Assignment

Instructions

Write a one-paragraph comparison, between 200 and 300 words, on one of the following topics:

Yourself and a sister or brother
The job you have/the job you want
Two houses
Two places you have lived
Yourself now/yourself ten years ago
Your life now/what you want it to be
Two bosses
Two (specific) pets

What to include in your paragraph

Whichever topic you choose, select three points of comparison. For example, if you are comparing yourself and your sister, you might compare (1) your jobs, (2) your family, and (3) your hobbies. As another example, if you select two places you have lived you could compare (1) the climate, (2) the cost of living, (3) the cultural activities.

Your paragraph will include a topic sentence, discussion of your three points of comparison, and a concluding sentence. That is all that should be included in the paragraph.

Organization

The paragraph should use one of the following organization methods for comparison/contrast.

Note: The subjects of comparison are the two things you are comparing, such as yourself and your sibling. The points of comparison are the three areas you've selected to discuss in relation to your subjects, such as your jobs, your families, and your hobbies.

Subject-by-subject method:

To use this organizational method, starts with a topic sentence. Then complete the discussion of the first subject of comparison, covering all three points. Next, discuss the second subject of comparison, covering all three points. Finally, the paragraph ends with a concluding sentence.

Topic Sentence

First subject: My sister
My sister's job
My sister's family
My sister's hobbies

Second subject: Myself
My job
My family
My hobbies
Concluding sentence

Discuss the three points in the same order for both subjects, to make the comparison easy for readers to follow.

Benefits and drawbacks: This method gives readers a good overall picture of each subject, but may make it difficult for readers to see the similarities and differences between the two subjects.

Point-by-point method:

To use this organizational method, start with a topic sentence. Then discuss the first point of comparison for both subjects. Then discuss the second point of comparison for both subjects. Discuss the third point of comparison for both subjects. End the paragraph with a concluding sentence.

Topic sentence

First point of comparison: Jobs
My sister's job
My job
Second point of comparison: Family
My sister's family
My family
Third point of comparison: Hobbies
My sister's hobbies
My hobbies

Concluding sentence

It is usually best to discuss the two subjects in a consistent order. For example, in the outline above, the sister is discussed first for each point.

Benefits and drawbacks: This method makes it easy to see the similarities and differences between the subjects. However, the alternation between the subjects may make it difficult for readers to form an overall picture of each subject.

Format

• Include your name at the top of the page.
• Include a title for your paragraph. Think of a title that is specific to your paragraph (not, for example, "Comparison Paragraph").
• Double space your paragraph.
• Indent the first line of the paragraph by hitting the Tab key one time.