1. Instructor’s Resource Manual The Writer’s World: Paragraphs and Essays
Part II: Paragraph Patterns
Chapter 10: Comparison and
Contrast

2. Chapter 10: Comparison and Contrast What is Comparison and Contrast?
When you want to decide between options, you compare and contrast.
You compare to find similarities and contrast to find differences.

3. Chapter 10: Comparison and Contrast The Compare and Contrast Paragraph
In a comparison and contrast paragraph, you can compare and contrast two different subjects, or you can compare and contrast different aspects of a single subject.

4. Chapter 10: Comparison and Contrast The Compare and Contrast Paragraph
The supporting ideas in a comparison and contrast paragraph can be developed in two different ways: Point by Point or Topic by Topic.
Point by Point:
Present 1 point about Topic A and then the same point about Topic B. Continue until all points are covered.
Topic by Topic:
Present all points related to Topic A, and then present all points related to Topic B. At the end of the paragraph, explain their similarities or differences or both.

5. Chapter 10: Comparison and Contrast The Topic Sentence
In a comparison and contrast paragraph, the topic sentence indicates what is being compared and contrasted and expresses a controlling idea (how are they related).

6. Chapter 10: Comparison and Contrast The Supporting Ideas
After you have developed an effective topic sentence, generate supporting ideas.
In a comparison and contrast paragraph, think of examples that help explain the similarities and differences.

7. Chapter 10: Comparison and Contrast The Paragraph Plan
Decide which pattern—point by point or topic by topic—you will use.

8. Chapter 10: Comparison and Contrast The First Draft
After you outline your ideas in a plan, you are ready to write the first draft.
Remember to write in complete sentences.
Use transitional words and expressions to do the following:
To show similarities: additionally, at the same time, equally, in addition, in the same way, similarly
To show differences: conversely, however, in contrast, nevertheless, on the contrary, then again.

9. Chapter 10: Comparison and Contrast Revise and Edit a Compare and Contrast Paragraph
When you finish writing a comparison and contrast paragraph, carefully review your work and revise it to make the comparison or contrast as clear as possible to your readers.
Check that you have organized your paragraph logically, and remove any irrelevant details that do not refer to your topic sentence.
Proofread and revise for grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors.
Write the final draft.