How To: Use Comparing Strategies
DQ3: HELPING STUDENTS PRACTICE AND DEEPEN THEIR
UNDERSTANDING OF NEW KNOWLEDGE
Element 17
Examining Similarities and Differences
Comparing is the process of identifying similarities and differences between ideas or things. A variety of
strategies can be used when designing comparison activities. We will discuss sentence stems, Venn diagrams,
double bubble diagrams and comparison matrices.
Sentence Stem Comparisons
This strategy can be used to have the students compare and contrast people, characters, places, events,
concepts or processes. The comparisons can be general or specific. Marzano’s Becoming a Reflective Teacher,
gives the following examples:
General – House cats are similar to lions because ____________________. House cats are different than lions
because _______________________.
Specific – Sherlock Holmes and Gandalf are both characters who enjoy solving mysteries, but they are different
because ____________________________.
After a gym teacher has provided a series of critical-input experiences on baseball and fast pitch softball, he
might assign a sentence stem assignment comparing and contrasting the two sports. A completed example can
be found in Marzano’s A Handbook for the Art and Science of Teaching and looks something like this.
Baseball and fast pitch softball are similar because they both…
• Have 4 bases in a diamond shape
• Have 9 defensive players.
• Have the same ball/strike counts: 4 balls = walk & 3 strikes = out
Baseball and fast pitch softball are different because…
• In baseball, the bases are 90 feet apart, but in fast pitch softball the bases are 60 feet apart.
• In baseball, the pitching distance is 60 feet, 6 inches, but in fast pitch softball, the pitching distance is
between 40 and 46 feet depending on the level of play.
• In baseball, the pitcher throws overhand, bit in fast pitch softball, the pitcher throws underhand.
Another sentence stem example comparing monarchy and dictatorship is presented in The Art and Science of
Teaching on page 72. An empty sentence stem template is attached.
How To: Use Comparing
Design Question 3 | Element 17
Copyright © 2012 Learning Sciences International
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Sentence Stem Comparison A
______________________ and _____________________ are similar because they both:
_______________________________________________________________________.
_______________________________________________________________________.
_______________________________________________________________________.
__________________________ and ________________________ are different because:
________________________________________________________________________.
________________________________________________________________________.
________________________________________________________________________.
Sentence Stem Comparison B
______________________ and _____________________ are similar because they both:
_______________________________________________________________________.
_______________________________________________________________________.
_______________________________________________________________________.
__________________________ and ________________________ are different because:
________________is______________, but _________________is__________________.
________________is______________, but _________________is__________________.
________________is______________, but _________________is__________________.
How To: Use Comparing
Design Question 3 | Element 17
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Venn Diagrams
Students use these visual representations to compare and contrast two or three people, characters, places,
things, events, concepts or processes. Similarities between the topics of comparison are written where the
circles intersect and characteristics that they do not have in common are written where the circles do not
intersect. They can be used for specific, general, abstract or concrete comparisons.
A Venn diagram could be used in all subjects to compare and contrast information.
• Science example – used to compare and contrast two or three ecosystems
• Math example – used to compare and contrast different quadrilaterals
• History example – used to compare and contrast figures in history or presidential candidates
• English example – used to compare and contrast two characters from a novel
Below is a Venn diagram example that is found in The Art and Science of Teaching.
1.
Can coexist with
representative
government.
Not uncommon for
people to show great
affection for the ruler.
2.
3.
Usually comes in to
power through
heritage.
Monarchy
Often perceived
as police states.
Forms of
government.
Government dominated
by a single person.
History has examples
of rulers who were
considered by many
as tyrants.
1.
2.
Not uncommon
for ruler to be
hated or feared.
Usually comes
into power through
coercion or force.
3.
Dictatorship
A Venn diagram template that can be used to compare two concepts is attached.
How To: Use Comparing
Design Question 3 | Element 17
Copyright © 2012 Learning Sciences International
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VENN DIAGRAM
Things in Common
Concept 1__________________________
Concept 2__________________________
Written Explanation of Comparisons Discovered:
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
How To: Use Comparing
Design Question 3 | Element 17
Copyright © 2012 Learning Sciences International
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Double-Bubble Diagrams
This strategy compares the attributes of two people, places, things, concepts, etc. Students write the two topics
being compared in the large gray circles. Common attributes are listed in the center smaller circles connected
to the topic bubbles and the unique attributes are written on the outside edge of the diagram connected to the
appropriate topic bubble. Please see the monarchy, dictatorship example below.
1. Coexists with
representative
governments.
2. Not uncommon
for people to
show great
affection.
1. Often perceived
as police states.
Forms of
government.
Monarchy
3. Usually comes
into power
through heritage.
Dominated by a
single person.
Dictatorship
Both had historical
examples of tyrants.
2. Not uncommon
for ruler to be
hated or feared.
3. Usually comes
into power through
coercion or force.
A foreign language class could use this strategy to compare the customs or beliefs of the United States to a
country that uses the foreign language they are studying. Similarities in customs or practices would be put in the
middle circles and areas of differences would be written on the left and the right sides.
A blank double-bubble template is attached that can be used to compare two concepts.
How To: Use Comparing
Design Question 3 | Element 17
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Double-Bubble Comparison
How To: Use Comparing
Design Question 3 | Element 17
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Comparison Matrix
A comparison is a more formal way to compare two or more concepts. A matrix (chart) is completed with the
concepts to be compared written across the top of each column of the grid and the identifying attributes or
questions written in the rows at the left side of the grid. The students then record their information or answers
in each cell of the grid. The final column can be used to share the similarities and differences between the
concepts. This last column helps summarize the similarities and differences discovered while completing the
matrix. Please see the monarchy, dictatorship, and democracy matrix below for an example.
Figure 3.9 Comparison Matrix from The Art and Science of Teaching, (page 75)
Monarchy
How the leaders
come to power
Dictatorship
Democracy
King or queen gains
throne out of heritage.
Sometimes a monarch
The dictator usually
takes power through
coercion or force.
Leaders are elected by
the people, sometimes
influenced by others.
Similarities & Differences
Actually, monarchy and dictatorship are
more alike and democracy is different.
takes over country by
force. Often a leader
for life.
Often is leader for life.
The leader doesn't
have total power. May
be voted out of office.
Monarchs and dictatorships are similar
in that power over people is taken
by, or given to, an individual, but in a
democracy, the people decide who will
have the power. Even though monarchy and dictatorship are somewhat
similar, they are also different in that
the dictator takes over by force, but the
monarch is usually designated as a
result of heritage.
The reaction
from the people
Throughout history are
examples of monarchs
loved by the people,
but some were hated
by certain persecuted
groups.
Often in history the
dictator is hated
or feared by most
people.
People are often split
on their reactions but
accept the elected
leader, knowing they
can try to elect a new
one before too long.
Similarities & Differences
The role of the
people
People are generally
expected to obey the
rule of the monarch.
Monarch holds power
and can change laws.
Can become like
dictators.
People must obey the
dictator. Often there
are serious consequences to not being
loyal.
Generally the people
are seen to have
power through their
votes. If they don't like
what's happening, they
can elect new leaders.
Similarities & Differences
Another example where students can use a comparison matrix is comparing different eras like the Middle Ages,
the European Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment. The questions on the left side of the grid could
include: What are the major forms of government in each era? What is the enduring legacy from each era?
How did class structures change during each era? A customizable template that can be used to compare two
concepts is attached.
How To: Use Comparing
Design Question 3 | Element 17
Copyright © 2012 Learning Sciences International
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Comparison Matrix for __________________________ & _________________________________
Items to
Compare
Concept 1
Concept 2
Similarities & Differences
Attribute 1
Attribute 2
Attribute 3
Attribute 4
How To: Use Comparing
Design Question 3 | Element 17
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