Developing a Thesis for a Compare and Contrast Essay
| Learning Objectives: - Determine when to use an explanatory thesis or an evaluative thesis for a compare and contrast essay.
- Develop an explanatory thesis.
- Develop an evaluative thesis.
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LESSON
Like any essayA short piece of writing that focuses on at least one main idea. Some essays are also focused on the author's unique point of view, making them personal or autobiographical, while others are focused on a particular literary, scientific, or political subject. , a compare and contrast essayA written discussion of both the similarities and differences between people, objects, or ideas. This type of essay shows how things are alike in some ways (compare) as well as how they are different in other ways (contrast). hinges on an effective thesisAn overall argument, idea, or belief that a writer uses as the basis for a work.. Without a strong thesis, an essay will be weak and will not convey an effective main ideaThe most important or central thought of a reading selection. It also includes what the author wants the reader to understand about the topic he or she has chosen to write about. for readers. In a compare and contrast essay, you can develop either an explanatory or evaluative thesis statementA brief statement that identifies a writer's thoughts, opinions, or conclusions about a topic. Thesis statements bring unity to a piece of writing, giving it a focus and a purpose. You can use three questions to help form a thesis statement: What is my topic? What am I trying to say about that topic? Why is this important to me or my reader?. This lesson will help you differentiate between the two types of thesis statements and give you the tools to develop your own thesis statements.
Explanatory Thesis Statements
An explanatory thesisA statement that explains something without judgment. compares two subjectsThe people, places, things, or ideas being discussed or described. without taking a particular stance on either one. You will use this type of thesis in expository essaysAn essay that explains or describes something with facts and not opinions. How-to guides, timelines, and biographies are all examples of expository writing. and research papers. This type calls attention to the differences and/or similarities between two subjects without biasIn writing, bias indicates a writer's personal prejudice for or against an idea, person, activity, or object. Being objective, or displaying no tendency toward a preference, is the opposite of showing bias.. These points of comparisonThe criteria by which subjects are compared and/or contrasted. should not be obvious, but should surprise or enlighten the reader about something he or she might not have known before. For example, it is very obvious that cats and dogs are different. It might be more interesting for the reader to learn about the many ways that they are the same.
Here are some examples of explanatory thesis statements:
- While both wind turbines and solar panels have their own shortcomings, both offer a number of advantages over traditional energy sources.
- Carbohydrate-free and whole-grain diet experts agree on one thing: limiting refined sugars is the key to weight loss.
- The Civil War could be said to have arisen from a fundamental dispute over freedom: which is more sacred, freedom for individuals, or freedom from government?
Evaluative Thesis Statements
An evaluative thesisA statement that presents an opinion about the topic., on the other hand, is a claim that provokes opposition. It makes a judgment call. It declares one subject to be better or worse than another. The two subjects are no longer equal.
Here are some examples of evaluative thesis statements:
- Although wind turbines and solar panels both create less greenhouse gasses than fossil fuels, solar panels are much more environmentally friendly.
- The carbohydrate-free Paleo diet is all the rage, but studies show that a balanced diet that is rich in whole grains is healthier for your heart.
- Some would argue that the Civil War was a war for freedom from government, but those who sought freedom for individuals knew which was the more fundamental right.
It is important to understand your assignment in order to know whether you need to develop an explanatory or an evaluative thesis statement. Assignments, sometimes called promptsInstructions for a writing assignment given by an instructor., will be tailored toward one or the other.
The following prompts require explanatory thesis statements because they are asking the writer to compare two things without taking a particular stance on whether one is better or worse.
- Compare and contrast the content of Woodrow Wilson's two inaugural addresses, including the sociopolitical climates in which they were delivered.
- Analyze how a career in transcultural nursing is similar to and different from one in traditional nursing.
- Compare the influence of Wordsworth to the influence of Coleridge during the Romantic age of poetry.
The following prompts require evaluative thesis statements because they ask the writer to compare the two subjects while taking a position in favor of one over the other.
- Compare Woodrow Wilson's two inaugural addresses, and evaluate which one was more effective for its time.
- Analyze the similarities and differences between transcultural nursing and traditional nursing, and explain which will likely have greater career opportunity in your area over the next decade.
- Who had more influence during the Romantic age of poetry, Wordsworth or Coleridge? Which one had more influence on the Victorian age of poetry?
+ PRACTICAL APPLICATIONThere is value in both evaluative and explanatory essays; they serve different purposes. Knowing how to craft effective thesis statements for both situations is critical in both college and a career. In college, you will no doubt have many assignments of both types, whether you are comparing two theories, two processes, or two characters. In your career, you might be asked to compare two job candidates and determine which is more suitable for an open position. Or maybe your supervisor will ask you to write a business proposal recommending one of two different approaches to a project. In all of these cases, an effective thesis statement is the foundation of your writing.
Read each prompt, then notice whether the writing situation requires an explanatory or evaluative thesis. Then see an example thesis.
Prompt: Compare and contrast the effects of walking and running with respect to individual health. Determine which exercise regimen is more appropriate for your assigned patient.
This prompt requires an evaluative thesis. It is asking you to make a comparison and choose between the two options. A possible thesis could be:
While both running and walking offer undeniable health benefits, a walking regimen is more appropriate for a sixty-year-old patient who is returning to exercising after a relatively sedentary life.
Prompt: Compare two of the female characters in The House of Mirth.
This prompt requires an explanatory thesis. It is not asking you to decide which is more likable, more believable, etc. It is asking you to compare the two characters. A possible thesis could be:
Though their fates are quite different, both Lily Bart and Judy Trenor willingly seek lives in gilded cages.
Prompt: Explain the similarities and differences between the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear disasters.
This prompt also requires an explanatory thesis, looking at the characteristics of both disasters. A possible thesis could be:
While there are some differences, the parallels between the Fukushima and Chernobyl nuclear disasters, despite the twenty-five years between them, suggest that humans still have a great deal to learn about controlling the awesome force they have created.
While this may sound like it is leading to an evaluative essay because the writer has included some of his or her own analysisTo analyze is to make a thoughtful and detailed study of something. An analysis is the end result of analyzing., the thesis statement suggests that the writer will primarily be explaining similarities and differences.
Prompt: Compare French and American cooking techniques, and explain which has contributed more to today's international cuisine.
This prompt requires an evaluative thesis because it asks the writer to choose which of the two techniques that they believe contributed more to current cuisine. A possible thesis could be:
While much of today's cuisine has roots in the traditional French cooking techniques, the modern techniques developed by American chefs have done more to influence contemporary cuisine around the world.
Read each prompt, decide whether the writing situation requires an explanatory or evaluative thesis and why. Then, develop a possible thesis for each prompt.
- Prompt: Pick a book that has been made into a movie. Explain which aspects of the story were the same between the two and which ones were different.
What type of thesis does this prompt require?
This prompt requires an explanatory thesis because it requires the writer to determine the similarities and differences between the two without making a judgment call.
Write a thesis for this prompt.
Despite sharing a title, the book version of The Hunger Games differs greatly from the movie version, especially in its character development and major themes.
- Prompt: Compare the Winter Olympics to the Summer Olympics and determine which is the better sporting event.
What type of thesis does this prompt require?
This prompt requires an evaluative thesis because it requires the writer to decide which of the two is better.
Write a thesis for this prompt.
Although both the Summer and Winter Olympics offer viewers impressive feats of speed and strength, the winter games are superior in many respects.
- Prompt: Who would win in a fight: Batman or Superman?
What type of thesis does this prompt require?
This prompt requires an evaluative thesis because it requires the writer to decide who would win this super battle.
Write a thesis for this prompt.
Batman, despite having no native, genetic super-abilities, would defeat Superman if the two ever battled.
- Prompt: Choose two academic majors that interest you. Compare the merits of the two.
What type of thesis does this prompt require?
This prompt requires an explanatory thesis because it requires you to compare the merits of the two; you do not need to decide which one is better.
Write a thesis for this prompt.
Today's college students will have a bright future whether they choose to major in information technology or physical therapy.
What type of comparisons have you made in the past?
When I make comparisons it is usually to come to some kind of conclusion about which of two things is better, more convincing, more useful, etc. I compared different school options before choosing one, and once I got into school I made comparisons between courses, majors, and, ultimately, careers.
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