Sometimes when you write a paper you want to discuss how two items are similar or how they are different. When you point out their similarities, we say that you are comparing the two items. When you point out their differences, we say that you are contrasting the two items. Comparison and contrast is one of the most common writing patterns. You already use it every day informally when you decide such things as whether to wear long pants or shorts to the park. You will also use it quite often when writing formal papers at work or in school. You may, for example, be asked to compare and contrast the types of jobs Cypriot women held in the 1980s with those they hold in nowadays. Your supervisor at work might ask you to write a report comparing and contrasting the sales figures of the previous with this year’s. Because comparison and contrast is so widely used in writing, it is important to be familiar with its organisation and to feel comfortable using it.
Organising a Comparison-and-Contrast Essay
When using this writing pattern, you may choose only to compare the items or only to contrast them. Generally speaking, however, a writer will point out both similarities and differences between the two items. Regardless of whether you compare or contrast the subjects, it is important to pay careful attention to the arrangement of the material in the essay.
There are two basic ways in which the information in a comparison-and-contrast essay is organised. One is the point approach; the other is the block approach.
When using the point approach, the writer makes a point about topic A and then immediately compares or contrasts that point with topic B. The writer then makes another point about topic A and immediately compares or contrasts it with topic B. This pattern is followed until the writer compares and contrasts, one by one, all the points about topic A and topic B.
When using the block approach, in contrast, the writer explains all the points about topic A and then explains all the points about topic B. In other words, the writer gives blocks of information about each item.
Following is information about the Apple IIc and the Apple IIe computers. Notice how the information is arranged in each approach.
POINT APPROACH
Point 1
The Apple IIc, with its handle and lightweight case, is easy to pick and carry. The Apple IIe does not have a handle and is heavier. It cannot be moved as easily.
Point 2
It is difficult to expand the hardware on the Apple IIc. The Apple IIe can easily expand to use a variety of hardware.
Point 3
Apple IIc has 128K (information storage capability) Applle IIe has only 64K (information storage capability)
Point 4
Apple IIc has a large selection of business, education, and entertainment computer programs. Apple IIe also has a large selection of these types of programs.
BLOCK APPROACH
Apple IIc:
The Apple IIc, with its handle and lightweight case, is easy to pick and carry. It is difficult to expand the hardware on the Apple IIc. Apple IIc has 128K (information storage capability). Apple IIc has a large selection of business, education, and entertainment computer programs.
Apple IIe
The Apple IIe does not have a handle and is heavier. It cannot be moved as easily. The Apple IIe can easily expand to use a variety of hardware. Applle IIe has only 64K (information storage capability). Apple IIe also has a large selection of these types of programs.
Comparison-and-Contrast Topics
Which topics should be compared and contrasted with each other? Can a person compare and contrast any two items? No! Compare and contrast topics only that come from the same general category or have some common characteristics. To compare two objects that have nothing in common is silly and a waste of time. There could be value in comparing the writing techniques of two mystery novelists, for instance, but why bother to compare a mystery writer’s novels to a car mechanic’s tools? Remember that as with other writing strategies, when comparing and contrasting two topics you have a purpose for doing so. You may, for example, be trying to make the point that A is better than B. Or, you may be trying to show that despite their obvious differences A and B are really very similar. Regardless of what point you are trying to make, you will soon find that it is almost impossible to do so if your two topics do not first have some common characteristics.
…(A) … is very like is similar to is identical to is much the same as is comparable to is equivalent to reminds me of resembles seems like corresponds to has a lot in common …(B)…
Similarly, … In the same way,… By the same token, …
Describing DIFFERENCES
…(B) … is very much unlike is quite different from isn’t the same as differs from bears no resemblance to stands out as has very little in common with …(C) …
On the other hand, … In contrast, … Conversely, …
b. Writing: A Comparison and Contrast article
Newspaper reporting analysis
Read the two newspaper articles found below. One is representative of 'tabloid' press ('popular' newspapers) while the other of 'broadsheet' press ('quality' newspapers).
The articles cover the same news story, though are taken from different types of newspapers. Find their similarities and differences and write a comparison and contrast article.
Article 1: taken from The Sun (Monday, 17th September 1997)
a. Comparison and Contrast
The Comparison and Contrast Essay
Sometimes when you write a paper you want to discuss how two items are similar or how they are different. When you point out their similarities, we say that you are comparing the two items. When you point out their differences, we say that you are contrasting the two items. Comparison and contrast is one of the most common writing patterns. You already use it every day informally when you decide such things as whether to wear long pants or shorts to the park. You will also use it quite often when writing formal papers at work or in school. You may, for example, be asked to compare and contrast the types of jobs Cypriot women held in the 1980s with those they hold in nowadays. Your supervisor at work might ask you to write a report comparing and contrasting the sales figures of the previous with this year’s. Because comparison and contrast is so widely used in writing, it is important to be familiar with its organisation and to feel comfortable using it.
Organising a Comparison-and-Contrast Essay
When using this writing pattern, you may choose only to compare the items or only to contrast them. Generally speaking, however, a writer will point out both similarities and differences between the two items. Regardless of whether you compare or contrast the subjects, it is important to pay careful attention to the arrangement of the material in the essay.
There are two basic ways in which the information in a comparison-and-contrast essay is organised. One is the point approach; the other is the block approach.
When using the point approach, the writer makes a point about topic A and then immediately compares or contrasts that point with topic B. The writer then makes another point about topic A and immediately compares or contrasts it with topic B. This pattern is followed until the writer compares and contrasts, one by one, all the points about topic A and topic B.
When using the block approach, in contrast, the writer explains all the points about topic A and then explains all the points about topic B. In other words, the writer gives blocks of information about each item.
Following is information about the Apple IIc and the Apple IIe computers. Notice how the information is arranged in each approach.
POINT APPROACH
The Apple IIe does not have a handle and is heavier. It cannot be moved as easily.
The Apple IIe can easily expand to use a variety of hardware.
Applle IIe has only 64K (information storage capability)
Apple IIe also has a large selection of these types of programs.
BLOCK APPROACH
It is difficult to expand the hardware on the Apple IIc.
Apple IIc has 128K (information storage capability).
Apple IIc has a large selection of business, education, and entertainment computer programs.
The Apple IIe can easily expand to use a variety of hardware.
Applle IIe has only 64K (information storage capability).
Apple IIe also has a large selection of these types of programs.
Comparison-and-Contrast Topics
Which topics should be compared and contrasted with each other? Can a person compare and contrast any two items? No!
Compare and contrast topics only that come from the same general category or have some common characteristics. To compare two objects that have nothing in common is silly and a waste of time. There could be value in comparing the writing techniques of two mystery novelists, for instance, but why bother to compare a mystery writer’s novels to a car mechanic’s tools? Remember that as with other writing strategies, when comparing and contrasting two topics you have a purpose for doing so. You may, for example, be trying to make the point that A is better than B. Or, you may be trying to show that despite their obvious differences A and B are really very similar. Regardless of what point you are trying to make, you will soon find that it is almost impossible to do so if your two topics do not first have some common characteristics.
Samples of Comparison Contrast Paragraphs:
http://www.sinclair.edu/centers/tlc/pub/handouts_worksheets/english/075_comparison_contrast.pdfhttp://www2.actden.com/writ_den/tips/paragrap/compare.htm
http://english120.pbworks.com/w/page/19006833/contrast%20and%20comparison%20paragraph
Useful Vocabulary
Describing SIMILARTIES
…(A) … is very like is similar to is identical to
is much the same as is comparable to is equivalent to
reminds me of resembles seems like corresponds to
has a lot in common …(B)…
Similarly, … In the same way,… By the same token, …
Describing DIFFERENCES
…(B) … is very much unlike is quite different from isn’t the same as
differs from bears no resemblance to stands out as
has very little in common with …(C) …
On the other hand, … In contrast, … Conversely, …
b. Writing: A Comparison and Contrast article
Newspaper reporting analysis
Read the two newspaper articles found below. One is representative of 'tabloid' press ('popular' newspapers) while the other of 'broadsheet' press ('quality' newspapers).
The articles cover the same news story, though are taken from different types of newspapers. Find their similarities and differences and write a comparison and contrast article.
Article 1: taken from The Sun (Monday, 17th September 1997)
Article 2: taken from The Times (Monday, 17th September 1997)
While comparing and contrasting, you may want to refer to the following points:
u Language of the Headlines: Language Devices
u Headlines: Type of Print
- Plain? Boldfaced? Italicized? Plain?
- Capitalisation?
- Colour of letters? Background colour?
- Letter size?
u Pictures and Captionu Vocabulary used in the articles
d. Planning and Writing a newspaper article
Correction of exercises p.14 7a, 8a, 8c, page 15 9a
In class: page 15 9b, page 16 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 9g
Homework for next Thursday 29th March: Write a newspaper article related to the theft of a prize show cat.