Compare and contrast two poems from The Manyoshu that are specifically listed on the syllabus.

When making your selection, remember that there must be a basis for your comparison, so be certain that your two poems have something in common. After you have chosen two poems, read them over several times so that you can be certain of their meaning. Then, consider your purpose for writing. More than simply pointing out the similarities and differences between the poems, you must have a point you wish to make. Generally speaking, there are three possible purposes for a comparison-contrast: 1) to illustrate the unknown in terms of the known; 2) to derive a general principle; or 3) to illustrate a general principle. While you will not be assigned a particular purpose, your thinking process should go beyond the obvious that the two things are alike in some ways and different in others. That is true of virtually everything! Instead, carry your thinking to a higher level of analysis to consider broader implications of your comparison-contrast.