1. Compare and Contrast Essay

2. What does it mean to …?
Compare
= similarities
Contrast
= differences

3. What kinds of things do we compare and contrast in our daily lives?
Clothing
Literature
Restaurants
Height
Drinks
Music
What other things do we compare/contrast?

4. Why do we compare and contrast things?
To decide if we like that object
To determine if we want to buy it
To figure out if we want to eat there
Why else????

5. Why do we compare and contrast literature?
Look for similar themes
Make comparisons to our own lives
Learn life lessons
Learn about other perspectives
Understand differences and similarities that lead to self understanding, tolerance, acceptance

6. What features can we use to compare and contrast the wooden spoon
and the spaghetti spoon?
Features:
Function/Use
Weight
Material
Shape

7. Venn Diagram Wooden Spoon Spaghetti Spoon metal & plastic wood
shallow scoop
used in cooking
deep scoop
light
a little heavy
scoop sauce
scoop spaghetti
Features: material, shape, weight, use

8. Two Ways to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay
Block Method
Point –by- Point Method

9. Block Method Introduction
II. First item A. First point about this item B. Second point about this item C. Third point about this item
III. Second item A. First point about this item B. Second point about this item C. Third point about this item
IV. Conclusion

10. Point - By - Point Method Introduction
II. First point A. Explanation of how this point relates to the first item B. Explanation of how this point relates to the second item
III. Second point A. Explanation of how this point relates to the first item B. Explanation of how this point relates to the second item
IV. Third point A. Explanation of how this point relates to the first item B. Explanation of how this point relates to the second item
V. Conclusion
Key words

11. Cell phone
Regular phone
Group 1
Group 2
Ipod
Radio
Directions: In the groups I assigned, complete the Venn diagram for the two objects. Remember to list the features you are comparing in the diagram.
Truck
Car
Laptop
Home PC
Group 4
Group 3