Comparing and Contrasting Text Study Guide

Comparing and Contrasting Text

In this lesson, you'll discover that authors often describe how things are alike or different.

SOME AUTHORS USE a compare-and-contrast text structure to organize ideas. To compare, they tell how things are alike; to contrast, they tell how things are different. Words like same, different, some, all, every, also, but, both, or many signal to readers that the author is using a compare-and-contrast structure.

Compare: Every student in the school wore the same blue uniform. Contrast: They may have to wear uniforms, but we don't!

Authors don't always use signal words. Then, readers must figure out what's being compared or contrasted.

Example 1

The DJ played classic rock and everyone agreed the music was cool . . . or as some put it, "fierce!" How could I tell my new friends that I preferred country-western?

Many times things can be alike in one or more ways but still be different. In the preceding example, rock and country-western are alike because both are kinds of music, but they are different in style and rhythm. A Venn diagram can help you keep track of likenesses and differences as you read.

Example 2

Marissa and Matthew are twins, but she has dark hair and he's a blond. Everyone in their family has brown eyes. Matthew plays drums and Marissa plays guitar in the school band. They both sing and want to start a rock group.

Practice exercises for this study guide can be found at:

Comparing and Contrasting Text Practice Exercises