Here is the sample Compare & Contrast essay we read in class. Yes it was written by me, seven years ago!
Upon walking into Room 505 Lambein, one notices two completely different worlds. Personality leaps out of the walls and invites investigation of the details.
The side of the room closer to the window is quiet and organized. Pastels dominate the décor. Neatly made is the bed with its pastel purple and green comforter. Winnie the Pooh snuggles with another teddy bear next to a purple pillow. Two shelves a above the bed are covered with blue and purple contact paper. Atop the shelves sit framed photographs, a potted plant, a white clip-on desk lamp, card received from family and friends, and two white ceramic mugs portraying fluffy kittens. A wreath of roses and ivy tied with white ribbon is suspended from the ceiling next to the shelves. Likewise the desk is neatly organized. Her printer, laptop, small gray stereo, and accessory cup are accompanied by a small pot of violets. Directly above the desk are a dozen petite pictures of dancers in pink tutus. They surround an Anne Geddes poster of adorable angels flitting about on a moss covered tree branch. Tied with white ribbon, a small picture collage hangs over the bed next to more photos of friends. Garfield comics, photos, and a calendar cover the sliding closet doors. A keyboard lies propped up next to the closet and a lavender trash barrel is placed at the foot of the bed. Fringed and purple, a small carpet covers the floor directly next to the bed. Decorating the window are dried roses and babies’ breath. Smiling, shining, sun-lights hang over the window, making the room sunny and inviting.
Chaos and randomness describe the side of the room closer to the door. This bed is also neatly made. A green, yellow, pink and blue plaid pillow somehow matches the green, hot pink, dark purple and rainbow crocheted afghan on the bed. Shoved between the bed and the wall is a black bass guitar case and a short guitar stool. The shelves on the wall are plain and brown. Numerous CDs, hot chocolate mix, a black and red mug, framed photos, books and Star Wars action figures reside on these shelves. Her desk is covered with piles of random papers, book, index cards, CDs, an Arabic newspaper, a black stereo, a laptop and a black desk lamp. Shiny, silver garland encircles the legs of the desk chair. Covering the wall are poster-sized photo collages, ads for movies such as Wayne’s World and Indiana Jones, a cluttered message board, a few Monet prints, poetry, a Haitian oil painting and poetry in a myriad of languages and scripts. Orange streamers hang from the ceiling over the shelves and doors. Multiple pairs of colorful shoes peek out from under the bed next to a bright blue couch. Sunlight comes in and bounces off three small disco balls hanging from the shelves. In between her desk and the other girl’s desk is her squat white fridge which serves as a platform for a giant black Crate bass amplifier.
You may not guess that both girls actually have a lot of in common. They are both studious and like to go to sleep early. Waking up at 6:00am allows both girls to have ample time to get ready, eat breakfast and pray before morning classes. Dancing, music, and theater arts are activities they both equally enjoy. Despite these similarities, the room seems to shout out their differences to anyone who enters. Walking into room 505 Lambien and listening to what the walls have to say will surely help one to see the differences between the two girls who sleep in this room at night.
Answer the following questions about the two rooms.
1. Does the author use the ABAB pattern or the AABB pattern of comparison?
2. Write at least 10 adjectives that describe each side of the room.
3. Summarize the essay in two sentences.
4. What are some things the two girls have in common?
5. Which side of the room is more like yours? Why?
6. Which side do you think was Mrs. Michelle’s and why?
7. Brainstorm five ideas that you could use for your compare and contrast essay.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
8. Choose one and decide whether the ABAB pattern or the AABB pattern is better for the topic. Write a simple outline here.
