compare and contrast

Comparing and contrasting is an effective way to create vision and add strength to any text or writing. Comparing is looking at the similarities between two or more things whereas contrasting is looking at the differences. When you are writing a descriptive essay, it is common to need to compare and contrast. If you didn't, there wouldn't be any differential between points or items you need to point out or describe. 

There are two different ways to effectively compare and contrast. The first is the side by side, and the second is subject to subject. Side by side takes each concept and compares them point by point. Subject to subject takes the concept as a whole and compares off of that. For example, let's say we're comparing two images. The side by side techniques takes each aspect of the image and compares them side by side; comparing the setting, then comparing the timing, people in the image, etc. Subject to subject says this is an image of a flower in the summer, and this is an image of a leave in the fall, comparing the image as a whole. Both are equally effective and are very successful in comparing and contrasting in any text.