Because this episode is over one hour long, the following is a brief summary of chapter 11.
Source: Kirszner, Laurie G. and Stephen R. Mandell, Patterns for College Writing: A Rhetorical Reader and Guide, Brief Edition, Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2015, 321-372.
- Essays may compare two subjects or contrast two subjects but most often do both.
- Shorter papers may use a subject-by-subject structure with little risk of disorienting the reader.
- Longer papers tend to use a point-by-point structure so the reader is not obliged to navigate between pages to understand the arguments being made.
- Transition paragraphs are necessary to guide readers when moving from one subject to another.
- Topic sentences begin each paragraph and limit the scope of what is discussed to one topic within specific terms and should directly relate to the thesis of the essay.
- Subjects to be comparable must have a logical basis for comparison and contrast.
- Subjects must be compared and contrasted by identical terms and and should be based on the same criteria or categories.
- The results of a comparison and contrast should be non-trivial.
