Comparison/Contrast Paragraphs

What is a Comparison/Contrast Paragraph? Comparison and Contrast write about how things are either similar or different. When you compare two things, places, machines, or people, you show the reader how they are similar. When you contrast, you show how things are different. Always choose two equal items — two cars, two vacations, two sports stars— not two unequal items, like a car and an umbrella. In both, you must identify topics (e.g. hometown and college town) and their points of comparison (e.g., size, location) that can be compared or contrasted. A A B B

Sharks The great white shark lives in the deep, cold seas. It will attack large animals such as sea lions. The bull shark lives mostly in shallow waters. It is sometimes found in rivers. These sharks are both very good swimmers and hunters. Both kinds of sharks have lots of teeth. Take 15 seconds to read this paragraph on Sharks

This paragraph compares Sharks This paragraph compares the bull shark The great white shark and Comparing: very good What kind of swimmer are both sharks? Comparing: How many teeth do these sharks have? lots of teeth Contrasting: Now let’s analyse the similarities and differences… Contrasting Where does the great white shark live? deep, cold seas Where does the bull shark live? shallow waters

Shallow water Deep, cold seas Alike Bull shark Great white shark Very good swimmers Shallow water Deep, cold seas Lots of teeth Here is the information represented in a Venn Diagram… Now we’re going to look at information on a website…

Key words commonly used to express comparison include: like same too similar In the same way as most important have in common the same as similarly alike as well as both Now let’s look at contrasting language….

Contrasting Key Phrases although yet whereas however but while differ instead unless unlike on the contrary contrary to in contrast even though on the other hand the reverse Dissimilar to

SIMILARITIES similar to Spring weather in Gaza is similar to spring weather in Sydney. Both Both Gaza and Sydney have rain in winter. Also Sydney also has a rainy winter season. Too Gaza has a rainy spring season, too. Similarly Similarly, Sydney is very hot in summer.

DIFFERENCES On the other hand On the other hand, winter is much colder in Sydney. However However, winter is much colder in Sydney. But Gaza has a mild winter, but Sydney has a cold one. In contrast to In contrast to Gaza, Sydney has a cold winter. Differs from Sydney differs from Gaza by having a cold winter. While While Gaza has a mild winter, Sydney has a cold winter.

Short Conjunctions Longer Expressions   Similarly, Likewise, ...the same... ...the same as... ...also... ..., too. Both However, Nevertheless, Conversely, In contrast,  In the same way, … X is similar to Y in that (they)... X is different from Y in that (they)... X and Y are similar/different in that (they)... Like X, Y [verb]... Unlike X, Y [verb] … In like manner, One way in which X is similar to Y is (that)... One way in which X is different from Y is (that)...

Activity 1: Join the following Sentences 1. Hani is bachelor. His sister is bachelor 2. The River Jordan is long. The Nile River is long. 3. Amal's grades are high. Huda's grades are rather low. 4. Ahmed is very busy. Ali is busy. 5. I think Ahmed is a very hard working student. Everyone else thinks so. 6. John admits he had a lot of money. He claims he has lost everything. 7. My father usually goes to work by car. I also go to work by car. 8. I believe that physical exercise is good. I believe that nutritious food is also good. 9. Teaching beginners requires simple techniques. Teaching advanced students requires sophisticated techniques.

Activity 2: Complete the following Amman differs from Cairo in __________________________ Taking care of children requires a lot of patience. Similarly, _________________________________________________ Universities spend a lot of money on research. In contrast, schools___________________________________________ My two friends study similar things at university. However, they _____________________________________________ The more you study, _______________________________ Gaza is as crowded as ______________________________

Organization 1: (Point by Point) Topic sentence: introduction of two topics to be compared/contrasted Body: examination of topics – first point and then the other point: Point A Topic 1 Topic 2 Point B Point C Conclusion: evaluation of topics compared

My Hometown and My College Town      My hometown and my college town have several things in common. First, both are small rural communities. For example, my hometown, Gridlock, has a population of only about 10,000 people. Similarly, my college town, Subnormal, consists of about 11,000 local residents. This population becomes to 15,000 people when the college students are attending classes. A second way in which these two towns are similar is that they are both located in rural areas. Gridlock is surrounded by many acres of farmland which is devoted mainly to growing corn and soybeans. In the same way, Subnormal lies in the center of farmland which is used to raise cattle. In short, the similarities between my hometown and my college town make people enjoy living in both places.

TOPIC SENTENCE My (a) hometown and (b) college town are similar. POINT #1 Both are small rural communities. Gridlock Gridlock has about 10,000 people.   Subnormal Subnormal has about 11,000 local residents. It has about 4000 college students. POINT #2 Both are located in rural areas.  Gridlock Gridlock is surrounded by many acres of farmland. This farmland is devoted to growing corn and soybeans.  Subnormal Subnormal is in the center of land used for raising cattle.

Organization 2: Block Style Topic sentence: introduction of two topics to be compared/contrasted Body: examination of topics – first Topic and then the other Topic 1: Point A Point B Point C Topic 2 Conclusion: evaluation of topics compared

Istanbul and Gaza While Istanbul and Gaza are both lively cities, they differ from each other in many ways. To start with, İstanbul is filled with industries, buildings, roads, and lots of people. The time it takes you to get from one place to another shows us how big it has become. Moreover, İstanbul has become a city in which its people are usually in a hurry and have a lot of things to do throughout the day. On the other hand, Gaza still looks like a small town in which most of its people know each other although the city has grown a lot in the last years. What is more, Gaza still remains quite a calm city where most people walk and take their time. To conclude, while Istanbul and Gaza are different cities in many ways, it is always good to spend time in them.

TOPIC SENTENCE While Istanbul and Gaza are both lively cities, they differ from each other in many ways TOPIC #1 Istanbul Point 1 İstanbul is filled with industries, buildings, roads, and lots of people   Point 2 İstanbul has become a city in which its people are usually in a hurry and have a lot of things to do throughout the day TOPIC #2 Gaza Gaza still looks like a small town in which most of its people know each other although the city has grown a lot in the last years. What is more, Gaza still remains quite a calm city where most people walk and take their time.

There are three main differences between eating fresh food and canned food. The most notable difference between these two kinds of foods is their flavor. Fresh food has great flavor and taste because it keeps all their natural conditions. Canned food, however, lacks a lot of its flavor characteristics because there are some other chemical products added to the natural foods. Secondly, there is a health factor that affects both of them. Canned food is unhealthy because in order to keep the shelf life for longer times it is filled with many conservatives and chemical factors. On the other hand, fresh food does not include any chemicals, so it is healtier. Another difference between these two types of foods is the cost. Canned food is much more expensive than fresh food. In conclusion, before eating, choose the best type of food for your convenience and lifestyle.

University or School A university is very different from a secondary school. First, in the university, the professors talk a great deal and give long homework assignments. School teachers depend on class discussion and short homework. Second, ______________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. In conclusion, despite these two main differences between university and school, each provides great learning opportunities to students.

University or School A university is very different from a secondary school. First, in the university, the professors talk a great deal and give long homework assignments. School teachers depend on class discussion and short homework. Second, university final examinations are not uniform and each professor sets his/her own exams and often the dates of taking them. On the other hand, all secondary school final exams are prepared centrally by the Ministry or Educational Authority and should be taken by all students simultaneously. In conclusion, despite these two main differences between university and school, each provides great learning opportunities to students.

Our Lifestyles and our Grandparents' Lifestyles Our lifestyles are very different from our grandparents' lifestyles in three important ways. __________ _______________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________