Comparing & Contrasting

Learning to identify similarities and

differences

Why is it important to be able to compare

and contrast?

Comparing• Looking for features that things (events, people, places) have in common (how they are

similar). • For example, you could compare Hong Kong and

Beijing by saying that they are both major cities.

• How else could you compare Hong Kong and Beijing?

Contrasting• Looking for differences in things (events,

people, places). • For example, you could contrast Hong Kong and

Beijing by saying that HK is on the ocean and Beijing is landlocked.

• How else could you contrast Hong Kong and Beijing?

Finding similarities in articles/text

• Look for clue words such as: all, both, like, likewise, and similarly.

Finding differences in articles/text

• Look for clue words such as: unlike, by contrast, however, except, different, and on the other hand.

Organizing your thoughts: making a VENN diagram

Simpsons Family GuyBoth

Write similaritieshere

Characteristics of Hong Kong go here Characteristics

of Beijing go here

Other Suggestions to Organize Your Thoughts

• If you are scared of circles or drawing circles, simply divide a piece of paper in thirds and put similarities in the

middle column.

• If comparing more than two things, add more circles to your VENN diagram.

• If reading and article that you can write on, highlight characteristics of each thing in a different color while highlighting similarities in another.

Moving your ideas to paper, ways to format

your writing• Block style- Explain everything about subject A and then everything about subject B.– Make sure whatever you points you use you talk about them in Subject B as well.

– Example- If you talk about the environment of HK then you need to talk about the environment of China

Example

Hong Kong has many tall buildings. Most of the buildings are new and are full of lights at night.

Beijing has some tall buildings too. Unlike most of their buildings are not skyscrapers like Hong Kong, though. The buildings in Beijing are older and at night they do not have as many lights.

Format 2

• Similarities/Differences- Explain all of the alike things in one paragraph and then all the differences in the other

ExampleBeijing and Hong Kong have many similarities. They are both large cities. They both have large populations. Air pollution is a problem for both cities.

The two cities have several differences. Hong Kong’s building are much newer and nicer. Beijing is surrounded by land while Hong Kong is an island.

Format 3• Point to Point- Talk about each point fully before moving on to the next.– Example you are looking at the points about HK and China.

• 1 Environment– Similarities and differences between HK/China

• 2 Government– Similarities and differences between HK/China

• 3 Language– Similarities and differences between HK/China

Example

Hong Kong and Beijing are big cities.

They both have large buildings, but Hong

Kong has more skyscrapers. Beijing, on

the other hand has more ancient

buildings. Hong Kong’s buildings have

more lifts than the buildings in Beijing.

Transitions-CompareThese are important words because they help the reader

know that you are going to talk about something new:

in the same way

As as well as

both

In the same manner

Also Like likewise

The same as too similar similarly

Most important

same

Transitions-ContrastThese are important words because they help the

reader know that you are going to talk about something new:Although But Differ Even though

However While In contrast

instead

Nevertheless Unless unlike On the contrary

On the other hand

yet

Tips

•You should have at least 3 points •Use specific examples to make it clear•Use of relevant information

Assignment!!!!!!!• Homework: Pick two things (music groups, TV shows, video games, books, movies, people, places, teachers)– Make a VENN diagram comparing and contrasting the things. Then write a compare/contrast using the formats given to you today