Technical Writing S03 Providence University 1 Technical Writing - Comparing Wu-Lin Chen Department of Computer Science and Information Management PROVIDENCE UNIVERSITY College of Management

Technical Writing S03 Providence University 2 Comparison Comparisons enable us to solve problems. Comparisons provide a new perspective on information. Comparisons are a part of every aspect of science. Comparing is examining two or more items to discover their similarities and differences.

Technical Writing S03 Providence University 3 Compare Comparing similarities –…iron pyrite is often called fool’s gold because of its color to gold. color: iron pyrite ≈ gold –Like iron it [aluminum] is soft… softness: iron ≈ aluminum

Technical Writing S03 Providence University 4 Compare Contrasting differences –Iron, the most widely used metal… use: iron > all other metals –Pure iron is a relatively soft… softness: iron > many other metals –Aluminum is the most abundant metal… abundance: aluminum > all other metals –…in contrast to iron and steel, aluminum is very light and more resistant to corrosion… lightness: aluminum > iron and steel resistance to corrosion: aluminum > iron and steel

Technical Writing S03 Providence University 5 Sentence Patterns Comparing similarities Magnesium is like similar to comparable to as important as resembles parallels aluminum. aluminum in many ways.Magnesium

Technical Writing S03 Providence University 6 Sentence Patterns (cont.) Contrasting differences Iron is unlike is different from differs from aluminum. Unlike iron, In contrast to iron, Compared to iron, In comparison to iron, heavier than less abundant than not as soft as aluminum is light. Iron is aluminum. Iron is a relatively comparatively soft metal.

Technical Writing S03 Providence University 7 Table Tables, charts, and graphs are most commonly tools used in comparison. They organize information and enable us to see comparisons readily.

Technical Writing S03 Providence University 8 Creating Comparisons Start comparisons with what they have in common. Include at least one way the items are similar and one way they are different. For example: compare tea and coffee –Both coffee and tea are drinks, but coffee is made from a bean and tea is prepared from leaves.

Technical Writing S03 Providence University 9 Creating Comparisons (cont.) a telescope and a microscope –Telescopes and microscopes are instruments that are used to see objects not visible to the naked eye. Telescopes are used for distance and microscope for things too small to see. a computer and a calculator –in class practice

Technical Writing S03 Providence University 10 Like and As Comparisons frequently used the words like and as. Like is used before a noun or pronoun. –He thinks like a scientist. As is used if the noun or pronoun is followed immediately by a verb. –Don’t do as I do, do as I say. As is also used before and after an adjective. –Silver is not as malleable as gold.

Technical Writing S03 Providence University 11 Speed Up Reading Skimming –Read the title and any subtitle –Read the introduction –Read the first sentence of every paragraph –Read the summary or conclusion at the end of the passage

Technical Writing S03 Providence University 12 Writing Skills Two basic methods of comparing items: –Method 1: Describe the characteristics of the first item and then the characteristics of the second. –Method 2: Compare both items one characteristics at a time.