Compare and Contrast Assignment

Choose two items, ideas, institutions, etc. to compare and contrast. You may write 2 paragraphs (one about
similarities and one about differences) if you choose. You should write at least 250 words.
Your writing should explain and illustrate how these two things are similar and/or how they are different.
It may also include your opinion about which is better, more effective, preferable, etc.
Be sure to focus on:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Writing an effective topic sentence and putting it in a place that makes sense for your paragraph.
Writing strong supporting ideas.
Illustrating these ideas with detailed examples.
Organizing your work logically and staying on-topic.
Using consistent language and logical organization to create coherence and unity.
Using transition words to show both the connections between your ideas and examples and how they
relate to the main idea.

Your 1st draft will be due in class on Monday, June 23, 2014. Please bring a paper copy to class.
Your 2nd draft will be due on Friday, June 27, 2014. Please post your 2 nd draft on ANGEL.
Some helpful vocabulary:
Comparison:

Contrast:

on/ to the contrary

alike/ like

Although

but

equal/ equally

conversely

however

in the same way

differently

despite

likewise

more than/ less than

in spite of

similarity/ similarly

as opposed to

unlike

as in a similar fashion/ way

despite

by contrast/ in contrast

just as

even though

instead

resemble/ resemblance

the most/ the least

as well as

at the same time

on the one hand/ on the

other hand

just the same

difference/ different/
differently

in like manner
likewise

in contrast
nevertheless

yet
all the same
as opposed to

Examples (adapted from texts found on corpus2.byu.edu/coca):

1.

Law:

Publication information
Jun2011, Vol. 97 Issue 6, p34-57, 8p
Title
SUSTAINING JUSTISE.
Author
PODGERS, JAMES Finkel, Ed J. P Pusey, Allen
Source
ABA Journa

As an example, Hadfield cites operations such as LegalZoom, an online service that allows individuals and
businesses to create their own legal documents, although it does not offer legal advice on specific
issues. Similarly, JustAnswer makes lawyers available to answer questions submitted online, and it answers
only general questions.
2.

Engineering

Publication information May2010, Vol. 132 Issue 5, p46-49, 4p

Title
TUNED TO THE FORCES OF NATURE.
Author
Zimmerman, Greg1 Gregory.A.Zimmerman@skf.com
Source
Mechanical Engineering

Wind turbines are different. They must deal with forces that come and go, constantly changing, like wind. This
puts a lot of stress on the wind turbines main shafts, gearboxes, and other rotating parts. Even though these
systems are supposed to last for 20 years, they often break down much sooner.
3.

Technology

Publication information
Title
Author
Source

May 2012
SIMPLY BUSINESS
Broida, Rick
PC World

Each open document gets its own tab, just as different websites get tabs in your browser. That makes switching
between them much easier than in Microsoft Office.
4.

Education

Publication information
Title
Author
Source

Mar2011, Vol. 45 Issue 1, p20-35, 16p, 7 Charts

WHY DO FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS FAIL?
MEHTA, SANJAY S.1 NEWBOLD, JOHN J.1 O'ROURKE, MATTHEW A.1
College Student Journal

If students are able to deal with stress positively, it can be beneficial to their performance (some people perform
better under pressure). In contrast, if students are not able to deal with their stress, it can have a negative effect
(some people may have a nervous breakdown), leading to poor performance in college.