Why do you choose the two text you have chosen to compare and contrast?
What do you ultimately want to say about the relationship between these two texts?
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What is your frame of reference for comparing these two objects? (Note if you pick two texts from the syllabus and if you form an argument within the theme of the course, then verticality is automatically a frame of reference, but I encourage you to be a little more specific. Are you focusing on looking down or looking up? Are you focused on the images of the vertical and class status? What is it that you are talking about that enters into conversation with these two texts?
What is the common ground for putting these two texts in conversation?
a) what are other comparisons you could have made to talk about the text you wanted to talk about?
b) what do the two texts you chose have in common (other than being on the syllabus)?
c) what do you get from putting these two texts in conversation that you don’t get from putting two other texts in conversation?
What is your thesis?
a) what is the relationship between your two text?
b) which texts are you primarily focused on (if both say so)?
c) what is your ultimate argument or claim about the relationship between these two texts.
How will you go about structuring this paper?
a) Will you use a text by text?
b) Will you use a point by point?
c) What points would you use, if you use a point by point?
How will you link your text together throughout?
Write out 2 out of 3 of your topic sentences.