Comparing and contrasting is an important skill. It helps your teen focus on specific similarities and differences in characters in a story or ways of doing things in science. This not only helps with reading comprehension but is an essential skill in writing reports and taking tests in middle school, high school and college. Try these suggestions to help your student who struggles to compare and contrast.
Use Venn Diagrams for Simple Comparisons
A Venn diagram can be a helpful tool to compare two or more people, places, or things. For example, if you were asked to compare an apple and an orange, you could start by writing down all the characteristics of each and then asking yourself how they are the same and how they are different. Similarities would be captured where the circles overlap while differences would be noted outside of this area.
Use a Chart for More Complex Compare/Contrast Assignments
You may be thinking, “This example is too easy! I have to compare and contrast the flood in Genesis in the Bible to the events in the ancient book Gilgamesh.” I whole-heartedly agree this is much, much more complicated, but the process is the same.
You may want to use a sheet of lined paper: draw two lines vertically so that there are three columns on the page. At the top of the first column, write “Comparison”. in the second column, write “Genesis” and in the last column, write “Gilgamesh.” Next, write down how their accounts of the flood are the same and how they are different (consider comparisons of the size/shape of the boat, how long the flood lasted, who drove the boat, and what happened after the flood). If you want a “ready-made” chart, try our Compare/Contrast worksheet.
Use a Frame for Even More Complex Compare/Contrast Tasks
If you are comparing and contrasting more than two stories, characters, historical figures, organizations, objects, places, or ways of doing things, consider using the Compare and Contrast Frame as demonstrated in this example used to compare and contrast hospital organization types from a commonly used nursing textbook: Compare Contrast Frame for Business Organizational Structures.
Use these Tools to Prepare for Tests Too!
But wait, there’s more…You can use these tools to prepare for tests too! Use these tools when your teacher tells you that you’ll need to compare and contrast simple machines or characters or ways of doing things.
Look for Key Words
When reading or taking tests, remember that you can look for the keywords listed below in order to recognize the need to compare or contrast information. These transition words can also be used if you have to write an essay about what you are comparing/contrasting.
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Although And As opposed to As well as Better Both But Compared with Despite Different from Either |
Even though However In common In comparison In contrast In the same way Instead of Just as/like Less Likewise More than |
Nevertheless On the contrary On the other hand Opposite Otherwise Same Similar to Similarly Still Whereas Yet |
Whether you need to compare apples to oranges or Genesis to Gilgamesh, try these suggestions to experience success!
Need Help Applying these Concepts?
These concepts are taught in Student Success and Summer Student Success groups.
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(c) 2010-2019 Monte W. Davenport, Ph.D.
