Exploring Comparative Elements
Writing Assignment
You have a choice. You will write a multi-paragraph essay comparing and contrasting:
the best class you’ve taken with the worst class you’ve taken
the best movie you’ve seen with the worst movie you’ve seen
Or the best restaurant you’ve been to with the worst restaurant
For this writing assignment, your response should be engaging, thoughtful, and detailed,
showing various points that support your comparison.
The response should clearly explain what you found to be similar and different between the
items you are comparing and contrasting. The first paragraph will offer an interesting
introduction of the topic and present your take on it. The following paragraphs need to include
main points that develop your claim, evidence to support them, analysis explaining how the
evidence supports the main point, and links connecting one paragraph to the next. These main
points need to express one similarity and two differences or two similarities and one difference.
The order of these points is up to you, but make sure you address both comparing and
contrasting elements. Your final paragraph should include concluding remarks that effectively
offer some memorable thoughts on your topic that push the readers’ understanding and
challenge them to look at the idea of classroom effectiveness in a new way. Remember that you
need to include at least three examples of figurative language to make your writing come alive.
Refer to the foundation lesson on this topic if you need examples.
The grading rubric below will help you develop your paper.
Purpose
(comparative
writing)
20 points
Thesis Statement
20 points
Proficient
Developing
Clearly presents a
well supported,
interesting claim
that thoroughly
analyzes
differences and
similarities between
the writer’s
experiences with
the best and worst
classes, movies, or
restaurants.
Clearly presents
either an
explanatory or
evaluative thesis
statement in an
interesting way and
Includes a partial
comparative
analysis, but
doesn’t fully
develop the claim
and/or presents an
unoriginal view of
the topic.
Vaguely identifies
an explanatory or
evaluative thesis
statement. The
overall essay
Needs
Improvement
Does not include
comparative
elements or is not
fully developed.
Does not include a
thesis statement
and the essay’s
direction is unclear.
Supporting Ideas
(use of distinct
organizational
strategy)
20 points
Paragraph
Development
(strength of
introduction,
conclusion,
transitions, and
coherency)
20 points
Grammar,
Punctuation & set
up
20 points
shows how the
essay will progress.
direction is present
but inconsistent.
Uses either a pointby-point or subjectby-subject
organizational
strategy with solid
examples to
support the thesis
statement
Smoothly connects
ideas
between/within
paragraphs in a
purposeful manner;
introduction and
conclusion make
interesting,
effective
statements about
the topic
Essay contains
appropriate use of
complete
sentences,
punctuation
including commas,
and differing
sentence
structures.
Text is Times New
Roman or Arial
12 point
Double spaced
An organizational
strategy is
attempted and
partially uses
examples as proof,
but it lacks support
for some important
points.
Ideas
between/within
paragraphs are
partially connected
or moderately
purposeful;
introduction and
conclusion are
present but not
effective.
No identifiable
organizational
strategy is
attempted and it
does not develop or
provide examples
to illustrate the
claim.
Missing connection
between ideas;
purpose of content
is unclear;
incomplete
introduction and
conclusion.
Essay contains
mostly appropriate
use of complete
sentences,
punctuation
including commas,
and differing
sentence
structures.
Some correct
formatting
Essay contains
incomplete
sentences,
incorrect
punctuation
including commas,
and only simple
sentence
structures.
Formatting is not
correct