point by point comparison essay

point by point comparison essay

The Art of Writing a Point-by-Point Comparison Essay

1. Introduction to Point-by-Point Comparison Essays

A point-by-point comparison essay is a piece of writing that is particularly designed to help readers better understand a particular topic by pinpointing its similarities and differences. When writing an essay for this purpose – whether it is meant to compare and contrast two different things or to compare one item to itself at two separate points in time – there are ultimately a few basics that you should keep in mind when you go through the writing process. These basics all factor in to the structure of the essay, and how you write it is ultimately up to you.

In the sections to follow, we shall learn several strategies about how to write an effective point-by-point comparison essay. The first thing that you should do after you have chosen your topic is jot down as many differences or similarities that come into your mind as you can think of; doing this ensures that you have a very clear understanding of your chosen topic before you begin. The next action that you should take after you have brainstormed your topic is to think of specific supporting details for it and examples of what they want to write about; this step is crucial in setting you up to be able to back everything up in a more organized manner. Good topics for this type of essay include the differences between two fast-food chains, movies, or products, as well as comparing and contrasting two eras like the 1920s and 1960s. By understanding the basics of writing a point-by-point comparison essay, you are one step closer to mastering the art of writing itself.

2. Structuring Your Essay: Point-by-Point Method

The body of a comparison essay can be organized in a number of different ways, although it is essential that the structure of your essay not only provide the reader with information in a clear and coherent manner, but that it also reflects your thesis. Two methods for structuring the body of a comparison essay follow.

When to use the point-by-point method: In longer essays, say 4+ pages, it’s often possible to divide the body of your essay into two large sections, which generally highlight the two subjects’ differences, or perhaps begin by comparison (A, B) and then move on to contrast (A, B).

In this body paragraph, after the Assertion, include any evidence – a quotation, statistic, data – that supports this first point. Explain what the evidence means. Show the reader how this entire paragraph connects back to the thesis statement.

Using a point-by-point method, however, the writer continually alternates points about A with comparable points about B – for example, mood setting – the intro paragraph – A – businesses require it; B – consumers do not require mood setting; point-by-point topic sentence — like description, mood setting is different in the two essays.

Further, the reason mood setting is different in the two essays is that the setting is different. Even though businesses and consumers are somewhat different and have different “standards”, the mood setting is similar in the two essays because both calls for them both.

3. Developing Strong Arguments and Analysis

When the scope of a comparison is clear, compare the two items or ideas according to each point. Be careful not to confuse two different points (i.e., two different ways of comparing them) in one paragraph. Examples and details (e.g., definitions and descriptions) each paragraph should include specific examples and details to fully develop the point. Support each point by using facts, logic, evidence, expert opinion, and sound reasoning, thus convincing the reader that your analysis is valid. The point-by-point comparison focuses on the specific comparison points between the two subjects (or ideas or items), as the name indicates. This essay will consist of an introduction, several paragraphs discussing the main points of comparison, and a conclusion.

Beginning your discussion of the points: In the introduction to your essay, you should include a brief description of the two points of comparison. Your thesis statement should ‘wrap up’ your analysis, summarizing the key points. For example, the body may be organized by either, useful when both subjects belong to the same category, or and useful when the time period is important when discussing each subject. The “point-by-point” pattern: In this method, the writer must offer a separate paragraph for each point of comparison. In the first paragraph, discuss how each point of comparison will be addressed. In the second paragraph, discuss one of the two items being compared. In the next three paragraphs, discuss the second comparison point. In the final paragraph, offer your analysis of the two items.

4. Transitions and Cohesion in Point-by-Point Comparisons

Having provided all necessary elements in both the introduction and the body paragraphs, you should now ensure that your point-by-point comparison essay includes transitions and is presented with cohesion. That is, as readers move from one point to the next, they should notice a clear connection between the ideas presented. It is also important that readers can easily follow the main ideas as they work through the body paragraphs of the essay.

In order to create transitions from point to point and paragraph to paragraph, you should make sure the items or ideas in the body paragraphs are connected and flow logically in the same way that items listed in parallel points are similar.

To work to maintain this cohesion, and to help your essay keep related comparison points together, you can rely on several types of transitions to show the connections between the items. Use these if you have not done so already. They include the use of the following transitions: “on the other hand,” “in the same way,” “similarly,” “correspondingly,” “in the same vein,” and “a further consideration.”

provides a list of other such transitional expressions, some specific to certain types of comparison: “for and against,” “not only do they but also,” “important as well are,” and “on the one side.” Consider using these to signal the connections between multiple examples comparing different aspects of an issue, for comparing specific examples and for showing concessions. Using such transitions can make your essay appear both well-organized and well written, as well as adding support for your ideas by showing how your ideas are related.

5. Concluding Your Essay with Impact

Writing in the reader’s memory is the most important thing to consider when you are about to finish your essay. A conclusion should leave a persistent impression on your reader. Therefore, it should be effective and essay-tailored. There are several ways you can conclude your point-by-point essay. You can end it by ending the point of comparison or by making a conclusive judgment. The conclusive judgment provides your final decision regarding the two subjects. For example, you might say “Although larger dogs require more effort to keep clean, their larger size will keep tiny dogs out of harm.” (This is a final word in ownership of your opinion). Maybe you might propose a solution to a problem too. If a point-by-point comparison will be of any use to your reader, you can use this tactic.

If your conclusion is reader-centered and uses points of comparison for support, you can use summary information. You already have a restatement of your essay’s introduction (in the introductory paragraph). Therefore, this type of conclusion is best suited if you are handling a variety of issues and give a lot of details about each one. Although details are not included in the introduction, they are incorporated in the conclusion with this sort of finalization that links the introduction to the body of the essay. When introducing the conclusion, simply restate to the reader what your paper has revealed about these two topics. If there is a correlation or a contradiction between the two, it needs to be emphasized and how this comparison has brought it to light. Subtle hints of the reader’s attention to the second topic will also help. This is when you will let the reader understand what the two topics have in comparison – and why that comparison makes a difference.