English 090 Essay #3

Comparison and Contrast Writing

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Important Dates

Friday, October 7—hand out Essay #3 guidelines; prewriting in class

Monday, October 10-Tuesday, October 11—conferences; two sources due

Wednesday, October 12—outline and sources due in class

Monday, October 17— rough draft due (bring two copies for peer review workshop)

Friday, October 21—final draft due

Prompt

For your comparison and contrast paper, please choose one of the following topics about which to write. You will write a paper that discusses the similarities and differences between these two things, and you will then reach a conclusion about them (for example, which is stronger, better, etc.). You will also need to find two different sources to support your ideas here—one source for each person or issue.

• Two musical groups
• Two movies of the same type (for example, two comedies, two horror movies, etc.)
• The playing style of two different athletes (make sure the athletes play the same sport)
• The “Gender Gap”—men and women
• Online and traditional shopping environments
• Two different colleges or universities
• The physical or mental demands of two jobs

Criteria

A well-developed paper will possess all of the following elements:                     

• Your paper should be three to four typed, double-spaced pages, with a proper MLA heading and formatting;
• You should have a specific thesis statement that is both complex and specific;
• You are also required to complete an outline for this paper that demonstrates the organization of your paper;
• Decide whether to use the block pattern or point-by-point style of comparison;
• You should compare at least four different points on each of the two people or issues you choose;
• You will locate two different sources from the library’s online databases or the Internet about your two people or topics;
• You should bring in at least one major point as support from each of your two

sources;

• At the end of your paper, come to a conclusion about the two things you are comparing. Is one better than the other? Why?;
• Your paper should have strong spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Please avoid using the pronoun “you” in your writing. and

Your final draft must be turned in with a folder on Friday, October 21. This folder should contain your prewriting, outline, two sources, rough drafts, peer review questions, and final draft. No late papers will be accepted.