Compare and Contrast Essay Outline: Template and Example

High school and college students often face challenges when crafting a compare-and-contrast essay. A well-written paper of this kind needs to be structured appropriately to earn you good grades. Knowing how to organize your ideas allows you to present your ideas in a coherent and logical manner

This article by our custom-writing team delves into all the fine details of structuring your compare-and-contrast paper. It also provides practical examples of the two main outlining methods you may use. Keep reading to up your writing game!

👀 Compare and Contrast Essay Outline Types

A compare and contrast paper studies similarities and differences between two or more subjects. But how do you present the points of comparison? Well, in this kind of essay, there are two methods of structuring the text: point-by-point and block.

Before composing your essay, it’s crucial to choose the approach that suits your assignment best. Your choice will depend on how you want to approach and present your ideas.

Let’s examine these two methods in more detail.

Point-by-Point Comparison Essay

The point-by-point method implies discussing one point of comparison at a time. For example, if you’re comparing two cities, you may dedicate separate paragraphs to their size, population, and architecture.

The point-by-point arrangement has advantages and disadvantages. Keep them in mind before deciding whether to use it or not.

✔️	This outline is suitable for comparing items or subjects that are very similar.
✔️	It’s ideal when you need to evaluate only a few features or criteria.
✔️	It requires you to analyze the points yourself while clarifying similarities and differences.
❌	This approach doesn’t work well when comparing entirely different items, situations, or people.
❌	It’s also unsuitable when you’re using multiple criteria for comparison.

Block Method Compare and Contrast Essay

The block method, also known as subject-by-subject comparison, is a way of outlining your assignment that involves discussing each subject separately. For example, in an essay about different types of fruit, you will discuss the features of one fruit at a time.

This approach has shortcomings and strengths that may affect how you want to handle your essay.

✔️	The block method is easier to use because you only need to point out all the details about the objects you’re comparing or contrasting.
✔️	It’s the best method for comparing entirely different items, situations, or cases.
✔️	This approach is also ideal for handling comparisons or contrasts involving multiple criteria.
❌	It leaves too much work for readers who have to make comparisons themselves.
❌	It’s pretty hard to read: you’ll need to constantly go back to the essay’s parts that you’ve already read.

🔍 Comparative Essay Outline: Before You Start

After you’ve chosen a topic (you’re welcome to consult our list of compare-and contrast essay topics for inspiration,) you enter the pre-writing stage. It involves brainstorming, researching, and determining which points are the most important. Here’s how to do it:

• Brainstorming and in-depth research are vital when working on a compare-and-contrast essay. It helps you figure out the direction your paper will take and provides you with source materials. At this initial stage, your main goal is to identify various similarities and differences between the things you want to write about.  
• After determining the similarities and differences between your subjects of choice, decide which points are the most significant. They will assist you in developing your essay’s thesis statement and paragraphs.

It’s important to remember that you can leave some things out of your assignment. There may be so much material to cover that you will never finish the paper in the first place!

So, how do you determine what’s worth including in your paper? Consider the following factors:

❓	Are these materials relevant to your course?
❓	What value does this information add to your argument?
❓	Is your research material informative and exciting?
❓	Are these details relevant to your compare and contrast paper?

Here’s an example of a Venn diagram comparing the US and Canada with crosses and checkmarks representing what’s different and similar between them, respectively:

✍️ How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay Outline

Do you need some more guidance in outlining your paper? Well, look no further! Here is a comprehensive coverage of how to write a perfect outline for your compare-and-contrast essay.

Compare and Contrast Essay Introduction

Your essay’s introduction is arguably its most important section. It gives readers a solid summary of your paper’s contents and helps them understand what to expect as your comparison essay progresses.

Here’s what a good introduction is made of:

1. Background information about your topic that the readers need to know before proceeding.
2. A catchy hook that captures and retains your audience’s attention up to the end.
3. A thesis statement that provides a direction and ties up your whole assignment. All your arguments will focus on defending this statement.

Hook for Compare and Contrast Essay + Example

Ways of creating a hook can differ based on your essay’s purpose and overall tone:

😂	You may grab your readers’ attention using a joke or anecdote to appeal to their emotions.
📊	Alternatively, you could use relevant statistics or facts about your subject.
❔	Asking an interesting question to stimulate your readers’ imagination is another way to start your paper.
💬	Lastly, using a quote from a writer, scholar, or public figure is a more poetic way to set the tone.

Here is a hook example to inspire you. It uses statistics in the form of a question:

Need more ideas on how to start your essay? Check out our article on hooks in writing!

How to Write a Compare and Contrast Thesis

Formulating your paper’s thesis statement is critical to drafting the outline. In most cases, its purpose is to clarify what features make the subjects of comparison different or similar.

Note that your essay’s thesis may vary depending on its function. For instance, it might serve an informational or judgmental purpose:

• If your thesis is informative, you only need to enumerate differences and similarities between your subjects of comparison.
• But if your thesis is judgmental, you should state which similarities or differences are the most significant.

Check out these examples to understand the difference better:

A judgmental thesis example:	An informational thesis example:
Authoritative and permissive parenting models appear like opposites but have a central similarity: parents practicing these parenting styles encourage their children to make independent decisions.	Women’s roles have changed significantly throughout history; however, comparing various eras proves that women are still oppressed, particularly in their professional expression.

Comparison Essay Outline: Body Paragraphs

Body paragraphs in a contrast essay support your thesis about the subjects you are comparing.

Each body paragraph should start with a topic sentence that states the passage’s main idea. The rest depends on the type of outline you’re using: you either discuss the features of one subject of comparison or focus on one criterion and describe it in relation to each topic.

Let’s see it in more detail. Say, we’re comparing subjects A and B according to their features 1, 2, and 3:

📌 Point-by-Point Body Paragraphs Arrangement

Analysis of feature 1	How vital is feature 1 in A? How vital is feature 1 in B?
Analysis of feature 2	How vital is feature 2 in A? How vital is feature 2 in B?
Analysis of feature 3	How vital is feature 3 in A? How vital is feature 3 in B?

📌 Block Method Body Paragraphs Arrangement

Analysis of A	Feature 1 in A Feature 2 in A Feature 3 in A
Analysis of B	Feature 1 in B Feature 2 in B Feature 3 in B

Compare and Contrast Essay Transition Words

A compare and contrast essay features a set of similar and distinct items. To make the comparison easier to understand, you can use words that create a smooth transition between your ideas and thoughts.

Transition words serve 4 essential purposes in a compare and contrast assignment:

• They make transitioning and linking between thoughts easier.
• They make your writing more dynamic.
• They improve readability in your paper.
• They set the stage for ideas that will be introduced next.

Here are transition words you can use to show similarities in your comparison essay:

For contrasting, use appropriate transition words to give your paper a more logical, coherent flow. These include:

Compare and Contrast Essay Conclusion

Finally, it’s time to wrap up your comparison essay. Your conclusion should contain 2 core elements:

• Summarized key points.
  Sum up the main arguments you’ve presented throughout your essay. Make sure to refrain from introducing any new ideas at this point!
• A restated thesis.
  Your essay’s conclusion should also restate your thesis and prove that you’ve effectively defended it in the body paragraphs.
• A final thought.
  A good conclusion leaves the reader with something to think about. In a compare-and-contrast essay, it can be a statement that connects it to the broader context or underlines the topic’s significance.

✅ Compare and Contrast Essay Outline Template

Now, let’s sum up everything you’ve learned about different ways to outline your compare-and-contrast essay using the block or point-by-point approaches. Here are the templates you can use for structuring your paper:

📌 Point-by-Point Method Outline Template

Introduction	Hook Background information Thesis statement
Body Paragraph 1	Topic sentence Feature 1 in subject A Feature 1 in subject B
Body Paragraph 2	Topic sentence Feature 2 in subject A Feature 2 in subject B
Body Paragraph 3	Topic sentence Feature 3 in subject A Feature 3 in subject B
Conclusion	Summary Restated thesis

📌 Block Method Outline Template

Introduction	Hook Background information Thesis statement
Body Paragraph 1	Topic sentence Subject A’s features
Body Paragraph 2	Topic sentence Subject B’s features
Body Paragraph 3‍	Topic sentence Subject C’s features
Conclusion	Summary Restated thesis

📑 Compare and Contrast Outline Examples

Are you stuck with your paper and need an outline example to inspire you? You’ll find it below!

Here are 2 outline samples done using point-by-point and block methods.

📌 Point by Point Outline Example: Differences between Fresh and Canned Foods

Introduction	The essay’s purpose: to discuss the differences between fresh and canned foods.
Thesis	While canned and fresh foods serve the same purpose, they have noticeably different flavors, costs, and health benefits.
Body Paragraph 1	The first difference between fresh and canned foods is their flavor.
Body Paragraph 2	The second difference between fresh and canned foods is their health benefits.
Body Paragraph 3	The third difference between fresh and canned foods is cost.
Conclusion	The conclusion summarizes the differences between the two foods regarding cost, health benefits, and flavor.

📌 Block Method Outline Example: Differences between Backpacking and Staying in Hotels

Introduction	Introduction of the two subjects of comparison.
Thesis	There are three main differences between backpacking and staying in hotels: cost, convenience, and safety.
Body Paragraph 1	The first point of comparison is cost.
Body Paragraph 2	The second point of comparison is convenience.
Body Paragraph 3	The first point of comparison is safety.
Conclusion	The conclusion will summarize the key differences between these two accommodation alternatives. These options differ on key fronts worth a traveler’s consideration: overall cost implications, relative convenience levels, and safety.

We hope these insights and template examples will inspire you to master the structure of the compare-and-contrast essays. Use these ideas to excel in your studies and do your homework quickly!

Further reading:

• Compare and Contrast Essay Writing Tips and Examples
• Literature Review Outline: Examples, Approaches, & Templates
• Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline: Examples & Strategies
• How to Write a Narrative Essay Outline: Template & Examples 

🔗 References

1. Comparison and Contrast: University of Minnesota
2. Comparing and Contrasting: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
3. How to Write a Compare-and-Contrast Essay: Grammarly
4. Writing for Success: Compare/Contrast: Kellogg Community College
5. Compare & Contrast Essay: Excelsior University Site
6. Comparison and Contrast Essays: Saint Mary’s University
7. Compare & Contrast Assignments: The University of Arizona Global Campus
8. Organizational Patterns for the Comparison/Contrast Essay: San José State University
9. Compare/Contrast Papers: University of Washington