Compare or Contrast. General Info Comparison and contrast are ways of looking at objects and thinking about how they are alike and different. Comparison

Compare or ContrastCompare or Contrast

General InfoGeneral Info

Comparison and contrast are ways of looking Comparison and contrast are ways of looking at objects and thinking about how they are at objects and thinking about how they are alike and different.alike and different.

For instance, all of these items are alike For instance, all of these items are alike because they are kinds of food, but there are because they are kinds of food, but there are many ways that they are different. For many ways that they are different. For instance, they belong to different food groups. instance, they belong to different food groups. Some must be cooked before eating, and Some must be cooked before eating, and some can be eaten raw. some can be eaten raw.

When you write comparison and contrast, you When you write comparison and contrast, you will pay attention to these kinds of details.will pay attention to these kinds of details.

General InfoGeneral Info

There are two main reasons that people use There are two main reasons that people use comparison and contrast:comparison and contrast:

1. To Explain--You might compare and contrast 1. To Explain--You might compare and contrast kinds of food, for instance, to help someone kinds of food, for instance, to help someone understand which food need to be refrigerated understand which food need to be refrigerated and which can be stored in a cabinet or in a and which can be stored in a cabinet or in a bowl on the counter.bowl on the counter.

2. To Evaluate--You might compare and 2. To Evaluate--You might compare and contrast kinds of food to show why one kind of contrast kinds of food to show why one kind of food or brand of food is better than another. For food or brand of food is better than another. For example, apples are a better snack than butter.example, apples are a better snack than butter.

Essay OrganizationEssay Organization

Comparison and contrast are used in Comparison and contrast are used in your writing to organize an individual your writing to organize an individual paragraph as well as to organize entire paragraph as well as to organize entire papers. papers.

For instance, you might write a paper For instance, you might write a paper that compares a movie and a book about that compares a movie and a book about the same topic. In your paper you can the same topic. In your paper you can compare and contrast the movie version compare and contrast the movie version with the book version.with the book version.


As you begin to organize your writing, it's As you begin to organize your writing, it's important to make sure that you balance important to make sure that you balance the information about the items that you're the information about the items that you're comparing and contrasting. comparing and contrasting.

You need to be sure that you give them You need to be sure that you give them equal time in what you write.equal time in what you write.

If you cover character, setting, and If you cover character, setting, and historical accuracy for the book, for historical accuracy for the book, for instance, you need to be sure that you instance, you need to be sure that you cover the same elements for the movie.cover the same elements for the movie.


There are three strategies to There are three strategies to organize comparison and organize comparison and contrast papers:contrast papers:

1. Whole-to-Whole, or Block1. Whole-to-Whole, or Block

2. Similarities-to-Differences2. Similarities-to-Differences

3. Point-by-Point3. Point-by-Point


Whole-to-Whole or Block Whole-to-Whole or Block Strategy Strategy In this structure, you say In this structure, you say

everything about one item then everything about one item then everything about the other. everything about the other.

For instance, say everything about For instance, say everything about the characters, setting, and plot the characters, setting, and plot for the book then everything about for the book then everything about the characters, setting, and plot the characters, setting, and plot for the movie.for the movie.


Whole-to-Whole comparison and contrast Whole-to-Whole comparison and contrast uses a separate section or paragraph for uses a separate section or paragraph for each item you're discussing. each item you're discussing.

For a paper comparing and contrasting a For a paper comparing and contrasting a book to a movie, the section for Item #1 book to a movie, the section for Item #1 would include everything about the book and would include everything about the book and the section for Item #2 would cover the section for Item #2 would cover everything about the movie.everything about the movie.

The points in each of the sections should be The points in each of the sections should be the same and they should be explained in the same and they should be explained in the same order (for instance, you might the same order (for instance, you might discuss character, setting, and plot for both, discuss character, setting, and plot for both, and in that order for both).and in that order for both).


Similarities-to-Differences Strategy Similarities-to-Differences Strategy In this structure, you explain all the similarities In this structure, you explain all the similarities

about the items being compared and then you about the items being compared and then you explain all the differences. explain all the differences.

For instance, you might explain that the For instance, you might explain that the characters and plot were similar in both the characters and plot were similar in both the book and movie in the one section. book and movie in the one section.

In the next section, you could explain that In the next section, you could explain that the settings were different. The book took the settings were different. The book took place during the summer while the movie place during the summer while the movie took place during the winter.took place during the winter.


Similarities-to-Differences Similarities-to-Differences comparison and contrast uses a comparison and contrast uses a separate section or paragraph separate section or paragraph for similarities and differences. for similarities and differences.

In other words, the body of your In other words, the body of your paper would have two large paper would have two large sections: one for similarities, and sections: one for similarities, and another for differences.another for differences.


Point-by-Point Strategy Point-by-Point Strategy In this structure, you explain one point In this structure, you explain one point

of comparison before moving to the of comparison before moving to the next point. next point.

For instance, you would write about For instance, you would write about the characters in the book and the characters in the book and movie in one section; then you movie in one section; then you would write about the setting in the would write about the setting in the book and movie in the next section.book and movie in the next section.


Point-by-Point comparison and contrast uses a Point-by-Point comparison and contrast uses a separate section or paragraph for each point.separate section or paragraph for each point.

Point #1 for your paper could be information Point #1 for your paper could be information about the characters in the book and the about the characters in the book and the movie. You'd begin a section or paragraph for movie. You'd begin a section or paragraph for Point #2. Point #2.

For consistency, begin with the same item in For consistency, begin with the same item in each section of your point-by-point paper. For each section of your point-by-point paper. For instance, for each point that you discuss, instance, for each point that you discuss, explain the information about the book first and explain the information about the book first and then about the movie.then about the movie.

PrewritingPrewriting

Graphic organizers are useful tools for Graphic organizers are useful tools for gathering details about the items that gathering details about the items that you are comparing and contrasting.you are comparing and contrasting.

Venn Diagrams help you think about Venn Diagrams help you think about where the various characteristics of where the various characteristics of the items being compared and the items being compared and contrasted fit. contrasted fit.

The Compare and Contrast Chart is The Compare and Contrast Chart is more like a listing tool, where you can more like a listing tool, where you can brainstorm a list of ways that the items brainstorm a list of ways that the items are alike and different.are alike and different.


A 2-Circle Venn Diagram is made up of two A 2-Circle Venn Diagram is made up of two overlapping circles that allow you to organize overlapping circles that allow you to organize information about two items that you are information about two items that you are comparing and contrasting.comparing and contrasting.

You write the characteristics of the items inside You write the characteristics of the items inside the circles. Features that apply to both go in the the circles. Features that apply to both go in the overlapping portion (the middle) of the two overlapping portion (the middle) of the two circles. circles.

When you're done, you'll have your information When you're done, you'll have your information divided into similarities (the overlapping part) divided into similarities (the overlapping part) and differences (the non-intersecting parts).and differences (the non-intersecting parts).


A 3-Circle Venn Diagram is made up of three A 3-Circle Venn Diagram is made up of three overlapping circles. It is more complex because overlapping circles. It is more complex because there are more ways for items to overlap. there are more ways for items to overlap.

Features that apply to two items go in the Features that apply to two items go in the overlapping portion of their circles (for instance, overlapping portion of their circles (for instance, the Sun and Moon are in the Milky Way). the Sun and Moon are in the Milky Way). Features shared by all three go in the middle Features shared by all three go in the middle (for instance, the Sun, Moon, and Stars are in (for instance, the Sun, Moon, and Stars are in the sky). the sky).

As with the 2-Circle Diagram, when you're As with the 2-Circle Diagram, when you're done, your information will be divided into done, your information will be divided into similarities (the overlapping part) and similarities (the overlapping part) and differences (the non-intersecting parts).differences (the non-intersecting parts).


A Compare and Contrast Chart is made up of a A Compare and Contrast Chart is made up of a series of boxes that you can fill in to gather series of boxes that you can fill in to gather information about the two items that you are information about the two items that you are comparing and contrasting.comparing and contrasting.

You write the names of your items at the top You write the names of your items at the top then fill in the boxes with details about how the then fill in the boxes with details about how the items are alike and different.items are alike and different.

This chart is an easy way to divide the This chart is an easy way to divide the characteristics of the items that you are characteristics of the items that you are comparing into similarities (items in the upper comparing into similarities (items in the upper box) and differences (items in the two bottom box) and differences (items in the two bottom boxes).boxes).

TransitionsTransitions

In comparison and contrast, In comparison and contrast, transition words tell a reader that the transition words tell a reader that the writer is changing from talking about writer is changing from talking about one item to the other.one item to the other.

Transitional words and phrases help Transitional words and phrases help make a paper smoother and more make a paper smoother and more coherent by showing the reader the coherent by showing the reader the connections between the ideas that connections between the ideas that are being presented.are being presented.


When you're comparing items, using a When you're comparing items, using a transition from this list will signal to transition from this list will signal to readers that you're changing from one readers that you're changing from one item to the next and it will also tell the item to the next and it will also tell the reader that the two items are similar. reader that the two items are similar.

Here are some examples: The Here are some examples: The characters in the movie were very characters in the movie were very similar to the characters in the book.similar to the characters in the book.

Both the characters in the movie and in Both the characters in the movie and in the book were interested in detective the book were interested in detective work.work.


On the other hand, using one of the On the other hand, using one of the transitions from this list of words will signal transitions from this list of words will signal readers that the two items you're discussing readers that the two items you're discussing are different. are different.

Here are some examples: The setting in the Here are some examples: The setting in the book was summer while the setting in the book was summer while the setting in the movie was winter.movie was winter.

The events in the book took place during The events in the book took place during several afternoons, but the events in the several afternoons, but the events in the movie took place during the evening.movie took place during the evening.

ChecklistChecklist

There are three main things to pay attention There are three main things to pay attention to as you write a comparison and contrast to as you write a comparison and contrast paper: paper:

1. Purpose & Supporting Details1. Purpose & Supporting Details

2. Organization & Structure2. Organization & Structure

3. Transitions & Coherence3. Transitions & Coherence

In addition, be sure to pay attention to the In addition, be sure to pay attention to the usual requirements for writing, such as usual requirements for writing, such as spelling, punctuation, and grammar.spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

ChecklistChecklist

Comparison & Contrast ChecklistComparison & Contrast Checklist

1. Purpose & Supporting Details1. Purpose & Supporting Details

a. The paper compares and contrasts a. The paper compares and contrasts items clearly.items clearly.

b. The paper points to specific examples to b. The paper points to specific examples to illustrate the comparison.illustrate the comparison.

c. The paper includes only the information c. The paper includes only the information relevant to the comparison.relevant to the comparison.

ChecklistChecklist

2. Organization & Structure2. Organization & Structure

a. The paper breaks the information a. The paper breaks the information into the whole-to-whole, similarities-to-into the whole-to-whole, similarities-to-differences, or point-by-point structure.differences, or point-by-point structure.

b. The paper follows a consistent order b. The paper follows a consistent order when discussing the comparison.when discussing the comparison.

c. The paper breaks the information c. The paper breaks the information into appropriate sections or paragraphs into appropriate sections or paragraphs to the ideas.to the ideas.

ChecklistChecklist

3. Transitions & Coherence3. Transitions & Coherence

a. The paper moves smoothly from a. The paper moves smoothly from one idea to the next.one idea to the next.

b. The paper uses comparison and b. The paper uses comparison and contrast transition words to show contrast transition words to show relationships between ideas.relationships between ideas.

c. The paper uses a variety of c. The paper uses a variety of sentence structures and transitions.sentence structures and transitions.

Documents

Compare or Contrast. General Info Comparison and contrast are ways of looking at objects and thinking about how they are alike and different. Comparison