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Typically, scholarly articles do not compare and contrast two particular theories, positions, or topics. Rather, they will cover one particular study or perspective in depth. It will be up to you, as a student, to synthesize the information you have learned from your research and draw your own comparisons and conclusions. For additional information, please see our Synthesis FAQ. For assistance on how to synthesize in a paper, visit the Academic Success Center's (ASC) Synthesis and Analysis guide or attend a synthesis and analysis group session.

The following resources also provide additional assistance with writing a comparative analysis:

Comparing and Contrasting (UNC Chapel Hill)

How to Write a Comparative Analysis (Harvard University)

Writing in Literature: Writing the Prompt Paper (Purdue University)

Compare and Contrast Two Competing Psychological Theories

Evaluating and Comparing Two Theories of Cognitive Development

Please note that this information only serves as guidance. Use the Academic Success Center website to learn about coaching and access writing, statistics, editing, and APA Style resources. 

For questions about academic coaching services, please contact the Academic Success Center via their Ask a Coach page. On this page, you can search their FAQs, ask a question, or chat live with a coach via ASC Chat.