Organising an outline for contrast and comparison
If you’re contrasting or comparing two things in your essay, you may want to structure your essay in an alternating sort of format. Once again, the outline can be very useful to get the right sequence of paragraphs and get the flow right:
Compare or Contrast Essay
Introduction
Discuss something about thing A
Discuss something about thing B and why it is similar or different to thing A
Discuss something else about thing A
Discuss something about thing B and why it is similar or different to thing A
...
Conclusion
So if I was discussing the differences between life in prehistoric times and now, my essay outline could be something like:
Life Now and Then
Introduction
Hours spent surviving back then
Hunting and gathering food
Building shelter
Hours spent surviving now
Working a job
Accommodation and food
Managing everyday things
Health back then
Rudimentary treatment of minor injuries
Health now
Expensive, extensive treatment
Incurable diseases / viruses
...
Conclusion
Click here to move on to the next topic: General essay considerations