1. Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

2. CHAPTER 6: COMPARISON AND CONTRAST
ESSAY #3
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3. CHAPTER OUTLINE AND LEARNING OBJECTIVES
In this chapter, you will learn to:
 compare or contrast two entities,
 demonstrate knowledge of the subject-by-
subject and point-by-point patterns of
exposition, and
 write a process paragraph that incorporates
appropriate transitions for a specific pattern.
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4. WHAT IS COMPARISON? WHAT IS CONTRAST?
 To compare means to point out similarities.
 To contrast means to point out differences.
 In your papers, explain to your readers your
position because they will be seeking that
information.
 When you compare or contrast, you need to
come to some conclusion.
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5. WHAT IS COMPARISON? WHAT IS CONTRAST?
 Hints for writing a comparison or contrast
paragraph
 Often people think the easiest topics to write
about are the broad ones with many similarities
and differences.
 If you make your topic too large, you won’t be
able to cover it well and your paper will be full of
many large statements. A good writer backs up
every statement. The more statements! The
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more work!

6. HINTS CONTINUED…
 With the obvious topic, you have nothing
new to say. You paragraph may be dull and
boring.

7. HINTS CONTINUED…
3. Make your point in the topic sentence of
your comparison or contrast paragraph.
 You should indicate to your reader if your
paragraph is comparing or contrasting.
EX: Dogs are wonderful pets, and they are
better than cats.

8. HINTS CONTINUED…
4. Do not announce in the topic sentence.
 EX. This paper is about…
 I am going to talk about…
 Let me tell you about how this is different
from that…

9. HINTS CONTINUED…
5. Make sure your topic sentence has a focus.
 It should indicate similarities and differences.
 EX. FOCUSED
 My new home is bigger, brighter, and more
comfortable than my old one.
 EX. UNFOCUSED
 My old house and my new house are different.

10. HINTS CONTINUED…
6. In the topic sentence, cover both subjects to be
compared or contrasted.
 Covers only one subject: The beach of Santa
Lucia was dirty and crowded.
 Covers both subjects: The beach of Santa
Lucia was dirty and crowded, but the beach at
Fisher Bay was clean and private.

11. WHAT IS COMPARISON? WHAT IS CONTRAST?
 Organizing Your Comparison or Contrast Paragraph
 Subject-by-Subject Organization
 Support and explain your topic sentence by first
writing all your details on one subject and then
writing all your details on the other subject.
 Be sure to discuss the points for your second
subject in the same order as you did for the first
subject.
 Point-by-Point Organization
 Support and explain your topic sentence by
discussing each point of comparison or contrast,
switching back and forth between your subjects.
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12. WHAT IS COMPARISON? WHAT IS CONTRAST?
 Using Transitions Effectively
 How and when you use transitions in a
comparison or contrast paragraph depend on the
answers to two questions:
1. Are you writing a comparison or contrast
paragraph?
2. Are you organizing your paragraph in the
point-by-point or subject-by-subject pattern?
 INFO BOX: Transitions for a Comparison or
Contrast Paragraph
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13. WRITING THE COMPARISON OR
CONTRAST PARAGRAPH IN STEPS
 Prewriting Comparison or Contrast—how to
generate and develop ideas for your comparison or
contrast paragraph (Look at pages 91-92)
 Planning Comparison or Contrast—how to
organize your ideas for your comparison or contrast
paragraph(96-97)
 Drafting and Revising Comparison or Contrast—
how to create, revise, and edit rough drafts of your
comparison or contrast paragraph (99-101)
 Proofreading Comparison or Contrast—how to
proofread and make one final check of your
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comparison or contrast Inc.

14. PREWRITING A COMPARISON OR CONTRAST
 List Differences or Similarities
 See whether there are more similarities or
differences.
 Decide which approach to use.
 Getting Points of Comparison or Contrast
 Whether you compare or contrast, you are
looking for points of comparison or contrast,
items you can discuss about both subjects.
 Adding Details to Your Points
 Once you have points, add details to them.
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15. PLANNING COMPARISON OR CONTRAST
 With a topic sentence, begin to draft an outline.
 Decide the pattern you want to use.
 Checklist for an Outline of a Comparison or
Contrast Paragraph
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16. DRAFTING AND REVISING COMPARISON OR CONTRAST
 Drafting a Paragraph
 Add details and transitions
 The Draft
 Checklist for Revising the Draft of a Comparison or
Contrast Paragraph
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17. PROOFREADING COMPARISON OR CONTRAST
 Contrast Paragraph: Point-by-Point Pattern
 Check for errors in spelling, grammar, or
preparation.
 The Same Contrast Paragraph: Subject-by-Subject
Pattern
 Check for errors in spelling, punctuation, typing,
and copying.
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18. PROOFREADING COMPARISON OR CONTRAST
 Lines of Detail: A Walk-Through Assignment
 Topics for Writing a Comparison or a Contrast
Paragraph
 Topics for Critical Thinking and Writing
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19. WHAT IS COMPARISON?
A. Explains how to do something.
B. Points out differences.
C. Shows a reader what a person, place, thing, or situation
is like.
D. Points out similarities.
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20. WHAT IS COMPARISON?
A. Explains how to do something.
B. Points out differences.
C. Shows a reader what a person, place, thing, or situation
is like.
D. Points out similarities.
compare or contrast two entities
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21. WHAT IS CONTRAST?
A. Explains how to do something.
B. Points out differences.
C. Shows a reader what a person, place, thing, or
situation is like.
D. Points out similarities.
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22. WHAT IS CONTRAST?
A. Explains how to do something.
B. Points out differences.
C. Shows a reader what a person, place, thing, or
situation is like.
D. Points out similarities.
compare or contrast two entities
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23. SUBJECT-BY-SUBJECT ORGANIZATION INVOLVES
A. Writing all of the details on one subject and then
writing all of the details on the other subject.
B. Discussing each point of comparison or
contrast, switching back and forth between
subjects.
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24. SUBJECT-BY-SUBJECT ORGANIZATION INVOLVES
A. Writing all of the details on one subject and
then writing all of the details on the other
subject.
B. Discussing each point of comparison or
contrast, switching back and forth between
subjects.
demonstrate knowledge of the subject-by-
subject and point-by-point patterns of exposition
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.

25. POINT-BY-POINT ORGANIZATION INVOLVES
A. Writing all of the details on one subject and then
writing all of the details on the other subject.
B. Discussing each point of comparison or
contrast, switching back and forth between
subjects.
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26. POINT-BY-POINT ORGANIZATION INVOLVES
A. Writing all of the details on one subject and then
writing all of the details on the other subject.
B. Discussing each point of comparison or
contrast, switching back and forth between
subjects.
demonstrate knowledge of the subject-by-subject and
point-by-point patterns of exposition
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27. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS A COMMON TRANSITION
FOR A COMPARISON PARAGRAPH?
A. except
B. although
C. furthermore
D. whereas
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28. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS A COMMON TRANSITION
FOR A COMPARISON PARAGRAPH
A. except
B. although
C. furthermore
D. whereas
write a process paragraph that incorporates
appropriate transitions for a specific pattern.
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29. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT A COMMON
TRANSITION FOR A CONTRAST PARAGRAPH?
A. despite
B. likewise
C. otherwise
D. nevertheless
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30. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT A COMMON
TRANSITION FOR A CONTRAST PARAGRAPH?
A. despite
B. likewise
C. otherwise
D. nevertheless
write a process paragraph that incorporates
appropriate transitions for a specific pattern.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.