Comparison Essays

Today I will introduce Comparison Essays. In a normal comparison essay, you compare the good and bad points about two related topics. In my version, however, we will make is easier by emphasizing the good points of one thing compared to another. To put it simply, we will explain why one thing is better than another thing. For example, we might explain why we think motorcycles are better than cars, or why baseball is better than soccer. Of course, these examples are opinions, but that's OK. We are often called upon in real life and in business to persuade people that one thing is better than another. Today's essay topic is practice in doing that.

To prepare ourselves for the comparison essay, let's blog about something and write why we think it's better than something else. For example, look at the following list:

* Backstreet Boys & SMAP
* Yokohama & Tokyo
* Japanese food & Western food
* traveling alone & traveling with a group
* taking the train & driving
* baseball & soccer

Choose one from a pair above (or a different pair) and explain why it's better than the other. For example, if you like SMAP better than the Backstreet Boys, give 3 reasons why you think SMAP is better.

When you write your complete comparison essay (Essay #2), you can choose the same topic or a different one. The complete essay, of course, will be longer. It will have a thesis sentence, and 3 reasons, but each reason will have a paragraph with specific details and supporting examples. Following is a sample of a complete comparison essay, with a thesis sentence followed by 3 paragraphs that support the thesis. I have also posted a complete essay that has an introduction & conclusion (5 paragraphs). The thesis sentence is in the introduction. The easy (3-paragraph) essay is the homework for this week, but if you wish to challenge yourself, you may write the longer (5-paragraph) version.

Motorcycles Are Better Than Cars (Easy Version)
Motorcycles Are Better Than Cars (Version with Introduction & Conclusion)

Motorcycles Are Better Than Cars (Easy Version)

Motorcycles are better than cars. First, motorcycles are more exciting than cars. When you ride them, you feel the wind rushing into your face and against your body. It makes you feel like you’re going a thousand kilometers an hour. The road is only centimeters below, and you can see the ground racing past as you cruise at top speed. You know you’re challenging death as you lean into every turn.

Next, motorcycles are cheaper than cars. To buy a decent used car, you have to spend at least 400,000 yen. A nice used motorcycle is about half that much! Moreover, the gasoline and parts are cheaper as well. And we usually don’t have to pay for parking. If you’re a student, you can usually save money by owning a motorcycle instead of a car.

Finally, motorcycles have a sexier image than cars. If you buy a used car, maybe you have to get an old, dirty economy car. The image is not cool, and you look like an old man or an old lady driving it. But if you have a motorcycle, everyone will think you are cool and exciting! You can attract girls easily and some people will be afraid of you. Having a motorcycle will make you look like a TV or movie star!

[Original essay by K. Miller, 2010. Copyright. This is an example of a comparison essay with no introduction or conclusion. However, it has a thesis sentence and supporting examples.]

Motorcycles Are Better Than Cars

If you are old enough to drive, you're probably thinking about buying a vehicle, right? Nobody wants to ride a bicycle or walk these days. Maybe you're trying to decide whether to buy a car or motorcycle. Well, the choice is easy. You should buy a motorcycle, because motorcycles are better than cars.

First, motorcycles are more exciting than cars. When you ride them, you feel the wind rushing into your face and against your body. It makes you feel like you’re going a thousand kilometers an hour. The road is only centimeters below, and you can see the ground racing past as you cruise at top speed. You know you’re challenging death as you lean into every turn.

Next, motorcycles are cheaper than cars. To buy a decent used car, you have to spend at least 400,000 yen. A nice used motorcycle is about half that much! Moreover, the gasoline and parts are cheaper as well. And we usually don’t have to pay for parking. If you’re a student, you can usually save money by owning a motorcycle instead of a car.

Finally, motorcycles have a sexier image than cars. If you buy a used car, maybe you have to get an old, dirty economy car. The image is not cool, and you look like an old man or an old lady driving it. But if you have a motorcycle, everyone will think you are cool and exciting! You can attract girls easily and some people will be afraid of you. Having a motorcycle will make you look like a TV or movie star!

There are many reasons why motorcycles are better than cars. They are more exciting, they are cheaper, and they give you a more sexy image, among others. Obviously, getting a motorcycle is the best choice. But I don't want everyone to get a motorcycle, because I want to be the one with the sexiest image! So you can buy an old car if you want to.

[Original essay by K. Miller, 2010. Copyright. This is an example of a complete essay with an introduction and conclusion.}

Japan News Online

In Essay Writing class, I like to chat about the latest news stories from time to time. Are you keeping up with the news about the nuclear reactor and other hot topics (no pun intended)? Here are some sites you might consider looking at.

http://www.japantoday.com/
http://www.newsonjapan.com/
http://english.kyodonews.jp
http://www.japanprobe.com/
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news.html

In class, we will take a moment to check out the English news sites, and if there's time at the end of class, we will post a blog comment related to current news. Most of you, however, will be editing your first essay.

Good Sentences, Good Format & Great Style!

This is week 2 of Essay Writing Class 2011. Welcome back!

In this class, we will work on 3 things during the year. We will ...

1) Work on making Good Sentences! That means we will pick up some grammar points each class and try to make our sentences easy to understand.
2) Try to turn in essays with a Good Format! That means the essay will have a title, paragraphs, spaces between lines, indent where necessary, and of course, always be typed.
3) The key to excellent writing is to have your Great Style! One thing we will try to do today is to use descriptive writing. Descriptive writing means using words and expressions that make the reader really feel the writer's intention. One way to be descriptive is to use the 5 Senses - sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. If you describe a place, for example, what can you see, hear, taste, touch and smell there? Try to make the reader experience exactly what you did!

Now check out this link from my posts last year:
The Lazona Food Court

New school year 2011!

Welcome to Essay Writing class 2011! I hope you had some time to relax during the spring break, but as we all know, it's been an unusual time in Japan, to say the least. I hope your family members are all safe. We will keep a close watch on the news of the nuclear reactor in this class, but hopefully that situation will be resolved soon, too.

Let's take a moment to write a comment about our thoughts on the disaster in the comment box below. If you like, you can talk about what you were doing when the disaster struck. You may also reflect on the condition of the victims and perhaps recommend some measures we can take to help them.

Essay Writing Schedule - 2011

Essay Writing Schedule
Rm. 403 木 1st Period - School Year 2011
Kevin Miller ▪ Office 121, Bld. 6
26 classes

1. April 7 - Introduction; policies; grading; Essay #1 assigned - My Special Thing
2. April 14 - Essay #1 draft due ✉
3. April 21 - Essay #1 draft returned for corrections ✎
4. April 28 - Essay #1 final due ✉; Essay #2 assigned – Comparison
✪ Holiday – May 5
5. May 12 - Essay #2 draft due ✉
✪ No morning class – May 19
6. May 26 - Essay #2 draft returned for corrections ✎
7. June 2 - Essay #2 final due ✉; Essay #3 assigned – How to …
8. June 9 - Essay #3 draft due ✉
9. June 16 - Essay #3 draft returned for corrections ✎
10. June 23 - Essay #3 final due ✉; Essay #4 assigned – Opinion
11. June 30 - Essay #4 draft due ✉
12. July 7 - Essay #4 draft returned for corrections ✎
13. July 14 - Essay #4 final due ✉
✪ Summer Break!
14. Sept. 22 - Essay #5 assigned – A Change in Me Essay
15. Sept. 29 - Essay #5 draft due ✉
16. Oct. 6 - Essay #5 draft returned for corrections ✎
17. Oct. 13 - Essay #5 final due ✉; Essay #6 assigned – Issue w/ Data
18. Oct. 20 - Essay #6 draft due ✉
19. Oct. 27 - Essay #6 draft returned for corrections ✎
✪ Holiday – Nov. 3
20. Nov. 10 - Essay #6 final due ✉; Essay #7 assigned – Res. Review
21. Nov. 17 - Essay #7 draft due ✉
22. Nov. 24 - Essay #7 draft returned for corrections ✎
23. Dec. 1 - Essay #7 final due ✉; Essay #8 assigned – Narration
✪ No class – Dec. 8
24. Dec. 15 - Essay #8 draft due ✉
25. Dec. 22 - Essay #8 draft returned for corrections ✎
✪ Winter Break – Dec. 29, Jan. 5
26. Jan. 12 - Essay #8 final due ✉

✉ = you give me or send me an essay; ✎ = I return an essay to you for corrections
9 absences = FAIL; all essays must be completed to pass this course