Comparev Contrast Argument
Comparev Contrast Argument
Comparev Contrast Argument: ASSIGNMENT: Using your chapter readings, class discussion, WRITE A COMPARE CONTRAST ARGUMENT of at least three pages double-spaced MINIMUM (not counting header, blank lines, or title lines, but actual original text written by you!)
SPECIFICATIONS:
Your COMPARE CONTRAST PAPER MUST BE well organized to manage the similarities, differences, and concluding judgment of your two subjects. You must create powerful and logical STRUCTURE and SEQUENCE OF POINTS to sort out differences and “help people better understand where others are coming from” (Johnson and Sheehan 119). WE WILL BE USING THE “SIMILARITIES-ANDDIFFERENCES” STRUCTURE OUTLINED ON PAGE 108 (not the point-by-point model).
In this compare/contrast paper, it’s OK to have a BIASED VIEW; in fact, you MUST have a bias – a PREFERENCE for one over the other—that will inform your ARGUMENT for why one is better than the other even though they show similarities.
CHOOSE A TOPIC FROM ONE OF THE FOLLOWING DOMAINS:
2 social media interfaces
2 movies or 2 video games
2 levels of schooling (high school vs. college)
2 types of outdoor adventures
2 restaurants offering similar menus
2 course formats (face-to-face vs. online)
2 exercise practices (pilates vs. yoga)
2 musical instruments (in terms of lifelong enjoyment)
2 smartphone platforms Two novels for teens
2 parenting styles used with teens and/or young adults
2 music bands labeled in the same genre
Professor’s notes
1. Take time to think about categories that interest you — categories in which you know more than one KIND of subject. warning: do NOT choose a boring topic such as high school versus college or online learning versus face-to-face, since those are kind of already decided by time, situation, fate, and/or a pandemic. 😉 Go with something new and interesting that will allow you to GAIN KNOWLEDGE while making an argument of “this one is better” HAVE FUN with this one! Choose a pair of interesting subjects!
2. Now, let’s talk about what NOT to do in this compare/contrast paper.
3. 1) DO NOT state the obvious. Most of us know that most pizza has cheese, so do NOT spend a paragraph saying that a similarity is that two kinds of pizza both have cheese. 😉 USE YOUR OWN ANGLE (edge toward a unique perspective) to come up with interesting TOPIC IDEAS that could form the material for your body paragraphs!
4. 2) DO NOT try to write this paper without the benefit of your helpful textbook chapter (Ch.6) and your detailed ASSIGNMENT SHEET. Both will give you tips on how to organize your paper, thus saving you TIME and frustration during the drafting process.
5. 3) DO NOT FORGET to think forward regarding the challenges that P2 requires of you (image embedding and also image creation with the required Venn diagram!)
HELP FROM OUR TEXTBOOK!
1. Revisit the “Quick View” on Page 108 of your textbook, noting that “some persuasion is needed in comparisons, especially if you are arguing that one of your subjects is superior in some way to others. You will need to support your claims about your subjects’ strengths and weaknesses” (Johnson and Sheehan 108).
2. Use the Venn Diagram on Page 110 to think through your own topic and to IDENTIFY COMMON AREAS in a visual way! DRAW a Venn diagram of your own. Take a photo of it and insert that image into your paper (or create one using an online drawing tool!)
3. Use the good advice on Page 111 to find a “GOOD ANGLE” for comparing your subjects in a “unique and interesting way.” (See the comparison of McDonald’s and Five Guys for the “college relevance” angle, or the “impact on the environment” or “what if my friend doesn’t eat meat?” angle!) ALSO ASK YOURSELF, “WHAT FRAMES ARE TYPICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH EACH SUBJECT?” (If you can’t remember what “frames” are—go back to Chapter 2, Page 26)
4. CREATE A QUESTION that will focus your argument! (for example, which Smartphone is better for college students having to create, save, and access files?) (Remember, you can use this question and your Venn diagram in the paper!)
5. REVIEW PAGE 117 for “Ten Things You Need to Know” about comparing!
6. Don’t forget to READ THE STUDENT SAMPLES on PAGES 119-122 AND 123-126. You will find these helpful as you are creating your own topic for P2!
Brainstorming Question:
WHAT INTERESTING COMPARISON/CONTRAST COULD I MAKE OF TWO SUBJECTS THAT WOULD persuade readers to agree with my biased argument that one is better/worse than the other?
RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS (THERE ARE THREE THIS TIME):
1) Find, Use, Place, and Cite AT LEAST TWO IMAGES that you find online (and are related to your subject). Use graphic design to place them where they are intentional on your part and meaningful for the reader.
2) Place your own Venn Diagram as an image inside the paper (at a location of your choice).
3) Incorporate AT LEAST ONE DIRECT TEXT QUOTE AND ONE CITED PARAPHRASE from a published source (could be a review, a usability study, a page from Consumer Reports magazine, a specification list from the Best Buy website, etc.)
Don’t forget that you will need to create a CORRECTLY FORMATTED WORKS CITED PAGE with at least 3 entries this time (2 images and one text source)! (Visit Pages 396-397 and 405 in our Argument Today textbook if you are having trouble remembering how to do a Works Cited page from English 1301! You are accountable for this skill being already developed when you begin English 1302; see a tutor if you need a review!)
Reminder: Your Works Cited page is a SEPARATE double-spaced LAST PAGE with a centered header “Works Cited” (always!) and DOES NOT COUNT toward length!
