Writing the Comparison and Contrast Term Paper
Length: Write 4 typed pages or about 1,000 words. What is more important is the substance that you cover. You could fill 5 pages with repetition and non-sense—that would not work.
#1: General Grading Criteria for Written Assignments
Up to a letter grade can be deducted for poor, unedited writing.
I expect fluent writing in all assignments. Your mechanics of writing should be flawless, so edit your punctuation, grammar, and fluency. Ask a literate friend to read your work.
All writing should be organized and coherent. Your papers should be guided by a thesis paragraph and each subsequent paragraph should have a topic sentence. The body of that paragraph should connect to the promise you make in the topic sentence.
The thesis depends on the assignment. In all cases, the thesis tells the reader where your discussion is going and how much you will cover. It also reveals the depth of your analysis or discussion.
The lack of substance can also hurt your grade.
Substance is not only how much you write, but also how much you explore, the different points you make, and how well you support these points. It is more substantial to make three points and follow it up with one example for each point, than making one point and providing twenty examples to support that one point.
Not addressing each point of the assignment also constitutes a lack of substance. Always read the prompt.
Avoid shooting for the minimum in any assignment.
As a college student you should know what is “A” quality work. Here is a story: The clerk had three sons and each son was to take the trash to the curb every Wednesday. The assignment was simple: take the trash out to the curb every Wednesday.
The first son took the trash out on Thursday because he forgot. He did not bring back the can because the instructions did not specify that; the second son took it out on a Wednesday and left the can by the kitchen door. The third son, took it out on a Wednesday, brought the can back into the kitchen, and even wiped the can clean. Who gets the “A”?
Avoid sounding like samples from the Internet or Cliff Notes.
You are not alone. Up to 60 essays hit my desk at one time. If some essays begin to sound and look like twins, we have a situation. The best solution is to not even visit the on-line sources unless it is a research paper and you are prepared to quote and cite your sources. Individuality and fresh thoughts are wonderful. If three papers begin by telling me that Death of a Salesman reveals Miller’s despair and disenchantment with the American Dream…FLAG.
Read specific instructions for term papers under assignments in your blackboard. Be clear on the due dates.
#2: Read the link to writing Comparison and Contrast under Course Documents in Blackboard. (WILL UPLOAD)
Organization
You will be using the point-by-point style of comparison and contrast. This means that the paper will be organized according to the points compared. For example:
Point compared: Characterization
I will compare/contrast this point as it applies to both the written and the viewed play. It might sound like this:
The movie and the written play attempt to provide similar characters, but the written play is more effective in several ways. The movie excludes minor characters that play supportive roles in the written play. In the written play, character x plays the role of a sounding board for the main character, but the omission of this character in the movie leaves the protagonist talking to himself…
As you continue the analysis, you can include similarities and differences in the same paragraph, BUT your transitions will be very important. You must use transitions such as likewise, however, but, on the other hand, conversely, etc.
Your paper must compare at least three points.
Thesis
See the link to writing comparison and contrast. The thesis is very important. It should show what you will discover after you compare these two items. The thesis must have the arguable point and the scope. The scope states the “points” Here is an example.
When we compare (the characterization, the use of color, and the changes in plot,) it will be clear (that the visual and the written play are dominated by two different tones.) The scope is in italics; the arguable point is in bold.
A weak thesis will cause you to write a weak paper.
Substance
Each point must be discussed with sufficient examples from the text/video. The more points and examples, the more substantial the discussion. LISTEN TO ME: What you say is important. You have plenty of time for this term paper. Your job is to analyze how these subjects are different. Of course they are similar; they are the same play. The substance is how their differences make one better than the other, create a different effect on the audience, ruin the image you had when you read it, etc. I do not want a paper that tells me that the play and the movie are similar in three ways—OF COURSE they are similar.
Make sure you read the general writing criteria in Blackboard. There are no rewrites for this. This is why we require 6 hours of college writing as a prerequisite. Use tutors if necessary. If the only sources are your play and the video, you do not need to use MLA documentation. If other sources are quoted, use MLA documentation.
