Centers for Disease...

Six Product Description Generator Tools for Your Product Copy

Introduction If you’re involved with ecommerce, you’re likely familiar with the often painstaking process of...

What Is a Content Editor?

Are you interested in learning more about the role of a content editor and the...

4-minute read

The Benefits of Using an Online Proofreading Service

Proofreading is important to ensure your writing is clear and concise for your readers. Whether...

6 Online AI Presentation Maker Tools

Creating presentations can be time-consuming and frustrating. Trying to construct a visually appealing and informative...

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing.

• Features for Creative Writers
• Features for Work
• Features for Higher Education
• Features for Teachers
• Features for Non-Native Speakers
• Learn Blog Grammar Guide Community Events FAQ
• Grammar Guide

Comparing and Contrasting: A Guide to Improve Your Essays

Walter Akolo

Essays that require you to compare and contrast two or more subjects, ideas, places, or items are common.

They call for you to highlight the key similarities (compare) and differences (contrast) between them.

This guide contains all the information you need to become better at writing comparing and contrasting essays.

This includes: how to structure your essay, how to decide on the content, and some examples of essay questions.

Let’s dive in.

What Is Comparing and Contrasting?

Is compare and contrast the same as similarities and differences, what is the purpose of comparing and contrasting, can you compare and contrast any two items, how do you compare and contrast in writing, what are some comparing and contrasting techniques, how do you compare and contrast in college level writing, the four essentials of compare and contrast essays, what can you learn from a compare and contrast essay.

At their most basic, both comparing and contrasting base their evaluation on two or more subjects that share a connection.

The subjects could have similar characteristics, features, or foundations.

But while a comparison discusses the similarities of the two subjects, e.g. a banana and a watermelon are both fruit, contrasting highlights how the subjects or items differ from each other, e.g. a watermelon is around 10 times larger than a banana.

Any question that you are asked in education will have a variety of interesting comparisons and deductions that you can make.

Compare is the same as similarities.

Contrast is the same as differences.

This is because comparing identifies the likeness between two subjects, items, or categories, while contrasting recognizes disparities between them.

When you compare things, you represent them regarding their similarity, but when you contrast things, you define them in reference to their differences.

As a result, if you are asked to discuss the similarities and differences between two subjects, you can take an identical approach to if you are writing a compare and contrast essay.

In writing, the purpose of comparing and contrasting is to highlight subtle but important differences or similarities that might not be immediately obvious.

By illustrating the differences between elements in a similar category, you help heighten readers’ understanding of the subject or topic of discussion.

For instance, you might choose to compare and contrast red wine and white wine by pointing out the subtle differences. One of these differences is that red wine is best served at room temperature while white is best served chilled.

Also, comparing and contrasting helps to make abstract ideas more definite and minimizes the confusion that might exist between two related concepts.

Can Comparing and Contrasting Be Useful Outside of Academia?

Comparing enables you to see the pros and cons, allowing you to have a better understanding of the things under discussion. In an essay, this helps you demonstrate that you understand the nuances of your topic enough to draw meaningful conclusions from them.

Let's use a real-word example to see the benefits. Imagine you're contrasting two dresses you could buy. You might think:

• Dress A is purple, my favorite color, but it has a difficult zip and is practically impossible to match a jacket to.
• Dress B is more expensive but I already have a suitable pair of shoes and jacket and it is easier to move in.

You're linking the qualities of each dress to the context of the decision you're making. This is the same for your essay. Your comparison and contrast points will be in relation to the question you need to answer.

Comparing and contrasting is only a useful technique when applied to two related concepts.

To effectively compare two or more things, they must feature characteristics similar enough to warrant comparison.

In addition to this they must also feature a similarity that generates an interesting discussion. But what do I mean by “interesting” here?

Let’s look at two concepts, the Magna Carta and my third grade poetry competition entry.

They are both text, written on paper by a person so they fulfil the first requirement, they have a similarity. But this comparison clearly would not fulfil the second requirement, you would not be able to draw any interesting conclusions.

However, if we compare the Magna Carta to the Bill of Rights, you would be able to come to some very interesting conclusions concerning the history of world politics.

To write a good compare and contrast essay, it’s best to pick two or more topics that share a meaningful connection .

The aim of the essay would be to show the subtle differences or unforeseen similarities.

By highlighting the distinctions between elements in a similar category you can increase your readers’ understanding.

Alternatively, you could choose to focus on a comparison between two subjects that initially appear unrelated.

The more dissimilar they seem, the more interesting the comparison essay will turn out.

For instance, you could compare and contrast professional rugby players with marathon runners.

Can You Compare and Contrast in an Essay That Does Not Specifically Require It?

As a writer, you can employ comparing and contrasting techniques in your writing, particularly when looking for ideas you can later apply in your argument.

You can do this even when the comparison or contrast is not a requirement for the topic or argument you are presenting. Doing so could enable you to build your evaluation and develop a stronger argument.

Note that the similarities and differences you come up with might not even show up in the final draft.

While the use of compare and contrast can be neutral, you can also use it to highlight one option under discussion. When used this way, you can influence the perceived advantages of your preferred option.

As a writing style, comparing and contrasting can encompass an entire essay. However, it could also appear in some select paragraphs within the essay, where making some comparisons serves to better illustrate a point.

What Should You Do First?

Before you compare two things, always start by deciding on the reason for your comparison, then outline the criteria you will use to compare them.

Words and phrases commonly used for comparison include:

In writing, these words and phrases are called transitions . They help readers to understand or make the connection between sentences, paragraphs, and ideas.

Without transition words writing can feel clumsy and disjointed making it difficult to read. ProWritingAid’s transition report highlights all of a documents transitions and suggests that 25% of any sentences in a piece include a transition.

Sign up for a free ProWritingAid account to use the Transitions Report.

So, how do you form all of this into a coherent essay? It's a good idea to plan first, then decide what your paragraph layout will look like.

Venn diagrams are useful tool to start generating ideas. The, for your essay, you need to choose between going idea by idea and going point by point.

Using a Venn Diagram

A Venn diagram helps you to clearly see the similarities and differences between multiple objects, things, or subjects.

The writing tool comprises two, or more, simple, overlapping circles in which you list down the things that are alike (within the overlapping area) and those that differ (outside the overlapping area).

It’s great for brainstorming ideas and for creating your essay’s outline. You could even use it in an exam setting because it is quick and simple.

Going Subject by Subject

Going subject by subject is a structural choice for your essay.

Start by saying all you have to say on the first subject, then proceed to do the same about the second subject.

Depending on the length of your essay, you can fit the points about each subject into one paragraph or have several sections per each subject, ending with a conclusion.

This method is best for short essays on simple topics. Most university-level essays will go point by point instead.

Going Point by Point

Going point by point, or alternating, is the opposite essay structure from going subject by subject. This is ideal when you want to do more direct comparing and contrasting. It entails discussing one comparison point at a time. It allows you to use a paragraph to talk about how a certain comparing/contrasting point relates to the subjects or items you are discussing.

Alternatively, if you have lots of details about the subject, you might decide to use a paragraph for each point.

An academic compare and contrast essay looks at two or more subjects, ideas, people, or objects, compares their likeness, and contrasts their differences.

It’s an informative essay that provides insights on what is similar and different between the two items.

Depending on the essay’s instructions, you can focus solely on comparing or contrasting, or a combination of the two.

Examples of College Level Compare and Contrast Essay Questions

Here are eleven examples of compare and contrast essay questions that you might encounter at university:

• Archaeology: Compare and contrast the skulls of homo habilis, homo erectus, and homo sapiens.
• Art: Compare and contrast the working styles of any two Neoclassic artists.
• Astrophysics: Compare and contrast the chemical composition of Venus and Neptune.
• Biology: Compare and contrast the theories of Lamarck and Darwin.
• Business: Compare and contrast 2 or more business models within the agricultural industry.
• Creative writing: Compare and contrast free indirect discourse with epistolary styles.
• English Literature: Compare and contrast William Wordsworth with Robert Browning.
• Geography: Compare and contrast the benefit of solar panels with the benefit of wind turbines.
• History: Compare and contrast WWI to WWII with specific reference to the causes and outcomes.
• Medicine: Compare and contrast England’s health service with America’s health service.
• Psychology: Compare and contrast the behaviorist theory with the psychodynamic theory.

So, the key takeaways to keep in mind are:

Have a basis for comparison. The two things need to have enough in common to justify a discussion about their similarities and disparities.

Don’t go back and forth when using the block method. The best way to write your essay is to begin with a paragraph discussing all the facets of the first topic. Then, move on to another paragraph and talk through all the aspects of the second subject.

You can use both alternating and blocking techniques. Combining the two approaches is also an option. You can apply the alternating method in some paragraphs, then switch and use the block method. This method will help you offer a much deeper analysis of the subjects.

Have a reason for comparing the two things. Only select the points of comparison that resonate with your purpose.

Comparing and contrasting are essential analytical skills in academic writing. When your professor issues you with such an essay, their primary goal is to teach you how to:

• Engage in critical thinking
• See and make connections between words or ideas
• Move beyond mere descriptions or summaries to developing interesting analysis
• Get a deeper understanding of the subjects or items under comparison, their key features, and their interrelationships with each other.

Ultimately, your essay should enlighten readers by providing useful information.

Want to use ProWritingAid with your classroom? Download this free book now:

ProWritingAid Teacher’s Manual

Editing technology like prowritingaid provides immediate, personalized feedback that will help students to better understand grammar and writing techniques., in this guide , we walk you through exactly how to use prowritingaid in your classroom and give you tools and templates for creating a rigorous, effective independent writing practice with your students..

Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

Walter Akolo is a freelance writer, internet marketer, trainer, and blogger for hire. He loves helping businesses increase their reach and conversion through excellent and engaging content. He has gotten millions of pageviews on his blog, FreelancerKenya, where he mentors writers. Check out his website walterakolo.com.

Get started with ProWritingAid

Drop us a line or let's stay in touch via :

You are using an outdated browser. Upgrade your browser today or install Google Chrome Frame to better experience this site.

• Spanish »
• Grammar »

Spanish connectors to contrast and compare

An advanced Spanish list of transition words when to compare and contrast different ideas

Spanish vocabulary

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

10.7 Comparison and Contrast

Learning objectives.

• Determine the purpose and structure of comparison and contrast in writing.
• Explain organizational methods used when comparing and contrasting.
• Understand how to write a compare-and-contrast essay.

The Purpose of Comparison and Contrast in Writing

Comparison in writing discusses elements that are similar, while contrast in writing discusses elements that are different. A compare-and-contrast essay , then, analyzes two subjects by comparing them, contrasting them, or both.

The key to a good compare-and-contrast essay is to choose two or more subjects that connect in a meaningful way. The purpose of conducting the comparison or contrast is not to state the obvious but rather to illuminate subtle differences or unexpected similarities. For example, if you wanted to focus on contrasting two subjects you would not pick apples and oranges; rather, you might choose to compare and contrast two types of oranges or two types of apples to highlight subtle differences. For example, Red Delicious apples are sweet, while Granny Smiths are tart and acidic. Drawing distinctions between elements in a similar category will increase the audience’s understanding of that category, which is the purpose of the compare-and-contrast essay.

Similarly, to focus on comparison, choose two subjects that seem at first to be unrelated. For a comparison essay, you likely would not choose two apples or two oranges because they share so many of the same properties already. Rather, you might try to compare how apples and oranges are quite similar. The more divergent the two subjects initially seem, the more interesting a comparison essay will be.

Writing at Work

Comparing and contrasting is also an evaluative tool. In order to make accurate evaluations about a given topic, you must first know the critical points of similarity and difference. Comparing and contrasting is a primary tool for many workplace assessments. You have likely compared and contrasted yourself to other colleagues. Employee advancements, pay raises, hiring, and firing are typically conducted using comparison and contrast. Comparison and contrast could be used to evaluate companies, departments, or individuals.

Brainstorm an essay that leans toward contrast. Choose one of the following three categories. Pick two examples from each. Then come up with one similarity and three differences between the examples.

• Romantic comedies
• Internet search engines
• Cell phones

Brainstorm an essay that leans toward comparison. Choose one of the following three items. Then come up with one difference and three similarities.

• Department stores and discount retail stores
• Fast food chains and fine dining restaurants
• Dogs and cats

The Structure of a Comparison and Contrast Essay

The compare-and-contrast essay starts with a thesis that clearly states the two subjects that are to be compared, contrasted, or both and the reason for doing so. The thesis could lean more toward comparing, contrasting, or both. Remember, the point of comparing and contrasting is to provide useful knowledge to the reader. Take the following thesis as an example that leans more toward contrasting.

Thesis statement: Organic vegetables may cost more than those that are conventionally grown, but when put to the test, they are definitely worth every extra penny.

Here the thesis sets up the two subjects to be compared and contrasted (organic versus conventional vegetables), and it makes a claim about the results that might prove useful to the reader.

You may organize compare-and-contrast essays in one of the following two ways:

• According to the subjects themselves, discussing one then the other
• According to individual points, discussing each subject in relation to each point

See Figure 10.1 “Comparison and Contrast Diagram” , which diagrams the ways to organize our organic versus conventional vegetables thesis.

Figure 10.1 Comparison and Contrast Diagram

The organizational structure you choose depends on the nature of the topic, your purpose, and your audience.

Given that compare-and-contrast essays analyze the relationship between two subjects, it is helpful to have some phrases on hand that will cue the reader to such analysis. See Table 10.3 “Phrases of Comparison and Contrast” for examples.

Table 10.3 Phrases of Comparison and Contrast

Create an outline for each of the items you chose in Note 10.72 “Exercise 1” and Note 10.73 “Exercise 2” . Use the point-by-point organizing strategy for one of them, and use the subject organizing strategy for the other.

Writing a Comparison and Contrast Essay

First choose whether you want to compare seemingly disparate subjects, contrast seemingly similar subjects, or compare and contrast subjects. Once you have decided on a topic, introduce it with an engaging opening paragraph. Your thesis should come at the end of the introduction, and it should establish the subjects you will compare, contrast, or both as well as state what can be learned from doing so.

The body of the essay can be organized in one of two ways: by subject or by individual points. The organizing strategy that you choose will depend on, as always, your audience and your purpose. You may also consider your particular approach to the subjects as well as the nature of the subjects themselves; some subjects might better lend themselves to one structure or the other. Make sure to use comparison and contrast phrases to cue the reader to the ways in which you are analyzing the relationship between the subjects.

After you finish analyzing the subjects, write a conclusion that summarizes the main points of the essay and reinforces your thesis. See Chapter 15 “Readings: Examples of Essays” to read a sample compare-and-contrast essay.

Many business presentations are conducted using comparison and contrast. The organizing strategies—by subject or individual points—could also be used for organizing a presentation. Keep this in mind as a way of organizing your content the next time you or a colleague have to present something at work.

Choose one of the outlines you created in Note 10.75 “Exercise 3” , and write a full compare-and-contrast essay. Be sure to include an engaging introduction, a clear thesis, well-defined and detailed paragraphs, and a fitting conclusion that ties everything together.

Key Takeaways

• A compare-and-contrast essay analyzes two subjects by either comparing them, contrasting them, or both.
• The purpose of writing a comparison or contrast essay is not to state the obvious but rather to illuminate subtle differences or unexpected similarities between two subjects.
• The thesis should clearly state the subjects that are to be compared, contrasted, or both, and it should state what is to be learned from doing so.

There are two main organizing strategies for compare-and-contrast essays.

• Organize by the subjects themselves, one then the other.
• Organize by individual points, in which you discuss each subject in relation to each point.
• Use phrases of comparison or phrases of contrast to signal to readers how exactly the two subjects are being analyzed.

Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

• school Campus Bookshelves
• menu_book Bookshelves
• perm_media Learning Objects
• login Login
• how_to_reg Request Instructor Account
• hub Instructor Commons
• Download Page (PDF)
• Download Full Book (PDF)
• Periodic Table
• Physics Constants
• Scientific Calculator
• Reference & Cite
• Tools expand_more
• Readability

selected template will load here

This action is not available.

4.2: Comparison and Contrast Essays

• Last updated
• Save as PDF
• Page ID 107769

• Kathryn Crowther et al.
• Georgia Perimeter College via GALILEO Open Learning Materials

Writing a Comparison-and-Contrast Essay

First, choose whether you want to compare seemingly disparate subjects, contrast seemingly similar subjects, or compare and contrast subjects. Once you have decided on a topic, introduce it with an engaging opening paragraph. Your thesis should come at the end of the introduction, and it should establish the subjects you will compare, contrast, or both as well as state what can be learned from doing so. Be sure to make an argument in your thesis; explain to the reader what’s at stake in analyzing the relationship between your stated subjects.

The body of the essay can be organized in one of two ways: by subject or by individual points. The organizing strategy that you choose will depend on, as always, your audience and your purpose. You may also consider your particular approach to the subjects as well as the nature of the subjects themselves; some subjects might better lend themselves to one structure or the other. Make sure to use comparison and contrast phrases to cue the reader to the ways in which you are analyzing the relationship between the subjects.

After you finish analyzing the subjects, write a conclusion that summarizes the main points of the essay and reinforces your thesis. This conclusion is the “and so” statement for your essay, giving you the place to offer a judgment based on the examination you have just offered.

Sample Comparison-and-Contrast Essays

A South African Storm

By Allison Howard – Peace Corps Volunteer: South Africa (2003-2005)

It’s a Saturday afternoon in January in South Africa. When I begin the 45–minute walk to the shops for groceries, I can hear thunder cracking in the distance up the mountain in Mageobaskloof. But at 4 p.m. the sky is still light and bright and I am sure—famous last words—I will be fine without an umbrella.

Just the basics: eggs, bread, Diet Coke in a bag slung into the crook of my elbow. Halfway from town, two black South African women—domestic workers in the homes of white Afrikaner families—stop me with wide smiles. They know me; I’m the only white person in town who walks everywhere, as they do. They chatter quickly in northern Sotho: “Missus, you must go fast. Pula e tla na! The rain, it comes!” They like me, and it feels very important to me that they do.“Yebo, yebo, mma,” I say—Yes, it’s true—and I hurry along in flip-flops, quickening my pace, feeling good about our brief but neighborly conversation. These are Venda women.

My black South African friends tell me it’s easy to tell a Venda from a Shangaan from a Xhosa from a Pedi. “These ones from Venda, they have wide across the nose and high in the cheekbones,” they say. But I don’t see it; I’m years away from being able to distinguish the nuances of ethnicity. Today, I know these women are Vendas simply because of their clothing: bright stripes of green and yellow and black fabric tied at one shoulder and hanging quite like a sack around their bodies. They’ve already extended a kindness to me by speaking in northern Sotho. It’s not their language but they know I don’t speak a word of Afrikaans (though they don’t understand why; Afrikaans is the language of white people). They know I struggle with Sotho and they’re trying to help me learn. So they speak Sotho to me and they’re delighted and amused by my fumbling responses. And I am, quite simply, delighted by their delight.

The Venda ladies are right: the rain, it comes. Lightly at first, and by habit I begin trotting to hurry my way home. Just a little rain at first and there are plenty of us out in it. I can see others up ahead on the street and others still just leaving the shops to get back before the real rain begins.

The people who are walking along this swath of tar road are black. Black people don’t live in this neighborhood—or in my town at all, for the most part. They work and board here as domestic workers, nannies, gardeners. Their families live in black townships and rural villages—some just outside of my town; others far away, in places like Venda.

Today, we’re walking together in the rain, and I’m quickening my pace because—after all, it’s raining. That’s what you do in the rain. And even though it’s coming down noticeably harder, it’s 80 degrees and I’m not cold, I’m just wet. My hair is stuck to my forehead and my T-shirt is soaked … and I’m the only one running for cover. And I think: So what? It’s just water and in the middle of the January summer, it’s warm, refreshing water. Why run? Why do we run from the rain?

In my life back in the United States, I might run because I was carrying a leather handbag, or because I wore an outfit that shouldn’t get wet. I would run because rain dishevels and messes things up. Mostly though, we run because we just do; it’s a habit. I’ve done it a hundred times: running to my car or the subway station with a newspaper sheltering my head. I have never not quickened my pace in the rain until today.

It took all of my 27 years and a move to Africa, where I don’t have a leather handbag to shelter or a pretty outfit to protect. I’m wearing an old cotton skirt and a T-shirt, and I’m drenched, and I love it. I learn things here in the most ordinary circumstances. And I feel like a smarter, better woman today because I got groceries in the rain.

But on the long walk home, positively soaked and smiling like a fool, I notice a car pulling over and a man yelling in Afrikaans to get in, get in. I look in the direction I’ve come from and several meters behind me is a woman with a baby tied to her back and an elderly man carrying bags, leading a young boy by the hand. On the road ahead, a woman about my age carries a parcel wrapped in plastic, balanced precariously on her head. There are maybe 20 people walking with me in my reverie of rain and they are black. And the man in the car is white and he’s gesturing frantically for me to get in. Why me? Why not the others? Because I’m white and it’s about race. Everything is about race here.

This man in the car is trying to do something kind and neighborly. He wants to help me and his gesture is right, but his instincts are so wrong. How do you resent someone who is, for no benefit of his own, trying to help? But I do. I resent him and I resent the world he lives in that taught him such selective kindness. This whole event unravels in a few seconds’ time. He’s leaned over and opened the car door, urging me in … and I get in. And we speed past my fellow walkers and he drops me at my doorstep before I have time to think of anything besides giving him directions.

It feels like a mistake because I’m ashamed to think what the Venda women would have felt if he’d ignored them and they had watched me climb into that car. In some ways, the whole episode seems absurd. I’m not going to atone for 400 years of South African history by walking with black people in the rain. If I’d refused his ride, he wouldn’t have thought anything besides the fact that I was certifiably crazy. That’s the thing about being here: I’m not going to change anything. But I believe it matters in some infinitesimal way that people like the Venda women, and the dozens of people who may walk alongside me on any given day, know that I’m there. In black South African culture it is polite to greet every person you pass. That’s what they do, so I do it, too. On the occasional morning, someone might greet me as “sesi,” sister. I have to believe that matters; I know it matters to me.

I was disappointed in myself for getting into the car because I acted according to the same habit that makes us think rain an inconvenience. Just as we run from the rain, I hopped into that car because I’m supposed to. Conventionally, it makes sense. But convention compels us to do so many things that don’t make any sense at all. Convention misinforms our instincts. And in a larger sense, it is convention that propels Afrikaner culture anachronistically into the future. Ten years after the supposed end of apartheid, I’m living in a world of institutionalized racism. Convention becomes institution—and it’s oppressive and it’s unjust. I know that if I’m going to make it here for two more years, I need to walk in the rain. It’s a small, wasted gesture, but it’s an uncorrupted instinct that makes me feel human.

So much about living here feels like that fraction of a second when the Afrikaner man was appealing to my conventional sensibilities and the people on the street were appealing to my human instincts. It may feel unnatural to reject those sensibilities just as, at first, it feels unnatural to walk in the rain. But if I lose a hold on my instincts here, I’ll fail myself and I’ll fail to achieve those tiny things that matter so much. It’s simple and it’s small; and it’s everything. Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Indeed. Let it rain.

Comparing and Contrasting London and Washington, DC

Both Washington, DC, and London are capital cities of English-speaking countries, and yet they offer vastly different experiences to their residents and visitors. Comparing and contrasting the two cities based on their history, their culture, and their residents show how different and similar the two are.

Both cities are rich in world and national history, though they developed on very different time lines. London, for example, has a history that dates back over two thousand years. It was part of the Roman Empire and known by the similar name, Londinium. It was not only one of the northernmost points of the Roman Empire but also the epicenter of the British Empire where it held significant global influence from the early sixteenth century on through the early twentieth century. Washington, DC, on the other hand, has only formally existed since the late eighteenth century. Though Native Americans inhabited the land several thousand years earlier, and settlers inhabited the land as early as the sixteenth century, the city did not become the capital of the United States until the 1790s. From that point onward to today, however, Washington, DC, has increasingly maintained significant global influence. Even though both cities have different histories, they have both held, and continue to hold, significant social influence in the economic and cultural global spheres.

Both Washington, DC, and London offer a wide array of museums that harbor many of the world’s most prized treasures. While Washington, DC, has the National Gallery of Art and several other Smithsonian galleries, London’s art scene and galleries have a definite edge in this category. From the Tate Modern to the British National Gallery, London’s art ranks among the world’s best. This difference and advantage has much to do with London and Britain’s historical depth compared to that of the United States. London has a much richer past than Washington, DC, and consequently has a lot more material to pull from when arranging its collections. Both cities have thriving theater districts, but again, London wins this comparison, too, both in quantity and quality of theater choices. With regard to other cultural places like restaurants, pubs, and bars, both cities are very comparable. Both have a wide selection of expensive, elegant restaurants as well as a similar amount of global and national chains. While London may be better known for its pubs and taste in beer, DC offers a different bar-going experience. With clubs and pubs that tend to stay open later than their British counterparts, the DC night life tend to be less reserved overall.

Both cities also share and differ in cultural diversity and cost of living. Both cities share a very expensive cost of living—both in terms of housing and shopping. A downtown one-bedroom apartment in DC can easily cost $1,800 per month, and a similar “flat” in London may double that amount. These high costs create socioeconomic disparity among the residents. Although both cities’ residents are predominantly wealthy, both have a significantly large population of poor and homeless. Perhaps the most significant difference between the resident demographics is the racial makeup. Washington, DC, is a “minority majority” city, which means the majority of its citizens are races other than white. In 2009, according to the US Census, 55 percent of DC residents were classified as “Black or African American” and 35 percent of its residents were classified as “white.” London, by contrast, has very few minorities—in 2006, 70 percent of its population was “white,” while only 10 percent was “black.” The racial demographic differences between the cities is drastic.

Even though Washington, DC, and London are major capital cities of English-speaking countries in the Western world, they have many differences along with their similarities. They have vastly different histories, art cultures, and racial demographics, but they remain similar in their cost of living and socioeconomic disparity.

Sample Student Outline

In “Batman: A Hero for Any Time,” Jacob Gallman-Dreiling compares the traditional portrayal of the superhero Batman with the modern version. As you read, look for the comparison and contrast phrases that the author uses to help the reader understand the argument he is making. What kind of organizational structure does the essay follow?

Jacob Gallman-Dreiling

English 1101

16 March 2013

Thesis : Although the framework of the Batman story always remains the same, the character has been re-imagined over time to suit the changing expectations of a hero through his characterization as well as that of those who surround him, both friends and foes.

• Bruce Wayne’s parents are murdered in front of him.
• Bruce Wayne grows up to inherit his parents’ fortune.
• Batman fights crime with the help of Commissioner Gordon and others.
• Batman employs an arsenal of non-lethal weapons to aid him.
• Characters could not use concealed weapons.
• Stories required “morals.”
• Stories could not use kidnapping or excessive violence.
• Stories incorporated elements of science fiction.
• Stories had limitations on the portrayal of female characters.
• Batman’s suits often had ridiculous properties he conveniently prepared for the upcoming mission.
• Batman is haunted by the death of his parents.
• Batman has become a skilled detective and fighter.
• Batman’s suit is more armor than spandex.
• Batman is haunted by his mistakes.
• Batman and Commissioner Gordon conspire to hide the truth about Harvey Dent from the people of Gotham.
• Characters like Ace the Bat-Hound, Bat-Mice, and Batwoman were created to draw in children.
• Issues were built around a villain-of-the-week.
• Dick Grayson grows up and goes to college.
• Batgirl is paralyzed by the Joker.
• Joker is given several conflicting backstories explaining his psychosis.
• Catwoman has changed from a harmless cat-burglar to a reformed prostitute.

Sample Student Essay

Batman: A Hero for Any Time

Few ideas in this world are as timeless as that of a superhero. The ancient Greeks had Odysseus and Hercules. The British have Sherlock Holmes and Allan Quatermain. The Americans developed the modern concept of the superhero with characters like Superman and Spider-Man and created elaborate stories for the origin of their powers, much like the Greeks used when creating their heroes. While the world of superheroes was originally a white man’s club, the creation of Wonder Woman ushered in a new era of diversity. Now men, women, people of color, even those of differing sexual orientations are represented among the ranks of those who fight against evil. Though teams of superheroes like the Justice League of America and the XMen have enduring popularity, few superheroes have captured the imagination like Batman. Created in 1939 by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, a boy orphaned by violence grows to become the Caped Crusader, avenger of the fictional of Gotham. This comic book hero has spurred film, radio, and television adaptations, has spawned action figures and video games, and has maintained an uninterrupted comic book publication, something few other superhero titles can boast. Although the framework of the Batman story always remains the same, the character has been re-imagined over time to suit the changing expectations of a hero through his characterization as well as through the portrayal of those who surround him, both friends and foes.

The basic framework of the Batman story has stayed the same since his debut in May, 1939. At the age of eight, Bruce Wayne, the son of wealthy socialites, witnesses his parents’ murder at the hands of a desperate mugger and swears to avenge their deaths by waging war on all criminals. He grows up to inherit their fortune and the family company, using the money to fund charitable efforts and to reside in stately Wayne Manor. By night, he becomes Batman, ridding the Gotham City streets of menacing foes like the Joker, the Riddler, and Two-Face. He is aided in his fight by his sidekick Robin, Batgirl, and Commissioner Gordon, as well as his butler Alfred Pennyworth. His most enduring love interest is Selina Kyle, who is also known as the notorious cat-burglar, Catwoman. Batman eschews lethal weaponry such as guns, instead preferring to outwit his foes using his intellect to bring them to justice.

While the key details of Batman’s backstory have remained unchanged for almost seventy-five years, his characterization has changed to suit the ever-evolving expectations of a superhero. When the character debuted in the Silver Age of comics—the decades between 1950 and 1970—he was a sunny, pulpy character: he was billed as the “World’s Greatest Detective” and performed as such, while reflecting what is considered to be a more innocent time. His villains were grand, but he outsmarted them using his intelligence and science. The introduction of the Comics Code Authority in 1954 restricted not only the way that stories were presented but also the types of stories that could be presented. For instance, concealed weapons were forbidden, stories were required to have “morals,” and kidnapping and excessive violence were forbidden. As such, Batman’s stories began incorporating elements of science fiction. As the comics demonstrate, Batman famously repels aliens and an island of animatronic dinosaurs during this period. Also, female characters in the Batman stories of this time are poorly treated. The villain Catwoman had to be shelved due to regulations regarding women and violence, while the original Batwoman was brought on as a potential love interest to quiet the growing assertion of conservative culture warriors that Batman and Robin were, in fact, lovers. When this version of Batwoman was deemed unnecessary, she was written out. This period is also famous for Batman having “batsuits” with heretofore unseen special properties, such as fireproofing and thermal heating.

Modern portrayals of Batman show him as a deeply flawed, psychologically scarred hero. During the 1980s the Comics Code’s influence was waning, and writers like Frank Miller took advantage of this to tell brutal, psychological stories. Haunted by the murder of his parents, a modern Batman is dangerous and calculating. He has returned to his roots as a skilled detective and fighter, which has made him suspicious and paranoid. He is often depicted as having calculated how to defeat his allies, should the need arise, with contingency plans for everyone from Robin to Superman. Modern writers have a young Bruce Wayne train as a ninja before returning to Gotham to become Batman, so greater emphasis is placed on his stealth and fighting skills. The batsuit has reflected this change as well, shifting from a cloth/spandex suit to one that is very clearly body armor, built to withstand bullets and knives.

He is also haunted by his mistakes. After the death of Jason Todd, the second sidekick to go by the codename Robin, Batman spirals into anger and depression over not being able to prevent Jason’s death at the hands of the Joker. For the next decade, Jason’s murder haunts Batman alongside that of his parents as his greatest failure. He puts Jason’s costume on display in the Batcave as motivation. In the 2008 Christopher Nolan film The Dark Knight , Batman and Commissioner Gordon conspire to hide the truth of the popular District Attorney Harvey Dent’s descent into madness so that Gotham City will have a symbol of hope. While that decision is for the good of the city, it leads to Bruce Wayne’s reclusion and an eight year hiatus as Batman. Such dark, psychological stories would never have been allowed during the heyday of the Comics Code Authority.

Just as the portrayal of Batman has shifted to meet the current expectations of a superhero, so too have the depictions of the characters around him, both allies and enemies. During the Silver Age, Batman’s associates are, like Batman himself, light-hearted. Characters like Ace the Bat-Hound and the Bat-Mice were introduced to bring in more young readers, though these characters were rarely seen after 1964. Issues were built around a villain-of-the-week who is purely evil and has no outside motivation. These stories also tend to be episodic with no story arcs or even character arcs. The Joker is originally a calculating murderer, but his character becomes a gleeful trickster to comply with the Code.

As readers matured, the creative forces driving the various Batman outlets were able to tell more complex, meaningful stories. Thus, in modern portrayals, Batman’s associates deal with real, lasting consequences and changes. Beginning with Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight comic series, Batman’s friends begin their trials. Dick Grayson, the original Robin, grows up and goes to college, being replaced by the ill-fated Jason Todd. He becomes a hero in his own right, going by the codename Nightwing and becoming the leader of the Teen Titans. In the seminal 1988 graphic novel The Killing Joke , Batgirl is partially paralyzed by the Joker, who shoots her through her spine as part of an effort to drive her father, Commissioner Gordon, insane. This condition lasts until the DC-Universe-wide reboot in 2011, and she is now able to walk and has resumed the mantle of Batgirl. The Joker himself has been given many different backstories, all of them horrific. Filmmakers give a nod to the Joker’s varied backstories in the film The Dark Knight by having the Joker give conflicting accounts of how he received his trademark scars. Catwoman is originally just a bored housewife who turns to crime, but beginning in the 1980s her story retroactively changes to her being a prostitute who turns to burglary to buy freedom for herself and her sister. Once a staunch villain of Batman, this new version of the character is portrayed more as an antihero; though she is not necessarily an upstanding citizen, the new Catwoman will join forces with Batman to fight evil when it suits her. These stories appeal to an audience craving depth and substance to their characters, far different from the Pre-Vietnam War era Batman stories.

While the key details to the Batman story never change, the way the character has been presented has changed over time, as has the way his associated characters have been presented. It is perhaps this adaptability that has allowed Batman to flourish in popularity for almost seventy-five years, with no signs of that popularity waning. As the demographic for Batman’s stories matures, the power wielded by the Comics Code Authority has diminished, making darker, more meaningful stories possible. Previously one dimensional characters were given subtleties and nuances, much in the way modern film versions depict the heroes of old, from Odysseus to Sherlock Holmes. As society’s norms change, this change is reflected in the way films, stories, and comic books depict superheroes. With all the changes occurring in culture worldwide, who knows what the next generation’s Batman will be like?

External Links

“ Disability ” ( https://tinyurl.com/y99te6e2 ) by Nancy Mairs: In “Disability,” writer Nancy Mairs discusses the experience of being a disabled person in a world focused on the able-bodied. It seems to be titled “Hers” but it is the correct essay.

“ Friending, Ancient or Otherwise ” ( https://tinyurl.com/y85u8ae8 ) by Alex Wright: In “Friending, Ancient or Otherwise,” writer Alex Wright explores the evolution and purpose of friendship in the age of social media.

“ Sex, Lies and Conversation: Why Is It So Hard for Men and Women to Talk to Each Other ? ” ( https://tinyurl.com/y95dpehx ) by Deborah Tannen. In this essay, Tannen compares and contrasts conversation styles. You can view the essay here ( https://tinyurl.com/y9vnjqv8 ) also.

Contributors and Attributions

Adapted from  Successful College Composition (Crowther et al.) . Sourced from  LibreTexts , licensed under  CC BY-NC-SA  .

Adapted from  Let's Get Writing (Browning, DeVries, Boylan, Kurtz and Burton) . Sourced from  LibreTexts , licensed under  CC BY-NC-SA  .

101 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Great Ideas for Essays

• Teaching Resources
• An Introduction to Teaching
• Tips & Strategies
• Policies & Discipline
• Community Involvement
• School Administration
• Technology in the Classroom
• Teaching Adult Learners
• Issues In Education
• Becoming A Teacher
• Assessments & Tests
• Elementary Education
• Secondary Education
• Special Education
• Homeschooling
• M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, University of Florida
• B.A., History, University of Florida

Compare and contrast essays are taught in school for many reasons. For one thing, they are relatively easy to teach, understand, and format. Students can typically understand the structure with just a short amount of instruction. In addition, these essays allow students develop critical thinking skills to approach a variety of topics.

Brainstorming Tip

One fun way to get students started brainstorming their compare and contrast essays is to create a Venn diagram , where the overlapping sections of the circle contain similarities and the non-overlapping areas contain the differing traits.

Following is a list of 101 topics for compare and contrast essays that you are welcome to use in your classroom. As you look through the list you will see that some items are academic in nature while others are included for interest-building and fun writing activities.

• Apple vs. Microsoft
• Coke vs. Pepsi
• Renaissance Art vs. Baroque Art
• Antebellum Era vs. Reconstruction Era in American History
• Childhood vs. Adulthood
• Star Wars vs. Star Trek
• Biology vs. Chemistry
• Astrology vs. Astronomy
• American Government vs. British Government (or any world government)
• Fruits vs. Vegetables
• Dogs vs. Cats
• Ego vs. Superego
• Christianity vs. Judaism (or any world religion )
• Republican vs. Democrat
• Monarchy vs. Presidency
• US President vs. UK Prime Minister
• Jazz vs. Classical Music
• Red vs. White (or any two colors)
• Soccer vs. Football
• North vs. South Before the Civil War
• New England Colonies vs. Middle Colonies OR vs. Southern Colonies
• Cash vs. Credit Cards
• Sam vs. Frodo Baggins
• Gandalf vs. Dumbledore
• Fred vs. Shaggy
• Rap vs. Pop
• Articles of Confederation vs. U.S. Constitution
• Henry VIII vs. King Louis XIV
• Stocks vs. Bonds
• Monopolies vs. Oligopolies
• Communism vs. Capitalism
• Socialism vs. Capitalism
• Diesel vs. Petroleum
• Nuclear Power vs. Solar Power
• Saltwater Fish vs. Freshwater Fish
• Squids vs. Octopus
• Mammals vs. Reptiles
• Baleen vs. Toothed Whales
• Seals vs. Sea Lions
• Crocodiles vs. Alligators
• Bats vs. Birds
• Oven vs. Microwave
• Greek vs. Roman Mythology
• Chinese vs. Japanese
• Comedy vs. Drama
• Renting vs. Owning
• Mozart vs. Beethoven
• Online vs. Traditional Education
• North vs. South Pole
• Watercolor vs. Oil
• 1984 vs. Fahrenheit 451
• Emily Dickinson vs. Samuel Taylor Coleridge
• W.E.B. DuBois vs. Booker T. Washington
• Strawberries vs. Apples
• Airplanes vs. Helicopters
• Hitler vs. Napoleon
• Roman Empire vs. British Empire
• Paper vs. Plastic
• Italy vs. Spain
• Baseball vs. Cricket
• Jefferson vs. Adams
• Thoroughbreds vs. Clydesdales
• Spiders vs. Scorpions
• Northern Hemisphere vs. Southern Hemisphere
• Hobbes vs. Locke
• Friends vs. Family
• Dried Fruit vs. Fresh
• Porcelain vs. Glass
• Modern Dance vs. Ballroom Dancing
• American Idol vs. The Voice
• Reality TV vs. Sitcoms
• Picard vs. Kirk
• Books vs. Movies
• Magazines vs. Comic Books
• Antique vs. New
• Public vs. Private Transportation
• Email vs. Letters
• Facebook vs. Twitter
• Coffee vs. an Energy Drink
• Toads vs. Frogs
• Profit vs. Non-Profit
• Boys vs. Girls
• Birds vs. Dinosaurs
• High School vs. College
• Chamberlain vs. Churchill
• Offense vs. Defense
• Jordan vs. Bryant
• Harry vs. Draco
• Roses vs. Carnations
• Poetry vs. Prose
• Fiction vs. Nonfiction
• Lions vs. Tigers
• Vampires vs. Werewolves
• Lollipops vs. popsicles
• Summer vs. Winter
• Recycling vs. Landfill
• Motorcycle vs. Bicycle
• Halogen vs. Incandescent
• Newton vs. Einstein
• . Go on vacation vs. Staycation
• Rock vs. Scissors
• Write a Compare and Contrast Essay
• Beef Up Critical Thinking and Writing Skills: Comparison Essays
• How to Teach the Compare and Contrast Essay
• Venn Diagrams to Plan Essays and More
• Topical Organization Essay
• 501 Topic Suggestions for Writing Essays and Speeches
• Writing About Literature: Ten Sample Topics for Comparison & Contrast Essays
• Comparing and Contrasting in English
• Organizing Compare-Contrast Paragraphs
• 25 Essay Topics for American Government Classes
• Compare-Contrast Prewriting Chart
• Expository Essay Genre With Suggested Prompts
• Comparison in Composition
• Teaching Comparative and Superlative Forms to ESL Students
• Binary Fission vs. Mitosis
• Cause and Effect Essay Topics

• Work Abroad
• Teach English Abroad
• Teach English Abroad Blog

A COMPARISON OF A SPANISH AND AMERICAN SCHOOL

March 18, 2019

Programs for this blog post

Authored by:.

The differences between the Spanish school and the American school are quite parallel to the differences between the Spanish language and the American language – sure, you might find some similarities here and there but when you get down to it, they don’t have much in common. Outside of my own experiences attending an American school, I have spent a lot of time at several other schools, so I am pulling this comparison from many different schools in different states.

Below is a comparison of my secondary school in Andalucía and what I know about schools in the U.S.

THE ACTUAL CLASSROOM

One of the biggest differences is the actual classroom. At my school the students are assigned one classroom and that is where they have all their classes. The teachers rotate rooms each period. For me in the States, in both middle school and high school, the teachers stayed in one room (my dad literally taught in the SAME classroom for 35+ years) and the students changed classrooms each period, according to their schedule.

This difference provides an interesting dynamic. First, the decorations and style are that of the students’ interests and not the teachers’ interests. I would say that has potential to be a great thing but there is very little ornamentation and the classrooms definitely lack personality (at least on the walls). Second, I think this lends to a lack of control the teachers have over their classes (the students, not the room). It seems to me that some things get lost when the teacher needs to shuffle to another classroom after the bell rings.

There are pros and cons to how the classroom operates here but overall, I think the cons outweigh the pros.

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR

Almost every single day one of my coworkers asks me, “is this how students behave in America?” And I respond, “no, absolutely not.” I will be the first to admit that I was a troublemaker during my K-12 years and that my friends and I loved to create chaos, with the definition of chaos evolving into a different form every new school year but WOW – the Spaniards make us look like angels sent from heaven gift wrapped in layers of patience, attention, and obedience. The majority of my classes are loud and challenging to control. They sit wherever they want on any given day, and they enjoy talking back. How much work gets done depends completely on the specific class. By about week four I was well aware of which classes wanted to learn and which classes wanted to try and goof off the entire time. I felt that although we were talkative and disruptive in classes growing up, we knew when the line was drawn. There is not much of a line here.

All that said, I love it. Each class provides a different trial and once I figured out what works best for which class, moves could be made with the education.

Lockers were a big deal to me and my friends in middle school and high school. In a way the locker felt like a second home – a place that belonged to you, that you could design or decorate the way you wanted, make a huge mess out of, and most importantly a focal point of social activity. At my school here, lockers are basically nonexistent, so this is wildly different for the students. There is a small stretch of locker rooms at the entrance of the school, but I honestly do not even know how or in what manner they are assigned because it is the strangest assortment of students who have them. The students use their home rooms as their lockers and the whole day is basically social hour so despite not having an actual locker, the students aren’t missing out on what they provided us American students. 

There is not a traditional student cafeteria at my school and that is primarily because of the difference in meal schedule here in Andalucía. The students have a snack break at 11:30am. During that 30-minute timeframe they can stay at school or go home. When they stay at school, they scatter across the school grounds. Lunch in Andalucía starts around 2:30/3:00pm. Class ends at 3:00pm so once the final bell rings, the students rush home for their lunch. With this schedule there is no need for the classic American cafeteria that serves stock food but creates another social opportunity for American students. Personally, I miss the American cafeteria.

The comparison between schools in the States and here in Andalucía is fun. When it is all boiled down, I do not believe there is a right or wrong way in how they operate; however, I am having a fantastic time learning the differences and adjusting myself accordingly. Que guay! 

Related Posts

Twenty- Four Hours in Madrid

As the temperature begins to rise in Madrid, so does the number of people coming to visit this awesome city. I have had the pleasure to host and play tour... keep reading

The 8 Hardest Parts About Teaching English in Madrid

Throughout the application process to teach in Madrid, I was fed the idea that teaching abroad was this picture-perfect lifestyle and that it was accessible and easy. I had done... keep reading

• Cultural Differences
• Impressions & Reflections
• Learning the Language
• Tips & Advice
• Why Teach Abroad?

Misconceptions in Madrid

Moving to Madrid last August was my first time ever in Europe. Understandably so, I was really overwhelmed with everything I had been told about Europe, and specifically Spain, without... keep reading

© 2024 CIEE. All Rights Reserved.

• Privacy Notice
• Terms & Conditions

Home — Essay Samples — Science — Spanish Language — Comparison of English and Spanish Languages; Defining Similarities and Differences

Comparison of English and Spanish Languages; Defining Similarities and Differences

• Categories: Spanish Language

About this sample

Words: 1922 |

10 min read

Published: Jan 29, 2019

Words: 1922 | Pages: 4 | 10 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, comparison of sounds, comparison of grammar, english spanish, language and thought, acquisition.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof Ernest (PhD)

Verified writer

• Expert in: Science

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

4 pages / 1723 words

1 pages / 998 words

7 pages / 3064 words

5 pages / 2289 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Spanish Language

Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. 1845.

The Spanish language has its own set of grammatical rules and culture that has derived from Latin. It has been around for centuries and will continue to do so with the popularity of the bilingual person. Spanish has many [...]

The DELE or Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language are official titles which certify test takers' level of understanding and command of the Spanish language, and which are granted by the Instituto Cervantes in the name of the [...]

The works of Harold Pinter question the traditional views of language and communication, asking the audience to reconsider the hierarchal relationship between speech/silence, presence/absence, and the role of each opposition in [...]

What exactly is word stress and how it influences the way we speak and the listener's understanding of our utterances is considered in this study? Word stress is also called word accent. It is the stress distributed over [...]

Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s A Grain of Wheat is a Kenyan novel written in English, a language traditionally associated with colonialism and oppression in Africa. Despite the fact that the novel is written in English, Ngugi still uses [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

127 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

13 December, 2020

13 minutes read

Author:  Elizabeth Brown

Crafting a compare and contrast essay is typically much more interesting and fun than working on a dissertation. With this piece of writing, a student gets his chance to be creative. Besides, one doesn’t have to re-invent the bicycle: these essays already have a purpose and a topic. All you have to do is find similarities or differences between specific notions. And yes, there is one more problem to it.

Half of the success of a compare and contrast essay lies in a properly-chosen topic. Now, this can be tricky.

Just think about it: would want to read a piece on a beaten topic like “Books vs. Television”? Or would you rather give a read to an unusual compare and contrast Korean and Vietnam war essay? While you know everything about the first one, the second topic actually sounds interesting.

Choosing compare and contrast essay topics can be time-consuming and daunting. However, with the guide our  essay writer prepared, you will find a great title with no problem.

By the way, if you need a reminder of what such writing looks like and what components it consists of, don’t hesitate to read our guide on  how to write a compare and contrast essay . It will help you structure and organize your knowledge in this regard.

And here is a short introduction to what this type of academic writing should really look like.

How to write a compare and contrast essay

Depending on the task you received from your tutor, in this particular academic paper you are either to compare several things or notions or contrast them.

Here is what a structure of this type of writing looks like:

• An engaging opening with a “hook.”
• A thesis statement that explains what is the focus of your writing and whether you’ll be comparing or contrasting the notions.
• If you don’t know  how to write a thesis statement , here is a guide that will explain you all the details step by step.
• An argument #1 that supports the thesis statement.
• Evidence proving the author’s position.
• A short conclusion.
• A short reminder of a problem described in the essay.
• A brief overview of the similarities or differences (aka supporting arguments).
• A call to action or a interesting question to the audience.

Any A-grade essay would follow this structure. Thus, if you aim to receive better grades, consider taking this structure into account.

Meanwhile, as a student you get tons of other writing assignments. If you’re currently struggling with choosing good  argumentative essay topics , don’t hesitate to take a look at our recent guide!

Finally, let’s dive into the search. After all, this is a key to crafting an excellent piece.

What makes good compare and contrast essay topics

Several factors make some topics your best option compared to the rest.

No matter how great the topic of your choice is, the target audience can sense when you genuinely care about what you are writing, and when you’re simply following the structure with no personal interest in the subject. If you write yawning and find it hard to find any evidence to support your position, chances are you’ve chosen a wrong topic. A compare and contrast dog and cat essay might be a good topic for a person deeply loving these furry little creatures. But someone not that much into domestic animals won’t be able to write a single line of an essay comparing dogs and cats. So, choose your topic wisely.

Availability of trusted sources.

In some cases, you have to use trusted sources to prove your point. Otherwise, your position might seem biased and subjective. That is why we strongly recommend you to check whether the compare and contrast essay titles you opted can be supported by evidence found at the trusted sources.

Recommendation of a tutor.

Last but not least, ask for recommendations. With years of experience under his belt, your tutor might have an eye for great topics. So, why not using his experience for your own good? Besides, apart from good topics suggestions, he can also provide you with great sources to explore. So, don’t lose an opportunity to make your life easier with his assistance!

Proper formatting style.

Proper formatting is hard to overestimate when it comes to A-grade essay writing. A great deal of your grade depends on it. That is why we recommend you to check out our  essay format guide to figure out what your piece should look like.

These are the criteria that help you pick a good theme for your paper. But where should you look for theme to choose from in the first place? We know the answer.

If you aren’t sure you have the time and energy to craft a piece yourself, we’re here to help.  Handmade Writing is a reliable place to order your academic papers from.

Sources of interesting topics

Basically, there are six sources students can go to these days:

• Social media.
• Scientific journals.

Each one of them is filled with personalities, facts, events, and locations to contrast and compare. Therefore, don’t hesitate to explore these right sources.

By the way, if you are looking for ideas or inspiration on  how to write a scholarship essay , we’ve got something for you. We’ve gathered a guide that will walk you step by step through the process of composing a good essay that’ll get you college scholarship!

Easy compare and contrast essay topics for college students

• High school vs college.
• McDonalds and Burger King: Explain how these two fast food chains similar or different from each other.
• Public schools and homeschooling: Which do you prefer?
• Basketball and football: Popularity, speed of play, dependency on athleticism, personal preference, etc.
• Lamborgini vs. Bugatti.
• Virtual vs. Augmented reality: Which technology is the future?
• Star Wars vs. Star Trek: Which is better?
• Communism vs. Socialism: The good, the bad, and the ugly.
• American English vs British English.
• Conventional or E-learning: What would you choose?
• Computer and video games: Which is more fun?
• Inner beauty and outer beauty.
• Snapchat and Instagram: What makes them similar (different)?
• Stalin or Hitler: Which is a bigger evil? Or what in their management style was similar?
• Living in the big city or living in the country: What would you choose?
• Italian vs. Spanish cuisines.
• Active vacation in the mountains vs. passive rest by the sea.
• Facebook vs. Twitter.
• Windows vs. Linux.
• Android or iOS: Which is the future?

Funny compare and contrast essay topics

• Chandler, Joey and Ross: Which one of them is cooler?
• Pizza or pasta: If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, which of these would you choose?
• Batman vs. SuperMan;  Avengers vs. Justice League.
• Soccer vs football: How are they different apart from their name?
• Iron Man or Hulk: Which one is the best superhero of his time?
• Michael Jackson vs. Elvis Presley.
• George and Lennie.
• Harry Potter vs. Ronald Weasley: One is way cooler than the other.
• Simpsons or the South Park?
• Eternal summer or eternal winter: Which is the least of all evil?

Historical topics

• WW1 and WW2: Reasons, participants, number of dead and wounded, etc.
• Renaissance and Barocco.
• Roman and Greek mythology.
• Crusaders vs. Saracens.
• The European economics before and after WW2.
• Abolition of slavery in the USA and Europe.
• Japanese and European feudalism essay.
• Gender roles in the Roman Empire vs Ottoman Empire.
• British colonization and Spanish colonization.
• Lincoln and Kennedy.
• Reconstruction in America against the Industrial Age.
• Mongolian Empire and Persian Empire.
• Monaco vs Luxembourg: Countries’ history comparison.
• Worker unions history in the USA vs. Great Britain.
• Julius Caesar or Alexander the Great.

Compare and contrast essay between two jobs

• Marketer vs. Digital Marketer.
• Anthropologist vs. Philosopher vs. Psychologist
• Software Engineer vs. Software Architect.
• Film producer and a Film Director.
• Working from home and working at an office.
• Linguist and a Grammarian.
• Developer or a Coder?
• QA Specialist or a Test Engineer.
• Dean or a Principal.
• Accountant vs. Economist.
• Journalist vs. Reporter.
• Recruiter vs. HR Generalist.
• Copywriter vs. Content Marketer.

Compare and contrast essay between two cultures

• Egypt and Mesopotamia compare and contrast essay
• Modern European and American culture.
• Urbanism and ruralism.
• Vegetarianism vs. pescetarianism.
• Compare and contrast Mexico and United States essay.
• Emo culture and gothic.
• Compare and contrast Sparta and Athens essay.
• Bookworms vs. Film Buffs.
• Culture and ethnicity.
• Christianity, Islam and Judaism essay.

Interesting topics about literature

• Bible vs. Quran.
• 1984 vs. Fahrenheit 451.
• Chronicles of Narnia: Film or the book series?
• The Great Gatsby vs. The Catcher in the Rye.
• Fiction against non-fiction.
• Divine Comedy vs. Paradise Lost.
• Lord of the Rings: The book against the latest film production?
• Expository and Persuasive writing.
• Harry Potter vs. Lord of the Rings.
• Anne Frank’s Diary vs. I am Malala.
• Classic poetry against the modern one.
• Paper books against the e-books: The never-ending battle.
• Anne of Green Gables vs. Pollyanna.
• Pride and Prejudice vs. Bridget Jones’ Diary.
• Bronte sisters vs. Jane Austen.
• Drama and Comedy.
• To Kill a Mockingbird or The Help.
• Little Women vs. Little Men.
• Poetry and prose: What makes them different?

Topics related to movies and cinematography

• Wolf of Wall Street vs. Great Gatsby.
• Main differences between European and American films.
• Horror films and thrillers.
• House M.D. against Grey’s Anatomy.
• Sherlock Holmes: The old series or the new episodes?
• Polyanna: Which is better – a film or the book?
• Japanese horror films vs. American.
• Home Alone 1 vs. Home Alone 4.
• The Wizard of Oz against Gone With the Wind.
• The Sound of Music vs. Mary Poppins.
• Beverly Hills, 90210 or Melrose Place.
• Friends vs. The Office.
• Charlie Chaplin and Mr. Bean.
• The Pianist or Schindler’s List.
• Romeo and Juliet: 1968, 1996, and 2013 productions.
• Forrest Gump or The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
• 300 or Gladiator.
• Lord of the Rings: extended edition vs. director’s cut.
• Ben-Hur (1959) vs. Ben-Hur (2016).
• Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) and Prince of Egypt.
• Dunkirk vs. Saving Private Ryan.
• The Green Mile vs. The Shawshank Redemption.
• Les Miserables (2012) vs. The Greatest Showman.

Music and arts-related topics

• Beyonce vs. Rihanna.
• Whitney Houston against Adele.
• Britney Spears against Madonna.
• Mona Lisa vs. Girl with a Pearl Earring.
• Van Gogh against Picasso.
• Impressionism against Expressionism.
• Opera and ballet.
• Spotify or Deezer.
• Records or Live concerts.
• Jazz or classical music.
• Musical theatre vs. Play with music.
• Renaissance and Enlightenment epochs in arts.
• African vs. Asian art.
• Rock music of the XX century vs. today.
• Religious hymns and secular songs about Christmas.
• Music people listened to in their twenties in the XX century and now.
• Protagonist of the modern pop music culture and that of the 1960s.

We guarantee that you can easily find a good title among the ones we suggested. If you find it hard to compose a good compare and contrast essay even after choosing one of our topics, don’t hesitate to us a line asking for help.

A life lesson in Romeo and Juliet taught by death

Due to human nature, we draw conclusions only when life gives us a lesson since the experience of others is not so effective and powerful. Therefore, when analyzing and sorting out common problems we face, we may trace a parallel with well-known book characters or real historical figures. Moreover, we often compare our situations with […]

Ethical Research Paper Topics

Writing a research paper on ethics is not an easy task, especially if you do not possess excellent writing skills and do not like to contemplate controversial questions. But an ethics course is obligatory in all higher education institutions, and students have to look for a way out and be creative. When you find an […]

Art Research Paper Topics

Students obtaining degrees in fine art and art & design programs most commonly need to write a paper on art topics. However, this subject is becoming more popular in educational institutions for expanding students’ horizons. Thus, both groups of receivers of education: those who are into arts and those who only get acquainted with art […]

compare and contrast

• Pronunciation

THE BEST SPANISH-ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Get more than a translation, written by experts, translate with confidence, spanish and english example sentences, examples for everything, regional translations, say it like a local.

Making educational experiences better for everyone.

Immersive learning for 25 languages

Marketplace for millions of educator-created resources

Fast, easy, reliable language certification

Fun educational games for kids

Comprehensive K-12 personalized learning

Trusted tutors for 300+ subjects

35,000+ worksheets, games, and lesson plans

Adaptive learning for English vocabulary

5 Compare and Contrast Essay Examples (Full Text)

A compare and contrast essay selects two or more items that are critically analyzed to demonstrate their differences and similarities. Here is a template for you that provides the general structure:

A range of example essays is presented below.

Compare and Contrast Essay Examples

#1 jean piaget vs lev vygotsky essay.

1480 Words | 5 Pages | 10 References

(Level: University Undergraduate)

Thesis Statement: “This essay will critically examine and compare the developmental theories of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky, focusing on their differing views on cognitive development in children and their influence on educational psychology, through an exploration of key concepts such as the role of culture and environment, scaffolding, equilibration, and their overall implications for educational practices..”

#2 Democracy vs Authoritarianism Essay

Thesis Statement: “The thesis of this analysis is that, despite the efficiency and control offered by authoritarian regimes, democratic systems, with their emphasis on individual freedoms, participatory governance, and social welfare, present a more balanced and ethically sound approach to governance, better aligned with the ideals of a just and progressive society.”

#3 Apples vs Oranges Essay

1190 Words | 5 Pages | 0 References

(Level: 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade)

Thesis Statement: “While apples and oranges are both popular and nutritious fruits, they differ significantly in their taste profiles, nutritional benefits, cultural symbolism, and culinary applications.”

#4 Nature vs Nurture Essay

1525 Words | 5 Pages | 11 References

(Level: High School and College)

Thesis Statement: “The purpose of this essay is to examine and elucidate the complex and interconnected roles of genetic inheritance (nature) and environmental influences (nurture) in shaping human development across various domains such as physical traits, personality, behavior, intelligence, and abilities.”

#5 Dogs vs Cats Essay

1095 Words | 5 Pages | 7 Bibliographic Sources

(Level: 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade)

Thesis Statement: “This essay explores the distinctive characteristics, emotional connections, and lifestyle considerations associated with owning dogs and cats, aiming to illuminate the unique joys and benefits each pet brings to their human companions.”

How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay

I’ve recorded a full video for you on how to write a compare and contrast essay:

Get the Compare and Contrast Templates with AI Prompts Here

In the video, I outline the steps to writing your essay. Here they are explained below:

1. Essay Planning

First, I recommend using my compare and contrast worksheet, which acts like a Venn Diagram, walking you through the steps of comparing the similarities and differences of the concepts or items you’re comparing.

I recommend selecting 3-5 features that can be compared, as shown in the worksheet:

Grab the Worksheet as Part of the Compare and Contrast Essay Writing Pack

2. Writing the Essay

Once you’ve completed the worksheet, you’re ready to start writing. Go systematically through each feature you are comparing and discuss the similarities and differences, then make an evaluative statement after showing your depth of knowledge:

Get the Rest of the Premium Compare and Contrast Essay Writing Pack (With AI Prompts) Here

How to Write a Compare and Contrast Thesis Statement

Compare and contrast thesis statements can either:

• Remain neutral in an expository tone.
• Prosecute an argument about which of the items you’re comparing is overall best.

To write an argumentative thesis statement for a compare and contrast essay, try this AI Prompts:

💡 AI Prompt to Generate Ideas I am writing a compare and contrast essay that compares [Concept 1] and [Concept2]. Give me 5 potential single-sentence thesis statements that pass a reasonable judgement.

Ready to Write your Essay?

Take action! Choose one of the following options to start writing your compare and contrast essay now:

Read Next: Process Essay Examples

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 50 Durable Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 100 Consumer Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 30 Globalization Pros and Cons

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *