Compare and Contrast

This strategy takes students beyond a simple list of similarities and differences. It requires
students to find similarities and differences and then to:
Categorize them
Assess their significance
Look for patterns among them
Interpret, ealuate, and dra! conclusions
"tudents select their o!n factors to consider. As a result, class#!ide sharing results in many
factors being considered and discussed.
Benefits:
# $equires students to categorize and assess the significance of similarities and differences
# $equires students to interpret, ealuate, and dra! conclusions
# %ery engaging
Compare & Contrast Graphic Organizer
&ou can use the Compare'Contrast (rganizer to compare and contrast t!o eents, people,
perspecties, policies, or ideas from your study. The organizer can be used in different !ays,
some of !hich are identified belo!:
# Compare and contrast the effects of t!o eents or t!o policies.
# Compare and contrast the qualities of t!o famous people.
# Compare and contrast t!o big ideas like democracy and totalitarianism.
This organizer should help you get your thoughts together before you !rite or present about the
compare'contrast topic.
Questions to be asked during open Compare & Contrast
). *o! are they similar+
,. *o! are they different+
-. .hat similarities and differences seem significant+
/. .hat categories or pattern0s1 do you see in the significant similarities and
differences+
2. .hat interpretation or conclusion is suggested by the significant similarities and
differences+
The procedures:
1. Identify the topic and the t!o 3items4 to be compared and contrasted.
2. 5rainstorm eerything you kno! about each of the t!o items being compared6 one at a
time. .rite do!n everything you kno!. Look for additional information in your resource
materials 0te7tbook, notebook, other1. &ou can do this !ork on your o!n but you !ill get
many more ideas if you do it !ith other students. If you are doing it !ith another student,
you could also split the task and then share your ideas. *ae one#person brainstorm
eerything s'he kno!s about one item and the other person brainstorm eerything s'he kno!s
about the other item. Then compare notes and add other ideas.
3. "ort the features you came up !ith in "tep 8, into t!o categories: the things that are the same
for each of the t!o items and the things about each item that are different.
4. Identify a conclusion you hae come to about the relationship bet!een the t!o items. In the
3Conclusion4 portion of the graphic organizer, ans!er the follo!ing three questions. &our
ans!ers !ill describe the relationship bet!een the t!o items.
a. 39o similarities or differences e7ist bet!een the t!o items+4
b. 3.hat !ere the important areas of similarity and difference+4
c. 3.as one of the items you compared and contrasted better, more
important, more effectie, or equal to the other item6666and !hy+4
Compare & Contrast Graphic Organizer

Compare and
contrast
How alike ?

.
..
.
How diferent ?????
.
.
.
With regard to .
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