Comparative essay technique

Comparative essay intro structure

1. Contextualisation (“In literature the downfall of the tragic hero is dependent on their inherent fatal flaw.”)

2. Thesis statement (“In William Shakespeare’s Othello the tragic hero of the same name exposes himself to Iago’s manipulation…”(question is about Iago’s manipulation))

3. Mention every argument

Comparative essay outro structure

1. Mention every argument

2. Bring it back to the thesis statement

3. Stylised contextualisation for outro

Comparative essay body structure

1. 1. Point
   2. Potential link to thesis statement

2. 1. Evidence 1
   2. Explanation 1

3. Comparative word

4. 1. Evidence 2
   2. Explanation 2

5. 1. Conclusion of thought
   2. Link to point
   3. Potential link to thesis if not done already
   4. Link to next paragraph

Comparative words (agreeing)

• Similarly

• Likewise

• In the same vein

• Equally

• By the same token

• Correspondingly

• Both poets...

• This is mirrored in...

• This sentiment is echoed in...

Comparative words (contrasting)

• Conversely

• In contrast

• Whereas

• While

• On the other hand

• Unlike X / Y

Comparative words (partial agreement)

• Nevertheless

• Yet

• Although

Words for building a point

• Furthermore

• Moreover

• Beyond this

• What is particularly striking is...

• This is compounded by...

• Taking this further...

Words for concluding a point

• Ultimately

• Taken together

• Collectively

• What both parties demonstrate is...

• The cumulative effect of...