Week 3 Discussion: Comparison-Contrast Methods and Topic Preparation
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Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
- Textbook: Chapter 8; pp. 48-55
- Lesson 1
- Minimum of 1 source: the essay by Ingram, Laudato, & Volpe in the textbook on page 188 and/or the following library article cited in the lesson:
- Link (library article): Teaching Children with Language-Learning Disabilities to Plan and Revise Compare-Contrast Texts (Links to an external site.)
Optional Resources
Review the following writing resources:
- Link (multimedia presentation): Citing References in Text (Links to an external site.)
Initial Post Instructions
Read the following in your textbook: “Kindle vs. iPad” by James Ingram, Amanda Laudato, and Daniel Volpe (p. 188). In complete sentences and with depth and detail, answer the following:
- Which specific two items do the authors compare and contrast?
- The authors use the “point by point” method. How was this an effective choice? Do you think item-by-item would have worked better? Why or why not?
- List at least two of the most effective sentences in the essay, offering a full discussion of how and why they were effective for you as a reader. Identify and explain at least one lesson you learned from reading this essay that will help you with your own comparison and contrast essay.
Next, begin work on your own essay by choosing a topic. Your topic must be very narrow, must compare very similar items, and must have a purpose. Complete the following:
- Briefly list 3 possible topics for your own comparison and contrast writing, based on the prompts provided in the Week 3 Lesson and Assignment. Your choices include the following, but your topic will be your specific and unique approach to each topic.
- Compare and contrast how two specific people you know grew and changed in different ways during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Compare and contrast one aspect of your life before and after a major event that occurred in the past year, either a personal event or a larger event that impacted you in personal ways.
- Compare and contrast two animals of the same type that you have loved or love, such as two dogs or two horses.
- After developing three specific possible topics, decide which of your specific topics you feel most passionate about and explain why.
- With this specific topic, who will be your audience, and what purpose will this essay serve?
- Brainstorm a list of three sensory details (brown, soaring, shiny, tanned, etc.) for each of the two items you are comparing in the one specific topic you have chosen.
Week 3 Assignment: Comparison-Contrast Extended Draft Outline
Start Assignment
- Due Sunday by 11:59pm
- Points 60
- Submitting a file upload
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
- Textbook: Chapter 8; pp. 48-55
- Lesson 1
- Link (Word doc): Comparison-Contrast Extended Draft Outline Template download
- Do not use sources; no research is allowed.
Instructions
This week, you will be working on the compare and contrast essay by starting to draft and organize your ideas. To that end, you will submit an extended draft outline this week, in Week 3, so that you may, in Week 4, complete and submit the final comparison and contrast essay.
To prepare for completing the extended draft outline, make sure to read the lesson and textbook assignment for Week 3. Then, do the following:
- Look over your discussion work for Week 3 to determine which of your ideas interests you the most and which you believe would engage a reader the most.
- Think about whether you will use item-by-item or point-by-point style in your essay. Consider the details you wrote about in discussion and the suggestions others gave you in discussion.
- Once you have firmly chosen your topic, jot down as many ideas as possible on your own – similarities, differences, specific examples. You will transfer these ideas to the outline template.
Access the Comparison-Contrast Extended Draft Outline Template (in Required Resources). Use this template and follow the format provided to create your extended draft outline this week. You will need to do the following:
- Identify your topic and the two items for comparing/contrasting (specific, narrow items that are very similar). Be sure that your comparison/contrast topic holds real meaning, a relevant reason for comparing and contrasting, an answer to the question “So what?”
- Identify your organizing principle (either item-by-item or point-by-point).
- Draft a full introduction paragraph ending in a thesis, following the tips in the lesson and in your text regarding how to write a solid introduction in general and for a comparison/contrast essay specifically. Be sure that your thesis statement holds real meaning, a relevant reason for comparing and contrasting, an answer to the question “So what?” (Min. 1 paragraph)
- Compose a full-sentence outline (meaning that each item in your entire outline, every line, must be a complete sentence) for your major points, including details to illustrate the comparison and contrast between your chosen items.
- Draft a full conclusion paragraph, referencing the readings there, as well, regarding how to write a solid conclusion. (Min. 1 paragraph)
Writing Requirements (APA format)
- Length: 1-2 pages (using template)
- Single spaced
- 12-point Times New Roman font
Grading
This activity will be graded based on the Extended Draft Outline Grading Rubric.
Course Outcomes (CO): 3, 5
Due Date: By 11:59 p.m. MT on Sunday
