1. Compare & Contrast Literary Elements of a Story

2. Vocabulary Review/ What is the Purpose?
Compare: to show the similarities between at least two things
and/or
Contrast: to show the difference between two things
2 Main Reasons
Explain to help a reader understand
Evaluate to show why something is
You must have a purpose for writing the essay—why are you writing the essay? What is your point? When you are getting ready to buy a car you might have specific criteria to compare and contrast. (Teachers-Ask students to generate a list of things they might look for when buying a car.) The purpose of the comparison/contrast might be to get the best value for your dollar, to meet the needs of your budget, to plan for your future etc. As you plan for which college you may want to attend, you’ll compare and contrast specific criteria to make an informed decision.
Writing a solid essay takes planning. Remember the Rhetorical Square. If you don’t have a clear idea of why you are comparing or contrasting two things, then you will have difficulty writing a focused paper.

3. Vocabulary Review Literary Elements = parts of a story
Setting= where/when the story takes place
Character= the individual(s) that take part in the story
Plot= the major events (action) of the story
Theme= main idea(s) that the story is about

4. Venn Diagram Alike List of differences of “A”
List of differences of “B”
Most of you have probably used a Venn Diagram in the past. With this graphic organizer, you use the overlapping circle to indicate how the items are alike and the outside circles to show how they are different. This method works best when there are only two subjects.
Tip: Choose items that have similarities and differences; make sure that they belong together.

6. Transitional/Key Words
To Compare
also as
in the same way
like
likewise
similarly
comparable
equally
in addition
To Contrast
although
but
even though
however
on the other hand
otherwise
yet
still
conversely
as opposed to
different from
whereas
These transitions words will help to guide your reader through your comparisons and contrasts.

7. Example of Using Comparison Transitional Words
The characters in the movie were very similar to the characters in the book. Both the characters in the movie and in the book were interested in detective work. In addition to being interested in detective work, they enjoyed playing basketball in their spare time.

8. Example of Using Contrast Transitional Words
The setting in the book was summer while the setting in the movie was winter. The events in the book took place during several afternoons, but the events in the movie took place during the evening.

9. Setting
Root Beer and Banana
By Sarah Sullivan
It's summer on the river, when the air's as thick as soup and you can smell tar melting on the roof. Sun's too hot for climbing trees and we've already fished our limit.
"Cmon, Squirt," Granddaddy says, giving me a wink. "Time to stop by Mister Mac's."
Rolling over gravel to the hard road, we drive past Tolliver's Farm Supply and Glenda's Antiques to Mister Mac's General Store.
I can hardly wait to get inside.
Mister Mac's ceiling fan stirs the heat while the ice-cream freezer hums its steady tune.
Cold air hits my face when I slide the door open. I stare at the colors on the paper wrappers, orange, cherry, and grape—but the best flavors are hidden underneath.
Identify two settings from this passage. How is each setting described?