Compare and Contrast Definition Compare What two or

Compare and Contrast

Definition: Compare What two or more things have in common- the similarities Contrast What two or more things don’t have in common- the differences

Purposes: • It helps you to better comprehend what you read • It exercises your higher level thinking skills • It is a skill used in all content areas- science, social studies, unified arts • It helps in making judgments about the similarities and differences between items/people

Compare Words: similar, in common, alike, compare Contrast Words: different, contrast, dissimilar

Graphic Organizer Venn Diagram Similarities Difference #1 Differences #2

Example Snowboard One Board No help staying up Boots are more flexible Skis Bindings Snow Equipment Can do Tricks Two Boards Use Poles to stay up Boots are rigid

Venn Diagrams • Simple • Uses general words (called categories) to describe relationships • Not always detailed enough • Need a new chart to explain categories in greater detail so we can give evidence • Q: • E:

Short Answer Format: Compare-Contrast Chart Similarity or Difference? Category Selection/Item/ Character #1 Selection/Item/ Character #2 Similarity #1 Answer: Quote: Explain: Difference #1 Answer: Quote: Explain: YOU MUST READ THE QUESTION TO SEE WHAT YOU NEED IN YOUR CHART! • Might need Similarity #1 and Similarity #2 • Might need Difference #1 and Difference #2 • Might need Similarity #1 and Difference #1

Example – What are two similarities between skis and snowboards? Similarity or Difference? Category Selection/Item/ Character #1 Selection/Item/ Character #2 Similarity #1 Answer: Quote: Explain: Ski bindings keep Quote: Explain: Bindings Similarity #2 Answer: Boots you secure by stepping in Quote: Explain: Uses rigid boots to help support ankles Snowboard bindings let you strap in Quote: Explain: Flexible boots to allow for body motion This example has no quote as evidence since it was not from a book

Example – What are two differences between skis and snowboards? Similarity or Difference? Category Selection/Item/ Character #1 Selection/Item/ Character #2 Difference Answer: Quote: Explain: Pole Difference Answer: Riding Skiing requires the use of pole Quote: Explain: Skiing – you ride forward and turn sideways Snowboarding does not require a pole Quote: Explain: Snowboarding – you always ride sideways This example has no quote as evidence since it was not from a book, so you have to go with the BEST possible DETAILED explanation.

How do I find a category? • Look for: – relationships – groups – patterns – traits • Try to be thoughtful – don’t give obvious or simple answers

Example: What is similar about the following items? An orange and a carrot Too obvious/simple would be food. Turn to your neighbor and discuss other categories that they could share – try to be thoughtful and find categories that could be supported with evidence. Possible answers: healthy foods, things that are orange, things that do not have a smooth surface, items that can be cut or chopped, ingredients used in cooking, foods high in beta carotene

Multiple Choice: Make sure your answer MATCHES what is asked. Check the text to verify whether items are similarities or differences in characters or ideas

Let’s Practice • Draw a compare contrast chart and answer the following questions. Make sure to label it with CER. • What is one difference and one similarity between what happened to the men in The Cyclops’ Cave and in The Lotus Eaters? • You will need quotes from the Ulysses book. • Hint: Lotus Eaters: Pages 11 -14 Cyclops’ Cave: Page. 18 -21

This is what your paper should look like. Similar Difference Category: Evidence 1 Evidence 2 The Men in the Episode Lotus Eaters Cyclops Cave C: In this box, find a way the men are similar E: Give TEXT based evidence to support. AND PAGE NUMBER R: Explain how this quote supports your answer. C: In this box, find a way the men are different (maybe what happened to them)

From Graphic to Response How to go from a chart to a short answer response… Talk to your neighbor about a similarity and a difference between a whale and a caribou.

Example Short answer: Whales / Caribou Similarity Or Difference Category Whales Caribou

How are the whales and eels in the selections similar and different? Use information from each text to support your answer. Similarity / Difference Similarity Difference Category Whales Caribou

Similarity / Difference Category Whales Caribou Similarity C: Must travel south from the Artic to warmer places for the winter E: Can’t survive E: Can’t find food the solid ice of the through the winter Artic seas during ice winter Similarity C: Travel in groups E: Whales look for traveling companions in the fall Difference Travel different Migrate 6, 000 distances to their miles migration location Migrate nearly 600 miles Difference Travel in different Travel in oceans environments Travel on land E: Small groups join other small groups to form a large herd

Similarity: From Graphic to Response Whales and caribou share two important similarities. (C ) Both animals must travel from the Artic warmer locations for the winter. (E ) Whales can’t survive the solid ice of the Artic seas during the winter. (E ) Caribou can not find enough food to eat under the winter blanket of ice. (C ) Both animals also travel in groups. (E ) The whales look for traveling companions in the fall. (E ) Small groups of caribou join other small groups to form a large herd.

From Graphic to Response • Although whales and caribou share similarities, they also have several significant differences. (C) While both migrate, they travel different distances to reach their location. (E ) Whales travel 6, 000 miles, (E ) while caribou travel just 600 miles. (C ) They also travel in different environments. (E ) Whales swim in the world’s oceans while (E ) caribou travel on land.