General Phrasing for the Comparative Study
In your comparative essay, you will be marked on how often you compare your texts. It is vital that you do not simply write summaries of your three texts. Equally, you will score poorly if you tackle each text in light of the question, but deal with the texts individually, without making comparisons.
With this in mind, the following list of phrases should help you to keep your focus on comparing, not simply discussing. Become familiar with the phrases and use them in all your comparative essays so that it becomes automatic for you.
(In the following phrases, X, Y and Z are standing in for the names of texts. But you knew that, right?)
With this in mind, the following list of phrases should help you to keep your focus on comparing, not simply discussing. Become familiar with the phrases and use them in all your comparative essays so that it becomes automatic for you.
(In the following phrases, X, Y and Z are standing in for the names of texts. But you knew that, right?)
- In both X and Y, we see (issue) but in Z a very different situation arises
- This is similar to what happens in X
- This is different to what happens in X
- Much the same thing happens in X
- X and Y deal with this in a very straightforward manner, but in Z a much more unusual approach is taken
- (something) happens in X, unlike in Y where (something else) happens
- This is a common occurance in both X and Y. Z, on the other hand, does not feature (whatever it is you're discussing)
- This issue of (name issue) is dealt with in both X and Y, but the two texts / two authors approach it in radically different ways
- On the other hand, the same theme is considered to be a positive thing in Y
- The ending of X is clearcut and unambiguous. However, the final scenes of both Y and Z are much more open-ended
- Both X and Y begin with a dark and dramatic setting, while the setting of Z is much more positive.
- This mirrors what happens in X when (character does something)
- This style / issue / attitude is typical of both X and Y.
- X shows us .... while Y shows us a completely different scene
- The use of a first person narrator in X gives a very different reading experience when compared to Y, which uses third person narration
- We see this again in X, where (something happens)
- This idea is repeated in X
- This idea is turned on its head in X
- These values are the polar opposite to the values exhibited in X
- Overall, the outlook in X is positive, but in Y the positivity is tempered by...
- Once again, we see a generally darker approach in X when compared with Y
- X and Y both end with positive scenes, but Z has a remarkably negative denouement
- A similar approach is taken in X
- Unlike in X, which approaches the theme directly through the main characters, Y takes a more subtle approach, using subplots to explore the theme