WRITING 2
UNIT 4: COMPARE AND
CONTRAST PARAGRAPH
NGUYEN TRAN HOAI PHUONG
COMPARE AND CONTRAST PARAGRAPH
• To compare means to discuss how two people, places or things are
similar.
E.g.: Both teachers and students need to spend a lot of time prepaing for classes.
• To contrast means to discuss how two people, places or things are
different.
E.g.: One main advantage of a bicycle over a car is that a bicycle doesn’t create
any pollution.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST PARAGRAPH
I. Choosing a topic:
Brainstorm ideas to compare and contrast. Think of people, places, and things, Then
compare your lists with a partner.
People: ______________________ and ________________________.
Places: ______________________ and ________________________.
Things: ______________________ and ________________________.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST
PARAGRAPH
Read Yuko’s e-mail message to her friend
and answers the questions.
• What two things does the second
paragraph talk about?
• Is the second paragraph mostly
comparing or mostly contrasting?
How do you know?
COMPARE AND CONTRAST PARAGRAPH
III. Compare and contrast structures:
Using comparative structures
These words and phrases are used for writing comparisons.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST PARAGRAPH
and The man and the woman are tall.
both Both of the tables have broken legs.
both… and Both my neighbor and I are selling our cars.
also The store are closing for the holiday. The bank is also closing.
too Kathy is planning to go to the party, and I am, too.
neither…nor Neither Joe nor Stenven went to the meeting last night.
similar to Their new computer is similar to the one my brother bought.
the same as Is the restaurant where you had dinner the same as the place where I ate last month?
(just) as + adjective + as His coat is just as warm as the more expensive one.
likewise My parents were born in a small village. Likewise, my brothers and I also grew up
in a small town.
similarly There are many parks to visit in that city. Similarly, there are several parks in my
hometown, too.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST PARAGRAPH
Exercise 1: Complete these sentences with phrases from above.
a. The architecture of some modern government buildings is __________ the type of
construction used hundreds of years ago.
b. In recent years, news technology such as cellular telephones has made life more
convenient. ________, the Internet has made a wide variety of information available to
everyone.
c. _________ the rivers _________ the lakes are clear and beautiful.
d. The capital is just _______ modern ________the cities in many other countries.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST PARAGRAPH
III. Compare and contrast structures:
Using contrastive structures
These words and phrases are used for writing contrasts.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST PARAGRAPH
Exercise 2: Complete these sentences with phrase from above.
a. Some tourists enjoy taking part in a tour group, __________ many other tourists prefer
travelling on their own.
b. The two books are very _________ each other.
c. The cost of studying in a college or university in the United States is very high.
_________, in many other countries, the cost is much lower.
d. Changes in technology is occurring __________quickly __________ in the past.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST PARAGRAPH
more / less + adjective / adverb than Eating is usually more expensive than cooking at home.
adjective -er than My bedroom is bigger than my sister’s room.
but, while, though I enjoy eating fruit for desert, but / while / though my friends like
chocolate.
not the same as This book isn’t the same as the one you bought.
not as… as Some people feel that doing exercise isn’t as fun as watching TV.
different from That style of shirt is different from the styles most people wear.
in contrast The lakes we swam in were very clean and beautiful. In contrast, the
lakes in my country are polluted.
however The new stores sell its clothing at lower prices. However, other stores
have better quality clothing.
on the other hand My boyfriend likes to play sports. On the other hand, I prefer to do
yoga.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST PARAGRAPH
IV. Compare and contrast organization
Two methods for organizing a comparison / contrast paragraph
Method 1: Block organization
COMPARE AND CONTRAST PARAGRAPH
IV. Compare and contrast organization
Two methods for organizing a comparison / contrast paragraph
Method 2: Point-by point organization
Exercise 3: Finish filling in the outlines for each paragraph.
Block organization: Paragraph 1
Topic sentence: Reading a story in a book is often very different from seeing it as a movie.
Topic A – reading a book
Supporting points
1. ______________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________
Topic B - _________________________________
Supporting points
1. ______________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________.
Point-by-point organization: Paragraph 2
Topic sentence: Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana lived at a different times in different
countries, but their lives had some surprising similarities.
First point of comparison – difficult childhood
A1: ____________________________________________________________________
B1: Princess Diana – mother left family
Second point of comparison – _____________________________
A2: Princess Diana – married Prince Charles, later separated from him
B2: ____________________________________________________________________
Third point of comparison – ______________________
A3: ____________________________________________________________________
B3: ____________________________________________________________________
Fourth point of comparison – _______________________
A4: Marylin Monroe - _____________________________________________________
B4: ____________________________________________________________________
Fifth point of comparison – difficult childhood
A5: ____________________________________________________________________
B5: ____________________________________________________________________
Exercise 4: Read this list of details about two popular sports. Then make a list of similarities
and a list of differences below. Discuss your answer with a partner.
Exercise 5: Write a comparison or contrast paragraphs. Use either point-by-
point organization or block organization.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST PARAGRAPH
V. Advantages and disadvantages
Another way to compare or contrast is to talk about advantages (positive points) or
disadvantages (negative points) of a topic. If you are writing about one topic, it is usually
best to discuss advantages and disadvantages in two separate paragraphs. If you are writing
or contrasting two topics, you could organize the paragraph in either point-by-point or block
style.
Exercise 6: Write one or two paragraphs comparing or contrasting topics of
your choice or one of these.
• action movies / romantics movies
• the advantages and disadvantages of living abroad
• living in a small town / living in a big city
• playing sports / watching sports on TV
• the advantages and disadvantages of o having a job while in college.
