The influence of celebrities and the influence of parents

Essay 2: Comparison/Contrast

Task: For this assignment, you will write a 3€“4 page essay comparing/contrasting two or more things. This is a process that you use when (1) you want to make a choice between two or more options (e.g., what course to enroll in, what movie to see, what CD to buy, etc.); (2) to persuade readers that one subject is better than another in some way (e.g., one restaurant has a better selection of seafood than the other); (3) to clear up confusion (e.g. by explaining the difference between a biologist and a biochemist); and/or (4) to persuade readers that two seemingly unlike subjects (people, events, texts, films, procedures€“or anything else) possess similarities.
The comparison/contrast essay not only describes both the similarities and the differences of two or more subjects, but it also relies upon a detailed description of those aspects of your subjects that are relevant to your focus. For example, if you are taking someone to dinner and you must decide upon a restaurant, what is your main concern? Are you concerned with price, atmosphere, the variety of selections on the menu, or the restaurant’s reputation and/or rating?
When you begin to generate ideas for this essay, be sure to choose two subjects that are related or different in some ways. Although you are responsible for choosing a topic, the following suggestions may help you generate ideas for your essay.
€¢ Watching a movie at home and watching it in a theater
€¢ Reading an Ebook versus reading a print book
€¢ Facebook and Twitter
€¢ Traditional dating versus online dating
€¢ Two approaches to parenting
€¢ A book and its screen version
€¢ Texting and calling
€¢ Sending an e-mail and writing a letter
€¢ Being an employee vs. being self-employed
€¢ The influence of celebrities and the influence of parents
€¢ A four-year college/university and a two-year college
€¢ Two approaches to studying
€¢ Celebrity influence and parental influence
€¢ Two friends
€¢ America before and after Sept. 11, 2001
€¢ online classes versus on-campus classes
€¢ two seasons of the year
€¢ birth and death.
€¢ high school and college;
€¢ a topic of your choice.
FORMAT: Your essay should be typed, double-spaced, 12 point-size font, 1 margins, 3€“4 pages in length, and include a title. Note: Choose either a block or point-by-point method of organization.
Your grade will be based on the following:
€¢ response to the assignment;
€¢ use of proper formatting;
€¢ clear, concise, and well-positioned thesis statement;
€¢ focus on parallel aspects of each item/subject;
€¢ balanced treatment of both subjects/items;
€¢ adequate development;
€¢ use of transitional words/phrases; and
€¢ control of grammar and mechanics.
Proofread carefully.