Comparison and Contrast

Warm-up

• 华闵 vs. 秋实• 韩剧 vs.美剧• 家乡 vs.上海

ECNU vs. Jiaoda

• Similarities – 1. _____________________– 2. _____________________– 3_____________________

• Differences– 1. _____________________– 2. _____________________– 3. _____________________– 4. _____________________

• Who never compares or contrasts?

• To compare– Why are A & B alike?

• To contrast – How do A & B differ?

• Why to compare and contrast?– To present information about something

unfamiliar by comparing it with something familiar.

– To show the superiority of one thing by comparing it with another.

– To show readers of the similarities and differences of the two things to help the readers understand or evaluate them.

• Principles – Only items (usually two) of the same general class

can be compared or contrasted, the items of different class can not be used in such a way.

– Two patterns• Subject-by-subject pattern (Block Pattern) • Point-by-point pattern （ Alternative Pattern）

Subject-by-subject pattern

• Thesis: X is a better school than Y.• X

– Student body– Teaching staff– Library and other facilities – campus

• Y– Student body– Teaching staff– Library and other facilities – campus

Point-by-point pattern

• Thesis: X is a better school than Y.

• Student body : X vs. Y

• Teaching staff: X vs. Y

• Library and other facilities: X vs. Y

• Campus: X vs. Y

• Principles – The comparison and contrast should be

balanced; the two items being compared/contrasted are to be given equal treatment.

– The comparison and contrast should be supported by concrete and relevant facts.

– A comparison/contrast shows similarities and differences in order to make a particular point.

Transitions

To compare

Similar to at the same rate asSimilarly asLike, alike just as Likewise in like mannerCorrespond to in the same wayResemble common characteristicsCorrespondingly to have …… in commonResemblance to be parallel in…Almost the same as both…

To contrast

Differ from unlikeHowever in contrast to Still in opposition toNevertheless on the contraryOtherwise on the opposite sideEven so on the other handDifferent from while..

• Analogy – A special kind of comparison. It show the

similarities between two things of different class. For example, learning English is just like_______ or life is just a __________.

• Guidelines – Two items of different class– One of the items is used only to explain the

other. – One item must be familiar to the readers. – It is used to support a particular point. – It provides only a new insight or perspective; it

cannot be used to prove anything.

• Eating and Reading

Studying: Then and Now

1.Develop an outline for the essay.2.How does the author begin the essay?3.What’s wrong with paragraph 3?4.In paragraph 4, is there anything that can

be bettered?5.How does the author conclude?6.Can you figure out the similarities and

dissimilarities of high schools and colleges in terms of academic study from your own perspective?

High schools Universities

1. _______________________

2. _______________________

3. _______________________

4. _______________________

1. _______________________

2. _______________________

3. _______________________

4. _______________________

Born to be different

1. Are men and women born different from each other?2. What is the thesis? How does the author develop the

thesis? Develop an outline for the essay. 3. What are the major differences between men and

women?4. How does the author present the differences between

men and women?5. What are the three contrast signals used to introduce the

main supporting paragraphs in the essay? 6. How does the author begin and end the essay?

Topics for discussion

• Writing assignment 2: pp. 280– Co-education vs. Uni-sex education – Nuclear power plants– Gay couples adopting children – The death penalty– Euthanasia (mercy killing )

• Learning online vs. learning in a classroom

• Dream campus life vs. real campus life

• Traditional Chinese food vs. western fast food

Journal

• Read two pieces of writing about declining in the Chinese and western cultures. Develop a comparison and contrast essay based on your understanding. Please feel free to take any perspectives you like. – A Letter to Lord Chesterfield, by Samuel

Johnson–《陈情表》 by 李密

Thank You!