A thesis statement takes a position on a debateable point. It can be a response to an essay prompt or simply a statement of a paper&8217;s argument. In a compare-contrast essay, the thesis can either (1) state a preference for one of the two things being compared or (2) make an interpretative assertion about the differences or similarities between the two. Some other prompts may not directly ask you to compare and contrast, but present you with i need help writing a paper a topic where comparing and contrasting could be a good approach. Have you ever been at the grocery store, looked at the two bins of sweet potatoes and yams, and wondered, "What’s the difference?" Congratulations! You’ve done a mini version of the compare and contrast essay. Granted, compiling all those thoughts about starchy tubers into words poses its own challenge, but don’t worry. With a few simple tips, you’ll be comparing and contrasting with the best of them.