Comparison and contrast.
Analyse the following.
What rules can you deduce? What language terms are useful?
My house and my car are similar in many ways. First of all, both places are untidy.
In my house, you can see clothes strewn on chairs, papers littering all surfaces, and
dishes in the sink. Similarly, in my car, the back seat and floor are covered with
sports clothes and shoes, books, empty soft-drink cans, and gum wrappers. Second of
all, I like to spend a lot of time in my house and in my car. After work, I usually go
home, eat dinner, and flop down onto the sofa to watch videos or read a book.
Likewise, on weekends, I usually take long out-of-town trips in my car; sometimes I
even sleep in it to save money on hotels. Finally, I do some identical activities in my
house and in my car. In my house, I get dressed, listen to loud music, and eat. In the
same way, I change into my sports clothes in the car, listen to loud music on my car
stereo, and eat snacks on my way home after work or the gym. Although I treat my
home and my car alike, I should probably clean both of them up, so that people won't
be afraid to visit or drive with me!
My hometown and my college town have several things in common. First, my
hometown, Gridlock, is a small town. It has a population of only about 10,000 people.
Located in a rural area, Gridlock is surrounded by many acres of farmland which are
devoted mainly to growing corn and soybeans. Gridlock also contains a college
campus, Neutron College, which is famous for its Agricultural Economics program as
well as for its annual Corn-Watching Festival. As for my college town, Subnormal, it
too is small, having a population of about 11,000 local residents, which swells to
15,000 people when students from the nearby college are attending classes. Like
Gridlock, Subnormal lies in the center of farmland which is used to raise hogs and
cattle. Finally, Subnormal is similar to Gridlock in that it also boasts a beautiful
college campus, called Quark College. This college is well known for its Agricultural
Engineering department and also for its yearly Hog-Calling Contest.
My hometown and my college town are similar in several ways. First, my hometown,
Gridlock, is a small town. It has a population of only about 10,000 people. Located in
a rural area, Gridlock is surrounded by many acres of farmland which are devoted
mainly to growing corn and soybeans. Gridlock also contains a college campus,
Neutron College, which is famous for its Agricultural Economics program as well as
for its annual Corn-Watching Festival. As for my college town, Subnormal, it too is
small, having a population of about 11,000 local residents, which swells to 15,000
people when students from the nearby college are attending classes. Like Gridlock,
Subnormal lies in the center of farmland which is used to raise hogs and cattle.
Finally, Subnormal is similar to Gridlock in that it also boasts a beautiful college
campus, called Quark College. This college is well known for its Agricultural
Engineering department and also for its yearly Hog-Calling Contest.
Even though Arizona and Rhode Island are both states of the U.S., they are strikingly
different in many ways. For example, the physical size of each state is different.
Arizona is large, having an area of 114,000 square miles, whereas Rhode Island is
only about a tenth the size, having an area of only 1,214 square miles. Another
difference is in the size of the population of each state. Arizona has about four million
people living in it, but Rhode Island has less than one million. The two states also
differ in the kinds of natural environments that each has. For example, Arizona is a
very dry state, consisting of large desert areas that do not receive much rainfall every
year. However, Rhode Island is located in a temperate zone and receives an average
of 44 inches of rain per year. In addition, while Arizona is a landlocked state and thus
has no seashore, Rhode Island lies on the Atlantic Ocean and does have a significant
coastline.
Block Format
When using the block format for a two paragraph comparison, discuss one subject in
the first paragraph and the other, in the second.
Paragraph 1: Opening sentence names the two subjects and states that they are very
similar, very different or have many important (or interesting) similarities and
differences.
The remainder of the paragraph describes features of the first subject without
referring to the second subject.
Paragraph 2: Opening sentence must contain a transition showing you are comparing
the second subject to the first. (e.g. "Unlike (or similar to) [subject #1], [ subject
#2]...)
Discuss all the features of subject #2 in relation to subject #1 using compare/contrast
cue words words such as like, similar to, also, unlike, on the other hand for each
comparison. End with a personal statement, a prediction,or another snappy clincher.
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II. Separating Similarities and Differences
When using this format, discuss only the similarities in the first paragraph and only
the differences in the next. This format requires careful use of many compare/contrast
cue words and is therefore more difficult to write well.
Paragraph 1: Opening sentence names the two subjects and states that they are very
similar, very different or have many important (or interesting) similarities and
differences.
Continue discussing similarities only using compare/contrast cue words such as like,
similar to, and also for each comparison.
Paragraph 2: Opening sentence MUST contain a transition showing you are switching
to differences. (e.g. Despite all these similarities, [these two subjects] differ in
significant ways.)
Then describe all the differences, using compare/contrast cue words such as differs,
unlike, and on the other hand for each comparison.
End with a personal statement, a prediction,or another snappy clincher.