Module 6

Information taken from: Butler, L. Fundamentals of Academic Writing. Longman Hogue, A. (2008). First Steps in Academic Writing. Longman.

Comparison and Contrast is a technique that we use everyday. We compare and contrast products and prices when we shop. A job applicant compares and contrasts job offers.

Contrasting

To contrast means to discuss how two people, places, or things are different.

For example,

One main advantage of a bicycle over a car is that a bicycle doesn’t create air pollution.

Model Paragraph – Questions

Read and analyze the following paragraph, and answer these questions:

1. What two things does the paragraph talk about?2. Is the paragraph mostly comparing or contrasting? How do you know?

Model ParagraphRight Brain/Left Brain

The left and right side of your brain process information in

different ways. The left side is logical, rational, linear, and verbal. The

right side, on the other hand, processes information intuitively,

emotionally, creatively, and visually. Left brains think in words,

whereas right brains think in pictures. People who depend more on the

left side of their brain are list makers and analyst. They are organized,

careful and detailed. In contrast, right brained people are visual,

intuitive, and sensual. When a left-brained person has to make an

important decision, he or she makes a metal list of all the factors

involved and arrives at a decision only after careful analysis. When a

right-brained person has to make the same decision, on the other

hand, he or she is more likely to base it on intuition and feelings. Of

course, no one is 100 percent left-brained or 100 percent right-brained.

Although one side may be stronger, both sides normally work together.

Answers

Read and analyze the following paragraph, and answer these questions:

1.What two things does the paragraph talk about?Right and left brain. 2. Is the paragraph mostly comparing or contrasting? How do you know?Contrasting because of the phrases used: on the other hand, whereas, in contrast and although.

Contrasting Signals

Sentence connectors

Explanation and Example

In contrast

On the other hand

However

These are sentence connectors. They connect two independent clauses.

The lakes we swam in were very clean and beautiful. In contrast, the lakes in my country are polluted.

My boyfriend likes to play sports. On the other hand, I prefer to do yoga.

The new store sells its clothing at low prices. However, other stores have better quality clothing.

Coordinating

Conjunctions

Explanation and Example

but Use but when the ideas are exact opposites.

I enjoy eating fruit for dessert, but my friend likes chocolate.

yet Use yet when one idea is a surprising or unexpected continuation of other idea. It is also posible to use but.

The left side of the brain controls logic and reasoning, yet it also controls language.

Subordinating

conjunctions

Explanation and Example

While Whereas

Use while and whereas when the ideas are exact opposites. While and whereas can begin either clause. Always use a comma when the independent clause comes first.

I enjoy eating fruit for dessert, while/whereas my friend likes chocolate.

While/Whereas I enjoy eating fruit for dessert, my friend likes chocolate.

Although Even though

Though

Use although, even though, or though when one idea is a surprising or unexpected continuation of the other idea.

My grandfather is the wisest man in our town although/even though/though he never finished high school.

Although/even though/though he never finished high school, my grandfather is the wisest man in our town.

Others Explanation and Example

Different from

Unlike

Differently

From and unlike are prepositions. Put a noun or noun phrase after them. Differently is an adverb. It describes the verb.

The way left-brained people think and learn is different from the way right-brained people do.

Unlike left-brainers, right-brainers often know the answer to a math problem without knowing how they got it.

Left-brained people think and learn differently from the way right-brained people do.

Differ(from/in)

Differ is a verb.

Left-brain and right-brain people differ in the way they think and learn.