Final answer:
Yes, a compare/contrast essay should discuss both similarities and differences between works united by a common theme or thesis statement.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, a compare/contrast essay should discuss both similarities and differences. This type of essay is used to analyze two or more works that are united by a common theme or thesis statement. It examines the similarities and differences between the works and uses them to make a larger argument about the significance of the texts. For example, a compare/contrast essay could explore the significance of the supernatural in William Shakespeare's plays Hamlet and Macbeth.