Language Arts - 216Language Arts - 216

Do I want this car … ?

Do I want this car … ?

… or do I want that

other car?

… or do I want that

other car?

Instructions for the Compare/ Contrast Essay

Do I want this guy … ?

Do I want this guy … ? … or do I

want that guy?

… or do I want that

guy?

Do I want to visit Egypt on my

next vacation … ?

Do I want to visit Egypt on my

next vacation … ?

… or do I want to go to Las

Vegas?

… or do I want to go to Las

Vegas?

Do I want to eat something

healthy… ?

Do I want to eat something

healthy… ?

… or do I want something

bad?

… or do I want something

bad?

Understand what compare/ contrast essays

require you to do:

Understand what compare/ contrast essays

require you to do:

Always choose two equal items—two cars, two vacations, two sports stars—not two unequal items, like a car and an octopus.Next, decide if you want to compare or contrast as your primary strategy. Ultimately your job is to interest the reader. Choose points to discuss that are not immediately obvious.

Now let’s test your

understanding . . .

Now let’s test your

understanding . . .

Are these two great topics to compare/contrast?

A baby is like a vacuum cleaner.

Are these two great topics to compare/contrast?

A baby is like a vacuum cleaner.

WRONG!

Are these two great topics to compare/contrast?

Even though my little brother Fred is 20 years my junior, he and I have much in

common.

Are these two great topics to compare/contrast?

Even though my little brother Fred is 20 years my junior, he and I have much in

common.Yeah, baby!

Is this a great thesis statement?My sister and I look alike, have common

hobbies, and enjoy the same foods.

Is this a great thesis statement?My sister and I look alike, have common

hobbies, and enjoy the same foods.

Boring!

Is this a great thesis statement? Even though Venus and Serena Williams are both professional tennis stars, they

differ in their opinions about men, movies, and music.

Is this a great thesis statement? Even though Venus and Serena Williams are both professional tennis stars, they

differ in their opinions about men, movies, and music.

Excellent!

Make the compare/contrast essay interesting:Make the compare/contrast essay interesting:

Be sure that your essay has a purpose. Ask yourself this important question: Why would anyone want to read this compare/contrast essay?

Compare – means “tell how these things are alike.”

Contrast – means “tell how these things are different.”Does your essay start with an exciting opening and end with an interesting closing that summarizes your main points?Confirm that you have at least three quotations/quotes —used correctly and integrated purposefully in your essay.

Note these rules about names:Note these rules about names:

If you refer to the character in the article, treat his/her name as your own and just capitalize.If you refer to the article, use quotation marks and capitalize all major words.

THESIS statement:THESIS statement:

An attitude or position taken by a writer or speaker with the purpose of proving or supporting it. The thesis statement is supported by details and explanation.

Here’s a sample question.Note one way to introduce the topic:Here’s a sample question.Note one way to introduce the topic:

Many times throughout their school years, children change schools. In the City of Westfield, there are seven elementary schools from kindergarten to grade five, there are two middle schools from grade six through grade eight, as well as two high schools.

In a well-developed composition, compare and contrast the student life changes that you went through from elementary to middle school. Give details and important facts.

Even though change is exciting and sometimes unpredictable, adjustments can be difficult for countless people. Many students move from elementary school to middle school and they can notice major changes and differences in their daily school life. There can also be many familiar similarities between both these types of schools.

Now add the thesis statement.Now add the thesis statement.

Many times throughout their school years, children change schools. In the City of Westfield, there are seven elementary schools from kindergarten to grade five, there are two middle schools from grade six through grade eight, as well as two high schools.

In a well-developed composition, compare and contrast the student life changes that you went through from elementary to middle school. Give details and important facts.

Even though change is exciting and sometimes unpredictable, adjustments can be difficult for countless people. Many students move from elementary school to middle school and they can notice major changes and differences in their daily school life. There can also be many familiar similarities between both these types of schools. When I went from elementary school to middle school the biggest changes were in the daily schedule, the number of teachers and the work expectations. Even though there were changes, many aspects of school remaimed the same.

Your question:Your question:

Many times in life people are given a second chance to make changes or to better their circumstances. Scope magazine wrote articles about disadvantaged or orphaned children that experienced changes in their lives through adoption. There are many parts of each story that showcase similarities as well as differences with the children featured in the articles.

In a well-developed composition, compare and contrast changes and opportunities that happened to the children in the articles. Give details and important facts to back up your writing.

Pick a pattern for your essay:Model #1

Pick a pattern for your essay:Model #1

IntroductionAt least two introductory sentences – introducing your TOPICInclude a THESIS statement

Compare likenesses of both articlesAt least three details

Contrast differences of both articlesAt least three details

Closing

Pick a pattern for your essay:Model #2

Pick a pattern for your essay:Model #2

IntroductionAt least two introductory sentences – introducing your TOPICInclude a THESIS statement

Contrast differences of both articlesAt least three details

Compare likenesses of both articlesAt least three details

Closing

Pick a pattern for your essay:Model # 3

Pick a pattern for your essay:Model # 3

IntroductionAt least two introductory sentences – introducing your TOPICInclude a THESIS statement

Write about one article ~ using at least three details

Contrast differencesCompare likenesses

Write about the other article ~ using at least three details

Contrast differencesCompare likenesses

Closing

Final things to do:Final things to do:

Read your work over in a1” voice This will help you to catch your mistakes

Make sure you use transition wordsUse a variety of transition wordsMake sure the paragraphs flow, one into the other

Make sure you are using sentence varietyComplex sentences automatically make your writing more interesting

Do not introduce anything new in the closing

This 2009 PowerPoint presentation is an excerpt by

Robin L. Simmons.

All Rights Reserved.

This 2009 PowerPoint presentation is an excerpt by

Robin L. Simmons.

All Rights Reserved.