Grade 9 Essay #8: Compare/Contrast Essay on The
Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Outline
I. Write a compare/contrast
essay based on one of the following ideas.
Topics:
1. Compare/contrast Tom and Huck from the book, Tom
Sawyer.
2. Compare/contrast Tom and Injun Joe from the book, Tom
Sawyer.
3. Compare/contrast Aunt Polly and the widow Douglas from
the book, Tom Sawyer.
4. Compare/contrast superstitions referred to in Tom
Sawyer, as compared to modern beliefs and superstitions.
5. Compare/contrast secrets that characters are supposed
to keep to themselves in Tom Sawyer.
6. Compare the two times Tom is in church.
7. Compare examples of work versus play in Tom
Sawyer.
8. Compare different types of love as defined
through O. Henry short stories.
Think of tone: This essay should be written at the standard or
conferential level, not sub-standard (with slang and over use of idioms), nor
non-standard. Be precise. Be descriptive. If one follows this outline, the
essay should be a good one.
I.
Introduction:
1. lead
statement:________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
2. explain
the lead:_______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
3. short
summary of the story:______________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
4. thesis
statement:_______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
II.
First reason supporting the thesis
1. Describe one idea and how it is
similar between the two things/people being compared:
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
2. supporting
detail – explain fully the comparison (because):_____________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
3. elaboration/
use a quote from the story that illustrates your reason. Explain what the quote
means:
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
4. commentary/ how do you react to this quote or point:
_________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
III.
Second reason supporting the thesis
1. Describe one idea and how it is
similar between the two things/people being compared:
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
2. supporting
detail – explain fully the comparison (because):_____________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
3. elaboration/
use a quote from the story that illustrates your reason. Explain
what the quote means: _________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
4. commentary/ how do you react to this quote or point:
_________________
___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
IV.
Third reason supporting the thesis
1. Describe one idea and how it is
similar between the two things/people being compared:
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
2. supporting
detail – explain fully the comparison (because):_____________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
3. elaboration/
use a quote from the story that illustrates your reason. Explain
what the quote means: __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
4. commentary/ how do you react to this quote or point:
_________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
V.
Conclusion
1. restate
the thesis in different words:______________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. briefly
restate reasons of support:________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3. make
text-to-world/text-to-text/text-to-self connection: ______________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. hook
back to the lead statement:________________________________
__________________________________________________________________