Paragraph 2 Comparison and Contrast Paragraph

Prewriting
1. DQ: Which makes a better story fiction or non-fiction?
2. What do I already know about Brian and Donn?
You and your partner will make a poster of the most significant similarity and the most
significant difference in your opinion.

Review What makes a good survival story?

Characters believable, unique individual who grows through the story.
Conflict realistic (man against nature, man struggles in his mind)
Plot action-packed (you want to keep reading)
Resolution the end of the story fits the curcumstances and the character
Setting descriptive and a must have element plot must fit setting
Writing style narrative vs cartoon (do you like images through words or pictures)
Which story do you like better? Base your answer on some of the above criteria.

______________________________________________________________________

Now, you will have an opportunity to see the posters your classmates made. Look for
elements that support the criteria you have just chosen. You may use information from
posters to complete your own charts. Details are important.

3. Now, you must decide what will make the strongest paragraph. Here are your
options:
Select one similarity and one difference.
Select two similarities.
Select two differences.

Drafting
Now, you will write your body sentences. Use the first sentence to introduce your topic
and the next sentence to explain the details. You should not have more than four
sentences.
1.

2.

3.

4.

Example:
1. One obvious difference between Donns story and Brians story is the amount of days
they were lost.
2. Donn was lost in the Maine woods for nine days, but Brian was lost in the Canadian
wilderness for fifty-four days.

Revising
1. Now, work on making a sandwich. Add an introduction and conclusion. Remember,
your conclusion states why you like one better than the other.
Sample topic sentences:
In literature class, we recently read two books a fictionalized survival story called
Hatchet and a real-life survival story called Lost Trail. A close look at the stories will
reveal if a fictionalized story is as good as a real-life story.
Sample Conclusion:
With all of this in mind, I think that the fictionalized story of Hatchet is better because the
author uses a lot more description in describing Brians situations. I get a more vivid
picture of what Brian is having to endure.

2. Be sure in the body sentences that you have lots of specific detail. Add material as
needed.
3. Make your first word in each sentence red. (Check to see that you use a variety of
sentence starters and use comparison/contrast transitions.)

Editing
Select and run spell check and grammar check on drafted/revised sentences.

Evaluating (This will be done with a parent. Be sure they sign your editing card.)
Read your drafted/revised sentences aloud to a partner.
Have your partner read your sentences back to you.
Have your partner comment on the following:
Did you answer the driving question?
Have you made a sandwich?
Do your details catch the interest of the reader?
Is your paragraph organized so your ideas are easy to follow?
Does your writing sound like you? Did you use words that you normally would use?
Is your writing easy to read? (check long sentences and awkward sentences)
Revise as needed.

Publishing (Copy and paste your drafted/revised sentences onto a new word
document. Then, put your sentences into a paragraph. 12 pt. font. Double space.
Indent first line. Center and capitalize your title. You may add images if you like.