Ms. Underwood’s Reading Class – Biography Unit Day 8
Name: __________________________
HR: ____________________________
Date:___________________________
___
I can:
1. Answer text dependent questions with my biography partner.
2. Complete my prewriting organizers for the compare-contrast essay on Monday.
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Ms. Underwood’s Reading Class – Biography Unit Day 8
Notes – Compare-Contrast Essays
Directions: You will be creating a compare-contrast essay that compares and contrasts
your biography person to another scholar’s biography person. You teacher will assign
you a partner that you will be creating the pre-writing with today. Your essays will be
written separately. Use the criteria below. Be sure not to lose this packet with your
prewriting!! 
 Introduction Includes:
o Hook (written in question form)
o Introduces the topic (Your biography person and your partners)
o Makes a claim (________[your people]________ have many similarities and
differences.)
 Body Paragraph 1 Includes:
o Topic sentence (_________[your people]________ have many ways they are
alike.)
o 3 similarities
o Uses transition words – especially ones that show they are alike (similarly, both,
etc.)
 Body Paragraph 2 Includes:
o Topic sentence (_________[your people]________ have many ways they are
different.)
o 3 differences
o Uses transition words – especially ones that show they are different (whereas,
in contrast, on the other hand, etc.)
 Conclusion
o Identifies what is important to remember about both people
o High note
 Writing mechanics
o Written in paragraph form
o Written in complete sentences
o Correct capitalization nearly all of the time
o Correct grammar (commas and periods) nearly all of the time
o Correct spelling where appropriate
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Ms. Underwood’s Reading Class – Biography Unit Day 8
Directions: Your teacher will assign you a partner for your compare-contrast essay.
Record their name and biography person below:
Classmate: __________________________________
Name of biography person: _____________________________________
Directions: When your teacher prompts you, begin on the “Get to know your partner’s
biography person” questions below. Be sure to restate and write in complete
sentences.
Biography Discussion Questions
Directions: Record your partner’s answers to the questions below. Help each other out.
You will need to become mini-experts on their biography person to complete your
compare-contrast essay.
1. What are some character traits that they would use to describe their person? Explain.
Example sentence starter: One character trait they would use to describe their person
is ___________________ because……. Another character trait….
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Ms. Underwood’s Reading Class – Biography Unit Day 8
2. What were some obstacles that their person had to overcome (2 or more)?
Example sentence starter: Some obstacles their person had to overcome were…..
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_____________________________________________________________________________________
3. What were some of their major accomplishments/events?
____________________________________________________________________________________
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4. What are three interesting things about their person that they have not already
shared?
____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________________
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Ms. Underwood’s Reading Class – Biography Unit Day 8
Prewriting – Comparing
Directions: Be sure to write the following similarities and differences for your biography
people in complete sentences, using appropriate transition words.
 Similarities (Both):
1.
2.
3.
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Ms. Underwood’s Reading Class – Biography Unit Day 8
Prewriting – Contrasting
Topic 1:
Person 1:
Person 2:
Whereas
Topic 2:
Person 1:
Person 2:
Whereas
Topic 3:
Person 1:
Person 2:
Whereas
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Ms. Underwood’s Reading Class – Biography Unit Day 8
Name: _________________________
HR: ___________________________
Date: __________________________
** BRING HOME NOTES!! Always use your notes first, but
if you get stuck, I am happy to help .
Ms. Underwood Homework
Help Hotline: 614.804.9145
Hours of operation:
Monday/Wednesday: 4:30-8pm
Tuesday/Thursday: 5:30-8pm
Sunday 10am-8pm
**Be sure to follow up with a
professional text if you are unable
to get through the first time.
For tonight’s homework, be sure all
sections of your bookmark have
been completed to the best of the
ability. Remember this is worth 50
points (15% of your grade), so
spend some time reviewing it
tonight!!
Also, be sure your prewriting
sections of this packet are complete,
as you will be writing your
compare-contrast essay tomorrow.
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