Comparative Analysis

Linguistics 100: Paper 2 - Comparative Analysis

First Draft Due: Monday, March 6th

Final Draft Due: Monday, March 20th

The second major paper in LING 100 is a Comparative Analysis, which builds on the WPA practice test that you

just completed. For the WPA, you analyzed one article by Wendy Kaminer. Now the comparative analysis asks

you to compare your analysis of two articles . For this assignment, you will analytically compare Kaminer’s

article to a new one (“If Looks Could Kill” from The Economist ).

A comparative analysis requires you to compare HOW the authors make their arguments. For example, you may

consider the kinds of evidence or examples used in the two articles. A comparative analysis is not a simple

compare and contrast or summary, and you should remain objective and avoid giving your opinion about the

topic itself.

In class, with your teacher’s help, you will be given the opportunity to practice organizing and developing your

paper before it is due.

Organization:

Introduction : The introduction of your paper should include an introduction to the issue addressed by the two

articles. It should also include an introduction of the articles (their titles, dates, and places of publication), the

authors , and their main claims . You may also wish to include a brief statement about the differences or

similarities you will discuss in the rest of your paper.

The body of the paper : Each body paragraph should follow a Point-by-Point Arrangement. In each paragraph ,

compare an idea from both texts. See Writing in the Disciplines pages 129-130 & 138.

To support your analysis of the readings and their relation to one another, be sure to provide evidence from the

articles. You can do this most effectively by paraphrasing.

 See the section on Paraphrase in Writing in the Disciplines pages 95-96 & pages 42-48

You may also use quotations sparingly. For effective uses of quotation, see Writing in the Disciplines pages 59-

67. For this paper, limit yourself to quotations that you use as evidence . If you want to explain what an author is

saying, paraphrase is more appropriate.

Conclusion: You may conclude your paper in different ways, but try to state (or restate) in general terms what

your comparative analysis has shown about the two articles.