Compare and contrast essays go quite well with students; whose eyes light up when they get a chance for evaluation and comparison. After all, comparison is innate in human nature and right from our birth; we are compared and differentiated with kids of our age.
Teachers also have become quite intelligent in choosing compare and contrast essays for kids. They make sure they select topics which students are versed with to arouse natural curiosity. When you know something, you automatically get triggered to know more about it.
Choosing relevant essay topics is moreover necessary for the mental development if kids in school. This way, they gather information about disparate issues and gradually become well-read about the current global status. This makes up for the general reluctance that kids show in reading newspapers these days.
Current events may range from politics; Internet, sports; medicine, technologies and the whole world in between. You should make sure to pick those essay topics which are fresh and which will have bearings in near future. They should not be stale relics of the past; there only for memorabilia.
There is of course a methodical way to carve these essays. You should give equal importance to both object of comparison. You should not approach the topic with a colored opinion; that would take the bite off your writing. The analysis should be pure and unprejudiced.
It of course helps if you build up the habit of being conversant with current occurrences. The world changes every day and you need to change with that or at least absorb the changes around. Education is eternal and continual and is not restricted to your school.
If you need more ideas on how to write an essay, you may talk with people you know such as colleagues on what they may be writing about. For original topic and information you may need to read the newspaper and get an idea of what is trending at the moment. Be optimistic so you have a good topic worth writing about.