A compare-and-contrst essay explains the differences and similarities between two people, places or things. Click here to read our Compare-and-Contrast Sample Paper. This article is a Buzzle effort at providing a comprehensive list of compare and contrast essay topics. These essay topic ideas are at varying degrees of difficulty. Only compare or only contrast. It is always possible, of course, to write an essay that treats only the similarities or differences between ideas. Comparison and contrast essay is one of the most common assignments in American high schools and universities. In this type of essay students have to compare two (in. Pick two subjects that can be compared and contrasted. The first step to writing a successful compare and contrast essay is to pick two subjects that are different. As the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill points out, instructors often assign comparison/contrast essays because such writing requires students to analyze. Writing a compare and contrast essay. This type of essay is basically a composition, which is concentrated on two points. The compare and contrast essay reveals the. To write a comparison or contrast essay that is easy to follow, first decide what the similarities or differences are by writing lists on scrap paper. © 2008 Northern Nevada Writing Project and WritingFix. Teachers have permission to reprint for classroom use only. This resource is featured in the Northern Nevada. Most of middle school and high school students will be assigned a range of compare and contrast essays, especially in Literature classes. Compare and contrast essay.