Compare and Contrast 1. Why do we compare and contrast? 2. What

Compare and Contrast 1. Why do we compare and contrast? 2. What are the three main types of compare and contrast paragraphs? Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Compare and Contrast Comparing and contrasting are ways of looking at objects and thinking about how they are alike and different. For instance, all of these items are alike because they are kinds of food, but there are many ways that they are different. For instance, they belong to different food groups. Some must be cooked before eating, and some can be eaten raw. When you write compare and contrast, you will pay attention to these kinds of details. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

There are two main reasons that people use comparison and contrast: 1. To Explain--You might compare and contrast kinds of food, for instance, to help someone understand which food need to be refrigerated and which can be stored in a cabinet or in a bowl on the counter. 2. To Evaluate--You might compare and contrast kinds of food to show why one kind of food or brand of food is better than another. For example, apples are a better snack than butter. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Compare - Look for Similarities When you choose items to compare and contrast, make sure that you choose items that have similarities. You have to choose things that will make sense for comparison and contrast. For instance, it wouldn't make sense to compare a truck with crayons or crayons with a birdhouse. Be sure to compare things that belong together. Compare crayons to pencils or pens, or compare trucks and cars. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Compare - Look for Similarities When you compare items, you look for their similarities--the things that make them the same. For example: Apples and oranges are both fruit. They're both foods. Both are made into juice. Both grow on trees. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Contrast – Look at Differences When you contrast items, you look at their differences. For example: Apples are red. Oranges are orange. The fruits have different textures. Oranges need a warmer place to grow, like Florida. Apples can grow in cooler states, like Washington. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Comparing Every Day You probably use comparison all the time. Maybe you want to buy some candy, so you go to the store and look at all of the candy that is available. You can't buy all the candy, so you have to narrow down your choices. You compare and contrast the different kinds of candy so that you can make your decision. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Comparing Every Day You can compare the kinds of candy by looking at the things that makes the candy alike. All of the candy is sweet. All of the candy is fattening. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Comparing Every Day You also contrast the candies to show how they are different. Some of the candy is chocolate. Some is hard candy. Some pieces of the candy have a filling, like caramel or jelly. Some do not. Some of the candy can be broken into smaller pieces while the others are harder to divide if you want to share. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Graphic Organizers movi e book Graphic organizers are useful tools for gathering details about the items that you are comparing and contrasting. Venn Diagrams help you think about 1 2 alike different where the various characteristics of the items being compared and contrasted fit. The Compare and Contrast Chart is more like a listing tool, where you can brainstorm a list of ways that the items are alike and different. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

How are they alike? sweet fattening How are they different? Type of Chocolate Jelly candy bars beans Candy cane Type of filling chocolate jelly peppermi nt Share or not? yes yes no Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Compare and Contrast in Writing Compare and contrast is used in writing to organize an individual paragraph as well as to organize entire papers. For instance, you might write a paper that compares a movie and a book about the same topic. In your paper you can compare and contrast the movie version with the book version. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Ready to Write? There are four main things to pay attention to as you write a compare and contrast paper: Supporting Details Balance Organization Transitions Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

1. Supporting Details Set your purpose for writing. To explain – help the reader understand how the items are the same and different To evaluate – persuade the reader that one is better than the other Gather an equal amount of details and examples for each item and place these on a graphic organizer. Only include information that relates to what is being compared. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

2. Balance your Writing Make sure give equal time to each item that you are comparing and contrasting. boo k movi e If you cover character, setting, and historical accuracy for the book, for instance, you need to be sure that you cover the same elements for the movie. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

3. Organization There are three ways to organize comparison and contrast papers: Whole-to-Whole Similarities-toDifferences Point-by-Point Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Whole-to-Whole Use a separate section or paragraph for Introduction each item you're discussing. To compare and contrast a book and a Item #1 Item #2 movie, the section for Item #1 would include everything about the book and the section for Item #2 would cover everything about the movie. The points in each of the sections should Conclusion be the same and they should be explained in the same order (for instance, you might discuss character, setting, and plot for both a book and movie, and in that order for both). Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Compare and Contrast 2 Characters: Item 1: Ken Item 2: Susan How are they alike? Both showed interest in magic tricks Both were with friends How are they different? did a magic trick using straws Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association showed how her dog could subtract

Compare & Contrast 2 Characters: INTRO: Ken and Susan have similar interests, but they use different techniques. ITEM #1: Ken did a magic trick by cleverly using straws to pick up a bottle. ITEM #2: Susan tricked her friend to believe her dog can do arithmetic. CONCLUSION: Both Ken and Susan like tricks and magic, but Ken used clever tools and Susan used clever words. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Now you try it Introduction Item #1 Item #2 Conclusion Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Sample C/C Chart: Item 1: Pam Item 2: Jordan How are they alike? Both characters lost their homes Both characters need a true friend How are they different? Her home caught on fire They lost everything Kelsee said she would help Pam Kelsee is a true friend Her dad lost his job They had to move to a smaller home Her old friends were not true friends She needed a true friend Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Sample Compare & Contrast: Pam and Jordan have similar problems but their stories end differently. Pam’s family lost their home to a fire, so Pam’s neighbor, Kelsee, promised to help her. Jordan’s family had to move to a smaller home when Dad lost his job. Jordan’s friends all abandoned her. Pam and Jordan are similar because they both lost their homes and really need a true friend. They have different challenges because Pam has a true friend, but Jordan does not. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Similarities-to-Differences Introduction Similarities In this structure, you use a separate section or paragraph for similarities and differences. You would explain all the similarities about the items being compared and then explain all the differences. For instance, you might explain that the Differences Conclusion characters and plot were similar in both the book and movie in the one section. In the next section, you could explain that the settings were different. The book took place during the summer while the movie took place during the winter. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Compare and Contrast 2 jobs: Item 1: newspaper reporter Item 2: newspaper photographer How are they alike? go out to gather news come back to the news office to work How are they different? Talks to people Takes notes Writes the story Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association Takes many pictures Develops pictures 15 minutes Chooses 1-2 pictures

Compare & Contrast 2 Jobs: Intro The newspaper reporter and the newspaper photographer work for the same goal but have different responsibilities. Similar The reporter and the photographer both gather important parts of the story and then come back to the newspaper office to work on the news story. Differen t The reporter talks to people to get information. He uses the notes gathered to write the newspaper story. In contrast, the photographer takes many pictures of one event. He chooses one or two pictures for the newspaper. The photographer’s pictures are developed in about 15 minutes, but it is hard to tell how long the reporter will need to write. Conclus ion The newspaper reporter and the photographer have similar jobs, but there are some differences. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Now you try it Introduction Similarities Differences Conclusion Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Compare and Contrast 2 themes: Item 1: King Midas Item 2: lazy man in Denmark How are they alike? Both characters are greedy Both learned that magic did not make them happy How are they different? wants more gold is granted a wish everything turns to gold daughter turns to gold wants his daughter back Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association father dies leaves a magic carpet flies to distant land steals Sultans jewels flies back home jewels fall into sea

Point by Point Introduction Point 1 Point 2 Conclusion Point-by-Point Strategy In this structure, you explain one point of comparison before moving to the next point. For instance, you would write about the characters in the book and movie for Point 1; then you would write about the setting in the book and movie in Point 2. Point-by-Point comparison and contrast uses a separate section or paragraph for each point. For consistency, begin with the same item in each section of your point-by-point paper. For instance, for each point that you discuss, explain the information about the book first and then about the movie. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Compare and Contrast 2 themes: Problem? Item 1: The Boy Who Cried Wolf Characte Shepherd r Tricks people Setting Item 2: Zach and Egyptian Relic Zach takes in a relic for history project tells his class the relic is real history class in present times Genre fable realistic fiction Theme lied No one will trust you if you lie. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Compare and Contrast 2 themes: Item 1: The Boy Who Cried Wolf Item 2: Zach and Egyptian Relic Characte Shepherd Zach r says a wolf is attacking takes in a relic for sheep history project tries to trick tells his class the relic is townspeople real Setting countryside history class in present times Genre fable realistic fiction Theme People may stop helping you if you lie. No one will trust you if you lie. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Compare & Contrast 2 Themes: Intro These stories may not seem related, but the theme is quite similar. Point 1 The characters in these two passages have different responsibilities, but they are both deceitful. The shepherd lies to the townspeople, and Zach tells the class that the relic is real. Point 2 The setting and genre is different in these stories. The Boy Who Cried Wolf is an old fable set in the countryside, while the story of Zach and the Egyptian Relic could take place in modern days. Point 3 Both characters find there is a consequence for their lying. The shepherd must deal with the angry townspeople, and Zach realizes no one will trust him again when they find out about his lie. Conclusi Even though the setting is very different in these on two passages, both characters Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading learn that lying Association will eventually come back and get you.

Now you try it Introduction Point 1 Point 2 Conclusion Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Sample Compare and Contrast 2 themes: Item 1: Sam’s Report Characte Sam - nervous rs Mrs. Owens reassuring Point of View Conflict Item 2: Ride the Red Cycle Jerome - has a disability, feels embarrassed and trapped Tilly – sister, tries to help 1st person 3rd person Character vs. self Has to speak in front of class Character vs. self Wants to speak up and say what he wants on his own If you really want to do something, and keep trying, you will be able to do it! Theme When you try something you are afraid to do, it might turn out to be easier than you expected. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

4. Transition Words In compare and contrast writing, transition words tell a reader that the writer is changing from talking about one item to the other. Transitional words and phrases help make a paper smoother and more coherent by showing the reader the connections between the ideas that are being presented. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Transition Words for Comparing also as as well as both in the same manner in the same way like likewise most important same similar similarly the same as too When you're comparing items, using a transition from this list will signal to readers that you're changing from one item to the next and it will also tell the reader that the two items are similar. Here are some examples: The characters in the movie were very similar to the characters in the book. Both the characters in the movie and in the book were interested in detective work. Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association

Transition Words for Contrast although On the other hand, using one of the but transitions from this list of words will signal differ readers that the two items you're even though discussing are different. however in contrast Here are some examples: instead The setting in the book was summer while nevertheless the setting in the movie was winter. on the contrary on the other The events in the book took place during hand several afternoons, although the events in unless the movie took place during the evening. unlike while Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading yet Association

Lesson Essential Questions: 1. Why do we compare and contrast? 2. What are the three main types of compare and contrast paragraphs? Adapted from ReadWriteThink.org International Reading Association