Overview: Write an essay that compares or contrasts two separate things (well-known people/ideas/ places/times, things, experiences, events, etc.) Develop a thesis, and then support this thesis in the body of the paper. You will only be comparing OR contrasting—not both. Comparing means looking for similarities, while contrasting means looking for differences. If you utilize research, you must include in-text citations and a Works Cited page.

Compare or contrast any two things that are not obvious or commonly covered; local and current themes are often the least covered and most interesting.