A compare and contrast essay therefore examines the similarities of two or more objects, as well as the differences. This type of essay is common in college, where professors frequently test your understanding by asking you to compare and contrast two theories, two methods, two historical periods, two characters in a novel, and so on. Compare and contrast the essay outline. The point-by-point method uses a standard five-paragraph essay structure: the introduction contains the focus, the overview of the main points, and the body of the thesis. Comparing and contrasting two stories. The Water Man turns what would normally be considered a normal disaster, if such a thing is possible, into a story that has stunned so many people. Both Allende and Rosenblatt present similar themes in similar and different ways. One of the differences between these two stories is that the man in “The Man, Table of contents: Reading the text and identifying literary devices: Writing a thesis: Writing a title and an introduction: Writing the body of the essay: Writing a conclusion. Other interesting articles.