Compare and Contrast in Literature

Compare and Contrast in Literature and Informational Texts

A Study Island Lesson

CHAMPS

• C - 0 except when called on

• H - raised hand

• A - notes; quiz

• M - at desk

• P - answering questions, taking notes

• S - 80% or higher on quiz

Objective

I will be able to compare and contrast texts by describing how they differ in treatment, scope, organization, and theme.

DISCUSS

• What does compare mean?

• What does contrast mean?

Comparing and Contrasting

• Compare: show similarities (sameness)

• Contrast: show differences

Multiple Choice

What is a similarity?

• something that is close to the same

• something very different

• something that smiles

• a type of simile or metaphor

Multiple Choice

What is the difference between comparing and contrasting?

• Comparing finds differences and contrasting finds similarities.

• Comparing and contrasting both mean to find similarities.

• Comparing finds similarities and contrasting finds differences.

• Comparing and contrasting both mean to find differences.

Comparing and Contrasting Texts

• Comparing and contrasting texts is not the same as comparing and contrasting characters or events.

• When we compare texts, we look instead at the content (what's in it) and structure (how it is set up).

• There are four basic concepts to look for when comparing and contrasting: organization, treatment, scope, and theme.

Multiple Choice

What is content?

• the information inside of a text

• Facebook posts

• the way something is set up

• how a story looks

Multiple Choice

What is structure?

• the information inside of a text

• Facebook posts

• the way something is set up

• how a story looks

Organization

• Organization: the ways ideas are structured, or set up, in a passage

• Example: One passage may be structured in chronological, or sequential order. The second passage may be organized by cause and effect.

Multiple Choice

What organizational difference can be shown between these two passages:

Passage 1: Every Saturday, I wake up at 6 a.m. and go to play basketball with my friends. After that, I go home and take a long, leisurely shower. Next, I go and help Mom to set the table for breakfast. Finally, everyone at home sits down to have a hearty meal.

Passage 2: When I am out in the sun for long, my skin turns red, and I feel weak and tired. It is the same thing with swimming. If I spend too much time in water, my skin feels itchy, and I feel tired.

• Passage 1 is spatial order. Passage 2 is problem and solution.

• Passage 1 is problem and solution. Passage 2 is cause and effect.

• Passage 1 is chronological. Passage 2 is cause and effect.

Treatment

• Treatment: the way ideas are discussed or approached in the text (serious, positive, etc.)

• Example: Two people are writing about using TikTok. One person treats the topic seriously or negatively, expressing that TikTok is a bad thing. The second person treats it lightly or positively as a fun way for people to make content.

Multiple Choice

In this example, how is the topic of mom working hard treated?

Ronnie and Sandy know their mother worked hard all day, first in the office, and then at home. "Mom, this for you," said Sandy as Mom looked curiously at the envelope. Her eyes filled with tears when she saw a gift card for a spa treatment.

"You're the best kids," Mom said as she hugged both of them.

• It's treated positively because the kids are showing their mom how much they care.

• It's treated negatively because the kids hate their mother working so hard.

• It's treated negatively because mom cried.

• It is not negative or positive.

Scope

• Scope: how much of an idea is covered

• Example: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone has a smaller scope than the Harry Potter series because it only covers one year of his life.

Multiple Choice

Which example shows a larger scope?

• One TV episode

• A TV series

Multiple Choice

Which example shows a larger scope?

• A paper about what polar bears look like

• A paper about what polar bears look like, what they eat, and where they live

Multiple Choice

Which example shows a larger scope?

• An essay about the benefits of hand washing

• A sentence telling you to wash your hands

Theme

• Theme: the message or lesson in a passage

• Example: Tortoise and the Hare - slow and steady wins the race

• Example: Harry Potter - you can't do everything alone

• Example: First Day of School - be brave

Theme Example

Rochelle looked at the judges, her heart beating clear into her throat as she waited for her music to start. When she had first seen the officer line perform at the pep rally her freshman year, she had set this goal. She would be an officer on the drill team her senior year. At that time, she couldn't even do double turns and her kicks were not that high. Admittedly, she had not worked very hard in her dance classes until that day when those dancers took to the floor. Their incredible precision and teamwork motivated her to work harder.

From that day on, Rochelle didn't waste one minute of dance class. She stretched her legs every night while reading textbooks and doing her homework. While her friends texted or played online video games, Rochelle practiced her dance moves. Soon she could kick her chin when she did the high kick, and she could spin around three times in a turn.

As her music started, Rochelle smiled at the judges, confident that her hard work would carry her through this audition to meet her goal. She would finish her senior year as an officer on the drill team.

Multiple Choice

What was the theme in the example passage?

• Some people are just born good at things.

• Goals can be achieved with hard work and sacrifice.

• You should always listen to your dance instructor.

• Setting a goal makes you better at everything.

Multiple Select

How are the passages similar in organization? Select two.

• Both passages describe a race.

• Both passages discuss embarrassing situations.

• Both passages are organized chronologically.

• Both passages are about eggs and potatoes.

Multiple Choice

How are the passages different in treatment?

• Passage 1 and 2 are treated the same.

• Passage 1 is treated positively because the character wins. Passage 2 is treated negatively because the character loses.

• Passage 1 is treated negatively because the character struggled to win. Passage 2 is treated positively because it's funny people fell.

Multiple Choice

How are the passages different in theme?

• Passage 1 shows a theme of perseverance because the character tries. Passage 2 shows a theme of pride because the character thinks she will win based on the past.

• Passage 1 shows a theme of giving up because she almost drops the egg. Passage 2 shows a theme of trying because they passed the finish line.

• Both passages have themes on friendship.

Multiple Choice

How are the passages similar in organization?

• Both passages show cause and effect.

• Both passages describe something.

• Both passages describe a problem and solution.

• Both passages are chronological.

Multiple Choice

How are the passages different in treatment?

• Passage 1 is more formal because the student is angry.

• Passage 2 is more serious and formal and gives evidence.

• Passage 2 is treated lightly because schools can't fix problems like that.

• Passage 1 is treated lightly because no one really cares about hungry kids.

Multiple Choice

How do the passages differ in scope?

• Passage 1 has a broader scope because it gives one example and the author explains why he is failing.

• Passage 2 has a smaller scope because it doesn't tell us the author's feelings.

• Both passages have a large scope.

• Passage 2 has a broader scope because it gives two examples and gives evidence.