Compare and Contrast Writing

What does it mean to contrast things?​

• Look at differences.​

• Look at similarities. ​

In which of the following situations could you compare and contrast?

• You are voting for class president and there are three students running

• You are writing an essay about which time period you’d rather live in: the 1980s or the 1880s.

• You are deciding what the major differences are between the first and last Harry Potter books.

• All of the above

When comparing and contrasting, you should ________.

• write similarities in the overlapping sections of a Venn diagram

• write differences in the overlapping sections of a Venn Diagram

• write similarities in the arrows of a flow chart

• skip pre-writing and begin writing the essay right away

Using ________ in your essay helps readers know when you're comparing and contrasting.

• nouns

• transition words

• punctuation

• prepositions

Kelvin is writing about the Greek myths that he recently read. He describes how they each focus on a hero’s quest and how each hero is different. Kelvin is ________.

• comparing Greek myths but not contrasting them

• comparing Greek myths with Roman myths

• comparing and contrasting Greek myths

• not comparing or contrasting

If you’re comparing and contrasting three items, you ________.

• can’t use a Venn diagram

• only have to describe two of them

• can add a third circle to your Venn diagram

• can compare them without contrasting

What would you compare and contrast to respond to the following essay prompt?

"Compare and contrast mammals and reptiles. Discuss their life cycles, habitats and bodies."

• mammals and reptiles

• humans and insects

• vertebrates

• deserts and rainforests

Which of the following words or phrases could be used when contrasting?

• Similarly

• In Conclusion

• On the other hand

• Nonetheless

What does contrast mean?

• Describing the differences between two or more things.

• Describing the same between two or more things.

• comparing

• studying

Joe and Bob both like to eat ice cream. Compare or Contrast?

• compare

• contrast