Development by Comparison and Contrast

Compare: the present and the past of china

Compare: the cultures of different places

Distinction: A comparison points out the similarities between two or more persons or things of the same class. A contrast points out the differences between them.

In practice, comparison and contrast often appear together, because people generally compare two things that are In practice, comparison and contrast often appear together, because people generally compare two things that are similar in certain ways and different in others.

To Compare:  similar to  similarly  like, alike  likewise  correspond to  correspondingly  resemble  resemblance  almost the same  at the same rate as  as  just as  in like manner  in the same way  to have __ in common  common characteristics, etc  to be parallel in __  both

To contrast: differ from however otherwise still nevertheless even so less than more than unlike in contrast to in opposition to on the contrary on the opposite side

Practice: Though both are forms of humor, comedy is different from satire. Fashions in furniture change just as clothing fashions do. Buying a car requires as much skill as selling one. There is more hard work in writing than in physical labor.

Two major ways of organizing paragraphs of comparison and contrast Alternating comparison or alternating contrast. Block comparison or block contrast

Alternating comparison or alternating contrast  To examine two things at the same time, discussing them point by point.

Block comparison or block contrast To examine one thing thoroughly and then examine the other. To examine one thing thoroughly and then examine the other. In this way, the aspects examined in the two things should be identical and in the same order. In this way, the aspects examined in the two things should be identical and in the same order.

Example of alternating comparison The same qualities that make people good house guest make them good hospital patients. (1) Good house guests can expect a reasonable amount of service and effort on their behalf, and hospital patients can also. (2) Guests have to adjust to what is for them a change, and certainly hospital patients must do the same. (3) No one appreciates a complaining, unpleasant, unappreciative house guest, and the hospital staff is no exception. (4) House guests who expect vast changes to be made for their benefit are not popular for long. Certainly nurses and other personnel with their routines feel the same way about patients in their care. (5) Just as house guests must make adjustments to enjoy their visits, so patients must make adjustments to make their stays reasonably pleasant and satisfying under the circumstances.

Alternating contrast Alternating contrast is used when you want to point out several differences between two things or people without discussing them in great detail. You merely point out a special feature of one item and then state how the other item differs from it in that aspect. Alternating contrast is used when you want to point out several differences between two things or people without discussing them in great detail. You merely point out a special feature of one item and then state how the other item differs from it in that aspect. P97 P97

Block comparison Block comparison is suitable when the writer wants to treat points of similarity in depth. In this way each point is drawn out and its relationship to another point is made clear. This type of comparison is often used when the points of similarity discussed are not many but complex, and require much explanation. Block comparison is suitable when the writer wants to treat points of similarity in depth. In this way each point is drawn out and its relationship to another point is made clear. This type of comparison is often used when the points of similarity discussed are not many but complex, and require much explanation. P98 P98

Block contrast

A special form of comparison--- analogy Analogy is tracing a striking likeness between unlike things. Analogy is tracing a striking likeness between unlike things. Analogies are especially helpful in explaining abstract ideas, for they relate ideas that cannot be experienced through the senses of sight, smell, hearing, touch, or taste, to a sense experience, thus making the ideas easy to understand. Analogies are especially helpful in explaining abstract ideas, for they relate ideas that cannot be experienced through the senses of sight, smell, hearing, touch, or taste, to a sense experience, thus making the ideas easy to understand.

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