1. Compare and Contrast Paragraphs
Perseus and Medusa
Mediums in Art

2. Extended Constructed Response
Observing all three mediums, choose two for the following prompt. Choose one category within the pieces of art to compare and contrast. In your response, be sure to do the following:
use details from both pieces in your response
describe three specific examples
explain the similarities or differences that exist in both pieces
for each example

3. Here’s the Plan Step 1. Choose Which Two to Compare & Contrast.
Step 2. Pick a Focus Topic for the Paragraph.
Step 3. Become Familiar with the Organization.
Step 4. Create a Plan.
Step 5. Write the Paragraph.

4. Getting Started Step 1. Choose Which Two to Compare & Contrast.
Sculpture
Painting
Movie
Step 2. Pick a Focus Topic for the Paragraph.
Examples: Medusa, Perseus, the gifts, the setting, the time period, etc.

5. Step 3. Compare and Contrast Paragraph Organization
Topic Sentence (introduces two topics)
Point 1 (a specific attribute)
Show similarities and differences
Point 2 (a specific attribute)
Point 3 (a specific attribute)
Topic Sentence (revisits the two topics)

6. Paragraph Organization
Step 4. Creating a Plan
Paragraph Organization
Example
Topic Sentence (introduces two topics)
Point 1 (a specific attribute)
Show similarities and differences
Point 2 (a specific attribute)
Point 3 (a specific attribute)
Topic Sentence (revisits the two topics)
Compare and Contrast the representation of Medusa in the painting and sculpture.
Face
Beautiful vs. ugly
Asleep vs. awake
Hair
Both don’t really look like snakes
One paint (black) one sculpture (grey)
Neck (cut off)
Gory vs. clean
Both: Medusa is already dead

7. Start with a Topic Sentence
For your paragraph, I am giving you the topic sentence:
Even though ________ and ________ both represent _________ from the myth of Perseus and Medusa, their styles differ greatly.
Insert two of the following:
The painting
The movie
The sculpture
Example: Even though the painting and the sculpture both represent Medusa from the myth of Perseus and Medusa, their styles differ greatly.

8. Logical Order
Once you have identified the comparable points between your topics and have focused on a main idea, you are ready to generate and organize additional details.
To make a point using comparison or contrast, a writer moves from a general idea (the comparison or contrast of two or more topics) to a major support (a comparable point about the topics) to minor supports (details or examples of the comparable point about the topics).
To signal the movement among these levels of ideas, a writer uses transitions to signal similarities or differences and examples.
Strong transitions establish coherence, a clear and understandable flow of ideas.

9. Words That Signal Comparison Words That Signal Contrast
Transition Words
Words That Signal Comparison
Words That Signal Contrast
alike
equally
in the same way
likewise
similarity as
in a similar fashion
just as
resemble
just as
resemble
similarly
as well as
in a similar way
just like
same
equal
in like manner
like
similar
although
conversely
differently
more
on the other hand
as opposed to
despite
even though
most still
at the same time
difference
in contrast
nevertheless
to the contrary
but
different
in spite of
on the contrary
unlike
by contrast
different from
instead
on the one hand
yet

10. Extended Constructed Response
Observing all three mediums, choose two for the following prompt. Choose one category within the pieces of art to compare and contrast. In your response, be sure to do the following:
use details from both pieces in your response
describe three specific examples
explain the similarities or differences that exist in both pieces
for each example

11. Student Sample - Organization
Even though the painting and the cinema both represent Perseus from the myth of Perseus and Medusa, their styles differ greatly. (Topic Sentence) In both the painting and the movie Perseus’ gifts are present and alike. However, both the swords in the painting and the cinema are not crooked, unlike the original myth. Despite this similarity, there are differences between the painting and the cinema concerning the gifts. Likewise, the shield in the painting is an actual shield, whereas in the movie, the shield Perseus is using is an Ipod, or a more “modern shield”. Another feature of Perseus in the painting and the movie is his clothes. A similarity concerning his clothes is that in both the painting and the movie he is wearing clothes. On the other hand, the clothes Perseus is different because of the time period it was made. The third feature of Perseus is his hair. A similarity is that both the Perseus from the movie and the painting have hair. A difference is that in the movie the hair is straight, whereas in the painting his hair is curly. The myth of Perseus and Medusa represents both similarities and differences when it comes to the painting and the cinema.(Restated Topic Sentence) – Lewis

12. Student Sample – Compare/Contrast Signal Words
Even though the painting and the cinema both represent Perseus from the myth of Perseus and Medusa, their styles differ greatly. In both the painting and the movie Perseus’ gifts are present and alike. However, both the swords in the painting and the cinema are not crooked, unlike the original myth. Despite this similarity, there are differences between the painting and the cinema concerning the gifts. Likewise, the shield in the painting is an actual shield, whereas in the movie, the shield Perseus is using is an Ipod, or a more “modern shield”. Another feature of Perseus in the painting and the movie is his clothes. A similarity concerning his clothes is that in both the painting and the movie he is wearing clothes. On the other hand, the clothes Perseus is wearing is different because of the time period it was made in. The third feature of Perseus is his hair. A similarity is that both the Perseus from the movie and the painting have hair. A difference is that in the movie the hair is straight, whereas in the painting his hair is curly. The myth of Perseus and Medusa represents both similarities and differences when it comes to the painting and the cinema. – Lewis

13. Student Sample – Sentence Fluency
Even though the painting and the cinema both represent Perseus from the myth of Perseus and Medusa, their styles differ greatly. In both the painting and the movie Perseus’ gifts are present and alike. However, both the swords in the painting and the cinema are not crooked, unlike the original myth. Despite this similarity, there are differences between the painting and the cinema concerning the gifts. Likewise, the shield in the painting is an actual shield, whereas in the movie, the shield Perseus is using is an Ipod, or a more “modern shield”. Another feature of Perseus in the painting and the movie is his clothes. A similarity concerning his clothes is that in both the painting and the movie he is wearing clothes. On the other hand, the clothes Perseus is different because of the time period it was made. The third feature of Perseus is his hair. A similarity is that both the Perseus from the movie and the painting have hair. A difference is that in the movie the hair is straight, whereas in the painting his hair is curly. The myth of Perseus and Medusa represents both similarities and differences when it comes to the painting and the cinema. – Lewis