WRITING EFFECTIVE COMPARISON OR CONTRAST ESSAYS

Can these two pictures be compared and contrasted?

On what basis?

Compare & Contrast You cannot Compare & Contrast two

completely different things. There must be one KEY similarity.

This is the Basis for Comparison

FIRST RULE:1

Mountains and Beaches

What are the differences?

Mountains and Beaches

What are the similarities?

Compare & Contrast Brainstorm the similarities and

differences between mountains and beaches!!

Beaches

Mountains

Compare & Contrast

Organize your notes into 3 different Criteria What information can be connected or

grouped together?

TIP: highlight each criteria a different color

Beaches

Mountains

Block Arrangement (four paragraphs)

Introduction: state the basis and the criteria for your discussion

BeachesA. Types of ActivitiesB. ClimateC. Location 

MountainsA. Types of ActivitiesB. ClimateC. Location 

Conclusion: reinforce the basis and criteria for comparison

TWO ways to structure a Compare Contrast Essay:

1. block arrangement

2. point-by-point arrangement

Point-by-Point or Alternating Arrangement (five paragraphs)

Introduction: state the basis and the criteria for your discussion 

Introduce the first criteria: activitiesA.  MountainsB.  Beach

 

Introduce the second criteria: climateA.  MountainsB.  Beach

 

Introduce the third criteria: locationA.  MountainsB.  Beach

 

Conclusion: reinforce the basis and criteria for comparison 

Point-by-point arrangement

Which arrangement is used?

Everyone loves a vacation! The two most common vacation options are beaches and mountains. Both places offer a variety of fun activities. The beach offers unique activities that the mountain cannot provide and vice versa. While beaches and mountains are equally popular vacation choices, they differ not only in terms of activities, but also in terms of climate and location.

The beach vacation is a great choice for fun activities with a warm climate and a range of location destinations. Sun and fun are two words that describe the beach. The sea and the warm climate determine many of the activities that are available at the beach. People can swim, play volleyball, play soccer, and ride water bikes. In most coastal sites, there are discos and restaurants where people can dance or party throughout the night. A warm climate is one of the most attractive features that the beach has. Mexico offers many amazing coastal sites to visit. Acapulco and Cancun are two of the most beautiful beaches in the word. There are also many gorgeous beach destinations throughout South East Asia where the tropical climate ensures year-round fun in the sun!

The mountain vacation is similarly a great choice for fun activities, however it differs in terms of climate and location. For some people the cold climate in the mountains is the first barrier to enjoying them. Nonetheless, the climate and the temperature of these zones also determine the types of activities they offer. Like the beaches, the mountains also offer a range of fun activities including snow boarding, mountain climbing, hiking, and skiing. Climate is always an important factor to consider. If a person dislikes cold weather, he or she might have a hard time enjoying the mountains. For those who do however, there are many interesting regions in the world that have great mountain vacation choices. Canada, in North America, contains many mountain vacation sites where people can go and have fun. Many countries in Northern Europe also have a great range of year-round mountain resorts.

 Regardless of where a person decides to go on vacation, the fun is guaranteed. While the mountains offer a great range of activities, the climate is a drawback for many. In terms of location, there are far more beach vacation options with coastal regions in virtually every continent.

Which arrangement is used?

Everyone loves a vacation! The two most common vacation options are beaches and mountains. Both places offer a variety of fun activities. The beach offers unique activities that the mountain cannot provide and vice versa. While beaches and mountains are equally popular vacation choices, they differ not only in terms of activities, but also in terms of climate and location.

The beach vacation is a great choice for fun activities with a warm climate and a range of location destinations. Sun and fun are two words that describe the beach. The sea and the warm climate determine many of the activities that are available at the beach. People can swim, play volleyball, play soccer, and ride water bikes. In most coastal sites, there are also discos and restaurants where people can dance or party throughout the night. A warm climate is one of the most attractive features that the beach has. Mexico offers many amazing coastal sites to visit. Acapulco and Cancun are two of the most beautiful beaches in the word. Additionally there are many gorgeous beach destinations throughout South East Asia where the tropical climate ensures year-round fun in the sun!

The mountain vacation is similarly a great choice for fun activities, however it differs in terms of climate and location. For some people the cold climate in the mountains is the first barrier to enjoying them. Nonetheless, the climate and the temperature of these zones also determine the types of activities they offer. Like the beaches, the mountains also offer a range of fun activities including snow boarding, mountain climbing, hiking, and skiing. Climate is always an important factor to consider. If a person dislikes cold weather, he or she might have a hard time enjoying the mountains. For those who do however, there are many interesting regions in the world that have great mountain vacation choices. Canada, in North America, contains many mountain vacation sites where people can go and have fun. Many countries in Northern Europe also have a great range of year-round mountain resorts.

 Regardless of where a person decides to go on vacation, the fun is guaranteed. While the mountains offer a great range of activities, the climate is a drawback for many. In terms of location, there are far more beach vacation options with coastal regions in virtually every continent.

Compare Contrast discourse markers

Focus your topic

Identify similarities

Identify differences

Add supporting information

In terms of… the same although in addition

With regards to … equally while additionally

As far as … is /are concerned both however as well as

Concerning… similarly whereas moreover

Use Comparatives likewise in contrast furthermore

more / less also nonetheless further