Compare and Contrast Paragraph

In a compare and contrast paragraph, you write about the similarities and
differences between two or more people, places, things, or ideas.



First, craft a Topic Sentence - In one sentence, tell the reader the
focus of your paragraph
Decide to what extent you will stress the similarities between your
subjects and to what extent you will stress their differences.
Create a topic sentence that reflects that decision.




Example (for a paragraph comparing the Canadian cities of Vancouver
and Halifax:)

While there are some similarities between Vancouver and Halifax, there
are also some differences, particularly in weather and population.

Or

Although Vancouver and Halifax are similar in some respects, they are
quite different in terms of climate and size.
Or


Vancouver and Halifax are similar in many ways, but they have one
major difference: weather.







Using the following words and phrases helps to clarify similarities
and differences when writing a good compare and contrast
paragraph:
Helper Words:
Similarities Differences
is similar to On the other hand
both however
also but
too in contrast
as well differs from
while
unlike

Similarities
is similar to (Example:) Spring weather in Vancouver is similar to spring weather
in Halifax.
Both (Example:) Both Vancouver and Halifax have rain in the spring.
Also (Example:) Halifax also has a rainy spring season.
Too (Example:) Halifax has a rainy spring season, too.
as well (Example:) As well, Halifax has a very rainy spring season.

Differences
on the other hand (Example:) On the other hand, winter is much colder in Halifax.
however (Example:) However, winter is much colder in Halifax.
but (Example:) Vancouver has a mild winter, but Halifax has a cold one.
in contrast to (Example:) In contrast to Vancouver, Halifax has a cold
winter.
differs from (Example:) Halifax differs from Vancouver by having a cold winter.
while (Example:) While Vancouver has a mild winter, Halifax has a cold winter










Paragraph: Similarities
Sample 1
Similarities Between Work and School
Work and school are very much alike in at least three ways. First, both require
an early start. Going to work requires getting up early to be assured of a parking
space, and going to school requires getting up early to avoid the traffic rush. Second,
promptness is important in both places. Being at work on time pleases the employer;
being in class on time pleases the instructor. Third, both work and school deadlines
must be met. On the job, the boxes would have to be filled and the telephone calls
made by a certain time; in a class, the essays would have to be submitted and the
books read by a certain date. In conclusion, it is not surprising that work and school
share these three similarities, since one of the purposes of school is to prepare a
student for the job of his choice.
http://www.sinclair.edu/centers/tlc/pub/handouts_worksheets/english/075_comparison_contrast.pdf


















Paragraph: Differences
Sample 1
The differences between two states in the U.S
Even though Arizona and Rhode Island are both states of the U.S., they are
strikingly different in many ways. First of all, the physical size of each state is
different. For example, Arizona is large, having an area of 114,000 square miles,
whereas Rhode Island is only about a tenth the size, having an area of only 1,214
square miles. Another difference is in the size of the population of each state. Arizona
has about four million people living in it, but Rhode Island has less than one million.
The two states also differ in the kinds of natural environments that each has. For
example, Arizona is a very dry state, consisting of large desert areas that do not
receive much rainfall every year. However, Rhode Island is located in a temperate
zone and receives an average of 44 inches of rain per year. In addition, while Arizona
is a landlocked state and thus has no seashore, Rhode Island lies on the Atlantic
Ocean and does have a significant coastline.
http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/fwalters/compcont.html

Sample 2

Teaching Styles
Students who have Mr. Wong and Mr. Kumar are immediately aware of the
difference in the lecturing manner of each teacher. Mr. Wong has a pleasant
voice, which helps hold the interest of the students. Mr. Kumar, however, has a
booming voice, which commands rather than teaches.The moderate tone and
inflected words of Mr. Wong make his lectures more interesting than those of Mr.
Kumar, who speaks in a boring monotone. Mr. Wong welcomes questions from
students who dont understand the material, as compared to Mr. Kumar who hates to
be interrupted. Mr. Wong takes his time and explains slowly, whereas Mr. Kumar
rushes through each lesson. Mr. Wong is very enthusiastic about his subject: he tries
to make sure everyone understands a concept before he moves on to something
new. Mr. Kumar, however, is always in a determined mood; he feels that he must
cover everything. Each teacher has a different voice, tone, expression, and attitude:
and as a result, their lectures are quite different.
Source: Donald, Moore, Morrow, Wargetz, Werner, Writing Clear Paragraphs,
Prentice Hall, 1978.

Sample 3
Two Varieties of English
Although U.S.English and British English are mutually understandable
languages, there are quite a few differences. One difference is spelling. Some words
are spelled one way inthe United States but spelt another way in Great Britain. A
person goes to a British theatre but to a U.S. theater. In U.S. schools, students
theorize, analyze and socialize, whereas British students theorise, analyse, and
socialise. A second area of difference is vocabulary. For example, the word college
names two very different types of schools in the United States and Great Britain
university level in the United States and pre-university level in Great Britain. Also,
British university students live in halls on campus and in ats off campus, but
U.S.students live in dormitories on campus and in apartments off campus. Finally,
there are many differences in pronunciation. In Great Britain, the sound of a in the
words path, laugh, aunt, plant, and dance is like the a in father. In the UnitedStates,
in contrast, the a sound in the words is like the a in cat. All in all, though there are
differences between the English spoken in the United States and the English spoken
in the British Isles, we understand each other most of the time!
http://www.ablongman.com/samplechapter/0131933957.pdf