How To Write A Book Comparison Essay

If you’re in middle or high school, you’ll almost definitely have to write a book comparison essay sooner or later. Reading this will not only be helpful in the future but it can be extra information when that time comes. You can also read this just for fun if you want to check it out and try it yourself.

Introduction

• An introduction in a comparative essay (between two passages) is usually four sentences.

Sentence 1 — General Sentence

This should be taken from the essay question. It should not include story titles, authors, or character names.

Sentence 2 — Summary of the first passage

This sentence should simply summarize the first passage. It should include the title, genre, author, main character (if applicable), and a brief summary.

Sentence 3 — Summary of the second passage

This sentence should simply summarize the second passage. It should include the title, genre, author, main character (if applicable), and a brief summary.

Sentence 4 — Thesis Statement

This is the most important sentence of the essay. It states the topic of the essay without saying “This essay will be about…” In order to write it, you have to look at the essay question carefully. Then, include information from each bullet of the essay. Be sure that it includes the focus of the entire essay, not just the first body paragraph!

Begin with either the characters’ names or the titles of the works. Then, combine the bullets into one sentence without making it too long.

Body Paragraph

1. Your body paragraphs should be 8–12 sentences (or more) in length.
2. Your body paragraphs must begin with a topic sentence. A topic sentence is a sentence which states the focus of the entire paragraph (without saying “In this paragraph, I will tell you…).
3. In a comparative essay, the topic sentence of the first body paragraph usually mentions both characters’ names (or titles) and rephrases the first bullet of the essay question. The body paragraphs which follow this one have topic sentences that correspond with the bullets in the proper sequence.
4. Within the body paragraph, writers must work chronologically, according to the order of the passages listed in the test question. Within each paragraph, writers should also mention details as they happen chronologically within the passage.
5. After writing completely about the first bullet as it corresponds to the first passage, writers should use a transitional phrase to signal the change in focus from one passage to another.
6. In the second half of each body paragraph, the focus should be on the second passage as it relates to the bullet.
7. Try to compose your body paragraphs to be as balanced as possible. Don’t spend an enormous amount of time on one passage and very little time on the other.
8. Count your details! Have you included as much text detail as possible?
9. Use sophisticated language. Vary word choice and sentence structure.
10. Proofread for capitalization, punctuation, verb tense agreement, subject-verb agreement, run-ons, and spelling.

Summary Format of a Body Paragraph

Sentence 1 — Topic Sentence

The next 3–6 sentences- Details related to the first story

Transition sentence

The next 3–6 sentences — Details related to the second story

A reminder that you don’t need a closing sentence in a body paragraph.

The Conclusion

The number of sentences in a conclusion depends on how many body paragraphs you have written.

Sentence 1 — General Sentence

This should begin with a transitional phrase. It should paraphrase the general sentence (first sentence of the essay).

Sentence 2 — Summary of the first body paragraph

This sentence should simply summarize the first body paragraph.

Sentence 3 — Summary of the second body paragraph

This sentence should simply summarize the second body paragraph.

Sentence 4 (if necessary) — Summary of the third body paragraph (if there is a third body paragraph)

This sentence should simply summarize the third body paragraph.

Sentence 4 or 5 — Final statement (This is the most difficult statement to write.)

This sentence should either draw a conclusion or explain the lesson/theme of the essay.

Begin with the words “Many people” or “Many times.”