Compare & Contrast Research Assignments
Compare and contrast essays are typical of many academic disciplines. This type of essay examines similarities and differences between two or more items from one or more perspectives. By assigning such essays, your instructors are encouraging you to 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.
TOPICS:
The cultural differences between two different countries. (I’m from Japan so I would like to chose Japan and other country)
CONTENT REQUIREMENTS:
• Your thesis statement will identify the main topic, limitation and essay instruction.
• Show similarities and differences between 2 items
• Explain how one is better than the other
• Establish criteria to be compared and contrasted
• Organize ideas logically into coherent paragraphs (block by-block or point-by-point)
• Include all 3 required sections (introduction, body and conclusion)
• Use appropriate compare/contrast and evaluative language
Research Essay
• 700 – 900 words + reference list
• Include word count on the last page
• Typed in APA citation format
GUIDELINES FOR ALL RESEARCH ASSIGNMENTS
• NO Wikipedia, about.com, or anthology type websites permitted
• NO translated material; sources must be in English
• Multiple source formats required (books, journals, articles, etc.)
o print sources must be available for review, if requested by the teacher o maximum 3 non-news or non-government websites
MARKING : Your essay will be marked according to the following:
• Delivery
• Research and Citation
• Content
• Design
• Participation and Preparation
ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSIONS
(voice, body language, professionalism)
(APA format, style, citations)
(logical arguments, critical thinking)
(image use, colour, font, etc.)
(attendance, cell phone use, questioning, etc.)
Major Assignments
• Format
• Content
• Structure
• Coherence/Cohesion
• Task Achievement
(APA format, in-text citations, Bibliography)
(logical arguments, critical thinking, support of claims) (style, sentences, paragraphs, essay)
(logical division of ideas, discourse markers, transitions)