4.2: Compare and Contrast Model Essay 1

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Read the essay and answer the questions that follow.

First Name Last Name

Professor Name

Course Name and Number

Day Month Year

Contrasting the American Bulldog with the Chihuahua

Most dog-owners agree that coming home to a furry companion can make even the worst day a little bit brighter! Dogs provide their owners with companionship and even a few laughs. While these four-legged friends are rewarding to have, they require a lot of care, attention and money. Different breeds of dogs come with different requirements from the levels of attention they need to their overall cost to own. Therefore, researching the right breed for one’s family and lifestyle is extremely important. Two very lovable, but very different, breeds to consider adopting are the American Bulldog and the Chihuahua.

One major difference between the American Bulldog and the Chihuahua is in their temperaments. Sometimes size affects a dog’s behavior, and a Chihuahua, being very small, tends to show fear around larger people or animals. If a Chihuahua thinks it is in danger of being stepped on or sat on, for instance, it will bark, growl, or bite as a warning. Chihuahuas, as a consequence, behave better in households with fewer people and activity where they don’t need to demonstrate this annoying behavior. American Bulldogs, on the other hand, are large and strong in stature, so they generally don’t display such nervous tendencies. American Bulldogs are generally a calm, quiet breed, but they can also be quite aloof. Chis, however, thrive on affection and physical contact. Chis, in fact, love their people so much they will follow them everywhere, while American Bulldogs will sit in the same place all day long and ignore their people. Indeed, these differences in temperament are important things to consider before adopting either of these breeds.

Another major difference between the American Bulldog and the Chihuahua is their cost to maintain. Again, because of its size, the food and medicine for a Chihuahua is much less expensive than it is for an American Bulldog. A two-pound bag of Chi kibble might cost $29.00, but it will last for months and months. A ten-pound bag of large breed dog food also costs around $29.00, but an American Bulldog can eat it all in two weeks! American Bulldogs and Chihuahuas both require the same monthly medicines, but the doses for the Chihuahua are half the price of those for an American Bulldog. Overall, American Bulldogs are simply more expensive to maintain than Chihuahuas.

One final difference between the American Bulldog and the Chihuahua is the public’s reactions to them. Generally, a very mild-tempered dog, the American Bulldog is still very menacing in appearance, so people tend to fear it at first sight. However, its calm nature and gentle behavior often win people over in the end. The Chihuahua, on the other hand, is not so much feared as it is simply disliked. They are a small breed, so their bark tends to be shrill and high-pitched, which annoys listeners. The tiny Chi uses its voice to remind people and other animals that it is there, while the American Bulldog remains a quiet, looming presence. Additionally, Chihuahuas are often seen dressed up in clothes and carried around in handbags, which gives the dog a certain social stigma that Bulldogs don’t have.

In conclusion, both the American Bulldog and the Chihuahua can make satisfying companions. Some key differences in their temperaments, costs to own, and social stigma make consideration of the breed an important step before bringing one home. Not all breeds are suitable for all families. Bringing home the right breed for your lifestyle and family might be one of the best decisions you ever made!

Questions about the Model: Type or write your answers to the following questions.

What is the general topic of the essay introduced in the first two sentences?
Highlight the thesis statement.
What are the two main topics of the essay? Is the writing comparing or contrasting the points of these topics?
What are the three points of contrast in the essay? List them here.
Does the writer use the block method or the point-by-point method to organize the points of contrast?
Highlight any transitions and signal words.

Exercise 1

Refer back to the essay “Contrasting the American Bulldog with the Chihuahua” and complete the following outline with the missing information.

I. Introduction:

Thesis: Two very lovable, but very different, breeds to consider adopting are the American Bulldog and the Chihuahua.

II. Supporting Topic Sentence 1: One major difference between the American Bulldog and the Chihuahua is in their temperaments.

Topic 1: _Chihuahua / small / fearful__

Topic 2: _________________________

III. Supporting Topic Sentence 2: Another major difference between the American Bulldog and the Chihuahua is their cost to maintain.

Topic 1: __________________________

Topic 2: _________________________

IV. Supporting Topic Sentence 3: ______________________________

___________________________________________________________

Topic 1: __________________________

Topic 2: _________________________

V. Conclusion: Some key differences in their temperaments, costs to own, and social stigma make consideration of the breed an important step before bringing one home.