Comparing and contrasting are things that all of us do all the time. We compare and contrast items of clothing, shoes, radios, walkmans..etc. We listen to people discussing which car to buy, where to live, which PC to buy or which software is better. In making such comparison and contrast, we often make use of certain specific words or phrases. In structuring the information which we have gathered about the 2 items to be compared or contrasted, there are 2 organisational methods which we can use.

Comparison

Comparison is used to show how certain aspects of one item are similar to the same aspects of another item in the same general class. So a comparison answers the question "What features do X and Y have in common?" or "How are X and Y similar?"

Contrast

Contrast, on the other hand, allows you to point out the differences between two items and show how they are not alike. So a contrast answers the question "How are X and Y different?"

The purposes of Comparison & Contrast

1. Making decisions

Comparison & Contrast helps to demonstrate that one thing is better than another for a particular purpose.

2. Clarifying the unknown

We can shed some light on the unknown by comparing it to something which is more familiar so as to determine the ways in which they are similar or dissimilar.

3. Giving new insights

By comparing words or ideas which have opposite meanings (for eg. love and hate) we can bring out their similarities and hence bring about a new awareness about these familiar feelings. In this case, love and hate have similar quallities: both are highly motivating, potentially self-destructive and sometimes irrational.

4. Bringing things into sharper focus

By highlighting the ways in which 2 things are the same or different, we are able to get a clearer understanding of both.

Words or phrases used for Comparison

• similarly
• likewise
• also
• like
• in the same way
• in the same manner
• in similar fashion
• in similar vein
• just as...so

Words or phrases used for Contrast

• on the other hand
• in contrast
• although
• even though
• unlike
• as opposed to
• however
• whereas

Organisation in Comparison & Contrast Writing

When writing, you may organise your points in 2 ways:

1. By presenting all the information about the item X, and then presenting all the information about item Y. For example, if you are comparing a Toyota car and a Nissan car, you should list all the features (such as the horsepower, size, cost) of the Toyota first, followed by all the features of the Nissan.

2. By presenting related information about item X and item Y in an alternate manner. Hence when comparing the 2 cars, you should talk about the horse power of both cars, then go on to the size of both cars, and so on.

The following table illustrates the 2 methods:

Exercises

Exercise 1

Go to the TCS 1 folder in this module and try the online exercises.

Exercise 2

Got to the following website: http://autos.yahoo.com/compare/enter.pl.
Select 2 cars by clicking on a make and model of your choice.
Then write a short essay of about 300 words, comparing and contrasting the different aspects of the 2 cars. You should attempt to make use of the vocabulary of comparison or contrast in your writing.E-mail your text for marking!

Exercise 3

Go to the Discussion Group and post your comments or share your views with your classmates there.

Return to TCS 1 page