Project Summary: Description of POD: A compare and/or contrast essay examines two or more topics (objects, people, or ideas, for example), comparing their similarities and/or contrasting their differences. You may choose to focus exclusively on comparing, exclusively on contrasting, or on both. This type of essay requires critical thinking and analysis. DO NOT JUST LIST SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES. Your essay must have a specific purpose (to express, to inform, to persuade, to critique etc. through comparison or contrast). Recall that you must “treat your subjects fairly” do not intentionally omit relevant information about one subject just because you prefer the other (368). This essay is not about your personal experiences! DO NOT USE first-person point of view.