First, identify the two pieces you will be writing about for Essay #1: Comparative Analysis#1 (See prompt in the Assignments tab or below for a list of works you can write about.) Secondly, identify the 3 shared comparative points that both works explore. Note: the works might NOT have the same perspective of a shared comparative point (e.g., one work can talk about how McDonald’s offer better quality food while another work can argue that the quality of food is better in Burger King. “The quality of food” is a shared comparative point between both works).
TIP: If you are struggling to identify “shared comparative points,” begin by listing 3-4 main points that each work explores. Next, identify the similar main points between the two pieces. The writers might not have the same view of the main point, but they discuss it and their views of it. The “similar main points” are your “shared comparative point.”
The 3 shared comparative points will be the focus of each of your body paragraphs in Essay #1. Remember, each body paragraph in your comparative analysis should discuss BOTH works, which means topic sentences (the first sentence of each paragraph) and the last sentence of each paragraph should mention BOTH writers.
For example, both Bourne and Roosevelt talk about whether immigrants should assimilate to the American way of life, but they do not have the same views about assimilation.
Body Para 1: Question of whether immigrants should assimilate – Bourne vs. Roosevelt
Body Para 2: Question of whether immigrants/Americans should be patriotic – Bourne vs. Roosevelt
Body Para 3: Question of strict borders and mobility — should we control who enters and leaves the US — Bourne vs. Roosevelt
Please use these works of writing :
Roosevelt, “True American”
Lee Chew, “The Life Story of a Chinaman”