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Essay #6:​ Comparison and Contrast Essay
We apply the logic of comparison and contrast on a daily basis. Deciding what clothes to wear in the morning, what to eat for lunch, and what television programs to watch in the evening are often spontaneous decisions that require us to pick and choose from among competing options.
On a more serious and complex level of decision-making, we use comparison and contrast to make decisions that occasionally have life-altering influence: to support or reject a controversial ballot proposal, to send our kids to a charter or public school, to lease or purchase a car, and so forth.
Your essay assignment this week requires you to (1) identify two competing options, (2) analyze the merits and drawbacks of each option, and (3) if appropriate, recommend the best option.
Introductory Paragraph
After you generate reader interest in your topic (via a “hook” or informative context), you must clearly state your thesis.​ A comparison/contrast essay thesis must be expressed in one of two formats:
1.​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Neutral position: “This year’s senate race features two extremely qualified candidates.”
2.​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Advocacy position: “Donna Rush is a far more viable candidate for the U. S. senate than
Incumbent Senator Hugh Cashman.”
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Body Paragraphs
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Regardless of the thesis option selected, there are two distinct patterns of organizing the body:
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1.​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Isolated (Block) Discussion. Here you completely analyze the merits and demerits of one option (for example leasing a car) before starting a new paragraph to examine the other option (for example, buying a new car).
2.​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Point-by-Point (Triangular) Discussion. Here you identify a criterion, such as financing, and analyze which option (for example leasing versus buying a car) is more advantageous for the consumer.​A second body paragraph may discuss maintenance concerns.​ A third may discuss insurance implications.
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Conclusion Paragraph
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Your essay’s final paragraph is dictated by your ultimate goal: to persuade your reader that one option is clearly better than the other or simply to equip the reader with sufficient facts to make an informed decision.
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Sample Topics
online/ Traditional Classes​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ anorexia/ bulimia​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ texting/calling
natural childbirth/elective c-section​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ love/infatuation​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ nascar/formula one
board games/electronic games​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ good/bad bosses​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ original movie/remake
evolution/creationism​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ breastfeeding/formula​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ two good friends
pro-choice/pro-life​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ two cable providers​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ two amusement parks
house/condo​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ rent/purchase​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ two fast food restaurants
rescue dogs/puppy mill dogs​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ male/female friends​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ two network news programs​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
[Block Method of Organization]
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Leasing Versus Buying a Car
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Approximately eighty percent of new car shoppers choose to buy their vehicle outright rather than lease it. Still, twenty percent feel that leasing is a superior alternative.​ Is it possible they know something that the other eighty percent do not? Either leasing or purchasing can, in fact, be the correct choice for the new car shopper.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Buying a new car has both advantages and disadvantages.​ On the plus side, you own the vehicle, meaning you can customize it to your heart’s content.​ You can change the suspension, upgrade the sound system, and even repaint the vehicle if you grow tired of the original plain white exterior.​ Since you own the vehicle, you are responsible for the entire purchase price.​ ​ Usually, a substantial downpayment will be expected and larger monthly payments than the leasing alternative will be required for the life of the loan, typically five or six years.​ However, once you make the final payment, you possess the title free and clear, with no more monthly payments. Of course, that also means you are responsible for maintenance.​ The car has by now fallen well out of warranty and anything that goes wrong is your responsibility.​ Finally, you can insure the vehicle to any extent you desire—that is, obtain complete coverage, including collision, or obtain minimum, mandated Michigan no-fault insurance.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Leasing a new car has its own unique advantages and disadvantages.​First off, the monthly payment is smaller on a leased vehicle than for one purchased because you are only paying for that portion of the vehicle you are using—the first two or three years of its depreciating value.​ You do not pay for the residual value of the vehicle, the value the car is worth at the end of the leasing term.​ So if the car lists for, say, $20,000, and the residual value in three years is set at $12,000, you are only paying on the balance, $8,000.​ Also, since the car is under full warranty, you never have to pay for any expensive maintenance, just the regular oil changes. Of course, you can’t ‘soup up’ the car since you do not own it.​ You must return the vehicle in good condition ad within the allotted mileage agreed upon at the time you sign the contract or pay a mileage penalty.​To protect their investment, leasing companies also require their own minimum insurance requirements, substantially more than the minimum that the state of Michigan requires on a purchased vehicle.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Buying or leasing a vehicle depends totally on the habits and preference of the shopper.​ Before making a decision, you have to ask yourself several key questions: Can you stay within the mileage limits of a lease contract? Are you willing to factor a car payment into your budget on a permanent basis for the pleasure and security associated with driving a new car?​ Are you willing to pay a little extra for car insurance to satisfy the dealer’s requirement?​ If you answer yes to these questions, a lease is likely the smart option for you.
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[Point-by-Point or “Triangular” Method of Organization]
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Leasing Versus Buying a Car
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Approximately eighty percent of new car shoppers choose to buy their vehicle outright rather than lease it. Still, twenty percent feel that leasing is a superior alternative.​ Is it possible they know something that the other eighty percent do not? Either leasing or purchasing can, in fact, be the correct choice for the new car shopper.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ On perhaps the most important issue, cost, the monthly payment is smaller on a leased vehicle than for one purchased because you are only paying for that portion of the vehicle you are using—the first two or three years of its depreciating value. You do not pay for the residual value of the vehicle, the amount the car is worth at the end of the lease term. So, if the car lists for, say, $20,000, and the residual value in three years is pre-set by the dealer at $12,000, you are only paying on the balance, $8,000. On the other hand, if you choose to purchase the vehicle, you are responsible for the entire purchase price. Usually, a substantial down payment will be expected and larger monthly payments than the leasing alternative will be further required for the life of the loan, typically five or six years. However, once you make the final payment, you possess the title free and clear, with no more monthly payments.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Another important and related cost consideration is the price of insurance.​ Leasing companies require their own minimum insurance requirements, substantially more than the minimum that the state requires on a purchased vehicle. With regard to a purchased vehicle, much depends upon the size of the down payment and the purchase loan as to whether the lender will designate any specific insurance requirements.​ In most instances the insurance requirements will be substantially less than for a leased vehicle. In ay event, once the vehicle is paid off, the owner may simply obtain the much cheaper but mandated Michigan no-fault insurance.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Finally, but perhaps important only to a select group of drivers, has to do with vehicle customization. If you are presently paying down a vehicle or own it outright, you may customize the vehicle to your heart’s content. You can change the suspension, upgrade the sound system, even repaint the vehicle if you grow tired of the original plain white exterior. If you lease the vehicle, on the other hand, you must return the vehicle not only in good condition and within the allotted mileage agreed upon at the time you sign the contract but also with no customized changes or upgrades. Substantial penalties will accrue if the allotted mileage is surpassed or modifications are made to the vehicle.​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Buying or leasing a vehicle depends totally on the habits and preference of the shopper.​ Before making a decision, you have to ask yourself several key questions: Can you stay within the mileage limits of a lease contract? Are you willing to factor a car payment into your budget on a permanent basis for the pleasure and security associated with driving a new car?​ Are you willing to pay a little extra for car insurance to satisfy the dealer’s requirement?​ If you answer yes to these questions, a lease is likely the smart option for you.
 
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The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.
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Martin Luther King, Jr.
 

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