Comp 101 CA: Essay III Assignment

 Compare & Contrast

Assignment: Explore the differences between 2 people, things, or experiences which seem very similar or very different.

 Length: 500-750 words
Topic Choices... Paper Order
1. Discover the main theme of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. Then compare/contrast this literary work with a similar literary work, either by the same author or in the same genre. Be sure to clear your chosen literary work with Mrs. Kennedy before you begin. Otherwise, you risk losing essay points.
2. Pick 2 of the 4 main characters in Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest and explore their similarities and differences. Be sure to use specific details of character, description, actions, and motivations.
3. Football, baseball, & basketball were all invented in America & have each been called "The American Sport." What features do they have in common that reflect distinctively American values, interests, & character?
4. You've had much experience with both good teaching and bad teaching. Based on your experiences, what special qualities are necessary for good teaching? Use a series of contrasts to make your point.
5. Some people use labels ("freak," "redneck," "hick," "nerd," and the like) to categorize other people. The problem with such labels is that they are stereotypes. It's easy to say that John is a "typical jock" and thereby to ignore his complexity. Think of some label that someone might apply to you, and, through contrast, show how that label is be unfair and inaccurate.
6. Compose an essay on this point: "To some, money is a means; to others, an end."
7. Compare/contrast the sense of place of two groups or two individuals with whom you are familiar (for example, the young and the old, city people and country people).
8. Compare/contrast some kind of behavior people don't observe today as rigorously as they did in the past with how people behave today (for instance, dressing up for dinner and dressing down for dinner, calling older adults by their surnames and calling them by their given names).
9. Compare/contrast 2 culturally different communities from your own region. These communities may be different ethnically, religiously, or in other ways. Take care to maintain a spirit of fairness and objectivity.
10. Choose 2 individual sports--E.g. golf, tennis, skiing, swimming, rock climbing, or sky diving. Compare & contrast them to reveal what seems to you the most important differences. Draw an analogy between some form of recreation (other than football or baseball) & another kind of behavior altogether.
Suggestions for Essay Organization
Organize your paper according to one of the two schemes described in class.
Fully develop your points with examples.
Be especially careful with transitions as you go from one section of your paper to the other.
Be careful that the two subjects you compare or contrast belong to the same class or group.
Aim for clear, concise wording and effectively packaged sentences.
Be careful to consistently focus on your 3-part thesis.