This presentation teaches and explains how the compare/contrast essay works using visual cues to support learning.

1. The Comparison/Contrast
Essay
Comparison: Look at similarities
Contrast: Look at differences

2. Comparison/Contrast Essay
• Two Items must be connected in some
way
• If items are too unrelated, then
comparison/contrast would be too
obvious.

3. 2 Ways to Organize a
Comparison/Contrast Essay
• 1. Point by Point
• 2. Block Method

4. Point by Point
• Discuss an aspect (point) of item 1, and follow it
immediately with a discussion of the same aspect
(point) of item 2.
1.Engine
A. Engine of the Porsche
B. Engine of the Corvette
2. Body Style
A. Body style of the Porsche
B. Body style of the Corvette
3. History
A. History of the Porsche
B. History of the Corvette

5. Point by Point Method
• One difference between city and farm life is the water supply. In
the city water is readily available from the tap -- unless you
forgot to pay the bill. On the farm where my grandfather lives,
there is no water in the house. We have to take pails to a spring
at the bottom of a nearby hill. The city water has chemicals, and
sometimes you can taste the algae from the lake. The country
water is sweet and clear. At home it is great to get up in the
morning, turn on the faucet, and wash in warm water. On the
farm, we have to dress, get a pail of cold water from the spring,
bring it back, and heat it on the stove. At home I use water
without much thought. In the country, simple things like doing
dishes or taking a bath become complex. My experiences in both
places help me appreciate the convenience of city water and the
good, clean taste of farm water.

6. Block Method
• Discuss all aspect of item 1 and then discuss all
aspects of item 2 in the same order.
1. Porsche
A. Engine of the Porsche
B. Body style of the Porsche
C. History of the Porsche
2. Corvette
A. Engine of the Corvette
B. Body style of the Corvette
C. History of the Corvette

7. Block Method
• One of the differences between city and farm life is the water
supply. In the city water is readily available from the tap
--unless you forgot to pay the bill. However, city water has
chemicals, and sometimes you can taste the algae from the
lake. At home it is great to get up in the morning, turn on the
faucet, and wash in warm water. In the city, I use water
without much thought. One the farm where my grandfather
lives, there is no water in the house. We have to take pails to
spring at the bottom of a nearby hill. The country water tastes
sweet and clear. In the morning, we have to dress, get a pail
of cold water from the spring, bring it back, and heat it on the
stove. In the country, simple things like doing dishes or
taking a bath become complex. My experiences in both places
help me appreciate the convenience of city water and the
good, clean taste of farm water.

8. Which method would you
choose?
• Point by Point
– Sometimes harder to organize but comparison
is very clear
• Block
– May be easier to organize but comparison can
be less clear
– Transitions very important
• (Similar to the Porsche, Unlike the Corvette, …)