For this essay you will examine two concepts or items from a similar category and offer an interesting analysis of how they are similar in some ways, different in some ways, or both similar and different in some ways. One of you will focus on one subject in the category, and the other will focus on the other subject in the category. You MUST work together to plan what points you will research, how you will organize them in your essay, and how you will make sure that your style, diction, and tone match (so that it seems as if only one person wrote the essay).

Here are examples of past topics.

Example 1) Research the plagiarism laws or policies and/or customs in your home country and the United States. Compare/contrast the two systems.

Example 2) Advanced topic (includes other’s opinions): There are two groups of people in the United States that have very different views on how the US government should “handle” the threat of ISIS. One side feels that the US is at least partially responsible and should help. The other feels that the US has no place there and should completely back away. Research and then compare/contrast these two reactions.

Choose your own topic (or one of the above). It must be academic and you must get it approved through me. If you need help, I have many ideas.

Now is the time to narrow it down. You want to highlight the similarities or differences or both (“It Depends”) between two concepts, physical items, systems, or other parallel and comparable topics. You only have 500-700 words and one short presentation.

You will write an essay on your choice. Here are some initial questions and instructions to help you begin:

Who is your audience? Martin is NOT your audience. Imagine a group of people who would appreciate this essay. Be as specific as possible (not “everyone” or “all people in the government,” etc). Give a reason for your choice.
You plan to target___________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________(your audience)
Think about another, deeper purpose for the essay, so it is not boring (it is NOT because that’s what your assignment says to do). Consider why someone would want or need to know the information you present. You should present comparisons and contrasts that are not easily seen or noticed by your audience. For example, if you compare summer and winter there are too many obvious differences to make an interesting essay. You could, however, compare the symbolism associated with each season in British Romantic poetry. As another example, if you compare red and white there are too many obvious differences, but you could compare the metaphorical attributes associated with red between China and England. Remember, this cannot be a persuasive essay. ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What point(s) do you want focus on? This should be specific and will directly relate to your audience and purpose. Example: If you examine plagiarism policies between two countries, do you want to focus primarily on what each system does well/not well? Do you want to discuss how the culture supports or doesn’t support the rules/laws? Do you want to focus on how the educational systems deal with such forms of cheating? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Which subject in your topic will you focus on? Example – I will focus on the plagiarism laws or customs in China. My partner will focus on the plagiarism laws in the USA.
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