Comparison and Contrast Essay Assignment Description
Assignment: Write a formal comparison and contrast essay of at least 5 full pages
 Choose two literary works from different genres that you were assigned to read for class that deal with the same theme
o Genres are: Short Story, Non-Fiction, Poem, or Drama
o Themes might include: Identity, Love, Death, Family, Relationships, and more
o Please note: you may not choose the same texts that you wrote about for the Analysis or
Explication essays.
 Compare and contrast the two literary works by:
o describing how each one deals with the theme
o explaining the how the characteristics of each genre influence, enhance, and/or weaken the
meaning of the theme
o identifying the similarities and differences between them
o taking a stand on which genre captures the meaning of the theme more effectively
In order to construct an effective comparison and contrast of the texts, you will need to:
 Identify the key elements of each text and note the similarities and differences that exist between the two literary
works
 Describe the details that display these similarities and differences and how they compare and contrast
 Evaluate the significance of the similarities and differences
 Support your analysis with specific quotations from the texts
Format: Twelve point font (Times New Roman preferred), double-spaced, one inch margins on each side, with an MLA style name block, in text citations, and Works Cited page.
The comparison and contrast essay should include:
o A strong introduction that grabs the reader’s attention and provides an overview of the contents of the
essay
o A clear thesis statement that expresses the main idea of the essay and takes a stand on the significance of
your comparison and contrast of the two literary works
o Body paragraphs that support the thesis with convincing evidence that illustrates your points by including
specific quotations from the text that are cited in proper MLA format o A creative conclusion that wraps up the essay in a memorable way
Remember the analysis essay is not:
o An informal essay (do not use “I” or “you”)
o A summary (do not simply retell the details )
o A book review (do not focus on your personal opinion of whether or not you liked the story)
o A research paper (do not include outside sources; the only references should be to the texts being
analyzed)
The comparison and contrast essay is due on November 8, 2018
The assignment counts as your Final and is worth 100 Points
Our textbook, Literature: The Human Experience can serve as a reference on how to write a strong paper:
For more information on how to write an essay about literature see “Writing About Literature” (page 31-75) For more specific information on how to write a comparison and contrast essay see “Comparison and Contrast”