analyzing with compare & contrast / ipa-df

ANALYZING

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COMPARE &

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COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST

One way we analyze a topic in a writing is to put it next to a another topic (whether it’s a person or a thing) and think about how the two are similar or different (or both).

This can help us understand the topic within the context of the wider world.

This technique of analysis is called

Compare & Contrast.


• Comparing usually means thinking or writing about the similarities between two things or people.



and



and

• Contrasting usually means thinking or writing about the differences between two things or people.


When you are writing a Contrasting piece, you will focus on the things that are different about your two subjects.



However, it is most effective to also mention the things that are similar about them.




Your Topic Sentence should mention these similarities.

.





FOR EXAMPLE:





FOR EXAMPLE:

Apples vs. Oranges


You want to write a Contrasting piece about the differences between Apples and Oranges.



Your writing will focus on the differences,



Your writing will focus on the differences, but it is most effective if you also mention



Your writing will focus on the differences, but it is most effective if you also mention (usually in your Topic Sentence)



Your writing will focus on the differences, but it is most effective if you also mention (usually in your Topic Sentence) that the two things also have some similarities:



Your writing will focus on the differences, but it is most effective if you also mention (usually in your Topic Sentence) that the two things do have some similarities:

Apples and oranges are both popular kinds of fruit, but they are different in several important ways.



Your writing will focus on the differences, but it is most effective if you also mention (usually in your Topic Sentence) that the two things do have some similarities:

Apples and oranges are both popular kinds of fruit, but they are different in several important ways.

and the opposite is also true:


You want to write a Comparing piece about the similarities between Apples and Oranges.



Your writing will focus on the similarities, but it is most effective if you also mention (usually in your Topic Sentence) that the two things also have some differences:




Apples and oranges may be different in appearance, but they share several important health benefits.




Apples and oranges may be different in appearance, but they share several important health benefits.

We’ll talk more about effective Topic Sentences in Compare/Contrast writing later in the Unit.


Choices of STRUCTURE / FORMAT


There are two helpful ways to arrange (or “format”) your material in a Compare & Contrast writing, after the Topic Sentence.


There are two helpful ways to arrange (or “format”) your material in a Compare & Contrast writing, after the Topic Sentence.

Let’s say you’re writing a writing to compare/contrast airplanes and helicopters.


Format One: ABC/ABC


Format One : ABC/ABCI. Topic Sentence



II.Airplanes



II.Airplanesa. shape and design



II.Airplanesa. shape and designb. speed



II.Airplanesa. shape and designb. speedc. direction of takeoff and flight




III. Helicopters




III. Helicoptersa. shape and design




III. Helicoptersa. shape and designb. speed




III. Helicoptersa. shape and designb. speedc. direction of takeoff and flight




III. Helicoptersa. shape and designb. speedc. direction of takeoff and flight

IV. Concluding Sentence


Format Two: AA/BB/CC


Format Two: AA/BB/CCI. Topic Sentence



II.Shape and Design



II.Shape and Designa. airplanes



II.Shape and Designa. airplanesb. helicopters




III. Speed




III. Speeda. airplanes




III. Speeda. airplanesb. helicopters





IV. Direction of Takeoff and Flights





IV. Direction of Takeoff and Flightsa. airplanes





IV. Direction of Takeoff and Flightsa. airplanesb. helicopters





IV. Direction of Takeoff and Flightsa. airplanesb. helicopters

V. Concluding Sentence

TOPIC SENTENCE The Topic Sentence (or Main Idea

Sentence) for a writing that compares and contrasts should tell the reader 3 important things:



1) WHAT two things or people are being compared and contrasted




2) Whether the writing will focus on the SIMILARITIES or the DIFFERENCES between them

TOPIC SENTENCE The Topic Sentence (or Main Idea Sentence)

for a writing that compares and contrasts should tell the reader 3 important things:


2) Whether the writing will focus on the SIMILARITIES or the DIFFERENCES between them

3) Should still mention the OPPOSITE; so if the writing is about the similarities, it should also mention the differences – and if the writing is about the differences, it should also mention the similarities


Often, words like but and however are used to connect the two parts of a main idea sentence for a compare and contrast writing:



Disneyland and Walt Disney World both come from the imagination of the same man, Walt Disney, but the two parks offer very different types of entertainment.*




The political systems of the United States and my country seem different at first, but they actually have some striking similarities.*




The political systems of the United States and my country seem different at first, but they actually have some striking similarities.*

Many people think that humans have little in common with sea animals; however, scientists have shown that the dolphin resembles us in many ways.*

* See final slide for acknowledgement of source material.


PLANNING:


PLANNING:

”MY TWO BROTHERS”


PLANNING:

”MY TWO BROTHERS”

Pg. 107

References

Huizenga, J., Meade-Snellings, C., & Francis, G. B. (1990).

ANALYZING WITH COMPARE & CONTRAST. In Basic

composition for ESL: An expository workbook (3rd ed.).

Boston, MA: Heinle & Beinle.

analyzing with compare & contrast / ipa-df

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