Compare/Contrast Essay Structures

Two different styles of writing a compare and contrast essay are: topic by topic or element by element. These different styles alter how the paragraphs are divided within the essay. For the topic by topic option, one paragraph would deal with a piece of poetry (for example, Woodchucks by Maxine Kumin) and the another separate paragraph would deal with a different piece of poetry (for example, Traveling through the Dark by William Stafford). After these two paragraphs there would be another paragraph that would compare and contrast the two pieces together. The other style is an element by element compare and contrast essay. This style of essay is separated by topics of both pieces (of both poems in this case). The writer would compare and contrast both pieces having to do with the topic of each paragraph. Like for example; comparing and contrasting the imagery of the poems within one paragraph and then the different tones of the poems within another separate paragraph. I think the element by element style is more effective if you want the essay to be more specific with information.