Practice of English Composition

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Contents Unit 5 Comparison and contrast essays

Part 1 Thinking about the topic Modeling writing: Bananas vs. Grapes Comparison and contrast organizations Reading: Learning about differences

Part 2 Free-writing (5 points for volunteers) Reading: A walk on Sunday afternoon Group work: From outline to essay

Thinking about the topic

Thinking about the topic

Compare-and-contrast writing helps readers gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of two subjects through analyzing the relationships between them.

Thinking about the topic

Compare-and-contrast writing allows you to examine the advantages and disadvantages of two subjects.

Thinking about the topic

Compare-and-contrast writing helps you discover the unique similarities and differences between two subjects.

Modeling writing: the Venn diagram

Organization: Body paragraph 1

Topic sentence about similarities________________________________________ Details________________________________________

Body paragraph 2 Topic sentence about differences________________________________________ Details________________________________________

similarities-and-differences pattern

Similarities-and-differences pattern Introduction

Hook Background information Thesis statement

Body paragraph 1 Topic sentence about similarities Details

Body paragraph 2 Topic sentence about differences Details

Conclusion

Organization 2: point-by-point pattern

Body paragraph 1 Topic sentence with a point of

comparison: ______________________ Details: __________________________

Body paragraph 2 Topic sentence with a point of

comparison: ______________________ Details: __________________________

point-by-point pattern Introduction

Hook Background information Thesis statement

Body paragraph 1 Topic sentence with point of comparison Details

Body paragraph 2 Topic sentence with point of comparison Details

Conclusion

Bananas vs. Grapes

Point 1 Similarities: Differences:

Point 2 Similarities: Differences:

Point 3 Similarities: Differences:

Physical properties

Nutrition facts

Related products

Reading: Learning about differences

Write T or F for each statement. __1. This was Yunus’ first trip outside of Bangl

adesh. __2. The author was surprised by the University

of Colorado students’ behavior. __3. The author was eager to make friends with

his female classmates in Colorado. __4. At Chittagong University, the author had m

ore direct internaction with the female students than with the male students.

F

F

F

T

Responding to the text 1. How was communication between professors a

nd students different at the University of Colorado than it was at Chittagong University? The students at Boulder communicated with

their professors in a more informal manner. The professors were more friendly with their students. At Chittagon University, the students did not address their professor unless he spoke to them first.

Responding to the text 2. How did Yunus react to the young female stu

dents in Colorado? Why do you think this is so? Yunus was very shy around the female stu

dents at Boulder. Perhaps this was because there were many fewer female students than male students at Chittagong University, and he did not have much interaction with them.

Responding to the text 3. According to the author, how was the experie

nce of female students at Chittagong University different from that of male students? Female students were separated from ma

le students most of the time and did not or were not allowed to participate in some activities such as politics and drama. There were many fewer female students than male students, and the female students were very shy.

Responding to the text 4. In this piece, Yunus is writing about an experienc

e that he had in 1965. Has students’ behavior changed over the last 40 years or has it stayed the same? The difference between 1965 and the present da

y represents almost two generations, and it would be difficult to find any place in the world where the behavior of students today is the same as that of their grandparents’ generation. In many places, a student’s grandparents would never have gone to a university at all. However, it is impossible to generalize a single answer for all cultures of the world.

Free writing (5 points for each voluntary speaker)

Think of 2 places you know well and compare them. Describe both places. How is the appearance of both places

similar or different? How are the people similar or different? How are the customs and traditions of

both places similar or different?

Reading and Structural Analysis: A Walk on Sunday Afternoon

Read the essay. What does Willowbrook Mall remind the

writer of? Willowbrook Mall reminds the writer of

Moreda Street in Morelia, Mexico.

Responding to the text

1. What does the writer like to do on Sunday afternoon? The writer likes to spend Sunday

afternoons outside the house.

Responding to the text

2. Where did the writer go on Sunday afternoon in Morelia? On Sunday afternoon in Morelia, the

writer went to Moreda Street.

Responding to the text

3. Where does the writer go in Houston? In Houston, the writer goes to the Wi

llowbrook Mall.

Responding to the text

4. What does the writer do in these places? The author likes to watch people,

have coffee with friends, and relax.

Structural Analysis

Introduction Hook (sentence 1) Background information (sentence 2-3) Thesis statement

They are very different but also similar in some ways, esp. on a Sunday afternoon.

Structural Analysis Body paragraph 1

Topic sentence about similarities (Sentence 1) Similarities: In both places, people stroll and gather.

Body paragraph 2 Topic sentence about differences (Sentence 1) Differences: The Willowbrook Mall is more mode

rn than Moreda Street. On Modern Street the people and the architecture are more traditional.

Structural Analysis

Conclusion Summary of similarities and differences

Moreda Street and Willowbrook Mall are very different in appearance and culture, but they are also similar because they are both places where people like to go to relax on a Sunday afternoon.

Group work:From outline to essay

Draft an outline (either similarities-and-differences pattern or point-by-point pattern) first and then develop this outline into a comparison and contrast essay.

Topics: Group 1: Two different people you know Group 2: Two different pets Group 3: Two different celebrations Group 4: Two works of art Group 5: Two books that you’ve read

Outline 1: Similarities-and-differences pattern Introduction

Hook Background information Thesis statement

Body paragraph 1 Topic sentence Details about similarities

Body paragraph 2 Topic sentence Details about differences

Conclusion Summary or comments

Outline 2: point-by-point pattern Introduction

Hook Background information Thesis statement

Body paragraph 1 Topic sentence with point of comparison Details

Body paragraph 2 Topic sentence with point of comparison Details

Conclusion Summary or comments