Comparison/Contrast Essay Choices Lesson Plans
Content
Objectives
4.02 Analyze thematic connections by showing an understanding of cultural context and using specific
references from the texts to support theme.
4.05, 5.03 Analyze and evaluate connections between ideas, concepts, characters, and experiences.
6.01 Understand, use, and edit for conventional written language.
Research
Strategy
12. Similarities and difference
Sources/
Materials
Source: Elements of Literature: World Literature
Activities
Assessment
(formal/
informal)
Materials: Essay rubric, textbook
Days 1-2
1. Activate prior knowledge of epic hero and natural disasters for the excerpt from Epic of
Gilgamesh through class discussion and journal.
2. Read excerpt pages 23-33. Pause after “The Story of the Flood.” Ask students if the story
sounds familiar. Allow them to discuss briefly.
3. Create a chart in which students identify details that relate to: characters’ relationship to the
gods, creation, and destruction.
4. Instruct students to add a summary and theme to the chart.
5. Read “Noah and the Flood,” “Deucalion,” and “Tata and Nena,” three flood stories from
other world cultures. Add columns to the chart for each story.
Day 3
6. Define “poetic” and “literal” with students.
7. Read four psalms (8, 23, 121, 137, 23 version 2).
8. Create a chart in which students identify poetic and literal examples from each poem.
9. Guide students through theme identification and summaries to add to the chart.
10. Instruct students to add their opinion of each poem (like/dislike) and one reason.
Day 4
11. Give students a copy of the essay rubric with two prompt choices and guided writing process
steps.
12. Allow students to choose from two comparison/contrast essay prompts.
13. Monitor students as they plan and draft a rough draft. Allow students to use graphic
organizer or outline formats to plan. Remind students to use specific quotes from the text.
Instruct students to finish the draft for homework.
Day 5
14. Have students exchange drafts.
15. Review common errors in the six writing traits.
16. Allow students to workshop each other’s drafts. Instruct students that they should make at
least five content observations and five mechanics observations, and that all observations
should relate to specific details in the essay.
17. Have students exchange drafts again and repeat the process. Remind students that they
should not repeat observations, but they may elaborate on or suggest corrections based on
the previous reviewer’s comments.
18. Allow students to retrieve their own essays and conference with the reviewers if they have
questions about the comments.
19. Instruct students to use the rest of the period to revise and turn in a typed final draft within
three days.
Informal: Comparison/Contrast charts, monitoring, class discussion, rough draft
Formal: Final draft that incorporates revisions.
English II Comparison Contrast Essay Options
1. Read the prompt on p. 66. Note: You may use the excerpt from The Epic of Gilgamesh or
“Noah and the Flood” as your first story, and you may compare any of the other three to it.
a. Prewriting: Complete the following chart on separate paper.
Story 1
Story 1 & 2
Story 2
Summary
Theme
Character’s relationship to god(s)
Creation details/quotes (at least three)
Destruction details/quotes (at least three)
b. Drafting: Write a rough draft on notebook paper (1.5-2 pages single-spaced). Type your
draft.
c. Revising/Editing: Print your typed draft and bring to class on Friday for workshop. Make
corrections in your typed draft.
d. Publishing: Turn in your corrected final draft, your typed rough draft, and your
handwritten rough draft together (stapled in that order) by Wed. 9/23
2. Read the prompt on p. 81.
a. Prewriting: Complete the following chart on separate paper.
p. 78
p. 81
Summary (same for both)
Theme
Poetic examples (at least three)
Literal examples (at least three)
Like/dislike (at least three reasons)
b. Drafting: Write a rough draft on notebook paper (1.5-2 pages single-spaced). Type your
draft.
c. Revising/Editing: Print your typed draft and bring to class on Friday for workshop. Make
corrections in your typed draft.
d. Publishing: Turn in your corrected final draft, your typed rough draft, and your handwritten rough
draft together (stapled in that order) by Wed. 9/23