Writing Effective Comparison or Contrast Essays

Block Arrangement (four paragraphs)
I.	Introduction in which you state your purpose which is to discuss the differences between vacationing in the mountains or at the beach
II.	Mountain A.  Climate B.  Types of Activities  C.  Location
III.	Beach A.  Climate B.  Types of Activities  C.  Location
IV.	Conclusion

A second way to organize this material is to discuss a particular point about vacationing in the mountains and then immediately to discuss the same point about vacationing at the beach.  This is called point-by-point or alternating arrangement.  An outline of this organization follows.

Point-by-Point or Alternating Arrangement (five paragraphs)
I.	Introduction in which you state your purpose which is to discuss differences between vacationing in the mountains or at the beach
II.	First difference between mountains and beaches is climate A.  Mountains B.  Beach
III.	Second difference between mountains and beaches are types of activities A.  Mountains B.  Beach
IV.	Third difference between mountains and beaches is the location A.  Mountains B.  Beach
V.	Conclusion