Apply the comparison and contrast rhetorical strategy.
Apply MLA formatting to the essay: 12 pt. Times New Roman font, double-spaced, 1 margins, last name and page number in the upper right hand corner, and a heading including your name, class, instructors name, and date. Also include a title.
Apply basic composition skills: topic sentences, thesis statement, logical and effective organization, effective integration of sources, transitions, and incorporating appropriate content.
Understand and apply standard written English. Use appropriate vocabulary and avoid mechanical and grammatical errors.
Incorporate an appropriate amount of textual evidence from the essays under analysis. (You must include textual evidence. Use correct attribution, signal phrases, and in-text citations.)
Each set of essays has subject matter that links them together. The topics labeling each set are broad, so you will need to narrow the focus. What are Baldwin and Jackson saying about race relations? Your comparison and contrast should focus around the pairs discussion of the topic through comparing and contrasting their contents (such as the issues they cover and if the issues are similar or different) and their styles (how they present their message). You are required to discuss at least two elements of each authors style.
When analyzing these two essays, focus on the content (themes, topics, examples, etc.) and the style (punctuation, vocabulary, images, etc.). When writing your analysis, you may use either the alternating method or the block method. For example (treating the letters as body paragraphs):
Alternating Method: I. Content
A. Source 1
B. Source 2
II. Element of style 1
A. Source 1
B. Source 2
III. Element of style 2
A. Source 1
B. Source 2
Block Method: I. Source 1
A. Content
B. Element of style 1
C. Element of style 2
II. Source 2
A. Content
B. Element of style 1
C. Element of style 2
Introduction and Thesis Statement: Your introduction should contain the name of both essays and their respective authors. You should also introduce a logical link between the two, such as the primary topic of each if they are similar, a major theme that both texts share, or any other link that comes to mind. Your thesis should involve either both authors names or essays titles and your assertion as to what the reader may gain from comparing and contrasting the two essays. Avoid stating the texts are similar yet different.
Body: Make sure that your points are ordered logically and effectively. Be very aware of the structure and organization of your essay. To be sure that you are using enough textual evidence, it is best to supply one to two quotations when explaining each aspect pertaining to each essay. For instance, two to three quotations may be enough to help exemplify your analysis of one essays content, and you should do the same when discussing the second essays content. Remember, your words should outweigh those of the quotations used and your subject matter should be balanced. Transitions will also be key. Make sure that you lead the reader through each topic effectively. Also, when comparing styles, focus on the same elements for each text. For example, if I discuss Baldwins imagery, I would also need to the second authors imagery. We cannot compare and contrast ones point of view to the others diction.
Conclusion: Ensure that you close with a reason for comparing and contrasting. Remember to comment on what the reader can draw from your comparison and contrast essay. What is the point you are asserting? What can we gather from all of the information you supply? Conclude something; do not simply point out that both sources are similar and different.
Content: There may not be an equal number of similarities and differences; in fact, you might find that the only similarity between the two sources is that they share the same general topic, and seeing only one similarity is OK. Remember, you are informing the reader of how the sources are either similar or different in their uses of content and style and what we can learn from the information you present.
