AES: ESL 382: Computer Applications

Comparing means writing about what is the same about two subjects. Contrasting means writing about what is different about two subjects. If you write a contrast composition, you will focus on differences. If you write a comparison composition, you will focus on similarities. When you write a comparison composition, it is a good idea to write a sentence or two about differences. The rest of the composition will be about similarities. When you write a contrast composition, it is a good idea to write a sentence or two about similarities. The rest of the composition will be about differences.

Example: Let's say you are going to write about two brothers, Nick and Joe. You decide that you want to focus on the differences between them, so you will write a contrast composition. (Remember, you will write a sentence or two about how they are the same. The rest of the composition will focus on the differences between them)

Main Idea Sentence (Introduction)

Both my brothers, Nick and Joe, have the same parents and grew up in the same place with the same culture, but they are really different in their looks and their lifestyle. (Notice that you have written that they are the same in two ways. You won't write anything more about how they are the same. You will only write about differences)

I. Nick

A. Appearance

1. Long curly hair
2. Beard

B. Clothes

1. Blue jeans
2. T-shirt

C. Job - cook

D. Transportation - bicycle

E. Free Time

1. Movies
2. Football

F. Housing - studio apartment in the city

NOTE: You will need a transition here to show contrast: "On the other hand" or "In contrast"

II. Joe

A. Appearance

1. Shorter, straighter hair than Nick
2. No beard

B. Clothes

1. Suit
2. Tie

C. Job - businessman

D. Transportation - car

E. Free time

1. Dancing
2. Soccer

F. Housing - large house in the suburbs

Both my brothers, Nick and Joe, have the same parents and grew up in the same place with the same culture, but are really different in their looks and their lifestyle.

Nick, the younger one, has long curly hair and a beard. He usually dresses casually in blue jeans and a T-shirt. His is a cook in a small restaurant. Because the restaurant is near his home, he rides his bicycle to work. In his free time, Nick goes to movies and plays football. He lives alone in the city in a studio apartment.

My brother, Joe, on the other hand, looks different than Nick. He has shorter, straighter hair. He has a moustache, but he doesn't have a beard. Joe's clothes are more formal than Nick's are. Because he is a businessman, he wears a suit and tie to work. He drives his car to his office downtown every day. In his free time, he goes dancing and plays soccer. Joe lives in a large house in the suburbs with his wife, two children, and a cat.

As you can see, my brothers have a few things about them which are the same. However, most of the important things in their life are different. Even though my brothers are very different, I love them both and like to spend as much time with them as possible.

Name __________________________ Topic ________________________________

Name __________________________ Topic ________________________________

Check one:

_____ We have decided to focus on the similarities of our topics.

_____ We have decided to focus on the differences between our topics.

Complete the following outline with your partner. You may not need to fill in all of the outline OR you might need to add more information. (It depends on how much you have to say about your topics). Show this to your teacher when you finish.

Main Idea Sentence (Introduction)

I. Topic of Student 1

A.

1.

2.

B.

1.

2.

C.

1.

2.

D.

1.

2.

NOTE: You will need a transition here to show that you will be contrasting: "On the other hand" or "In contrast"

I. Topic of Student 2

A.

1.

2.

B.

1.

2.

C.

1.

2.

D.

1.

2.

Conclusion

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Created by: krauss@lclark.edu
Updated: 10/16/06