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The shape of a comparative thesis?
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All Flashcards in Topic 4.2
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4.2.110 cards
The shape of a comparative thesis?
‘Both works do X; but whereas A does Y, B does Z.’
How many works does the thesis name?
Both — one claim about the pair.
Must it be arguable?
Yes — provable and disputable, not a fact or summary.
What must the thesis answer?
The actual general question's idea, not a topic you'd prefer.
Two theses or one?
One — not ‘Work A shows… Work B shows…’ separately.
What does the thesis set up?
Criterion B2 (comparison) and C (focus) from the first line.
A weak thesis looks like…
‘This essay is about power in both works’ — a topic, not an argument.
What proves the thesis?
Every body paragraph, each about both works.
Why include a difference in the thesis?
So the essay is a comparison, not a list of shared themes.
Connective often used in the thesis?
‘but whereas’ — to mark the key difference.
4.2.210 cards
Plan by work or by point?
By point — each covers both works.
What does the grid look like?
Shared points as rows; Work A and Work B as columns.
What becomes one paragraph?
One row — a shared point across both works.
What does an empty cell mean?
That point isn't comparative — cut it or rethink it.
How many comparative points?
Usually 3–4, each proving part of the thesis.
What decides the points?
The comparative thesis.
The failure that by-point planning prevents?
Two mini-essays (a section on each work).
Which criteria does the plan protect?
B2 (comparison) and C (organisation).
What goes in each cell?
How that work treats the shared point.
First thing to write in the plan?
The comparative thesis.
Topic 4.2 study notes
Full notes & explanations for Planning the essay
English A Lang & Lit exam skills
Paper structures, command terms & tips
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