Comparison / Contrast Essay Satire & Social Commentary Unit
Objectives Your essay should Identify each selection and the social issue or issues they target (or one of the social issues it addresses). Identify three points of comparison, contrast, or both. Provide details from each of the authors / literature selections to support each point of comparison / contrast. Make a conclusion about the similarities / differences between the two authors / literature selections.
Thesis The thesis should present the authors and their literary works and indicate whether they will be compared, contrasted, or both. Thesis templates:
Comparisons A point of comparison identifies a similarity between the two authors / selections. Transitional Words: In addition Correspondingly Compared to Similarly Just as As well as Likewise Same as At the same time
Contrasts A point of contrast identifies a difference between the two authors / selections. Transitional Words: However On the contrary On the other hand Even though In contrast Although Unlike Conversely Meanwhile
Support The same points should be discussed for both authors / selections to give both subjects the same degree of development. Your points can be points of comparison, points of contrast, or both. For each of the points of comparison, you should reference details for each author / selection. Use detailed topic sentences and connecting words to make the relationship between your subjects clear to your reader. Considerations when developing points of comparison / contrast: Efficiency at making indirect points about real problems Use of irony (verbal, situational) Use of exaggeration Use of Horatian satire v. use of Juvenalian satire (Gently mocking v. harshly critical) Which piece you find the most clever or amusing How you feel about the social issues targeted by each piece Which piece delivers the clearest social critique The historical context of the piece
Comparison / Contrast Essay Structure Point by Point Format 3 Body Paragraphs Body Paragraph Format Block Format 2 Body Paragraphs Body Paragraph Format Topic Sentence Point of Comp/Cont 1 Topic Sentence Topic 1 Topic 1 Point of Comp/Cont 1: Topic 2 Point of Comp/Cont 1: Transition Sentence Point of Comp/Cont 1: Point of Comp/Cont 2: Point of Comp/Cont 3: Transition Sentence
Point by Point Format 3 Body Paragraphs Block Format 2 Body Paragraphs I. Introductory Paragraph I. Introductory Paragraph II. Topic Sentence Point of Comp/Cont 1 II. Topic Sentence Topic 1 A. Topic 1 Point of Comp/Cont 1: B. C. C. B. Topic 2 Point of Comp/Cont 1: C. IV. D. III. B. B. C. Transition Sentence Concluding Paragraph D. IV. Point of Comp/Cont 3: Point of Comp/Cont 2: Topic 2 Point of Comp/Cont 1: Point of Comp/Cont 1: Topic 1 Point of Comp/Cont 1: C. Topic Sentence Topic 1 Transition Sentence A. Transition Sentence A. Topic Sentence Point of Comp/Cont 1 Point of Comp/Cont 3: Topic 1 Point of Comp/Cont 1: Point of Comp/Cont 2: Topic Sentence Point of Comp/Cont 1 V. B. Transition Sentence A. Point of Comp/Cont 1: Topic 2 Point of Comp/Cont 1: III. A. Transition Sentence Concluding Paragraph
Conventions Focus: Commas & Modifiers Commas Modifiers Commas to separate items in a list Use of individual words, phrases, & clauses as modifiers Commas in addition to FANBOYS conjunctions to join two independent clauses Commas after introductory words, phrases, or clauses Commas to insert words, phrases, or clauses Commas used in association with quotation marks Avoidance of misplaced or dangling modifiers
Prewriting #1: Basic Venn Diagram