This document provides guidance for writing a contrasting paragraph comparing two languages. It includes: - Criteria for comparing languages such as origin, number of speakers, alphabet, grammar, word order, pronunciation, and spelling. - Instructions to brainstorm differences between English and another language being learned and to organize ideas in a point-by-point structure with topic sentence, supporting sentences on three differences, and concluding sentence. - Expressions to show contrast such as "there are differences between", "differs from", and comparative forms like "is more/less than". - An example contrasting paragraph comparing alphabets in English and Japanese.

1. UNIT 4
• Topic: Languages
• Writing genre: A contrasting paragraph

2. How many languages can you
recognize?

3. THINK AND SHARE
• What foreign languages are you learning?
• Are the foreign languages which you are
learning similar or different?

4. What things do you consider when you
compare or contrast two languages?
Criteria to
compare/contrast two
languages
origin Number of speakers
The alphabet
grammar
word order
Word form
pronunciation
spelling

5. BRAINSTORMING
• Think about English and the second foreign
language which you are learning
• What are some differences between them?
Things to contrast English You second foreign language
1.
2.
3.

6. WRITING TASK FOR UNIT 4
• Write a paragraph to show the differences
between English and your second foreign
language
• Use expressions of contrast in your writing
• Organize your ideas point-by-point
• Write at least 150 words

7. Point-by-point organization of a
contrasting paragraph
• Topic sentence:
- Topic: Two things/people/places (e.g. A, B)
- Main idea: differences / different
• Supporting sentences:
- Difference 1:
+ Detail about A
+ Detail about B
- Difference 2:
+ Detail about A
+ Detail about B
- Difference 3:
+ Detail about A
+ Detail about B
• Concluding sentence: Restate the main idea
• Topic sentence:
- Topic: British English versus American English
- Main idea: very different
• Supporting sentences:
- Spelling:
+ British English
+ American English
- Vocabulary:
+ British English
+ American English
- Grammar:
+ British English
+ American English
• Concluding sentence: Restate the main idea

8. Expressions to show contrast
1. Using nouns/verbs/adjectives of contrast
• There + be + (a/an) + (adj) + difference(s) between A and B
• A and B + have + (a/an) + (adj) + difference(s) + in …
• A + be different from / dissimilar to B + (in + Noun)
• A + be different from / dissimilar to B + in that + S +V
• A and B + differ + in terms of + Noun / in that + S + V.
• A differs from B + in terms of+ Noun / in that + S + V.

9. Expressions to show contrast
2. Using conjunctions
• In contrast to / Contrary to / In comparison to A, B + Vb.
• A + Va while / whereas B + Vb.
• A + Va; on the other hand / meanwhile, B + Vb.
• A + Va. On the other hand / Meanwhile, B + Vb.
• A + Va, but B + Vb
• A + Va; however, B + Vb.
• A + Va. However, B + Vb.
• Although/ Even though / Though + A + Va, B + Vb
• Unlike A, B + Vb. / B + Vb unlike A.

10. Expressions to show contrast
3. Using comparative forms
• A + be + adj-er/more adj + than + B.
• A + V + adj-er/more adj + noun + than + B
• A + V + more adv than B.

11. Examples
• Topic sentence:
There are three significant differences between English and
Japanese.
• Generally describe each difference:
The first difference that can be easily noticed is about their
alphabets.
• Specifically explain the difference:
While English uses only one Latin alphabet with 26 letters, Japanese
has three different alphabets including Katakana, Hiragana and Kanji.