How to Write a Comparative Analysis with Examples
Writing a comparative analysis in a research paper is not as difficult as many people might tend to think. With some tips, it is possible to write an outstanding comparative review. There are steps that must be utilized to attain this result. They are as detailed in this article.
Within the literary, academic, and journalistic world, analysis allows exposing ideas and arguments in front of a context, making it an important material for discussion within professional work.
Within this genre, we can find a comparative analysis. For some authors, the comparative essay is defined as the text where two opposing positions are proposed or where two theses are verified. The author intends to make the reader reflect on a specific topic through this comparison. It consists of giving a written opinion about two positions, which are compared between them to conclude. Do you know how to write a comparative essay? In this article, we will explain how to do it step by step.
So, let’s see the guidelines you must follow to achieve a good comparative analysis.
How to Write a Good Comparative Analysis
The Structure
The approach is generally developed in the first paragraph or at the beginning of the work. Its objective is to propose the author’s position regarding a specific subject. Generally, this approach specifies the objective to be achieved. You must be clear about what topic you will deal with, what you want to explain, and what perspectives will be used in your comparative analysis, and you must also define who you write for.
As it is a comparative text, it begins with a general observation that can serve as a context for both approaches, then begins by establishing the arguments in each of the two cases. Do not forget to compare both objects of study according to each argument or idea to develop.
Let it be the reader himself who finds or defines his position in this essay and chooses one of the two alternatives.
In this entry, there are two possibilities of approach: one deductive and the other inductive. The deductive method raises the issue, and you use your analysis of the variables to guide the reader to draw their conclusions or fix a position on the issue. While the inductive method starts with an argument, developing each variable until the topic’s approach or problem is reached. The two ways of approaching the subject are viable. Choose the one that is easiest for you to work with.
At the end of this section, your audience should:
- First, clearly understand what topics you will cover in your essay, what you want to explain, and under what positions or perspectives you will do it. It begins with a general observation that establishes the similarity between the two subjects and then moves the essay’s focus to the concrete.
- The reader should understand which points will be examined and which will not be examined in the comparison. At the end of the introduction, state your preference, or describe the two subjects’ meaning.
- Your readers should be able to describe the ideas you will treat. Make a detailed exposition of its characteristics, history, consequences, and development that you consider appropriate. Your comparative analysis should expose the characteristics of the second position on which you want to speak as much as in the first one.
Development of Body
Generally, in the body of the essay, the author presents all the arguments that support his thesis, which gives him a reflective and justifying body of the author’s initial statement. Depending on the length of the work, which can range from two to 15 pages, each paragraph or before a title corresponds to an argument’s development.
Conclusion
After speaking on the subject, the author must close the essay, conclude, show the findings of his work, and/or show the conclusions he reached. You must write a final closing paragraph as a conclusion, exposing a confrontation between the two positions. Try to create a fight between them so that the reader gets involved. The conclusion should give a brief and general summary of the most important similarities and differences. It should end with a personal statement, an opinion, and the “what then?” – what is important about the two things being compared.
Readers should be left feeling that this essay’s different threads have been put together coherently, that they have learned something – and they must be sure that this is the end – that they do not look around for missing pages. And finally, your assessment must explain your solidarity position and why you prefer it to the other.
Examples of How to Write a Comparative Analysis
Comparative Analysis Example 1:
Paragraph 1: Messi’s preferred position / Ronaldo’s preferred position.
Paragraph 2: Messi’s play style / Ronaldo’s play style.
Paragraph 3: Messi aerial game / Ronaldo aerial game.
Comparative Analysis Example 2:
Paragraph 1: Messi teamwork.
Paragraph 2: Ronaldo’s teamwork.
Paragraph 3: Messi stopped the ball.
Paragraph 4: Ronaldo’s stopped the ball.
Paragraph 5: Messi’s achievements.
Paragraph 6: Ronaldo’s achievements.
Few Important Rules for Comparative analysis
Even if the exercise sounds simple, a few rules should be followed to help your audience as best as possible make the best decision.
1. Clearly state your position
The first question is, “Why are you doing a comparison analysis”? To highlight your view or ideas over another, or simply to compare two (or more) solutions that do not belong to you? You must clearly state your position to your reader, and so does your credibility.
Be honest and state, for example:
- The idea you are trying to espouse
- The framework you are using
- The reason why you are doing this comparison is the objective
In addition to the above, you must be consistent with the exposition of your ideas.
2. Stay objective
Even if you include your personal ideology in your comparison, stay objective. Your readers will not appreciate it when you point out all the disadvantages of one idea while you display the advantages of the other. Your comparison will turn into advertising. You have to raise weak points and strong points on both sides.
These analyses are always subjective, so you must clarify which position convinces you the most.
3. Think about audience’s expectations
The research paper is intended for your readers, meaning you must consider their expectations when writing your review. Put aside your desire to sell your desired idea and take your readers’ perspective:
- What information are they interested in?
- What are their criteria?
- What do they want to know?
- What do they want from the product or service?
Again, it is about being objective in all your statements.
4. Organize information
It is important to structure your comments for your readers to want to read your comparative analysis. The idea is to make it easy for your readers to navigate your paper and get them to find the information that interests them quickly.
5. End with a conclusion
You’ve tried to be as objective as possible throughout your comparison, and now is the time to let go, as we have mentioned many times in this post. In your conclusion, you can go directly to your readers and give your opinion. With a few tips, you can also encourage them to go towards one or the other idea.
Note: If time is not an issue, the best way to review the essay is to leave it for one day. Go for a walk, eat something, have fun, and forget. Then it’s time to return to the text, find and fix problems. This must be done separately; first, find all the problems you can without correcting them. Although doing it simultaneously is tempting, it is smarter to do it separately. It is effective and fast.
Tips on Comparative Analysis
Be Concise or Accurate in Your Analysis and Dissertation of The Topic
Sometimes the authors believe that the more elaborate the language and the more extensive the writing, the better the writers or essayists. On the contrary, a good essay refers to an exact topic analysis, where the reader can dynamically advance the work and understand the author’s position.
Use only the arguments necessary to explain the topic, do not talk too much. You risk being redundant or repetitive, making the text-heavy when reading and understanding it.
Write in Short Sentences
Just as we recommend that you do not redound in your texts, we also encourage you to write with short sentences. They give dynamism to the text. Communication is direct. The reader advances in the text and understands much more.
Include Reflections in Your Text
Supporting your approach with reflections or quotes from authors makes your essay more important. Above all, use those arguments that justify or strengthen your position regarding one thesis or the other.
Text Revision
Since comparative analysis can tend to be a subjective work, you must let it “sit” for a day or a few hours and read it again. This exercise will allow you to make corrections. Modify those aspects that are not clear enough for you. And you can improve it in a few words. Once you do this exercise, you can submit it just like this.
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