Compare/Contrast Essay: Comparing Two Scenes
Essay Outline:
Paragraph 1:
Paragraph 2:
Paragraph 3:
Paragraph 4:
Introduction on the similarities and end with your Claim/Thesis
Differences: What aspects of the first version are unique and support your thesis? What is their importance?
Differences: What aspects of the second version are unique and support your thesis? What is their importance?
Your evaluation of which version you think was better and why it was better. Explain using the film analysis language
you have learned.
Overall feeling or meaning: Thesis will be last sentence of paragraph 1

While the deaths of Gatsby and George are inevitable in both scenes, the overall feel of each is quite different: version 1 has an
overall feeling of squashed dreams while version 2 has an overall feeling of uncertainty and regret.
Template:

While _(insert overall similarities of both scenes), the overall feel is quite different: version 1 is (insert the overall feel of version 1)
while version 2 is (insert the overall feel of version 2).
Transition Words:
Key words commonly used to express comparison include:
 Like
 similar as
 same
 in the same way
 too
 both
 most important
 have in common
 the same as
 similarly
 as well as
Key words commonly used to express contrast include:
 although
 yet
 whereas
 however
 but
 while
 differ
 instead
 unless
 unlike
 on the contrary
 contrary to
 even though
 on the other hand
 the reverse
Compare/Contrast Much Ado About Nothing
Rubric
I can analyze how one passage or speech is interpreted differently by different actors or directors. (Side 1)
Exceptional:
 Student identifies more than 4 details in each category.
 Details are especially interesting, unusual or perceptive.
Proficient:
 Student identifies at least 4 details in each category.
 Details go beyond the obvious. Details are specific and important to the scene.
 Student identifies both similarities and differences.
 Student addresses all questions listed for each category.
Basic: Paper meets 3 of the “Meets” criteria
Limited: Paper meets 2 or fewer of the “Meets” criteria
I can explain how different actors’ choices influence the overall meaning of the passage or speech. (Side 2 and
Essay)
Exceptional:
 Explanation of the overall feel or meaning of each version is especially thorough and insightful.
 Explanation of how the details affect the feel and meaning is especially interesting, complete, or detailed.
Proficient:
 Student plausibly identifies and explains the overall feel or meaning of both versions.
 Student identifies specific details (from all 4 categories) that contribute to the overall feel or meaning of
the version.
 Student thoroughly explains how the details of each version affect the overall feel and meaning of each
version.
 Essay is free of major grammatical errors and easy to read and understand.
Basic: Student may identify the overall feel and meaning, and may identify some details, but the explanation of
those details is general, vague, or incomplete.
Limited: Student may misidentify the overall feel or meaning of the versions, contribute few specific details,
and/or offer only the most basic or general explanation.
Side 1
Vocal/Facial Expressions:
Cinematic Elements:
Talk about the emotions in both versions. You will see
What do you notice about the lighting, angles, sound,
these come out in two ways: vocally and facially. What
camera movement and editing that is similar and or
kinds of similar or different facial expressions do the actors
different in both versions?
use? How are the actors’ voices similar or different? What
different words does each actor emphasize? How does
each actor use his or her tone of voice, volume, and speed
differently?
Version 1
Version 1
Version 2
Version 2
Actions:
How are the actors’ actions similar or different? What does
each actor DO during the speech (gestures, walking, etc.)?
How does this change the emotions you see?
Setting/Props/Costumes:
What kind of setting, props, and costumes does each actor
use? What kind of symbolic meaning might these places or
objects have? How does each actor interact with the
setting and the props?
Version 1
Version 1
Version 2
Version 2
What is the overall feel or meaning of version 1
Side 2
What is the overall feel or meaning of version 2
Thesis: Now using the template from last week, write an awesome thesis statement here
Similarities What similar specific details (from the front of your worksheet) help create this feel or meaning? Make a bullet-point list
of the details you feel are most important to this scene. Each scene has these details. Remember to include how this element helps
create meaning in the scene.
Vocal/Facial
Cinematic
Actions
Setting/Props/Costumes
Differences For EACH similarity listed above, HOW are these DIFFERENT in each scene? HOW are these elements unique to this
scene? How does this help create the overall feeling or meaning of the scene?
Element from above
Version 1
Version 2
Vocal/Facial
Cinematic
Actions
Setting/Props/Costumes
In your opinion, which is the better version and why? Use what you wrote from above to defend your answer.