What should your topics be in a compare and contrast essay? The best way to choose a set of topics is to brainstorm and write down all the potential ideas you can think of. Make sure that your topics have something in common and are related in some way. For example; choosing the topics, The Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer and Pizza Huts' latest pizza creation will not give you much in the way of comparing and contrasting.
Can’t think of topics? Think about things you know a good deal about. What about your hobbies, skills, or interests? Do you love cars? Compare two types of cars. Which is faster, better buy, safer, or most stylish? Do you love to shop? Compare your two favorite stores. Love to read? Compare your favorite authors. Love to exercise? Compare two pieces of exercise equipment. Or compare using equipment versus bodyweight exercises. Like to cook? Compare two chicken soup recipes. Need more ideas? What about vacation spots? Shampoo? Clothing labels? Shoe brands? Sports teams? Cameras? Cell phone types?
*Tips:
Still need an idea? There are literally hundreds of websites with topics that you can choose from.
A few of the many websites offering topics:
A thesis statement is a sentence that identifies the topics and the purpose of your paper. It belongs at the end of your introductive paragraph. Your thesis statement will help you create a focused paper and help the reader follow the points you will make in the paper. Use your thesis statement to generate interest in your topics and to keep your audience to continue reading your paper. For example; “Two of our local Mexican restaurants, El Cazador and Pedro’s, have similar prices and many of the menu items listed share the same names but the ingredients and preparation of those items set the two restaurants apart.”
The thesis statement should state your opinion, and your argument about the topics included in your paper. A thesis statement is not a statement of facts but is instead made of statements that are arguable.
You can use a Venn Diagram to help you compare and contrast your two topics. The overlapping area is where you place information on how the two topics are alike and outside the overlap are ways that they are different.
See the example below from: https://blog.shurley.com/blog/2018/11/8/how-to-write-a-comparison-contrast-essay
