1. select your topic: pick 2 materials that can be used for the same application ( sports, medicine, structures, etc.) and that you will be able to delineate their similarities and differences.
2. consider 3 to 4 main points that you want to discuss: cost, environmental consideration ( recyclability, reuse value, etc.) ease of fabrication, longevity, failure rate and method of failure and its consequences, thermal properties, electrical properties, mechanical properties, etc.
3.introduction: you basically want to tell us what your paper is about and why are you writing about your subject matter.
. What 2 materials you are comparing?
. Why is it important to compare them.
. How are you going to compare them?
Why should we care?
4. Body ( 3 to 4 paragraphs- include pictures, graphs, charts, calculations, Equations, formulas to enhance your points) this is where you compare and contrast your 2 materials:
. point by point: state they are different in each category that you have selected or
. compare then contrast: first paragraph state their similarities and then begin explaining their differences
at the end of each body paragraph have a mini conclusion tell us what was the point of your paragraph.
5. conclusion: After reading your paper, we now have an idea about the good, the bad, and the ugly of your 2 materials. Now you can tell us, based on the evidence that ou provided, which material is more suitable for the job/application based on your research. So basically you are wrapping up your paper with your own opinion which is supported by the evidence that you provided in the body paragraph.
6. Abstract: this is a summery of your entire paper. What you did, why, what is your conclusion and how you arrived at your conclusion.
7. Text citation( at the top of the list of references or works cited mention which style you are using.)