For a comparative essay, i don't really know what to do once i've made my elaborations on both books for the body paragraph.

example of what i did: topic sentence, talk about book #1, quote, elaborate. talk about book #2, elaborate...... and i'm stuck after this.

These sites should help you.

http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/comparcontrast.html

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/comparison.htm

When writing a comparative essay, it's important to go beyond simply making elaborations on each book in separate paragraphs. To create a cohesive and effective essay, you need to offer a comparative analysis that highlights the similarities and differences between the two books.

Here's a step-by-step approach to enhancing your body paragraphs and taking your comparative essay to the next level:

1. Start with a clear and focused topic sentence: Your topic sentence should encapsulate the main point you want to make in the paragraph. It should establish the particular aspect or theme you will be comparing between the two books.

2. Introduce book #1 and provide evidence: Give a brief overview of book #1 and select a relevant quote or evidence that supports your topic sentence. Be sure to explain how this evidence relates to the theme or aspect you are discussing.

3. Elaborate on the significance of book #1's evidence: Analyze the quote or evidence you provided and explain its significance in relation to the theme or aspect mentioned in your topic sentence. Explore the author's intent, literary devices used, or impacts on the characters or plot.

4. Transition to book #2: Transition smoothly to discussing book #2 by highlighting its key similarities or differences in comparison to book #1. This will help establish the context for analysis and provide a clear structure for your essay.

5. Provide evidence from book #2: Similar to book #1, introduce book #2 with a brief overview and present evidence (quote or example) that supports your topic sentence. Again, explain how this evidence connects to the theme or aspect you are discussing.

6. Elaborate on the significance of book #2's evidence: Analyze the evidence you provided for book #2 and explain its significance, just like you did for book #1. Discuss how it contrasts or aligns with book #1's evidence and the overall theme or aspect of your essay.

7. Draw a comparison: Finally, compare and contrast the two books based on the evidence and analysis you provided for each. Explore the similarities, differences, strengths, weaknesses, or insights that arise from comparing the texts. Make sure to relate your analysis back to your topic sentence, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

By following this structure, you will create a more coherent and insightful comparative essay that goes beyond simple elaborations on each book. It allows you to explore the relationships between the texts and showcase your critical thinking skills.