PEARSON
ADULT LEARNING CENTRE
Advanced Composition
Comparing and Contrasting: Plan A or B?
October 21, 2004
This week, we will learn about comparison contrast paragraph
development.
Comparing and Contrasting
Use
comparison-contrast development to compare (show likeness) or
contrast (show difference).
A.
Make sure to
have a clear reason for your comparison (note that
comparison automatically includes contrast in its definition)
B.
There are two
styles used to organize a comparison or contrast paragraph:
Block or Point-by-Point.
In Block
Style a writer gives all examples for one side of the
comparison and then switches to the other side. Thus, A A A ,
B B B .
In Point-by-Point Style the
writer alternates sentence by sentence from A B A B A B A B
Homework (Writing due on Thursday October 29 in class)
Write a comparison contrast
paragraph of about 125 to 150 words. Use the point-by-point
style. Examples of sentence structures to use are on the reverse
of this sheet. Write a topic that emphasizes similarity OR
difference. Use a topic sentence that indicates your choice.
Topics:
Compare two different classes you
have taken in the same subject.
Compare two different kinds of
grocery store shoppers.
Compare courtship in your country
with another country (Canada or . . . ).
Useful Sentence
Structures for Comparison Contrast Writing
Comparison Sentences
Both A and B
Just as A. . ., so too B. . .
Like A, B
A is as . . ...as B. . .
B also has. . .
A. . .; similarly, B. . .
Neither A nor B has. . .
A. . .; likewise, B. . .
Contrast Sentences
Unlike A, B. . .
A is not as . . . as B. . .
In contrast, B. . .
A has. . .; however, B has
Although A. . ., B. . .
A is . . ., but B is . . .
A is . . . whereas B is . . .
A is . . .; on the other hand, B is. . .
Please also visit your
Advanced Composition Class Page
where you can access current and past lessons.
More Lessons
(index of past lesson worksheets)