{"id":5603,"date":"2017-11-06T17:00:43","date_gmt":"2017-11-07T01:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/blog\/?post_type=essay-writing-blog&p=5603"},"modified":"2018-11-27T08:48:33","modified_gmt":"2018-11-27T16:48:33","slug":"write-compare-and-contrast-thesis-statement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/write-compare-and-contrast-thesis-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write a Compare and Contrast Thesis Statement"},"content":{"rendered":"

Has this ever happened to you?<\/p>\n

Professor:<\/strong> Where is your thesis statement?<\/p>\n

Student:<\/strong> \u2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If so, don\u2019t worry. You\u2019re not the first person to struggle with writing a thesis statement, and you won\u2019t be the last. This part of essay writing has vexed many college students, but luckily, I\u2019m here to show you the ropes.<\/p>\n

Almost every college essay you write will require a thesis in one form or another. A compare and contrast essay is no exception.<\/p>\n

In this post, I\u2019ll walk you through the finer points of how to write a compare and contrast thesis statement and offer some pro tips and resources for tackling that essay like a boss.<\/p>\n

Everything\u2019s an Argument<\/h2>\n

Every time you sit down to write an essay, try to think of it like an argument. Yes. An argument. Always.<\/p>\n

This is important because your thesis is the main argument\u2014the main point\u2014you’re trying to make in your essay.<\/p>\n

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Your thesis is the main argument\u2014the main point\u2014you’re trying to make in your essay.<\/a><\/div>\n

Click To Tweet<\/a><\/p>\n

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It’s a claim you make about your topic. Then you spend the rest of the essay backing up that claim<\/a> with examples, reasoning, and sometimes professional sources<\/a> that reinforce this claim.<\/p>\n

A compare and contrast essay doesn\u2019t always require you to cite sources, though. So let\u2019s just focus on what you can do to write a great thesis and, thus, a great essay.<\/p>\n

Think about it this way\u2014if someone handed you this list\u2026<\/p>\n

If you write a strong thesis<\/a>, then you\u2019ll show your professor that your compare and contrast essay has a purpose.<\/p>\n

The Compare and Contrast Thesis Statement: Prework<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re going to write a strong thesis, you\u2019ll want to make sure you know your approach before going in. Here are some pro tips to help you get started.<\/p>\n

Pro tip #1: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Pick topics that interest you. It\u2019s way easier to write about something you like or care about. Need some help with picking a topic? Check out this list of compare and contrast essay topics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pro tip #2: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Once you have your topics, try saying the following aloud (and maybe when you\u2019re by yourself so that people don\u2019t look at you funny in the campus library):<\/p>\n

\u201c(Topic 1) and (Topic 2) have a lot in common. They also have some differences.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then pretend someone just replied with, \u201cSo what?\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Repeat this exercise as you write the essay. It will help you reinforce your thesis and make sure that the point you\u2019re making is meaningful.<\/p>\n

Every time you start a new paragraph and write a topic sentence that reinforces your thesis<\/a>, pretend that you\u2019re being asked \u201cso what?\u201d again. Work on answering that question as you continue writing the paragraph.<\/p>\n

Example<\/h3>\n

You write:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Though eccentric, both Gandalf and Dumbledore resemble kind-hearted grandfatherly figures when they first appear in the Lord of the Rings<\/em> and Harry Potter<\/em> series, respectively.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Your friend says:<\/strong><\/p>\n

So what?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You could reply:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Both characters are powerful wizards capable of terrible destruction, but showing them as kind old men humanizes and establishes them as protagonists that the reader can root for rather than fear.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Writing like this makes your essay more meaningful. Keep asking and answering \u201cso what?\u201d and you\u2019ll write a strong essay that keeps reinforcing the thesis.<\/p>\n

The Right Tool for the Job<\/h2>\n

There’s no \u201cone-size-fits-all\u201d thesis that works for any essay. Just like you wouldn\u2019t use a screwdriver to hammer a nail, you\u2019re not going to use an argumentative essay thesis for your compare and contrast essay.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re going to write a solid compare and contrast thesis statement, then you\u2019ll need to make sure you understand the anatomy of this essay. Let\u2019s break down the compare and contrast format<\/a>, bit by bit, and see how the thesis applies to each part.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that it\u2019s a good idea to settle on your topics before moving forward. It\u2019ll help you visualize how the following can be applied specifically to your topics.<\/em><\/p>\n