Understanding and Using Comparison Structures

Comparison is one of the oldest and most commonly used methods of discovery and development.

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Comparison StrategiesAn understanding of the rhetorical strategies of comparison will help students with common assignments such as

Research papers

Regular essays

Debates and oral arguments

Essay tests

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Discovery and Development with Comparison

Essay questions, for example, often call for the use of comparison. The following question was given during a in-class final exam (time limit: 45 minutes)

“Compare Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles as expressions of religious experience”

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• To compare two subjects in a detailed manner.

• To make some claim about what each means with respect to the other.

What does the Question Ask?

GothicRomanesque

“…as expressions of religious experience.”

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A plan for two subjects and their detailed points

Subject A Subject B

1st point (detail)

2nd point (detail)

3rd point (detail)

(more if needed)

1st point (detail)

2nd point (detail)

3rd point (detail)

(more if needed)

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Subject A (Romanesque)• Called “Romanesque) (Roman like) because

it is based on the Roman arch

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Point 1: the round arch

• A Romanesque cathedral begins with the round Roman arch.

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• The round arch produces a “barrel vault”

Point 1: the round arch

The effect when walkingdown the “nave” is a feeling of walking downa tunnel.

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Point 1: the round arch

The nave (main interiorroom) of St. Sernin:

Rounded archBarrel Vault

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Point 2: Walls and Columns

To support the heavy arch, walls must be thick, and columns must be heavy and closely spaced

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A cross-section diagram of Durham Cathedral

Point 2: Walls and Columns

To support the heavy arch, walls must be thick, and columns must be heavy and closely spaced

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Point 3:WindowsStrong walls require that few windows be used, leaving the interior relatively dark.

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Point 3:WindowsStrong walls require that few windows be used, leaving the interior relatively dark.

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The first subject--summation

Romanesque Subject B

1st point (round arches)

2nd point (thick walls and columns, closely spaced)

3rd point (few windows, very dark)

1st point (detail)

2nd point (detail)

3rd point (detail)

(more if needed)

Overall experience: dark, mysterious, closed-in, perhapsa bit frightening.

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Subject B (Gothic)

The GothicCathedral isbased on the pointedGothic arch.

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Point 1: the Gothic arch

The nave of Amiens

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Point 1: the Gothic arch

The pointed arch does not produce barrel vaulting but ribbed and groin vaulting.

Notice the effect is like a branching tree.

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Point 2: walls and columns

The Gothic arch reaches greater heights with thinner columns, more widely spaced.

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Point 2: walls and columnsSomething New

In an effort to reach even greater heights with thinner walls and columns, builders developed the “flying buttress.”

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Point 2: walls and columnsSomething New

Sometimes the buttressing is quite elaborate

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Point 2: walls and columns

flying buttresses

Buttresses at Notre Dame, Paris

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Point 3: WindowsThinner walls and columns allow more windows--with lots of colorful stained glass

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Point 3: Windows

Thinner walls and columns allow more windows--withlots of colorful stained glass

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Point 3: Windows

The effect is a much brighter, more colorful, open space

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Point 3: Windows

The interior of St. Chapelle

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The second subject--summation

Romanesque Gothic

1st point (round arches, barrel vaulting)

2nd point (thick walls and columns, closely spaced)

3rd point (few windows, very dark)

Overall experience: dark, mysterious, closed-in, perhapsa bit frightening.

1st point (pointed arches, ribbed vaulting)

2nd point (thin walls and columns, widely spaced)

3rd point (many windows, bright, colorful)

Overall experience: bright, color-ful, open, perhapscheerful, even joyful.

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Answering the QuestionQuestion: “Compare Romanesque and Gothic architectural

styles as expressions of religious experience”

Claim: Although both both Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles express something about the Christian religious experience, they present that experience in very different ways: the Romanesque being dark, mysterious, and perhaps even frightening, but the Gothic being brighter, more open, more colorful, and perhaps cheerful or even joyful.

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Making a decision:

Romanesque Gothic

1st point (round arches, barrel vaulting)

2nd point (thick walls and columns, closely spaced)

3rd point (few windows, very dark)

Overall experience: dark, mysterious, closed-in, perhapsa bit frightening.

1st point (pointed arches, ribbed vaulting)

2nd point (thin walls and columns, widely spaced)

3rd point (many windows, bright, colorful)

Overall experience: bright, color-ful, open, perhapscheerful, even joyful.

Now we must decide in what order the material should be presented to the reader: Subject-by-subject or Point-by-point

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Subject-by-subject order

Romanesque Gothic

1st point (round arches, barrel vaulting)

2nd point (thick walls and columns, closely spaced)

3rd point (few windows, very dark)

Overall experience: dark, mysterious, closed-in, perhapsa bit frightening.

1st point (pointed arches, ribbed vaulting)

2nd point (thin walls and columns, widely spaced)

3rd point (many windows, bright, colorful)

Overall experience: bright, color-ful, open, perhapscheerful, even joyful.

Present all of subject A, then all of Subject B

This is the order that has been used in this presentation.

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A subject-by-subject outline

1. Introduction and Claim: Although both both Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles express something . . . . even joyful.

2. Romanesque: a dark, mysterious experiencea. Round arches, barrel vaultingb. Thick walls and thick, closely spacedc. Few windows

3. Gothic: a bright, open and joyful experiencea. Pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, with

higher ceilingsb. Thinner, more widely spaced columns,

supported with flying buttresses c. Lots of windows, with stained glass

4. Conclusion--summarize the main points and reaffirm the claim

Subject A

Subject B

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Point-by-point order

Romanesque Gothic

1st point (round arches, barrel vaulting)

2nd point (thick walls and columns, closely spaced)

3rd point (few windows, very dark)

Overall experience: dark, mysterious, closed-in, perhapsa bit frightening.

1st point (pointed arches, ribbed vaulting)

2nd point (thin walls and columns, widely spaced)

3rd point (many windows, bright, colorful)

Overall experience: bright, color-ful, open, perhapscheerful, even joyful.

Present each point under each subject in order

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A point-by-point outline1. Introduction and Claim: Although both both Romanesque and

Gothic architectural styles express something . . . . even joyful.2. Point 1: arches and vaulting Round arches, barrel vaulting

a. Subject A--Romanesque: Round arches, barrel vaultingb. Subject B--Gothic: pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, with higher

ceilings3. Point 2: Walls and columns

a. Subject A-- Romanesque: Thick walls and thick, closely spaced columns

b. Subject B--Gothic: Thinner, more widely spaced columns, supported with flying buttresses

4. Point 3: Windowsa. Subject A--Romanesque: few window, fairly darkb. Subject B--Gothic: Lots of colorful windows

5. Conclusion--summarize the main points and reaffirm the claim

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The two structures1. Introduction and Claim:.

2. Point 1: arches and vaulting

a. Subject A--Romanesque:

b. Subject B--Gothic:

3. Point 2: Walls and columns

a. Subject A-- Romanesque:

b. Subject B--Gothic

4. Windows

1. Subject A--Romanesque:

Subject B--Gothic:

5. Conclusion--summarize the

main points and reaffirm the

claim

1. Introduction and Claim:

2. Subject A--Romanesque:

a. Point 1 arches

b. Point 2 walls and columns

c. Point 3 windows

3. Subject B--Gothic:

a. Point 1 arches

b. Point 2 walls, columns,

buttresses

c. Point 3 windows

4. Conclusion--summarize the main

points and reaffirm the claim

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Choose a structure:1. Introduction and Claim:.2. Point 1: arches and vaulting

a. Subject A--Romanesque:

b. Subject B--Gothic: 3. Point 2: Walls and columns

a. Subject A-- Romanesque:

b. Subject B--Gothic4. Point 3: Windows

1. Subject A--Romanesque:

2. Subject B--Gothic: 5. Conclusion--summarize the

main points and reaffirm the claim

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The point-by-point structure works well when you desire to make a sharp contrast on individual points, such as comparing numbers in measurements, pointing out subtle distinctions, or exaggerating things for a comical effect.

Choose a structure:1. Introduction and Claim:2. Subject A--Romanesque:

a. Point 1: archesb. Point 2: walls and

columnsc. Point 3: windows

3. Subject B--Gothic:a. Point 1: archesb. Point 2: walls, columns,

buttressesc. Point 3: windows

4. Conclusion--summarize the main points and reaffirm the claim

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The subject-by-subject structure works well when you do not want to break up the individual details, such when you are giving vivid descriptions to create a mood or relating a sequence of related events. Use when you want the reader to think of the subjects as whole things.