Used in the context of an EFL INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED WRITING course taught to adult learners in Saudi Arabia; supplemental materials to Unit 4 of our textbook (see citation below). Huizenga, J., Meade-Snellings, C., & Francis, G. B. (1990). ANALYZING WITH COMPARE & CONTRAST. In Basic composition for ESL: An expository workbook (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Heinle & Beinle.

2. COMPOSITIONS USING
COMPARE & CONTRAST
One way we analyze a topic in a writing is
to put it next to a another topic (whether
it’s a person or a thing) and think about
how the two are similar or different (or
both).
This can help us understand the topic
within the context of the wider world.
This technique of analysis is called
Compare & Contrast.

3. COMPOSITIONS USING
COMPARE & CONTRAST
• Comparing usually means
thinking or writing about the
similarities between two things
or people.

4. COMPOSITIONS USING
COMPARE & CONTRAST
• Comparing usually means
thinking or writing about the
similarities between two things
or people.
and

5. COMPOSITIONS USING
COMPARE & CONTRAST
• Comparing usually means
thinking or writing about the
similarities between two things
or people.
and
• Contrasting usually means
thinking or writing about the
differences between two things
or people.

6. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
When you are writing a Contrasting piece,
you will focus on the things that are
different about your two subjects.

7. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
When you are writing a Contrasting piece,
you will focus on the things that are
different about your two subjects.
However, it is most effective to also mention
the things that are similar about them.

8. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
When you are writing a Contrasting piece,
you will focus on the things that are
different about your two subjects.
However, it is most effective to also mention
the things that are similar about them.
Your Topic Sentence should mention these
similarities.
.

9. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
When you are writing a Contrasting piece,
you will focus on the things that are
different about your two subjects.
However, it is most effective to also mention
the things that are similar about them.
Your Topic Sentence should mention these
similarities.
FOR EXAMPLE:

10. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
When you are writing a Contrasting piece,
you will focus on the things that are
different about your two subjects.
However, it is most effective to also mention
the things that are similar about them.
Your Topic Sentence should mention these
similarities.
FOR EXAMPLE:
Apples vs. Oranges

11. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
You want to write a Contrasting piece about
the differences between Apples and
Oranges.

12. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
You want to write a Contrasting piece about
the differences between Apples and
Oranges.
Your writing will focus on the differences,

13. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
You want to write a Contrasting piece about
the differences between Apples and
Oranges.
Your writing will focus on the differences,
but it is most effective if you also mention

14. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
You want to write a Contrasting piece about
the differences between Apples and
Oranges.
Your writing will focus on the differences,
but it is most effective if you also mention
(usually in your Topic Sentence)

15. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
You want to write a Contrasting piece about
the differences between Apples and
Oranges.
Your writing will focus on the differences,
but it is most effective if you also mention
(usually in your Topic Sentence) that the two
things also have some similarities:

16. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
You want to write a Contrasting piece about the
differences between Apples and Oranges.
Your writing will focus on the differences, but it is
most effective if you also mention (usually in
your Topic Sentence) that the two things do
have some similarities:
Apples and oranges are both popular kinds
of fruit, but they are different in several
important ways.

17. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
You want to write a Contrasting piece about the
differences between Apples and Oranges.
Your writing will focus on the differences, but it is
most effective if you also mention (usually in
your Topic Sentence) that the two things do
have some similarities:
Apples and oranges are both popular kinds
of fruit, but they are different in several
important ways.
and the opposite is also true:

18. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
You want to write a Comparing piece about
the similarities between Apples and
Oranges.

19. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
You want to write a Comparing piece about
the similarities between Apples and
Oranges.
Your writing will focus on the similarities, but
it is most effective if you also mention
(usually in your Topic Sentence) that the two
things also have some differences:

20. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
You want to write a Comparing piece about the
similarities between Apples and Oranges.
Your writing will focus on the similarities, but it is
most effective if you also mention (usually in
your Topic Sentence) that the two things also
have some differences:
Apples and oranges may be different in
appearance, but they share several
important health benefits.

21. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
You want to write a Comparing piece about the
similarities between Apples and Oranges.
Your writing will focus on the similarities, but it is
most effective if you also mention (usually in
your Topic Sentence) that the two things also
have some differences:
Apples and oranges may be different in
appearance, but they share several
important health benefits.
We’ll talk more about effective Topic Sentences in
Compare/Contrast writing later in the Unit.

22. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Choices of
STRUCTURE / FORMAT

23. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
There are two helpful ways to arrange (or “format”) your material in a
Compare & Contrast writing, after the Topic Sentence.

24. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
There are two helpful ways to arrange (or “format”) your material in a
Compare & Contrast writing, after the Topic Sentence.
Let’s say you’re writing a writing to compare/contrast airplanes and
helicopters.

25. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format One: ABC/ABC

26. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format One : ABC/ABC
I. Topic Sentence

27. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format One : ABC/ABC
I. Topic Sentence
II. Airplanes

28. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format One : ABC/ABC
I. Topic Sentence
II. Airplanes
a. shape and design

29. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format One : ABC/ABC
I. Topic Sentence
II. Airplanes
a. shape and design
b. speed

30. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format One : ABC/ABC
I. Topic Sentence
II. Airplanes
a. shape and design
b. speed
c. direction of takeoff and flight

31. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format One : ABC/ABC
I. Topic Sentence
II. Airplanes
a. shape and design
b. speed
c. direction of takeoff and flight
III. Helicopters

32. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format One : ABC/ABC
I. Topic Sentence
II. Airplanes
a. shape and design
b. speed
c. direction of takeoff and flight
III. Helicopters
a. shape and design

33. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format One : ABC/ABC
I. Topic Sentence
II. Airplanes
a. shape and design
b. speed
c. direction of takeoff and flight
III. Helicopters
a. shape and design
b. speed

34. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format One : ABC/ABC
I. Topic Sentence
II. Airplanes
a. shape and design
b. speed
c. direction of takeoff and flight
III. Helicopters
a. shape and design
b. speed
c. direction of takeoff and flight

35. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format One : ABC/ABC
I. Topic Sentence
II. Airplanes
a. shape and design
b. speed
c. direction of takeoff and flight
III. Helicopters
a. shape and design
b. speed
c. direction of takeoff and flight
IV. Concluding Sentence

36. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format Two: AA/BB/CC

37. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format Two: AA/BB/CC
I. Topic Sentence

38. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format Two: AA/BB/CC
I. Topic Sentence
II. Shape and Design

39. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format Two: AA/BB/CC
I. Topic Sentence
II. Shape and Design
a. airplanes

40. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format Two: AA/BB/CC
I. Topic Sentence
II. Shape and Design
a. airplanes
b. helicopters

41. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format Two: AA/BB/CC
I. Topic Sentence
II. Shape and Design
a. airplanes
b. helicopters
III. Speed

42. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format Two: AA/BB/CC
I. Topic Sentence
II. Shape and Design
a. airplanes
b. helicopters
III. Speed
a. airplanes

43. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format Two: AA/BB/CC
I. Topic Sentence
II. Shape and Design
a. airplanes
b. helicopters
III. Speed
a. airplanes
b. helicopters

44. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format Two: AA/BB/CC
I. Topic Sentence
II. Shape and Design
a. airplanes
b. helicopters
III. Speed
a. airplanes
b. helicopters
IV. Direction of Takeoff and Flights

45. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format Two: AA/BB/CC
I. Topic Sentence
II. Shape and Design
a. airplanes
b. helicopters
III. Speed
a. airplanes
b. helicopters
IV. Direction of Takeoff and Flights
a. airplanes

46. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format Two: AA/BB/CC
I. Topic Sentence
II. Shape and Design
a. airplanes
b. helicopters
III. Speed
a. airplanes
b. helicopters
IV. Direction of Takeoff and Flights
a. airplanes
b. helicopters

47. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Format Two: AA/BB/CC
I. Topic Sentence
II. Shape and Design
a. airplanes
b. helicopters
III. Speed
a. airplanes
b. helicopters
IV. Direction of Takeoff and Flights
a. airplanes
b. helicopters
V. Concluding Sentence

48. TOPIC SENTENCE
The Topic Sentence (or Main Idea Sentence) for
a writing that compares and contrasts should
tell the reader 3 important things:

49. TOPIC SENTENCE
The Topic Sentence (or Main Idea Sentence) for
a writing that compares and contrasts should
tell the reader 3 important things:
1) WHAT two things or people are being
compared and contrasted

50. TOPIC SENTENCE
The Topic Sentence (or Main Idea Sentence) for
a writing that compares and contrasts should
tell the reader 3 important things:
1) WHAT two things or people are being
compared and contrasted
2) Whether the writing will focus on the
SIMILARITIES or the DIFFERENCES between
them

51. TOPIC SENTENCE
The Topic Sentence (or Main Idea Sentence) for
a writing that compares and contrasts should
tell the reader 3 important things:
1) WHAT two things or people are being
compared and contrasted
2) Whether the writing will focus on the
SIMILARITIES or the DIFFERENCES between
them
3) Should still mention the OPPOSITE; so if the
writing is about the similarities, it should also
mention the differences – and if the writing is
about the differences, it should also mention
the similarities

52. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Often, words like but and however are used to
connect the two parts of a main idea sentence for
a compare and contrast writing:

53. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Often, words like but and however are used to
connect the two parts of a main idea sentence for
a compare and contrast writing:
Disneyland and Walt Disney World both come from the
imagination of the same man, Walt Disney, but the two
parks offer very different types of entertainment.*

54. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Often, words like but and however are used to
connect the two parts of a main idea sentence for
a compare and contrast writing:
Disneyland and Walt Disney World both come from the
imagination of the same man, Walt Disney, but the two
parks offer very different types of entertainment.*
The political systems of the United States and my country
seem different at first, but they actually have some striking
similarities.*

55. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
Often, words like but and however are used to
connect the two parts of a main idea sentence for
a compare and contrast writing:
Disneyland and Walt Disney World both come from the
imagination of the same man, Walt Disney, but the two
parks offer very different types of entertainment.*
The political systems of the United States and my country
seem different at first, but they actually have some striking
similarities.*
Many people think that humans have little in common with
sea animals; however, scientists have shown that the
dolphin resembles us in many ways.*
* See final slide for acknowledgement of source material.

56. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
PLANNING:

57. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
PLANNING:
”MY TWO
BROTHERS”

58. COMPOSITIONS USING COMPARE & CONTRAST
PLANNING:
”MY TWO
BROTHERS”
Pg. 107

59. References
Huizenga, J., Meade-Snellings, C., & Francis, G. B. (1990).
ANALYZING WITH COMPARE & CONTRAST. In Basic composition
for ESL: An expository workbook (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Heinle &
Beinle.