Compare Contrast Passages

Read each passage: "Capybara" The capybara is the world's largest rodents. Capybaras can weigh up to 145 pounds. They love the water and spend most of their time in swamps, ponds, and rivers. If you want to see a capybara in the wild, you will need to go to Central or South America. "Crocodiles and Alligators" Crocodiles and alligators look very much alike, but there are ways to tell them apart. The crocodile has a pointy snout, while the alligator’s snout is rounder. The crocodile weighs less than the alligator and can move faster. Both animals have an extra-long lower tooth. When the crocodile’s mouth is closed, you can see this long tooth. However, when the alligator’s mouth is closed, the tooth is hidden inside the mouth. The two passages are:

• similar because both passages compare and contrast animals.

• different because "Crocodiles and Alligators" explains the cause and effect of crocodiles and alligators, on the other hand, "Capybara" describes capybara by giving details.

• similar because both passages describe different animals by giving details.

• different because "Crocodiles and Alligators" compare and contrast crocodiles and alligators while "Capybara" describes capybara by giving details.

What questions should you ask yourself when you're reading a paired passage?

• How are the passages connected?

• How are the passages different?

• What information is presented in both passages?

• All of the above

What is a paired passage?

• Two fiction passages

• Two passages that have questions on each passage and questions that compare and contrast both passages.

• Two stories that don't have a connection but you compare and contrast them both.

What's the strategy to use on scratch paper for compare/contrast questions?

• BME

• PIE

• Box T-chart or Venn Diagram

• Author's purpose

What's the NUMBER 1 strategy that will absolutely help you successfully answer paired passage questions?

• PIE

• annotated notes

• highlighting topic sentences

• finding text evidence for my answers

When I look at the paired passage, I am looking for the similarities and differences of the two passages.

• True

• False

When testing on a paired passage, how do you read it?

• read both passages then the questions

• read one, answer one, read two, answer two, and then both

• go to the questions first

• there's no strategy on how to read a paired passage

Paired passages can be 2 texts that are...

• Two fiction

• Two nonfiction

• Nonfiction/poem

• All of the above

Identify the type of organization that uses this visual

• Compare/contrast

• Cause/effect

• problem/solution

• argument/support

What is the primary purpose of comparing and contrasting passages?

• To identify the main idea of each passage

• To find similarities and differences between the passages

• To summarize each passage

• To critique the author's writing style