Writing to Compare and
Contrast
A Workshop to Improve Our Written
Communication
6th Grade Social Studies
March, 2014
Essential Questions
What does it mean to compare things?
 What does it mean to contrast things?

Key Words

In your table groups, brainstorm words that are
associated with comparing and/or contrasting.
Comparisons
Contrasts
Comparing and Contrasting Greek
Democracy & Roman Republic

Venn Diagram
Planning our Essay:
Ways to Compare and Contrast

Whole to whole

Similarities to differences

Point by point
Planning our Essay:
Interactive Help

Compare and Contrast Guide

Compare and Contrast Map
Paragraph Structure
Topic Sentence
 Supporting details and explanations
 Transitional Sentence

Planning our Essay: Building Blocks

Introduction
◦ Introduce the items
◦ Thesis/claim

Supporting paragraphs
**This is the last sentence of
your first paragraph.
It is the foundation of your
paper. Everything else is based
on proving your thesis is
“correct.”**
◦ Topic sentence
◦ Supporting details and evidence

Conclusion
◦ Summarize key points and thesis
◦ Provide “so what?” reason as to why this argument is
important in the big picture
Example Introduction
Opening
sentence starts
broad
Government practices and ideals we enjoy today owe
many of their roots to ancient Greek democracy and
Roman republic structures. There are many similarities
The first body paragraph/s
should discussand
thesedifferences
similarities between these two forms of
government.
The three key similarities are: both
in the order
listed.
systems strived to give power to the people, both
Thewas
nextgiven
body paragraph/s
elected their officials, and power
to theseshould
discuss thesedifferences
differences in the
official representatives. Three significant
listed.
between the government forms include:order
how
the
different governments elected their officials, the basics
of how each system worked, and the orientation of the
hierarchy within each system. While both forms of
government
have
provided important political and social
This optional
thesis statement
makes
foundations,
the paper
an argument.the
TheGreek system has more greatly impacted
how
inonthe
United
States run our country.
conclusion
will we
focus
how
the
Greek system is more of an influence
on the US.
Writing our Essay

Write your thesis (the interpretation or position
you want to prove within your paper).

Now take your notes from the Venn Diagram and
Compare/Contrast Map and develop them into
paragraphs. Be sure to use specific examples. (Say,
“For example…”)

Use your compare/contrast words.

Use transitional words between paragraphs.

Be sure all your paragraphs “prove” your thesis.

Use ACE – answer the question, cite examples,
explain the examples – in each paragraph
Scoring Rubric
Wrap-Up
Share with your shoulder partner…

What are three ways to structure a compare
and contrast essay?

What is the job of a thesis statement or
claim?

Any questions?