1. Sample - Contrast Paragraph
The Weather in Chicago and Miami
My cousin and I recently had a discussion about whether his hometown, Chicago,
or my hometown, Miami, has better weather. Our discussion centered on three
differences between the weather in our two hometowns. First, Chicago has all four
seasons, but Miami does not. Chicago enjoys summer, fall, winter, and spring weather.
Miami, in contrast, has only two seasons: a very mild winter and a very long summer.
Another major difference in the weather between our two cities is that Chicago’s worst
weather occurs in the winter. On average, the high temperature reaches only around 32
degrees, and the low each night goes down to about 20 degrees. The problem in Miami is
not the cold but rather the heat. In the summer, the temperature reaches 95 degrees in the
daytime and drops only to 75 or so at night. Finally, people in each city are worried about
different weather problems. While a Chicagoan’s biggest weather fear is a blizzard, the
biggest weather problem for people in Miami is a hurricane. In the end, my cousin and I
learned that each of our hometowns has unique weather.
1. Underline the topic sentence
2. Underline the concluding sentence. Does the writer offer a suggestion, an opinion,
a summary, or a prediction?
3. Underline the three major supporting details. Circle the transition word/phrase
4. What method of organization does the writer use: block or point-by-point?
5. Circle contrast language – transitions and connectors
6. How many sentences does the paragraph have?
Passages and exercises are adapted from:
Passage 1 - From Great Paragraphs to Great Essays by Keith Folse et al. (2000) P.103. Heinle Cengage Learning
Passage 2- Effective Academic Writing by Alice Savage & Patricia Mayer (2012). P. 89. Oxford
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Practice Compare/Contrast TQadri F13

2. Sample - Comparison Paragraph
My Two Homes
There are two places that have had a profound impact in my life. One of them is
New York City, where I live now, and the other is Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, where I
was born and lived the first part of my life. When you compare them, they seem like
dramatically different places, but they have some things in common, and I love them
both. There are many reasons why New York City (NY) seems like my home away from
home. Both cities are striking and distinctive. For example, each has its own nickname.
Everyone knows New York is “the Big Apple.” Quetzaltenango is known as “Xela”,
which is a lot easier to say! Second, both cities have a “Central Park” where people like
to go and walk. Although Central Park in Xela is smaller, its tropical flowers and colonial
architecture make it just as beautiful as New York’s. Furthermore, when you walk around
Xela, you find many tourists and people from other countries, just like in NY. For me,
this means conversations in Xela are just as interesting as conversations in NY. In
conclusion, these are the two cities I love. For me, both are home, both are unique, and
both are filled with interesting people. These places represent the best of both worlds.
1. Underline the topic sentence
2. Underline the concluding sentence. Does the writer offer a suggestion, an opinion,
a prediction, or a summary?
3. Underline the three major supporting details. Circle the transition word/phrase
4. What method of organization does the writer use: block or point-by-point?
5. Circle transitions and connecting words that indicate similarities
6. How many sentences does the paragraph have?
Passages and exercises are adapted from:
Passage 1 - From Great Paragraphs to Great Essays by Keith Folse et al. (2000) P.103. Heinle Cengage Learning
Passage 2- Effective Academic Writing by Alice Savage & Patricia Mayer (2012). P. 89. Oxford
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Practice Compare/Contrast TQadri F13

3. Here are some connectors and transitions that show compare/contrast language
Connectors & transitions that show similarity
Connectors & transitions that show contrast
Like + a noun phrase
Similarly
likewise
Both
also
Unlike + a noun phrase
In contrast
however
Whereas
while
1. Like her sister, Noor was very tall.
2. I grew up overseas in China. Similarly, my wife spent her childhood abroad in
Laos.
3. Drivers in New York follow the rules. Likewise, drivers in Dubai will not go
through a red light without stopping.
4. Both Abdul Aziz and his cousin will study civil engineering.
5. Jennifer Lopez is a talented singer. She is also a fine actress.
6. Unlike his father, he feels shy when he meets new people.
7. The pace of life in New York is very rapid. In contrast, life in Xela is laid back.
8. Summer in Maine is very green, and many tourists visit to see the countryside.
However, the winter is even more spectacular.
9. My friends prefer watching movies, whereas I find books more interesting.
10. My science class has over 300 students while my English seminar has only
twelve.
Practice filling in comparative and contrast connectors and transitions
The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, and the Statue of Liberty in New York City may seem
to be very different structures. --------------------, they have many similarities.
Passages and exercises are adapted from:
Passage 1 - From Great Paragraphs to Great Essays by Keith Folse et al. (2000) P.103. Heinle Cengage Learning
Passage 2- Effective Academic Writing by Alice Savage & Patricia Mayer (2012). P. 89. Oxford
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Practice Compare/Contrast TQadri F13

4. --------------the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty was designed by a French architect.
----------------, the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower both represented great
advancements in metalwork. The Eiffel Tower is taller than the Statue of Liberty. The
Eiffel Tower measures 986 feet. -------------------------, the Statue of Liberty is only 305
feet from the water to the top of her torch. ----------------------------------the elegant black
frame and sharp point of the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty has long, flowing robes
and a lifelike torch. ----------------monuments are equally beautiful.
Rewrite the following sentences to show similarity or contrast
1. Lemons are yellow. Limes are green.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2. Many families can live in an apartment building. Only one or two families usually
live in a house.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3. A frog can live in water or on land. A fish cannot.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4. In Dubai, people eat a lot of rice. Korean families serve rice at most meals.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5. Rome is rich in history. Athens has thousands of years of civilization.
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Passages and exercises are adapted from:
Passage 1 - From Great Paragraphs to Great Essays by Keith Folse et al. (2000) P.103. Heinle Cengage Learning
Passage 2- Effective Academic Writing by Alice Savage & Patricia Mayer (2012). P. 89. Oxford
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Practice Compare/Contrast TQadri F13

5. 6. Mozart composed his first opera at the age of 12. Mendelssohn composed his first
masterpiece in his teens.
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Passages and exercises are adapted from:
Passage 1 - From Great Paragraphs to Great Essays by Keith Folse et al. (2000) P.103. Heinle Cengage Learning
Passage 2- Effective Academic Writing by Alice Savage & Patricia Mayer (2012). P. 89. Oxford
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Practice Compare/Contrast TQadri F13

6. 6. Mozart composed his first opera at the age of 12. Mendelssohn composed his first
masterpiece in his teens.
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Passages and exercises are adapted from:
Passage 1 - From Great Paragraphs to Great Essays by Keith Folse et al. (2000) P.103. Heinle Cengage Learning
Passage 2- Effective Academic Writing by Alice Savage & Patricia Mayer (2012). P. 89. Oxford
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Practice Compare/Contrast TQadri F13