When writing a comparison/contrast essay, I would recommend that your prewriting activity take the form of a Venn diagram. A Venn diagram sounds complicated, but it is rather easy to complete. The first thing you do is draw two circles, and the circles should overlap one another. See this image for more information as to how to arrange your circles.
In the large part of the circle, you write the differences between your topic. In the area in which your circles overlap, you write the similarities that your topic shares. For example, you have your two circles and are writing a comparison/contrast essay using Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" as your primary text. Outside the first circle-to the left of the circle, you may label it--Mrs. Mallard before her husband's death. To the right of the second circle--outside of the circle itself, you would label it--Mrs. Mallard after her husband's death.
Now, back to circle one. Inside the circle you would label feelings, state of being, and description; You may jot notes under each of the aforementioned points. In circle two, you would label feelings, state of being, and description. Obviously, circle one will deal with Mrs. Mallard's feelings, state of being, and descriptions before her husband's death while circle two will deal with the same points but in relation to Mrs. Mallard after her husband's death.
In the area in which the circles overlap, you write similarities between the two main points--what are the similarities that exist with regard to Mrs. Mallard before and after her husband's death.
