Comparing Two Texts on the Same Topic

Emma, Maya, and Luna are having a debate on how to compare and contrast texts on the same topic. Can you help them out?

• Emma suggests ignoring the content and only focusing on the length of the texts.

• Maya thinks comparing the font style and color used in the texts is the way to go.

• Luna proposes randomly selecting one text and assuming it represents all texts on the topic.

• Or, should they identify similarities and differences in their content, structure, and perspective?

Imagine William and Aria are having a friendly debate. They are comparing and contrasting texts on the same topic. Can you guess what they might be discussing?

• Comparing two recipes for different desserts

• Benjamin joining them to analyze two scientific research papers on unrelated topics

• Discussing two news articles about climate change from different sources

• Contrasting two historical novels set in different time periods

Which words indicate similarities?

• Besides, Both, Comparatively, Even when, in comparison, in the same way, just as, moreover,

• Although, besides, but, compared with, conversely, differ, different from, even though

• details about an important event in history

• descriptions of Sacagawea's thoughts and feelings

• information about Lewis and Clark's famous journey

• an account of Sacagawea's kidnapping by a Hidatasa man

What event do both texts cover?

• Neil Armstrong winning an award

• The news story that covered Apollo 11

• Buzz Aldrin's first steps on the moon

• The 1969 moon landing

What fact is mentioned in both texts

• Buzz Aldrin

• 10:56 PM Eastern Daylight Time

• July 20, 1969

• millions of people

Which statement is true about the readings?

• Both texts have the same purpose for writing

• Both texts are persuasive writing

• Both texts talk about being a child during the 1969 moon landing

• Both texts discuss the same event but each author wrote for different purposes

What statement is false about comparing and contrasting texts

• When you write about the same topic the facts presented will always be the same

• Writing on the same topic doesn't always present the same ideas

• Authors may have access to different information about a topic

• Authors may have different points of view about the same topic

How are the points of view different?

• One is written in first person and the other is not clear.

• One is from a woman who saw the event and the other is a student's history report

• One was written in 1969 and the other was written in 2006

• They're not different

What is the main focus when comparing the development of arguments in texts?

• Organization of claims and evidence

• Author's personal opinion

• Length of the text

• Use of complex vocabulary.