Text-by-text and Element-by-element Organizations of Comparison and Contrast Essay

Once you've crafted a strong thesis statement for your comparison and contrast essay, the next critical step is deciding how to organize your essay. The two primary organizational structures are text-by-text and element-by-element. Each approach has its own advantages and is suited to different types of analysis. Here's a breakdown of how to choose and implement each method:

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1. Text-by-Text Organization

In this approach, you discuss one subject (or text) in full before moving on to the next. This method works well when you want to provide a comprehensive analysis of each subject individually before drawing comparisons or contrasts.

How to Structure:

• Introduction: Present your thesis statement, which outlines the main points of comparison or contrast.

• Body Paragraphs:

  • Section 1: Discuss all aspects of Subject A (e.g., themes, characters, style, arguments).

  • Section 2: Discuss all aspects of Subject B in the same order as Subject A.

• Conclusion: Summarize the key similarities and differences, and reinforce your thesis.

When to Use:

• When the subjects are complex and require detailed individual analysis.

• When your audience may not be familiar with the subjects.

• When the subjects are significantly different in structure or content.

Example:

• Thesis: "While both 1984 by George Orwell and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley depict dystopian societies, they differ in their portrayal of control, individuality, and technology."

• Body:

  • Paragraphs 1–3: Analyze 1984 (control, individuality, technology).

  • Paragraphs 4–6: Analyze Brave New World (control, individuality, technology).

  • Conclusion: Compare and contrast the two novels based on the analysis.

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2. Element-by-Element Organization

In this approach, you compare or contrast the subjects point by point, focusing on specific elements or criteria. This method is ideal for highlighting direct similarities and differences.

How to Structure:

• Introduction: Present your thesis statement, which identifies the key elements of comparison or contrast.

• Body Paragraphs:

  • Section 1: Compare/contrast Subject A and Subject B on Element 1 (e.g., themes).

  • Section 2: Compare/contrast Subject A and Subject B on Element 2 (e.g., characters).

  • Section 3: Compare/contrast Subject A and Subject B on Element 3 (e.g., style or tone).

• Conclusion: Synthesize the comparisons and contrasts, and reinforce your thesis.

When to Use:

• When you want to emphasize specific points of comparison or contrast.

• When the subjects share clear similarities or differences in specific areas.

• When your audience is already familiar with the subjects.

Example:

• Thesis: "Although Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë are both classic romance novels, they differ in their portrayal of love, social class, and gender roles."

• Body:

  • Paragraph 1: Compare/contrast love in both novels.

  • Paragraph 2: Compare/contrast social class in both novels.

  • Paragraph 3: Compare/contrast gender roles in both novels.

  • Conclusion: Summarize the key differences and similarities.

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How to Choose Between the Two Approaches:

1. Consider Your Thesis: Does your thesis emphasize broad comparisons (text-by-text) or specific points of comparison (element-by-element)?

2. Consider Your Audience: Are they familiar with the subjects, or do they need detailed explanations?

3. Consider the Complexity of the Subjects: Are the subjects too complex to analyze point by point, or do they lend themselves to direct comparisons?

 The Wretched Stone

Chris Van Allsburg, USA (1949)
Unit: Television
Subject: Flax-Golden Tales

Four Levels 

Literal Comprehension:

"The Wretched Stone" is a story. It is written by Van Allsburg. This story is about the disadvantages of TV.  After completing all the preparations, a big cargo ship, Rita Anne, started its journey in good weather. The crew enjoyed reading books and telling stories. After four weeks, they reached a strange island. There were no fruits on the plants, no signs of human life, and the air smelled bad. The water from the fountains was bitter. They found a shiny stone that gave off light. They took the stone on the ship and continued their journey.

The crew became obsessed with the stone. They forgot their duties, rarely spoke, and always sat in front of it. They started behaving like animals and could not understand the captain's words. The captain made a secret plan to throw the stone into the sea. Soon, a storm came, but the crew was too distracted to help. The captain alone controlled the ship while the crew kept watching the stone like a TV. Later, the captain helped them return to normal by playing music, reading books, and telling stories. Those who could read changed faster. In the end, another ship rescued them.

Interpretation:

This story gives many messages. The stone represents modern people who are uncreative. The story suggests that watching too much TV makes people careless about their responsibilities. TV is a non-productive activity, and there are better ways to enjoy life, like reading, singing, and storytelling. The story also shows that TV distracts people from important work and changes their behavior. The title The Wretched Stone refers to the stone that causes problems, just like TV can bring more harm than good. Staying away from TV can help us be more creative, responsible, and well-mannered.

Critical Thinking:

I do not fully agree with the negative view of TV in the story. Modern technology has made life easier, and TV is one of the most useful inventions. TV is not completely useless; it gives information about the world, new inventions, knowledge, and skills. It brings the world closer to us. Can watching TV really turn people into animals? Does TV really make people careless? Can we ignore the knowledge and information TV provides? TV is not bad if we use it wisely. It has many benefits along with some disadvantages.

Assimilation:

This story made me think deeply. I see similar situations in real life. Many school children watch non-creative programs instead of studying. Housewives often spend too much time watching TV without doing creative work. If we do not use TV properly, it can make us unproductive, just like the crew in the story. The way the story compares TV to a stone made me more careful about how I watch TV. Now, I will focus on using TV for learning and creativity instead of wasting time.