CLASS MATERIAL

WEEK 11
CEL2103 WRITING ACADEMIC
TEXTS
SEMESTER 1, 2022-2023

Developing the Concluding Paragraph in a

Comparison and Contrast Essay
• Components of a concluding paragraph of a compare
and contrast essay
- Author’s opinion

Writing Author’s Opinion

In a comparison and contrast essay, the final statement in the concluding paragraph usually
consists of the author’s opinion. Here the authors share their final thought on the subjects
presented in the essay.

Activity 1
What are the different types of author’s opinions that could be used to write a final statement
for the concluding paragraph in a compare and contrast essay?
a. __________________________________________
b. __________________________________________
c. __________________________________________

Activity 2
Based on the author’s opinions given:
a. State the type of author’s opinions and give a reason for your answer.
b. Underline the keywords that show the type of author’s opinions.

No. Author’s opinions Type of author’s Reason

opinions
E.g. When comparing public and private The author is giving a
schools based on the financial suggestion to choose
aspect, private schools are more Suggestion public schools because
costly; therefore, it is advisable to they are not costly.
choose public schools since they are
more affordable.
1. If children are not taught on how to be
responsible for their actions at home,
the world will become a more violent
place in future.
2. If students need help with revising
their essays or any other part of their
paper, they must seek advice from a
trusted teacher or a professional
editor for a second opinion.
3. Therefore, the government needs to
devise practical solutions that could
solve the problem of schools that lack
qualified teachers.
4. When selecting the right type of
shoes for an activity, it is
recommended to visit a store with a
wide range of athletic shoes and
knowledgeable staff who can aid to
make the right choice.
5. Video game designers should be held
accountable for the violent content in
their games, and a push should be
made for more rules on video game
usage.
6. There is no doubt that technology will
continue to progress in future, and the
advanced tools used today may one
day become out-dated.
7. If financial literacy is taught to
students while they are still in high
school, they will be prepared to be on
their own and make a positive
contribution to society.
8. All students deserve to be successful
in their studies, and responsible
universities must immediately
respond to students’ needs so that
they graduate as well-educated
students of the highest standard, now
and in the future.

Activity 3
The concluding paragraphs below contain poorly written author’s opinions. Identify the
problem of each author’s opinion.

Concluding paragraph 1
In conclusion, even though there are some clear similarities between the cultures of both
countries, there are also differences in their future direction. The women in Saudi Arabia will
campaign for more human rights, similar to women in the UK. In the future it is likely that
history will change where people will undoubtedly find more Arabic restaurants in the UK
due to the influence of the Internet, hi-tech and migration between Saudi Arabia and the UK.
My recommendation is that we should respect each other’s cultures so that we will live in an
ideal community.

Problem: _________________________________________________________________

Concluding paragraph 2
To conclude, studies reveal some similarities in the nutrient contents between organic and
non-organic food substances; however, others have revealed many considerable
differences in the amounts of antioxidants present in them. Generally, both organic and non-
organic foods have several nutritional ingredients that are beneficial for people’s health. On
the other hand, organic foods have higher levels of antioxidants than non-organic foods and
therefore are more important in the prevention of chronic illnesses.

Problem: __________________________________________________________________

Concluding paragraph 3
To conclude, there is a similarity in having dogs or cats as pets, for they can be good
companions; however, they differ in understanding instructions given by their owners.
There is no doubt that dogs and cats are among the best pets in the world because they
provide a cleaner home environment and are not afraid to show their feelings. However,
dogs can follow instructions and be trained to do a variety of tricks and jobs much better
than cats. I think you should get out of your chair and make a positive difference in your
life and go get a dog!

Problem: __________________________________________________________________

Concluding paragraph 4
In conclusion, online classes and regular in-school classes are similar in their purpose to
educate the young generation, but they differ in the effectiveness of the teaching methods.
Both classes have the same aim to deliver knowledge to students for their future well-being.
On the contrary, the online teaching methods are less effective than regular in-school
classes. This is evident when students cannot interact with the teacher to get immediate
responses and cannot always access the online classes due to failure of Internet
connection. In an online class, interaction with the teacher is quite challenging because
many students have no idea what their teachers look like.

Problem: __________________________________________________________________

Concluding paragraph 5
To conclude, teachers and the school community have similar interest in developing a policy
to discourage bullying; however, they do have different responsibilities. Teachers and the
school community will organise effective programmes to curb bullying for the whole school.
On the other hand, teachers can provide children with knowledge and tools to deal with
conflict properly whereas the school community can build a stimulating learning environment
by removing the opportunity for children to bully. Bullying will never be fully eradicated, and
the government must increase awareness of the problem to create a safer and enjoyable
environment for students.

Problem: __________________________________________________________________

Activity 4
Rewrite the author’s opinion in Activity 3 appropriately by providing a suggestion, giving a
prediction or calling for action.

Author’s opinion for concluding paragraph 1

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Author’s opinion for concluding paragraph 2

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Author’s opinion for concluding paragraph 3

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Author’s opinion for concluding paragraph 4

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Author’s opinion for concluding paragraph 5

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Activity 5
Based on the introductory paragraphs below, construct the concluding paragraphs. The
concluding paragraph must contain the following: restatement of thesis, summary points
of comparison and author’s opinion.

Introductory paragraph 1
Before the advent of computers and modern technology, people were communicating over
long distances by using traditional means such as letters and the telephone. Nowadays,
there are a vast array of communication tools which can complete this task, ranging from
email to instant messaging and video calls. While the present and previous means of
communication are similar in their general form, they differ in regard to the range of tools
available.

Adapted from: Smith, S. (2020, March 3). Compare & Contrast Essay.
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/referenc
e_list_electronic_sources.html

Concluding paragraph:

Introductory Paragraph 2

Since social media’s origin over a decade ago, several sites have enjoyed time in the
spotlight. Indeed, individuals of all ages and lifestyles often manage several social media
accounts at the same time, ranging from the big names to more specific platforms. The two
giants of the moment are likely Facebook, used by tweens and grandparents alike, and
Twitter. Most individuals have one or more of these accounts and may even use them in
integrated ways. For example, Twitter has a feature that allows users to post their tweets to
Facebook, thus updating two sites at once. Often, these sites share the same major
features. Facebook and Twitter are similar on a basic level but differ in the way users employ
them.

Adapted from: Williams, S. (2014, May 6). Social Media Giants. https://owl.excelsior.edu/wp-
content/uploads/sites/2/2018/05/CompareContrastEssaySeeItInPractice.pdf

Concluding paragraph:

Introductory Paragraph 3
Countries across the world have diverse cultural practices, and this has an effect on work
relationships and development. Geert Hofstede came up with a structured way of comparing
cultural dimensions of different countries. The theory explains the impacts of a community’s
culture on the values of the community members, and the way these values relate to their
behaviours. When comparing different countries, the United Kingdom and China offer
interesting cultural viewpoints. While the United Kingdom and China share cultural
similarities, these two countries also have different cultural practices.

Adapted from: Comparison Between the United Kingdom and China. (2017, November).
https://samples.essaypro.com/Compare-and-Contrast-Essay/Uk-China-Comparison.pdf

Concluding paragraph:

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