How to Compare and Contrast Two Things or Ideas

Compare and contrast two things or ideas.

Focus on the ways in which certain things or ideas— two of them—are similar to (this is the comparison) or different from (this is the contrast) one another. Make connections between texts or ideas engage in critical thinking, and go beyond mere description or summary to generate interesting analysis: when you reflect on similarities and differences, you gain a deeper understanding of the items you are comparing, their relationship to each other, and what is most important about them. After determining similarities and differences (I suggest a chart or even Venn diagram), you must decide which are most important, relevant, and interesting enough to include in your answer.