1. Compare and Contrast Essays
8th Grade English Language Arts
Power of Words Unit

2. Compare and Contrast Essay--Speeches
The Basics
Pick two speeches we covered to compare and contrast
Minimum 5 paragraphs
Due Friday, February 17th
Typed using MLA format
We’ll get Chromebooks for one class period
The rest is on your own
First test grade of Term 3
Outline required (5 pt. deduction)

3. Part 1: Formulating an Argument
Doesn’t necessarily mean we need to say something is better
Make sure you discuss the topic in a meaningful way
Why are these speeches important?
Why should the audience care?
Avoid saying…
“Indian Rights” and “I Have a Dream” are both similar and different.
Too simplistic with nothing really to say
Brainstorm your topic
Already done for speeches (chart)
Write your thesis
Amazing Thesis Worksheet

4. Part 2: Organizing the Essay
Decide on a Structure
Point by Point Method
Discuss one aspect (tone, purpose, audience, etc…) about one speech at a time
For example:
Discuss Red Cloud’s audience and Abraham Lincoln’s audience in the same paragraph
Then analyze them in that same paragraph
Block Method
Talk about all aspects of each speech in a separate paragraph
Then, have a paragraph to synthesize speeches

5. Part 3: Outlining the Essay
Helps to organize ideas before you put them down on page
Essay should be 5 paragraphs
No matter how your essay is set up, you’ll have…
Introduction
At least 3 body paragraphs
Conclusion
We’ll discuss these in more depth later

6. Part 4: Outlining/Drafting
Introduction
Introduces broad topic
Speeches
Then narrows down to specific topic
The two speeches you choose
Thesis statement
Already written in Part 1

7. Part 4: Outlining/Drafting
Body Paragraphs
Meat of your essay
Provide details and evidence to support claim
Should not only provide, but analyze evidence
ELA is an important subject in school. Without being able to read and write, a student will lack the skills necessary to communicate clearly, not only in school, but also in the 21st century work environment.
Avoid making lists of similarities and differences
Should be at least 3 paragraphs in length

8. Part 4: Outlining/Drafting
Conclusion
Summary of main points
Restate thesis, but in a new way
Remember that you audience now has all the info you gave them in essay
They don’t need the exact same thing said to them again
Identify the significance of essay
What was the point you just made?
For our essay:
Can using effective rhetorical techniques influence an audience?

9. Part 5: Revising Transitions
Connect paragraphs or sentences to each other
Key is highlighting connections between previous paragraphs or sentences
Help readers understand…
How paragraphs or sentences work together
Reference one another
Build to a larger point

10. Part 5: Revising (Transitions)
The snow had been falling since midnight and wasn’t supposed to stop until around noon. The superintendent cancelled school for the day.
These two sentences don’t fit right together.
Something is missing that will connect the two.
The snow had been falling since midnight and wasn’t supposed to stop until around noon. With that in mind, the superintendent cancelled school for the day.

11. Part 5: Revising (Word Choice)
Choosing better words so we don’t repeat the same thing over and over
Let’s say we were writing about a baseball player
There is only so many times you can say “hit”
He hit a home run.
He slammed a home run.
He crushed a home run.

12. Part 6: Proofreading
Apostrophes