Compare and Contrast Essay Outline



Compare and Contrast Essay

For your compare and contrast essay, you will need to complete the following items:

1. Pre-Writing Chart – complete the finalized version of your chart including specific quotations from “To Build a Fire” and examples from both the story and the film.

2. Outline – Use the outline below to organize your writing before you begin your draft.

3. Final Copy – The final copy will be due on web lockers on Thursday May 16

Outline

I. Introduction:

a. Naturalism: Start by introducing the genre of Naturalism and Realism. Begin your essay with broad background information about the time period and what the typical survival story is about.

b. Title Author/Director: Make sure the reader is aware that you will be drawing comparisons between the story “To Build a Fire” by Jack London and the film Alive! directed by Frank Marshall

c. Thesis: End with a thesis statement that clearly outlines your purpose.

II. Body 1 – Similarities

a. Topic Sentence: Begin with a statement that clarifies a general similarity

b. Theme of Naturalism Element 1 (first similarity)

i. Example from “To Build a Fire”

ii. Connect to example from Alive

iii. You own commentary or analysis about the similarity

III. Body 2 – Differences

a. Topic Sentence: Begin with a statement that clarifies a general difference

b. Story Element 1 (first difference)

i. Example from “To Build a Fire”

ii. Connect to example from Alive

iii. You own commentary or analysis about the difference

IV. Conclusion

a. Restate Thesis – remind the reader of your overall purpose

b. Summarize – put your points into a condensed version to wrap up the essay

Compare and Contrast Essay

For your compare and contrast essay, you will need to complete the following items:

1. Pre-Writing Chart – complete the finalized version of your chart including specific quotations from “To Build a Fire” and examples from both the story and the film.

2. Outline – Use the outline below to organize your writing before you begin your draft.

3. Final Copy – The final copy will be due on web lockers on Thursday May 16

Outline

I. Introduction:

c. Naturalism: Start by introducing the genre of Naturalism and Realism. Begin your essay with broad background information about the time period and what the typical survival story is about.

d. Title Author/Director: Make sure the reader is aware that you will be drawing comparisons between the story “To Build a Fire” by Jack London and the film Alive! directed by Frank Marshall

e. Thesis: End with a thesis statement that clearly outlines your purpose.

II. Body 1 – Similarities

a. Topic Sentence: Begin with a statement that clarifies a general similarity

b. Theme of Naturalism Element 1 (first similarity)

i. Example from “To Build a Fire”

ii. Connect to example from Alive

iii. You own commentary or analysis about the similarity

III. Body 2 – Differences

a. Topic Sentence: Begin with a statement that clarifies a general difference

b. Story Element 1 (first difference)

i. Example from “To Build a Fire”

ii. Connect to example from Alive

iii. You own commentary or analysis about the difference

IV. Conclusion

a. Restate Thesis – remind the reader of your overall purpose

b. Summarize – put your points into a condensed version to wrap up the essay

Sample Outline

I. Introduction:

a. Naturalism: Following the Romantic Period, many American writers were looking for a new source of inspiration that had more to do with everyday existence than the supernatural or metaphorical. These writers turned to science and the harsh realities of the world and began a new era in American literature known as the Realist and Naturalist period. The Naturalists, in particular, looked to nature as a powerful, unpredictable force that had total control over human behavior.

b. Title and Author/Director: A notable author emerged during this period named Jack London. He composed a remarkable tale of instinct versus reason titled “To Build a Fire.” This story, published in 1908, contains the essential beliefs of Naturalism. Because Naturalist writers worked to depict real world situations, more contemporary survival stories, like the one shown in Frank Marshall’s movie Alive! also contains many of these same themes.

c. Thesis: The short story “To Build a Fire” and the film “Alive!” have many plot devices and elements of Naturalism in common, but the frame of each story makes the outcome and final lesson very different.

II. Body 1 – Similarities

a. Topic Sentence: The overarching similarities between the short story and the film relate to how nature controls the characters.

b. Theme of Naturalism 1 – Cruelty of Nature

i. “To Build a Fire” – sub zero temperatures, strong winds, and lack of sunlight, hidden icy waters “day had broken cold and gray, exceedingly cold and gray…”

ii. Alive - sub zero temperatures, white out conditions, high altitudes in the mountains of the Andes

iii. Commentary: This similarity shows that nature has total control. The characters have no ability to alter their surrounding and they must make their decisions based on the conditions they are in. This helps build suspense in Naturalist writing because the reader cannot predict the outcome.

III. Body 2 – Differences

a. Topic Sentence: Despite the clear similarities, there are also fundamental differences, especially in the way in which each story begins and ends.

b. Theme of Naturalism 1 – Character Survival Techniques

i. “To Build a Fire” – chose to divert from group in search of wood, chose to ignore the warnings of other avoid traveling alone

ii. Alive – were able to survive by working together and helping one another

iii. These differences cause a problem for the likelihood of survival of the main characters. Naturalist writers feel like humans should respect the power of nature, and because the man in “To Build a Fire” neglects to do this, he finds himself in trouble. The rugby players in Alive recognize the severity of their situation right away and this makes them more careful and aware.

IV. Conclusion:

a. Restatement of Thesis: The characters in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London and Alive directed by Frank Marshall meet very different ends. Although the final outcome differs, it is clear that both contain important characteristics of Naturalist writing.

Sample Outline

I. Introduction:

a. Naturalism: Following the Romantic Period, many American writers were looking for a new source of inspiration that had more to do with everyday existence than the supernatural or metaphorical. These writers turned to science and the harsh realities of the world and began a new era in American literature known as the Realist and Naturalist period. The Naturalists, in particular, looked to nature as a powerful, unpredictable force that had total control over human behavior.

b. Title and Author/Director: A notable author emerged during this period named Jack London. He composed a remarkable tale of instinct versus reason titled “To Build a Fire.” This story, published in 1908, contains the essential beliefs of Naturalism. Because Naturalist writers worked to depict real world situations, more contemporary survival stories, like the one shown in Frank Marshall’s movie Alive! also contains many of these same themes.

c. Thesis: The short story “To Build a Fire” and the film “Alive!” have many plot devices and elements of Naturalism in common, but the frame of each story makes the outcome and final lesson very different.

II. Body 1 – Similarities

a. Topic Sentence: The overarching similarities between the short story and the film relate to how nature controls the characters.

b. Theme of Naturalism 1 – Cruelty of Nature

i. “To Build a Fire” – sub zero temperatures, strong winds, and lack of sunlight, hidden icy waters “day had broken cold and gray, exceedingly cold and gray…”

ii. Alive - sub zero temperatures, white out conditions, high altitudes in the mountains of the Andes

iii. Commentary: This similarity shows that nature has total control. The characters have no ability to alter their surrounding and they must make their decisions based on the conditions they are in. This helps build suspense in Naturalist writing because the reader cannot predict the outcome.

III. Body 2 – Differences

a. Topic Sentence: Despite the clear similarities, there are also fundamental differences, especially in the way in which each story begins and ends.

b. Theme of Naturalism 1 – Character Survival Techniques

i. “To Build a Fire” – chose to divert from group in search of wood, chose to ignore the warnings of other avoid traveling alone

ii. Alive – were able to survive by working together and helping one another

iii. These differences cause a problem for the likelihood of survival of the main characters. Naturalist writers feel like humans should respect the power of nature, and because the man in “To Build a Fire” neglects to do this, he finds himself in trouble. The rugby players in Alive recognize the severity of their situation right away and this makes them more careful and aware.

IV. Conclusion:

a. Restatement of Thesis: The characters in “To Build a Fire” by Jack London and Alive directed by Frank Marshall meet very different ends. Although the final outcome differs, it is clear that both contain important characteristics of Naturalist writing.

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