Compare/Contrast Essay on Technologies

For your next essay assignment in the class, you will reflect and make a topic that we are reading about in our textbook -technologies.

Topic Prompt

Chooseone topicfrom the list belowand make an essay:

Topic #1

Think abouttwo new innovative technologies or devices that can improve/have improved people's lives.

How are they similar and/or different?

For this topicdo not write about cell phones, computers, or laptops.

Newmeans within the last 5-15 years.

The technologies needs to be somewhat related (for example, don't contrast and Apple Watch with a solar light).

• Appliances (stove, microwave, oven, dishwasher, washing machine) are not new technologies or devices.Do not write about them.

Topic #2

Think about your two most usedelectronic devices(object or small piece of equipment). How are they similar and/or different? Imagine that you could only use one for the rest of your life - which would it be?

The thesis for this essay is still compare/contrast of the two electronic devices, but in yourconclusion, you can come to a decision after presenting all your ideas.

Organizational Structure:

You can chooseside-by-side organization(four paragraphs) orpoint-by-point(five paragraphs) organization.

Whichever topic you choose, you will choosethreepoints to compare/contrast in your essay. You can haveone or two points that are similar, but youmust have at least one point of contrast. Or you can have three points all of contrast.

Directions:

Begin the writing process bybrainstormingfor ideas. Depending on the topic that you choose, use ideas from your own personal experience, or ideas from the articles in our textbook.

Brainstormas many ideasas you can think of.

After you finish, begin toorganizeyour ideas by writing anoutline. Your outline and essay should follow this order:

In a compare/contrast essay, you need to choose one type of organizational pattern, eitherpoint-by-pointorside-by-side. This will determine how many paragraphs you will have in your essay.

Forpoint-by-point, you will have five paragraphs.

Forside-by-side, you will have four paragraphs

Introduction

Introduce your topic to the reader - there are different ways to do this, either a personal story/anecdote, brief background information, brief history (depending on your topic choice, general statement, facts

Remember that your introduction should move from general ideas a specific ending (the thesis).

End the paragraph with athesis. This is the main point of the essay. In this essay, your thesis should describe that you are going to compare/contrast one of the topics above. Because you will have different topic choices, be sure to clearly describe your topic choice, and you can also include the different points that you will compare in your thesis statement.

Body Paragraphs

As stated above, the number of body paragraphs will depend on the organizational pattern that you choose. Whichever one you choose, make sure that the ideas are clearly.Double check your outline for this.

The first sentence of each body paragraph should be thetopic sentence(TS).

Inpoint-by-pointorganization, each TS will describeonespecific point that you are going to compare (check the video lesson and model essay in Canvas).

Each body paragraph will discussonepoint of comparison only.

Inside-by-sideorganization, the TS will focus on one of the major areas that you will compare (check the video lesson and model essay in Canvas).

Each body paragraph should discuss allthreepoints of comparison.

Include development for each idea in the body paragraph. The development must haveunity, meaning that all of the ideas relate to each other. These sentences will support your topic sentence andmust relate directly to the TS.

Your development can include facts, examples, explanation, support from the article, and/or personal examples where appropriate.

Somewhere in your body paragraphs, includeone source of outside support. This may come from the article that we have read OR it can come from an article from a website.Information about how to cite websites will be in the Week 6 Module.

You can use a quotation or a brief paraphrase.

Be sure to connect your quotation or paraphrase to your idea by including analysis after it.

Be sure to use correct MLA formatting for yourin textandWork Cited

Concluding Paragraph

This paragraph closes the essay and makes the reader feel like the essay is finished. You may want to write a prediction, offer a suggestion, or write your opinion about the issue.

Make sure not to berepetitive. You don't want to repeat the exact words that you already wrote in the body paragraphs or thesis.

3.Write thefirst draftof your essay using your outline.

After your first draft is written,reviseandeditfor content and grammar. Check for cohesion and unity, and edit for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and formatting errors. Take the draft to a tutor in the Writing Center if you want some help.

Then you will turn in Essay 1, Draft 1 to me and I will offer suggestions for revision and make editing marks.Write the word count at the bottom of your paper. In addition, at the top of your paper (in handwriting is OK), write the topic number that you chose.

After that, you will revise the essay and visit a tutor if necessary. Then you will turn in Essay 2, Draft 2 to be for a final grade.

Some suggestions

Don't write full sentences in your outline. This is to help you easily organize your ideas in order to write the essay later.

Make sure that your ideas are on topic and havecohesion.

Cohesion means that you have connections to various ideas. The thesis statement and topic sentences should relate, and the support in the body paragraphs should relate to the topic sentences.

Usetransition signalsto move from one idea to another. These help to draw your reader's attention to the fact that a new idea is coming.

Reminder!DON'T:

Use language such as, "I'm going to write about ..... in my essay." Your reader already knows this, and in academic writing, writers to not need to say that.

Use 'you' or 'we'. Only use 'we' to discuss a specific example in which you (the writer) are included.