Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Looking for interesting compare and contrast essay topics?

What areas do you intend to explore?

How do you find good essay topics?

Do you know how write a compare and contrast essay?

Can you develop a suitable compare and contrast essay outline?

In most cases, you will have to wrestle with all these questions when writing a compare and contrast essay.

Note that finding a good topic lays the foundation for a good essay.

Finding Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Compare and contrast essays should discuss similar elements, different elements, or both.

With this understanding, you can develop a strategy to help find good compare and contrast essay topics.

Steps in doing this may include:

1. Choosing two or more subjects with a meaningful connection
2. Identifying subtle differences or unexpected similarities

These steps should follow two key rules:

1. For contrast, you should choose two subjects that are closely related to each other. For example, you might want to contrast types of tomatoes, e.g. cherry tomatoes vs. grape tomatoes.
2. For comparison, you should choose subjects that appear to be unrelated. In such as case, you can compare subjects such as tomatoes and pawpaw.

Interesting Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Compare and contrast essay topics can be drawn from all areas and aspects of life and society.

The important thing to do is to ensure that they are interesting to you and the audience.

Such areas may include:

Technology

Technology is a good area to look for interesting compare and contrast essay topics.

Since tech has become so pervasive, it is also possible to find controversial compare and contrast essay topics in this area.

Key topics may include:

1. Wind power vs. solar power- which is worse for the society?
2. Phishing vs. malware- different cyber security threats.
3. Amazon prime vs. Netflix- similar products. 
4. Wired or wireless internet for public institutions.
5. Gas stoves vs. electric stoves, regarding safety.
6. PC vs. laptop computer for students.
7. Chrome OS, Windows, and MacBook- security features.
8. Start with learning Python or JavaScript programing language. 
9. Kevlar vs. spider web, which has more potential?
10. Space exploration, U.S. vs. China.
11. Gaming, AI and human beings.
12. Concerts vs. music streaming- impact on the audience.
13. Hydroponics and conventional farming, similarities.
14. Mechanical and quartz watch, commonalities.
15. Facial scan vs. eye scan, difference in biometrics.
16. Siri vs. Alexa, differences.
17. Virtual vs. augmented reality- similarities in tech.
18. Smartphone vs. digital camera- amateur photography.
19. Bot assistance vs. human assistance.
20. Internet of things and machine learning- similar technology.

Sports 

Sports is another area to look for interesting compare and contrast essay topics.

Such topics may include:

1. Fitness club and home gym- similar results.
2. Go vs. chess- different mental requirements.
3. Tennis and Ping-Pong- affect child development the same way.
4. Professional vs. amateur tennis- different requirements.
5. High school and college sports- similar physical requirements.
6. Sports in schools and local clubs- similar health results. 
7. Rock climbing vs. hiking- both equally challenging.
8. Augmented reality and instructor training- similar exercise activity.
9. College sports and professional sports- both demand compensation.
10. Outdoor vs. indoor sports- same body demands.
11. Basketball and football, same sport.
12. Decathlon and trail running- similar sport.
13. Sports scholarship and academic scholarships- mold the student equally.
14. Badminton and tennis- same sport different names.
15. Late night workout yields different results than early morning workout.
16. Football in Europe vs. American football- similar sports.
17. Pole vault and high jump- similar requirements.
18. Cross country vs. long distance track races- different physical requirements.
19. Horse vs. pigeon racing- similar sports.
20. Snowboarding and skiing- different levels of risk.  

Food and Health

Another area to look for good compare and contrast essay topics would be food and health.

Such topics may include:

1. GMO vs. organic foods- all the same.
2. Ice cream and sweats- different effect on the body.
3. Carbohydrates vs. animal fats- equally unhealthy.
4. Home grown and supermarket groceries- equal health benefits.
5. Homemade food and restaurant food- equally healthy and delicious.
6. Use of fork vs. chopsticks- unhealthy eating habits.
7. American and Japanese eating habits- similar health priorities.
8. School feeding programs and food banks- equally effective.
9. Microwave and oven- similar cooking equipment.
10. Fresh juices and fresh fruits- not equally healthy.
11. Beef and pork- similar nutritional importance.
12. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy- similar effect on patient.
13. Beef and mushrooms- equally healthy.
14. Fast and processed foods- similar impact on health.
15. Cafeterias and canteens- same level of food safety.
16. Parmesan and cheddar cheese- different effect on pizza.
17. Jelly and peanut butter- similar use in sandwich.
18. Preserved and fresh fruits- same level of nutrition.
19. Conventional medicine and natural remedies- similar effect on the patient.
20. U.S. vs. Africa- hunger is common.

Education

Education as well is an area to look for interesting compare and contrast essay topics.

Such topics may include:

1. Text books vs. audio books- similar impact on learning.
2. Argumentative vs. persuasive writing- very different forms of writing.
3. Doing homework at school and at home yield the same learning results.
4. Classical and contemporary books impact learning the same in children.
5. Take away assignments vs. sit in exams- all the same.
6. Online learning and in person learning are the same.
7. Internet vs. physical libraries- different forms information and data.
8. Liberal arts and STEM subjects are equally important.
9. Education in Europe vs. U.S. – similar standards.
10. Foreign vs. U.S. educated students- equally knowledgeable.
11. Group vs. individual assignments- similar methods of learning.
12. Adult and child education are similar in methods of learning.
13. Learning Mandarin vs. German- same for an English speaker.
14. Modern vs. classical literature- similar in orientation.
15. Bilingual vs. monolingual students have the same communication skills.
16. Women and men authors have had an equal impact on literature.
17. English and Dutch are lexically similar.
18. Women have similar influence in American and Russian literature.
19. Social skills vs. reading skills in kindergarten- equally important.
20.  Influence of French vs. German on English- same.

Global Affairs

Global affairs is another area with potentail compare and contrast essay topics.

Common topics may include:

1. American vs. Scandinavian cultures- influenced equally by globalization.
2. U.S. vs. France immigration- similar stance.
3. Mexican vs. American views on family- similar attitudes.
4. American and Russian online activity- very similar.
5. American vs. European influence on Chinese culture- different levels.
6. U.S. vs. Chine approach to global affairs- similar.
7. Happiness in the U.S. and Norway- same levels.
8. American vs. Japanese inventions- different levels of global impact.
9. American vs. Korean pop culture- equally popular across different cultures.
10. American vs. German multinationals- equal global influence.
11. Japanese vs. American etiquette- similarly valued and observed.
12. China vs. U.S views of Olympic games- different attitudes.
13. U.S. vs. Chinese interests in the global south- different.
14. U.S. vs. India’s space exploration- different drive.
15. U.S. vs. German tourism- similar approaches.
16. U.S. vs. Chinese relations with African countries- similar approach.
17. U.S. vs. Japanese global aid- similar motivations.
18. U.S. vs. Russian global militarization- similar approach.
19. Italian vs. U.S. cuisine- equal global influence.
20. U.S. vs. Saudi Arabia’s approach to relations with Israel- similar intentions.

Gender

Gender is a key area when it comes to controversial compare and contrast essay topics.

Some of such topics may include:

1. Men and women management of stress- similar.
2. Men vs. women at work- equal work equal pay.
3. Mixed vs. separate social spaces- empowers women.
4. Job opportunities for men and women in the U.S. – equal.
5. Media portrayal of men and women in the U.S. – similar.
6. Impact of women and men role models- similar.
7. TV roles for men and women- different demands.
8. Impact of cultural wars on women and men- disproportionate.
9. Meaning in boys and girls toys- similar.
10. Dress code expectations for men and women- different.
11. Drinking habits between men and women- similar.
12. Sports standards for men and women- equal.
13. Impact of domestic violence on women and men- same.
14. Domestic duties and expectations for men and women- same.
15. Impact of childbirth on women and men- same.
16. Level of responsibility in child rearing on men and women- unequal.
17. Men vs. women led households- social and economically similar.
18. Spending habits between men and women- the same.
19. Career role expectations for men and women- similar.
20. Criminal behaviour between men and women- same.