Several à La Carte Comparison Paragraphprewriting

Comparison Paragraph Planning Guidelines

Topics: Be sure to choose a topic that you find the most interesting. Your paragraph must be at least 200 words.

Plan: Either choose to show the similarities between two things, or the differences. You cannot do both for this assignment. Just write “similarities” or “differences” here.

Attitude/Point: This will be your attitude toward your two subjects. Do not just write that they are similar or different. What truth or significance can be drawn from the fact that they are similar or different?

Audience: Be specific in selecting your audience. Who would be interested in hearing this comparison and the point you want to make? Who would benefit from acknowledging the significance of your comparison?

Purpose: To inform? To entertain? To persuade? Choose or perhaps a combination of two.

Categories of Comparison: You must have at least three general categories where your two subjects are similar or different. (Like comparing LU now with LU then, based on food service, rules, and dress code, for example.)

Topic Sentence: Combine your topic, your attitude/point, and your categories of comparison into a complete sentence. (See sample outline below for a topic sentence example.)

Brainstorm Details: Brainstorm a list of similarities (or differences) for each of your three categories of comparison. List those in the provided space.

Sentence Outline: Create a sentence outline to organize your essay. Follow these guidelines to create your outline:

Sentence Outline Guidelines

• Your sentence outline must have three main points.
• There must be at least 2 points (A and B) under each main point.
• Be sure that each point in the sentence outline is expressed using a complete sentence.
• Choose only one of the two following outline methods for your Prewriting assignment.

Outline Method Examples

Method #1. Point-By-Point Comparison Outline

Topic Sentence: The fact that LU tries to keep up with the changes in student population can be seen in the changes to dress code, food services, and rules.

• The dress code at Liberty has relaxed.
• The food choices at LU have expanded.
• The Rules at LU are less strict.

• Then, girls had to wear skirts, and guys had to wear ties.
• Now, girls can wear pants, and guys do not have to wear ties.

• Then, we only had one small cafeteria.
• Now, there is Doc’s Diner, a huge cafeteria, and several a la carte locations.

• Then, students were required to attend church & prayer groups.
• Now, church is encouraged but not required.
• Then, televisions were not allowed in dorm rooms.
• Now, students can have televisions.

Method #2. Topic-By-Topic Comparison Outline Method

Topic Sentence: The fact that LU tries to keep up with the changes in student population can be seen in the changes to dress code, food services, and rules.

• Liberty used to be more strict and less convenient.
• Now Liberty has become more convenient and less strict.

• The Dress Code was more strict.
  • Girls had to wear skirts.
  • Guys had to wear ties.
• Food Services was less convenient.
  • There was only one small cafeteria.
  • Lines were so long.
• Rules were more strict.
  • Students had to attend church and prayer groups.
  • Students could not have TV in the dorm rooms.
  • Students could only listen to Christian music.

• The Dress code is more relaxed.
  • Girls can wear pants.
  • Guys do not have to wear ties.
• Food Services are more convenient.
  • Doc’s Diner, a large cafeteria, and several à la carte places are options for students.
  • Lines are much shorter because of the variety of choices.
• The rules are less strict.
  • Church and prayer groups are no longer required.
  • Students can have TVs in the dorm rooms.
  • Students can listen to secular music.

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