1. Similarities and Differences
COMPARE and contrast
Similarities and Differences

2. QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF:
COMPARE and CONTRAST
This type of text examines the similarities and differences between two or more people, events, concepts, or ideas.
SIGNAL WORDS
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF:
COMPARE
CONTRAST
What things are being compared?
What do they have in common (similarities)?
What are their differences?
Which similarities and differences are most important?
Are the details alternating or clustered?
Same as
Different from
Similar
As opposed to
Alike
Instead of
As well as
On the other hand
Both
But
Also
Although
Similarly
Yet
Unlike

3. Compare or Contrast?
Ivan and Ivor may be identical twins, but they are as different as day and night. Ivan is a night owl who will stay up until two or three in the morning, whereas Ivor is in bed by nine and up at dawn. Instead of partying to Ivan’s rock and roll, Ivor would rather be relaxing to classical music. Food is another big difference between the two. Although Ivan is happy snacking away on junk food, Ivor is very particular and eats only organic food. Even their futures look to be very different. After graduation, Ivan wants to join the military. His brother, in contrast, wants to go to medical school to become a surgeon.
Characteristics
Ivan
Ivor
Sleep
Night owl (2-3 am)
Bed 9 pm up at dawn
Music
Rock ‘n Roll
Classical
Food
Junk food
Organic
Futures
Military
Medical School - surgeon

4. Compare or Contrast?
You already know that there are major differences between a house and a nest. In contrast to a house, a nest is small and only has one room. Another difference is that a house is typically for humans while a nest is for birds. However, you might be surprised to find out that nests and houses have some things that are the same. For instance, both nests and houses provide shelter. Another similarity is that both use trees in their construction. Birds use sticks and twigs while humans use lumber from trees. Last, they are alike because they both take up space, although a house usually takes up more space than a nest!
Characteristics
House
Nest
Size
Larger, several rooms
Small, only one room
Inhabitants
Humans Birds
Function
Shelter Shelter
Construction
Trees – lumber Trees – sticks and twigs

5. Animals on the Train with Lewis and Clark, Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
Vital
Qualities
That balanced
partnership
Introverted
Melancholic
Moody
Better educated
Extroverted
Even-tempered
Gregarious
practical
In temperament Lewis and Clark were opposites. Lewis was introverted, melancholic, and moody; Clark, extroverted, even-tempered and gregarious. The better educated and more refined Lewis, who possessed a philosophical, romantic and speculative mind, was at home with abstract ideas; Clark, of a pragmatic mold, was more of a practical man of action. Each supplied vital qualities which balanced their partnership.  Biography of Lewis and Clark  
Animals on the Train with Lewis and Clark, Dorothy Hinshaw Patent    
Lewis hadn't known that western mountains were so different from those in the East.  Back there, mountains weren't so  steep and rugged, and they consisted of just a single range.  Western mountains went on and on, range after range.  Page 68
EAST
WEST
STEEP
RUGGED
RANGE AFTER
RANGE
SINGLE
RANGE
Mountains

6. Compare and contrast Writing Formats

7. Try it! Write a paragraph that compares and contrasts two items.
Same as
Similar
Alike
As well as
Both
Also
Similarly
Different from
As opposed to
Instead of
On the other hand
But
Although
Yet
Unlike