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 SimpsonsFamily Guy Both Write similarities here 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

Example Beijing 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-Compare These are important words because they help the reader know that you are going to talk about something new: in the same wayAsas well asboth In the same manner AlsoLikelikewise The same astoosimilarsimilarly Most importantsame

Transitions-Contrast These are important words because they help the reader know that you are going to talk about something new: AlthoughButDifferEven though HoweverWhileIn contrastinstead NeverthelessUnlessunlikeOn 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