How do I write a comparison/contrast essay for "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall" and "The Yellow Wallpaper"? What will be a theme to compare/contrast?

One of the first things a person needs to do when constructing a compare and contrast essay is decide upon what formatting he or she is going to use. There are two formats for a compare and contrast essay: point-by-point and block.
In point-by-point, the essayist alternates points made between the two things he or she is discussing. In block, the essayist discusses the entirety of one subject and ends with the other.
One theme from both Katherine Ann Porter's "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall" and Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" is mental illness or mental deterioration. Both protagonists in both short stories deal with mental illness and coming to terms (or not) with their own mental instability.
In order to construct a compare and contrast essay regarding these two stories, one must create a thesis statement which speaks to the purpose of the essay. One example thesis statement is as follows: Both Katherine Ann Porter's "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall" and Charlotte Perkins Gilmore's "The Yellow Wallpaper" possess a strong message on mental illness using each text's theme.
Next, one will need to find points to bring up regarding each text's use of the theme of mental illness to support the thesis. One could focus upon the setting (the bedroom), other characters (John and the Doctor), and how the protagonist seems to feel about her mental deterioration.
In setting up a point-by-point, the outline would look something like this:
Introduction
Body Paragraph One (Point one for "Jilting")
Body Paragraph Two (Similar point one for "Yellow")
Body Paragraph Three (Point two for "Jilting")
Body Paragraph Four (Similar point for "Yellow")
Conclusion
The number of body paragraphs is determined by identifying the number of points one is bringing up to support his or her thesis. For example, if one has 3 points to make, one must have six body paragraphs.
When using the block format, one discusses all points (for this example) regarding one text's support and then the other text's.
Formatting would look like this:
Introduction
"Jilting" Point One
"Jilting" Point Two
"Yellow" Point One
"Yellow" Point Two
Conclusion
One must make sure that the alternating points for the texts are comparative or contrasting in nature. For example, neither Granny's doctor nor John (the husband of the protagonist in "The Yellow Wallpaper," and her doctor) seems to be doing what is best for either of their patients. This point would be made in both body paragraph one and two (in point-by-point) or in body paragraphs one and three (using the sample formatting described above).
On a side note, many times, students are misled by the name "Compare and Contrast" essay. One can do three things in this type of essay: compare only, contrast only, or compare and contrast.