Compare Contrast

COURSES

Transitional English

Freshman English

Sophomore English

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Paragraphs

WENENATCHEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

WenEA (No link, yet.)

Assistance for Learning

Mr. Zobel makes himself available to assist individual students, by appointment, either before or after school.

The English and Social Studies departments also provide a mentor teacher on Thursday evenings in the school library.

Mr. Zobel // Language Arts, Wenatchee High School

The Comparison Contrast essay allows students to evaluate two writing pieces in an analytical way. The graphic organizer, to the right, guides students to order their information in a logical sequence.

The first paragraph is two sentences long. The first sentence states where the information is coming from (the source) and very short identification of the subjects being compared and contrasted. The second sentence simply states that there are similarities and differences between the subjects.

The second paragraph describes two ways in which the subjects are similar in two sentences. More sentences can be used if desired.

It is important to use transition words in the second and third paragraphs. Students should avoid using "first," "second," and "next" as transitions in their writing.

The third paragraph is the most complex of the three. Students begin with a very short transition sentence which simply declares that differences also exist. The following three to six sentences identify and describe how the subjects are dissimilar in two specific ways. (It is possible to use the similarities and explain how they are also different.) The concluding sentences identifies which subject is the better example, more worthwhile, or more valuable...and state clearly why?

Compare Contrast

COMPARISON CONTRAST

First Paragraph

Sentence One: Source(s) and Subjects

Sentence Two: Similar and Different

Second Paragraph

1 to 3 Sentences: Two Similarities Between Two Subjects

Using Transition words with the Similarities

Third Paragraph

Transition Sentence: Differences

3 to 6 Sentences: Two Differencces Between Two Subjects

Final Sentence: Which Subject is More Worthwhile? Why?

Transition and Linking Words

COMMON LINKING WORDS / PHRASES * = Please refrain from using these terms
To show location:
	above across against along among around	away from behind below beneath beside betwen	beyond by down in back of in front of inside	into near off onto on top of outside	over throughout to the right under

To show time:
	about after at before during	first * second * third * till until	meanwhile today tomorrow next week yesterday	soon * later * afterward immediately finally	then * next * as soon as when

To compare things:
	in the same way similarly	likewise like	as also

To contrast things:
	but on the other hand	otherwise however	although yet	even though still

To emphasize a point:
	for this reason to emphasize	again to repeat	truly in fact

To conclude or summarize:
	as a result therefore	finally * last / lastly *	to sum up * all in all	in conclusion * in summary *

To add information:
	again also additionally equally important	in addition another and	besides for example for instance	moreover next * likewise	finally * as well along with

To clarify:
	in other words	put another way	for instance	that is

* = Please refrain from using these commonly overused transition words.