Name_______________________
Date________________________
Period______________________
Compare/Contrast Essay Webquest
1. Go to www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/compcontrast/

Click through the arrows at the top right corner under the tabs. Keep
going until you see “You are at the end.”

You will learn how to organize a paper when you are comparing and
contrasting things. Take notes below.
Overview
What is comparison and contrast?
Purpose
What are the two main reasons why people use comparison/contrast?
1.
2.
Choosing
What must you consider when choosing items to compare/contrast?
items
1.
2.
3.
Terms
What do you look for when you compare?
What do you look for when you contrast?
Balancing
It is important that you give ____________________ time to both the
similarities and differences of the items you are comparing/contrasting.
Organization
Strategies
What is the “Whole to Whole” or “Block” strategy?
Organization
What is the “Similarities to Differences” strategy?
Strategies
Organization
What is the “Point by Point” strategy?
Strategies
Graphic Organizers
Fill out the Venn Diagram below for the items: apples and oranges.
Transitions
In comparison and contrast, transition words tell a reader that the
writer is _______________ from talking about one item to the other.
Transitional words and phrases help make a paper _________________ and
more ____________________ by showing the reader the
__________________________between the ideas that are being presented.
Transitions for comparison include:
Transitions for contrasting include:
Checklist
What are the three main things to pay attention to as you write a
compare/contrast paper?
1.
2.
3.
2. Visit the website listed below. Read the sample compare/contrast essay and fill in the
chart.
www.timeforkids.com/files/homework_helper/aplus_papers/CompareContrastSampler.pdf
List the author’s attention
getter
What two things are being
compared/contrasted?
What is the topic sentence of
the first body paragraph
(paragraph #2)?
Write down two of the
1.
similarities.
2.
What is the topic sentence of
the second body paragraph
(paragraph #3)?
Write down two of the
1.
differences.
2.
What new information does
the author add in the
conclusion?
Read the paragraph below and answer these questions/perform the tasks:

What organizational strategy does it use? _______________________________

What is being compared/contrasted? ____________________________________

Circle all the transitions

Put boxes around the differences
The Macintosh computer that I use at school is dramatically different from the family
typewriter that I use at home. First of all, the computer with its word processing
program is easy to use. On the screen in front of me, I can see an entire rough draft of
a paragraph as I'm working on it. When I'm using the typewriter, in contrast, all that
I have to look at is a rough draft that's on a sheet of paper next to the typewriter. I
have to keep looking back and forth between that and the draft I'm typing out. Second
the computer is quick. In a moment or two, I can easily delete or add sentences to the
paragraph. I can move a sentence from one part of the paragraph to the next, and I
can make corrections in spelling or wording with a few key strokes. But with the
typewriter, there is no quick way to make a correction, delete a sentence, add a
sentence, or move a sentence around. Every time I want to make a change, I have to
use an eraser or correction fluid, or I have to type a new draft. Finally, the computer
offers helpful options. At any point, I can give it a command to check my spelling. I
can ask it to count the number of words in my paper. I can change my margins and
number the pages. The typewriter, on the other hand, does not offer a single one of
these helpful options.