In literature (excerpted from the link below, from the Skagit Valley College Writing Center) –

“Beware: comparison discussion can be deceptively simple. Because we compare things all the time, and note similarities and differences all the time, it can seem a pretty straightforward task to compare theme (or setting, or character, etc.) in several works of literature. A simple descriptive comparison, however, would NOT be an effective or successful response to the assignment. Such an essay should address a meaningful, coherent focus that goes beyond a superficial comparison or discussion to a thoughtful examination of the works.” https://svcwritingcenter.wordpress.com/student-resources/svc-writing-center-handouts/315-2/

THE PROMPT
One theme in the pieces of creative non-fiction we have read could be described (broadly) as longing for something lost (or never had) or actual loss. Write a carefully crafted comparative analysis essay based on how the pieces you selected show the narrator and/or character’s loss or longing.
• Select two pieces: one must be a “chapter” from Kiese Laymon’s Heavy, plus one from this list of CNF:
o “Joyas Voladoras,” by Brain Doyle
o “Holes,” by Leslie Ann Salley
o “Aftermath,” by Elane Johnson
o “Girl,” by Jamaica Kincaid
o “All or Nothing,” by Jill Talbot
• Review the video I assigned (https://youtu.be/rTshlWNGZTM) for information on how to write a thesis for an essay such as this!
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
• Please explain (carefully) how literary devices and techniques evoke the sense of loss or longing.
• Make sure you identify the specific loss/longing in the pieces you write about and use specific places in the text to support your ideas.
• Please make conscious choices in this essay:
o select specific places from the selections carefully to use as evidence;
o decide upon an order of ideas (structure) that best serves the claims you are trying to make;
o craft transitions to move between ideas in a way that facilitates the reader’s understanding. ]
• Some ideas about comparative analysis from Harvard College Writing Center https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/how-write-comparative-analysis