COMPARE-

CONTRAST
ESSAY/paragra
ph
STRUCTURES
 LET’S COMPARE APPLES AND
ORANGES- WHAT POINTS CAN BE
USED TO COMPARE /contrast THEM?
✘ color
✘ taste
✘ method of eating

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 You can organize your essay in one of two
ways
Block Method Point-by point method
✘ Apples ✘ Color
✗ Color: Red ✗ Apples: Red
✗ Taste: Sweet or tart ✗ Oranges: Orange
✗ Method of Eating: With skin
✘ Taste
✘ Oranges ✗ Apples: Sweet or tart
✗ Color: Orange ✗ Oranges: Citrusy
✗ Taste: Citrusy ✘ Method of Eating
✗ Method of Eating: Peel first
✗ Apples: With Skin
✗ Oranges: Peel first.

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 What do they look like in writing
✘ Apples and oranges are both fruit, but
they are very different. Apples are red in
color and have a sweet or tart taste.
Also, you can eat an apple with its skin.
On the other hand, oranges are orange
in color and have a citrusy taste.
However, before eating an orange, you
must peel it. Despite the differences in
these two fruits, both are a healthy snack
option!
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✘ Apples and oranges are both fruit, but
they are very different. Apples are red,
and oranges are orange. Additionally,
apples have a sweet or tart taste while the
taste of oranges is more citrusy. Finally,
apples can be eaten with their skin
whereas oranges must be peeled first.
Despite the differences in these two fruits,
both are a healthy snack option!
Analyzing both
methods
As you can see, both methods compare and contrast
apples and oranges using the same points. However,
their organization is different.
✘ In the Block Method you discuss one object with
all of the points, and then, you discuss the other
object with the same points in the same order.
✘ On the other hand, the Point-by-Point Method
uses the points to organize the text, and for each
point, both objects are discussed.

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LET’S PRACTICE!

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 Read the two example compare and contrast paragraphs and
answer the questions below.
✘ People who are lucky enough to be able to travel during
vacation time may want to consider the beach or the
mountains for their next trip due to their climate, activities
that can be done there, and locations in the country. On
one hand, the beach is a popular destination due to the
warm climate. Also, there are many activities that can be
done such as swimming, playing beach volleyball, and
bathing in the sun. There are many places in Colombia
where vacationers can enjoy the beach life. On the other
hand, many people prefer to visit the mountains because
the climate is cooler. There are also many activities that
can be done in the mountains such as hiking and biking.
Many parts of Colombia have mountains in order to enjoy
these types of activities. All in all, it doesn’t matter which
of these two options people choose because they are
guaranteed to have a great time at either destination.
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✘ Communication is an essential aspect to humanity, but the
ways of the past and today are extremely different
considering method, distance, and time. First, in the past, it
was common to communicate with someone by writing them
a letter. In contrast, we now have the internet and cell
phones where we can communicate with others. Second, the
distance your message could travel was limited by
technology in the past ; however, today it is possible to
communicate with someone almost anywhere in the world.
Third, sending a message could take a long time a century
ago (and even longer to receive a reply), but today this type
of communication can be instantaneous allowing for a
natural flow of conversation. Although the process has
evolved over the years, communication remains a constant
in what makes us human.
1. What is the topic of each paragraph? What two items are being compared? 2. What
points are being used to compare and contrast the two objects in each text? 3. Which
structure does each text use? How do you know? 4- What transition signals are used to
compare and contrast? ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ON THIS PPT.

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THANKS!
Any questions?

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 start
brainstorming
about career
options
That is the topic of your next essay. (Compare-
contrast essay)