Controlling idea:
At this point, combine your two-part topic and controlling idea into one thesis statement.
Thesis statement:
GATHERING INFORMATION USING BRAINSTORMING TECHNIQUES
Take at least fi fteen minutes to brainstorm (using listing or clustering) as many points of comparison or contrast as you can on your chosen topic. You will probably want to think of at least three or four points. Under each point, brainstorm as many details as come to mind. For instance, if you are comparing two friends and the fi rst point concerns the interests you have in common, recall as much as you can about the activities you share together. If you are brainstorming on a topic that other classmates or family members might know something about, ask them to help you think of additional points to compare. If special vocabulary comes to mind, jot that down as
well. The more specifi c you are, the more helpful and interesting your comparison or contrast will be for your readers.
SELECTING AND ORGANIZING THE MATERIAL
Comparison/contrast always involves a two-part topic. For instance, you might compare the school you attend now with a school you attended in the past. Often we need to make choices or judgments, and we can make better decisions if we compare or contrast the two items in front of us. Because of the two-part topic, you have a choice in organizing the essay:
1. The block method. With this method, you write everything you have to say about one topic or idea, and then in a later paragraph or paragraphs you write entirely about the other topic. If you choose this method, when you discuss the second topic, you must be sure to bring up the same points and keep the same order as when you discussed the fi rst topic.
2. The point-by-point method. With this method, you discuss one point and show in one paragraph how both topics relate to this point. Then, in a new paragraph, you discuss the second point and relate it to both topics, and so forth. Which method will be better for the topic you have selected—the block method or the point-by-point method?
At this stage, review your brainstorming list, asking yourself if you have a complete list. Have you left out any point that might need to be considered? Do you have at least three points, and do you have enough material to develop both parts of the topic? You do not want the comparison or contrast to end up one-sided, with most of the content focused on only one part of the topic.
Depending on your choice of block method or point-by-point method, outline your topic based on one of the two formats below. The example contrasts high school classes with college classes.
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