General Overview:
Comparative Essay Assignment
This essay will involve researching a particular issue of your choosing. It can be from your English
course or from another course your are taking or just from your major in general.
The essay will explain the issue and its significance to the reader. The essay will integrate information
from a variety of sources to explain the different perspectives on the issue.
The essay should not merely present the different views on the issue. It should contrast the views. It
should explain how they differ and why. If possible, it should explain the evidence that exists to
support each view.
Finally, the essay should offer a reasoned opinion about the issue. It could be a prediction of the
future of the issue. It could be an opinion on which of the various views are correct. Students may
not be able to offer a reasoned opinion on which view is correct (due to lack of expertise). You may,
however, be able to discuss what researchers/thinkers are currently working on in the area of this
issue and what new research may tell us about the issue.
Functional Details
The essay should be approximately 1800 words (+/- 100 words)
It should be written in the APA format.
It should cite numerous and varied academic sources.
Sources
The essay should include references to many sources.
They should be reliable sources.
Generally, they should be academic sources (although non-academic sources are at times appropriate
when illustrating ideas, or when non-academic sources do not (yet) exist).