Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for Students

WriteMyPaper4Me.org • Posted on 03.08.2019 04:56 • Updated 06.29.2021

When you’re assigned to do this kind of academic writing, you can choose to compare and contrast essay topics by conducting in-depth research, asking for advice, or hiring a professional essay writer to help. Send us a 'write paper for me' message and receive outstanding result.

This article on compare and contrast essay topics will help you to avoid confusing and banal essay topics. In addition to the list of the top-rated themes, this text ends up with online writing help with guides you could follow when writing your compare and contrast essay.

How to Choose Compare and Contrast Essay Topics Wisely?

Before getting into the list of topics, let’s discover some tips on choosing it. The most effective, time-tested way to select essay compare and contrast essay topics in case your teacher did not give some is through researching different types of sources:

• Newspapers. A student can find an endless source of great ideas. They are related to the ongoing world’s events, latest innovations, expert opinions, political fluctuations, and other fields. Pay attention to both columns, interviews, and analysis composed by an authoritative person from politics, economy, and other aspects of human life;
• Real-life examples. You can find great topics for your essay from your real life. It will be the best option. Try to remember situations when you could not choose between the two things. Quite primitive, but iOS vs Android or iPhone 12 vs iPhone 12 pro are some of the most common examples. You will definitely find more.
• News channels. Turn on your favorite channel not to watch your favorite TV show this time. Learn about contemporary problems and try to think about an interesting topic idea spending around half an hour of your precious time.
• Magazines/Journals. If you are not a great fan of politics, religion, or economics, try to find some good ideas in recent magazines/journals. Check the rubrics dedicated to entertainment, technology, teen life, and sports.
• Internet. It should be the greatest source of all ideas collected in the previous types of primary sources altogether.

Do not forget to attend various seminars, conferences, meetings to learn more about the things going on in the world and recently discussed by society.

Professional Advice:

“Before starting the topic, organize the thoughts in a logical manner. Develop some kind of a chart/graph/table to have a visual picture of how the final draft should look like. In this type of academic writing, it is important to focus on the comparable qualities & characteristics of the subjects/events/people to impress the target audience. It means the author should pick original criteria to draw parallels or stress the gap between the objects.”

Professor Beverly Thompson, online English tutor and golden writer at WriteMyPaper4Me

Students will not understand how to write a compare and contrast essay without memorizing and using properly so-called signal words. Those are transition words. In other types of essays be it a defining essay, etc, it is important to join different sections like body paragraphs and conclusion in a whole piece with the help of special words/phrases. Find the list of signal words below.

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics on Famous People

It is time to answer the main question of our reader, “What are some good compare and contrast essay topics?”

E.g. world-known people like different celebrities and political figures have always attracted the attention of ordinary citizens. It's a great chance for every writer to catch an eye of the reader by describing and comparing the life of various American authorities.

You do not necessarily need to analyze the life of people from the same region or field of activity. Many students find it exciting to take a person from real life and a book or movie character. It leaves space for imagination.

Have enough ideas to write your five-paragraph essay:

• Madonna and Celine Dion. While the first woman is a self-made American singer, the same can be said about her Canadian fellow singer. By comparing these two, you draw parallels between the American and Canadian pop stage.
• Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin. Even though these historical figures widely known to the public were from the opposing camps, there are more similarities between them than you can think.
• Peter Griffin vs Homer Simpson. The two American television shows, "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy" are alike by showing the disadvantages of the nation and laughing at the public stereotypes. However, one of the shows is still more radical.
• Bugs Bunny and Charlie Chaplin. As time passes by, these figures remain the symbol of their time and entire American culture. It would be interesting to write about the similarities and differences between their comic images.
• Online ads VS traditional ways to promote goods/services. How these methods affect the lives of different popular people.
• Hobbes or Locke. English philosophers’ roles regarding the contribution of each to the study of political science.
• Batman VS Superman. The reasons why Batman won in the famous movie.
• Star Wars modern episodes or episodes of the 1970s. Comparison of graphic, actors, plot, visual effects, music, sound effects, habits, etc.
• Plato or Socrates. Decide which one contributed more to philosophical research.
• Putin & Biden. Differences in the political regime and economics offered by each president.

The above-listed compare and contrast essay topics will help you to impress your tutor with the ability to conduct deep research. It is not easy to choose among a number of compare and contrast essay topics. We have collected only the most interesting and eye-catching essay ideas, which will help you to get the desired A-grade for your essay paper.

Relevant compare and contrast topics

1. Online education vs traditional schooling. The issue cannot be more relevant than today, during the worldwide quarantine.
2. iPhone 11 vs iPhone 12. Ever up-to-date topic when the new version is released.
3. Biden and Trump. 2020 is an election year. So, you may compare these to leaders either as politicians or individuals
4. Live before and after the global lockdown 2020. Life has definitely changed. To the better or not?
5. Black lives matter: human rights movement or vandalism? While some consider it a human right, others think it's just uncontrolled vandalism. What's your idea?
6. Online and traditional business in 2020. Many businesses have gone online in 2020. Compare their services.
7. TikTok and Instagram. Two trending applications. Which is better?
8. Online and offline concerts in 2020.  Many artists were giving online concerts (like on Instagram) compared them to the traditional onstage ones.
9. Cancel culture and public disdain. Is there something common between these two phenomena?
10. Disney cartoons before and after 2020. Disney studio has decided to have an extraordinary cast for their movies these years. Great idea for compare and contrast essay.

If you need research topic ideas, you are in the right place. Go to our database and find what you are looking for.

Religion, Anthropology, and AP World History Compare & Contrast Essay Topics

• Discuss World War I and World War II. It is a traditional debate. Many people find the two wars similar, but historians point to a great number of differences such as main factors, actual causes, and consequences. Explain why World War II was much worse and terrifying.
• President Obama and President Kennedy. Mass media tends to draw parallels between both political figures very often. It is time to find out why.
• Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. All ideas related to the offered topic are good enough because these civilizations have a great impact on the modern world. Cover Greek and Roman mythology, describe their traditional public events, a way of living, differences and similarities in poetry, and influence on modern American society.
• 18th Century Living vs Modern Life. Are American people freer now and how is a modern society divided into classes? What are the advantages of e-mail in contrast to the traditional mailing they used back in the 18th century?
• Frenemies. The way famous political competitors, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson acted often reminded of both friendship and rivalry – which one is correct?
• American Revolution vs French Revolution. Both held back in the VIII century, and both are having similarities & differences.
• The Salem Witch Trials & McCarthy Era in US history. How they treated people accused of witchcraft in 2 different historical events.
• The idyllic period in US history is the middle of the XX century while the 1960s is known as a tumultuous decade.
• Ancient Greece vs Ancient Rome. Which civilization had a greater impact on the development of contemporary culture & art?
• 3 different branches of Christianity. Common issues, major differences, similarities, examples of traditions, etc.

Political essay compare and contrast themes

These compare and contrast essay topics cover political science and cultural life of different countries. It is time to evaluate the political regimes of different countries. Analyze the countries with the echo of communism and those where capitalism dominates; countries where women and men have equal rights versus countries where women are limited to their rights and freedoms.
 

• Classical Theory of Karl Marx against Modern Capitalistic Movement. Financial and political theories change with the flow of time. High school and college students have to understand the way economics works to get the ideas of different political regimes.
• The war in Syria/Military Situation in Ukraine. The countries could make a union based on the fact they are both regularly attacked by two other hostile countries. However, Ukraine is not officially involved in the war, they say. Research what media shares and analyze the given cases.
• The government of China VS The government of Korea. Both of these nations suffer from the consequences of communism. The second country, specifically North Korea, supports this political regime more than China. What is different and what's in common?
• Welfare Programs in the United States VS Welfare Programs in the United Kingdom. Although high school and college students believe that these countries look alike in many senses, any related book or movie will show how wrong they are.
• Al Qaeda VS the Islamic State. Which of the terroristic organizations have a greater threat to the world’s peace?
• Legal systems in the United States & Canada: Are they too different in terms of laws, regulations, preventive measures, and others?
• Marriage VS civil union. Which of these types of partnership between two people in love is less threatening to the image of a political figure?
• Debit cards and credit cards: The role of government in establishing various payment methods and responsibility it has in case of any rule break.
• Private & public companies. The obligations the American government have concerning each of these types of organizations.
• Political regime today and back in the 1950s: Things that changed for better and situations that got worse.

These compare and contrast essay topics will suit college and university students who are passionate about the fact that they will learn more about the political regimen. Compare and contrast essay topics that cover political science should be well-researched. Take this into account when choosing one of compare and contrast essay topics for your own paper.

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for 6th Grade

Not only college students are assigned to write papers on compare and contrast essay topics. Students who study in the sixth grade have to receive the simplest homework assignments and compare and contrast essay topics for 6th grade as they lack the experience to analyze something more complex than these:
 

• Winter or summer: The more gorgeous season of the year.
• Christmas in another country/Christmas at home.
• Juice VS water: While water may be healthier, juices are tastier and…
• Dogs and wolves: Similarities & differences.
• Weeds and flowers: Why one cannot exist without another.
• Eastern or Western USA: Living in both parts in a different period of time.
• Comic books or novels: The once which is more interesting to read.
• Tennis VS ping pong: Your favorite game out of two.
• Watching TV instead of reading a book: Difference/similarity in impressions.
• Male friends or female friends: Based on such factors as loyalty, sincerity, bravery, and more.

These are simple compare and contrast essay topics for school children. But it is possible to make these compare and contrast essay topics more complicated. You can expand some of the listed compare and contrast essay topics.

Compare and contrast topics for middle school

Have a look at the list of compare and contrast topics for middle school! Each of the compare and contrast essay topics listed below touches upon actual issues.
 

• King Arthur VS Zeus. One of them is a way cooler than another one.
• Comparison of the role models in the 1950s with modern role models.
• How does it feel to watch favorite movies in the cinema and watching films at home?
• The correlation between famous dictators & school bullies.
• The consequences of a tsunami might be worse than the consequences of a hurricane.
• Prom Night, Halloween Night, & Christmas Night: Which holiday is more fun?
• Car driving or bicycle driving: Which experience is more difficult?
• 3-star hotels or 5-star hotels: Reasons to choose each of them.
• Things the early spacemen had in common with Christopher Columbus.
• People who influence teenagers most of all: Parents and celebrities.

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for High School Students: Art, Music, and so on

• Fiction or Nonfiction Literature: Write about which type of literary works is more helpful for college students and why.
• Assess High School Examinations & College Tests. What is more important? Which styles are recommended to be used in academic writing when studying in different educational institutions? When is it easier to cheat?
• Traditional Learning or Online Learning: Do you find it helpful to be able to take college courses online? Is a traditional way of teaching still better and more effective?
• Atlanta Falcons or New England Patriots: Which of the professional sports clubs is more authoritative and loved by high school students?
• Determine the effectiveness of online advertising and TV ads. What type of advertising channel is more influential on children?
• Printed books VS e-Books: Which type of material might be more useful for modern high school students?
• Wooden houses or story buildings. The significance of each type of construction.
• Major differences and similarities between Portugal & Spain: Where is it better to have a vacation nowadays?
• The American vision of beauty compared to the Japanese vision of beauty: Discuss the standards based on the most recent beauty queens plus handsome men.
• How rock music has changed: Rock music of the early XX century and nowadays.

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for College Students

• While Fall is the season of college arrivals, Spring is the time for student departures. Features of different educational seasons.
• Having a look at the meals students get at high school/college and the food they obtain at home from their family members. Which is tastier?
• The remote learning courses slowly replace conventional classes in college. Pros & cons of going technological.
• Living at home with parents compared to living on the college campus on the example of laundry service, cooking, and other everyday household activities.
• Manufacturing jobs against service sector jobs. A right choice of the college student.
• Part-time jobs VS seasonal jobs: Pros & cons of each option.
• Private colleges or public education: Reasons to make all educational institutions public in the United States.
• Advanced placement classes: Better or worse than honors classes?

Easy Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

• Twilight & Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. Analyze both shows’ characters.
• It by Stephen King: Review the book with both films.
• Julius Caesar & Macbeth: Do these people have anything in common?
• Realism & modernism. Simple similarities & differences.
• Poetry VS prose: List literary elements that make these genres different.
• Life in a big city compared to village life: Discuss where people are healthier, kinder, more honest, etc.
• Donald Trump against Hillary Clinton: The one who should have won the 2016 presidential elections in the United States.
• Real Madrid & Barcelona: Advantages + disadvantages of both Spanish football clubs.
• iPhone VS Android mobile devices: Benefits Android users obtain against benefits iPhone users get.
• Tablets or textbooks in school: Advantages each of these devices have when it comes to the process of learning.

Compare and contrast essay topics to help you stand out

• Jails & asylums
• Renaissance and Baroque art
• Star Wars & Star Trek
• American Dad VS Family Guy
• Apple or Pineapple
• Moon and Sun
• Greek VS Scandinavian Mythology
• Communism against Capitalism
• New England Colonies or Southern Colonies (it is possible to add Middle Colonies)
• Fiction VS Nonfiction

What Does It Mean to Compare and Contrast in an Essay

How to write a compare and contrast essay: Major principles

Compare and contrast essay example from writing guru