Comparison-Contrast Analysis
Essay should be at least 1000 words.
Writing Assignment #2: Comparison-Contrast Analysis
Writing assignment #2 will be an essay in which you compare and contrast two objects,
concepts, or ideas.
You are encouraged to use your field of study to help in generating a topic for this
essay. Some sample topics are listed below:
If you are majoring in one of the Sciences programs in our SCIP unit, you might be majoring
in one of the following: environmental management, biotechnology, laboratory management,
social science, gerontology, psychology, or political science
You might write a comparison-contrast essay on one of the following:
? green and non-green buildings
? two processes in building sustainable communities
? two countries’ approaches to a particular environmental issue
? archaeal viruses and bacterial viruses
? two gene lists in a particular animal community
? descriptive and prescriptive discriminant analysis in the social sciences
? two views of a particular field of study in the social sciences
? two methods of performance appraisal for an employee
? gender differences in a particular psychological phenomenon
? two frailty models
? two cultures’ methods or attitudes toward caring for the elderly
If you are majoring in one of the disciplines in our Computer Information Systems and
Technology (CITE) unit, you might be majoring in one of the following: computer networks
and security, computer science, cybersecurity, digital media and web technology, or information
systems management
You might write a comparison-contrast essay on one of the following:
? two cultures’ views on project management and success in a software project
? SQL and QBE
? viewing text on a computer screen and viewing text in hardcopy
? online and face-to-face classes
? modern terrorism practices and modern cyberterrorism practices
? reading traditional books and reading e-books
? two watermarking techniques
? digital and traditional drawing
? two countries’ approaches to an information systems management issue
If you are majoring in one of the disciplines in our Communication, Arts, and Humanities
(COMM) unit, you might be majoring in one of the following: communication studies and
professional writing, East Asian studies, English, graphic communication, history, humanities, or
a foreign language such as Arabic, Chinese, German, Japanese or Spanish.
You might write a comparison-contrast essay on one of the following:
? two communication theories
? two speeches given to two different audiences
? two countries’ approaches to corporate behavior in a particular industry
? two views of a particular historical event
? two reviews of a particular piece of literature or movie
? the verb system in English compared to that of another language
If you are majoring in one of the disciplines in our Business and Professional Programs
(BAPP) unit, you might be majoring in one of the following: accounting, business
administration, finance, global business and public policy, human resource management,
management studies, marketing, criminal justice, emergency management, fire service
administration, homeland security, investigative forensics, and legal studies
You might write a comparison-contrast essay on one of the following:
? stock market and accounting data
? two financial advisors who have different advice on certain issues
? conducting business in China and the United States
? issues in conducting business in two countries
? two countries’ approaches to an issue in human resource management
? monetary and non-monetary incentives for employees
? fingerprints collected from crime scenes and fingerprints collected in controlled
conditions
? the codes of criminal law procedure in two countries
? white-collar crime and other types of crime
? post-storm recovery methods in two geographical areas
? hurricane evacuation policies in two different areas or countries
? two events that have generated homeland security responses
? crime detection methods on a popular television show (e.g., Criminal Minds or Crime
Scene Investigation (CSI)) and how they compare to those in real life
Requirements
? The essay should be 1000-1500 words in length.
? The essay must cite at least two sources to support your points.
Organization
Your essay should have the following:
? an introductory paragraph with a thesis statement.
? at least three body paragraphs that illustrate at least three major points and defend these
points by referring to the articles you have found on the topic.
o You will want to paraphrase or quote from the texts as appropriate.
o In citing your sources, please use APA style.
o Your body paragraphs should follow the alternating pattern of
organization. This pattern of organization is described in the following video
tutorial. https://polaris.umuc.edu/ewc/tutorials/comparisons/
o Your body paragraphs should analyze at least two points of contrast. You may
have three or four points of contrast, but you must have at least two. You may
include a paragraph about one or two similarities if you would like.
? a compelling concluding paragraph.
In addition, the paper should be formatted according to APA style (e.g., you should include
a running head with page numbers, have appropriate margins, etc.) in accordance with the
video tutorial you observed in class, How to format your paper according to APA style.
As noted above in the bulleted information, you will emphasize the differences, or the
contrasts, in your essay. You may point out similarities as well. However, if there is little
contrast to exposit on in the essay, then you may have chosen two topics that are not quite
suitable for comparison-contrast.
Due Date: to be determined by the instructor