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Comparative analysis papers compare and contrast two different things, commonly written during high school and college. The writer must determine the frame of reference and create a thesis statement. Outlining the paper is helpful, and there are two ways to organize the paper: side-by-side analysis or point-by-point analysis.
A comparative analysis is a very common type of academic paper, although it can also be written in the professional and business world. Most commonly, benchmarking papers are written during a high school and/or college education. In that paper, students will be asked to compare and contrast two different things. It can happen in any academic subject; for example, it could simply be two different works of literature, two conflicting political views, two approaches to solving a business problem, and so on. The topic opportunities for a comparative paper like this are virtually limitless. A comparative analysis generally also requires a thesis statement, which the writer must attempt to prove.
In writing a comparative analysis, an individual will first need to determine the frame of reference for the article or the context in which the comparisons are made. Rarely will two things be compared extensively, in every possible way; instead one will choose a specific focus that seeks to inform another important part of the analysis, the thesis. The thesis explains the point of the document and what the individual is trying to prove by writing it. It also helps justify the reasons for the comparison; why were these two particular things singled out for comparison, and in this particular context?
Once you have chosen your thesis statement, it is helpful to outline the paper. Each individual may have a different way they prefer to create an outline, but it helps at least to make notes on the topic for each paragraph and to back up the citations or sources that will be used in those paragraphs. A solid outline will make it much easier to write the actual document when the time comes. There are two common ways to organize a benchmarking, neither of which is necessarily better than the other, but which some teachers may prefer.
The first is to write a number of paragraphs about the first item to compare, then a number of paragraphs about the second item; that is, discuss them separately throughout the document. This could be referred to as side-by-side analysis. In the second way, known as point-by-point analysis, each of the different points of comparison will be considered for each item simultaneously throughout the article. One style or another may be easier for the reader to follow depending on the topic; unless the instructor specifies otherwise, it might be best to see which style fits more naturally.
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