101 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Compare and contrast essays are taught in school for many reasons. For one thing, they are relatively easy to teach, understand, and format. Students can typically understand the structure with just a short amount of instruction. In addition, these essays allow students develop critical thinking skills to approach a variety of topics.

Following is a list of 101 topics for compare and contrast essays that you are welcome to use in your classroom. As you look through the list you will see that some items are academic in nature while others are included for interest-building and fun writing activities.

1. Apple vs. Microsoft
2. Coke vs. Pepsi
3. Renaissance Art vs. Baroque Art
4. Antebellum Era vs. Reconstruction Era in American History
5. Childhood vs. Adulthood
6. Star Wars vs. Star Trek
7. Biology vs. Chemistry
8. Astrology vs. Astronomy
9. American Government vs. British Government (or any world government)
10. Fruits vs. Vegetables
11. Dogs vs. Cats
12. Ego vs. Superego
13. Christianity vs. Judaism (or any world religion)
14. Republican vs. Democrat
15. Monarchy vs. Presidency
16. US President vs. UK Prime Minister
17. Jazz vs. Classical Music
18. Red vs. White (or any two colors)
19. Soccer vs. Football
20. North vs. South Before the Civil War
21. New England Colonies vs. Middle Colonies OR vs. Southern Colonies
22. Cash vs. Credit Cards
23. Sam vs. Frodo Baggins
24. Gandalf vs. Dumbledore
25. Fred vs. Shaggy
26. Rap vs. Pop
27. Articles of Confederation vs. U.S. Constitution
28. Henry VIII vs. King Louis XIV
29. Stocks vs. Bonds
30. Monopolies vs. Oligopolies
31. Communism vs. Capitalism
32. Socialism vs. Capitalism
33. Diesel vs. Petroleum
34. Nuclear Power vs. Solar Power
35. Saltwater Fish vs. Freshwater Fish
36. Squids vs. Octopus
37. Mammals vs. Reptiles
38. Baleen vs. Toothed Whales
39. Seals vs. Sea Lions
40. Crocodiles vs. Alligators
41. Bats vs. Birds
42. Oven vs. Microwave
43. Greek vs. Roman Mythology
44. Chinese vs. Japanese
45. Comedy vs. Drama
46. Renting vs. Owning
47. Mozart vs. Beethoven
48. Online vs. Traditional Education
49. North vs. South Pole
50. Watercolor vs. Oil
51. 1984 vs. Fahrenheit 451
52. Emily Dickinson vs. Samuel Taylor Coleridge
53. W.E.B. DuBois vs. Booker T. Washington
54. Strawberries vs. Apples
55. Airplanes vs. Helicopters
56. Hitler vs. Napoleon
57. Roman Empire vs. British Empire
58. Paper vs. Plastic
59. Italy vs. Spain
60. Baseball vs. Cricket
61. Jefferson vs. Adams
62. Thoroughbreds vs. Clydesdales
63. Spiders vs. Scorpions
64. Northern Hemisphere vs. Southern Hemisphere
65. Hobbes vs. Locke
66. Friends vs. Family
67. Dried Fruit vs. Fresh
68. Porcelain vs. Glass
69. Modern Dance vs. Ballroom Dancing
70. American Idol vs. The Voice
71. Reality TV vs. Sitcoms
72. Picard vs. Kirk
73. Books vs. Movies
74. Magazines vs. Comic Books
75. Antique vs. New
76. Public vs. Private Transportation
77. Email vs. Letters
78. Facebook vs. Twitter
79. Coffee vs. an Energy Drink
80. Toads vs. Frogs
81. Profit vs. Non-Profit
82. Boys vs. Girls
83. Birds vs. Dinosaurs
84. High School vs. College
85. Chamberlain vs. Churchill
86. Offense vs. Defense
87. Jordan vs. Bryant
88. Harry vs. Draco
89. Roses vs. Carnations
90. Poetry vs. Prose
91. Fiction vs. Nonfiction
92. Lions vs. Tigers
93. Vampires vs. Werewolves
94. Lollipops vs. popsicles
95. Summer vs. Winter
96. Recycling vs. Landfill
97. Motorcycle vs. Bicycle
98. Halogen vs. Incandescent
99. Newton vs. Einstein
100. . Go on vacation vs. Staycation
101. Rock vs. Scissors