1. (Five Guys vs Jakes, for example)
Comparison/Contrast
Warm-up: How do you decide between different restaurants with similar food?
(Five Guys vs Jakes, for example)

2. Warm-up… Overall quality of food? Service? Atmosphere? Proximity?
…other things?

3. Vocab! Comparison – Identifying similarities between things!
Contrast – Identifying differences between things!
For example: Apples & Oranges
Comparison: fruit, round, have seeds, have skin, grow on trees
Contrast: climate, texture, taste, color, products

4. LEQ
How does the process of comparison/contrast lead to a greater understanding of the topic(s) under study?

5. Comparison/Contrast
A comparison and/or contrast essay is one of the most basic essay types.
The purpose is to analyze two or more topics and identify where they are the same or different.
The typical method of doing this is to complete a Venn Diagram -

6. Comparison/Contrast
Completing a comparison/contrast requires you to closely analyze the topics under study.
You need to be looking for specifics in regards to where your topics are the same or different.
This gives you a much greater understanding of the topics!
We do this almost instinctively when shopping. Think about how you choose shampoo! Or soap! Or toothpaste!

7. Comparison/Contrast…
The goal is usually to answer question in regards to the topics under study –
For example: Which is the greater breakfast carbohydrate, the waffle or the pancake?
I could sit down, draw up a Venn Diagram, and fill in each area. The side with stronger reasons would clearly win (waffles, btw).
From there, I would write an essay – but we’ll get to that later.

8. Checkpoint
Turn to your neighbor and discuss the LEQ – How does the process of comparison/contrast lead to a greater understanding of the topic(s) under study?

9. PRACTICE!
On a sheet of paper, draw four Venn Diagrams (2 on the front and 2 on the back so you have enough room.
I’m going to show four sets of images. I will give you five minutes with each set to fill in your Venn Diagram.

10. Pen vs Pencil

11. Jeans vs Khakis

12. Glasses vs Contact Lenses

13. Mallard vs Pekin

14. Assignment 1
Choose one of the following questions, and write a well-developed paragraph that incorporates the similarities and differences of the items in order to support your response:
Which is the better writing utensil, the pen or the pencil?
Which pants are superior, jeans or khakis?
Which would you rather use, glasses or contact lenses?
Which would make a better mascot, the Mallard or the Pekin?
All of those questions are argumentative. Your job is to PROVE your point using specific reasoning about each item.

15. Lesson 2/Assignment 2 – Countries or Restaurants
Choose (2) countries or restaurants –
For example: North vs. South Korea, North America vs Canada, Japan vs China, Russia vs Ukraine, etc.
Or: Jake’s vs Five Guys, Applebee’s vs T.G.I.Friday’s, Bertucci’s vs Olive Garden, Dominoes vs Pizza Hut
Research your chosen topics, and complete a Venn Diagram
Once your Venn Diagram is completed, write a draft of a basic comparison/contrast essay about your topics
Your goal is four paragraphs – Introduction, Comparison, Contrast, Conclusion
You’re not writing an argument, you’re writing an INFORMATIVE essay
You must include specific details from your research/Venn Diagram