Compare and Contrast

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

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 _______.

• A. comparing Greek myths but not contrasting them

• B. comparing Greek myths with Roman myths

• C. comparing and contrasting Greek myths

• D. not comparing or contrasting

Before you write a compare and contrast essay, you should, _______.

• choose one difference between the items that is most important

• pick which item is better

• revise your essay using a flow chart

• pre-write for your essay using a Venn diagram

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

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 statements contrasts mammals and reptiles?

• Humans are mammals.

• Both mammals and reptiles are vertebrates.

• Mammals are warm blooded while reptiles are cold blooded.

• Mammals and reptiles can live in the same habitat.

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

• nouns

• transition words

• punctuation

• prepositions

Which of the following words or phrases can be used to show a comparison?

• On the other hand

• Similarly

• While

• In contrast

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

• Similarly

• In conclusion

• On the other hand

• Nonetheless