A+ Guide to Compare and Contrast Essays

by Alison Plus

Overview

This practical booklet can help you write a compare and contrast essay by showing you the complete process of writing this type of paper. This systematic method will start with your assignment and end with a final proofreading. In between that first and last step, this writing method relies upon templates to help you build a well-organized compare-and-contrast paper. These templates show you exactly what to include in different places within the paper. You will no longer need to guess what to write and where to write it. By using the templates, the various pieces of the paper will work together to create a coherent draft.
Follow the steps in order, from the first to the last, and do not skip any along the way. Each step builds on the previous steps. Assignment analysis turns into a table of factors, the table of factors turns into a working outline and topic sentences, and so on. By completing each step before moving on to the next, the next step will be easier. And so will the one after that.
This booklet not only helps you write a complete paper, but it shows you a method to apply in any similar paper that relies on the compare-and-contrast model. Working the steps carefully the first time will teach you the method. Then, when you must write another compare-and-contrast essay, use this booklet as a reference to refresh your memory on the steps and templates. The more you use the method, the easier it will be.

Table of Contents
How to Use This Booklet
Step One: Choose Two Topics
Step Two: The Table of Factors
Step Three: The Working Outline
- Checklist: Four Factors to Consider When Choosing an Organization Pattern
Step Four: The Thesis Statement
- Checklist: Ingredients in a Strong Comp-Con Thesis Statement
- Checklist: Eight Things That Can Change Your Grade
Step Five: The Introductory Paragraph
Step Six: Body Paragraphs
- Checklist: How to Test Paragraph Organization and Development
Step Seven: The Conclusion Paragraph
Step Eight: The Final Draft
- First Layer: Revising Out Loud
- Second Layer: Sentence Triage
- Third Layer: "Find" Searches
- Fourth Layer: The Fine Points

Product Details

BN ID:	2940156809011
Publisher:	Four-Ply Publishing
Publication date:	09/12/2016
Series:	A+ Guides to Writing , #2
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	71 KB

About the Author

Hi! I’m Alison Plus, and I’ve spent many years editing books for publication, teaching writing at the college level, and tutoring students in junior high, high school, college, and graduate school. You know how they say that our education system “teaches to the test” now? As a practical matter, this means that many schools no longer teach students how to write papers. Oh, they still teach basic grammar and reading comprehension because standardized testing can measure that. But if they take valuable classroom time to show you how to organize different kinds of paragraphs, what to stress in different kinds of papers, and how to set up a thesis and support, they are possibly endangering their entire school’s test scores. Therefore, many schools no longer teach these basic writing and organization skills.
This is why I decided to write a series of booklets addressing different kinds of writing assignments. Each booklet starts by examining the nature of the assignment type – short answer essays have different goals from five-paragraph essays, which are organized differently from literature reviews, which are set up in a way very different from an argument paper. After we understand the basic purpose of the paper type, we move methodically through the different types of sentences and paragraphs, building a template that you can follow to write your own papers. Each booklet also includes proofreading tips designed for the particular assignment type and word processing software, as applicable.
Take your time going through each booklet the first time! You’re not only writing a paper, but you’re also learning a method that you will be able to transfer to future assignments. Allot enough time to absorb each step in the process, and in the end, you’ll have more than just a finished essay. You’ll have skills to make you a better writer going forward.
And be sure to check out my twitter feed for short tips on academic writing!