In this essay you will use comparing/contrasting as a strategy to make a point about two items. To compare means you will focus on similarities, to contrast means you will focus on differences. While you may discuss both similarities and differences, your essay should choose to focus on comparing or contrasting. Your thesis should not be These two items have many similarities and differences. You should make a point about the two items you are comparing/contrasting and use the similarities and differences to develop and support the argument. I would lie to compare Apple products to Andriod products.