Compare and Contrast Worksheets

This is a unique skill that covers all areas of language. Usually when students are performing this activity, they must be able to read (input), comprehend (process), and write / present (output). This is a serious skill that needs to be mastered. Many times we will come across a topic or work that we need to find similarities and distinctions between itself and another. We can simply compare and contrast the two or more elements. When we compare elements of a subject we are look for resemblances to each other. When we contrast things we are trying to identify differences between the elements. Below you find a variety of ways to work on this skill across several different genres and media elements.


Compare and Contrast Characters in Stories Grade 1- This is their first taste of really getting after it. The focus here is on the characters and looking to look into their qualities and characteristics.

Comparing Authors Presentation of Events- How does it relate to other stories you may have read? How does it affect the overall story and the taste that it leaves in your mouth?

Comparing Characters in Stories Kindergarten- Being able to look outside of two different works is huge here. The younger grade levels require a little more patience and more open stories.

Comparing and Contrasting Stories and Dramas- Older students are ready for this by now. Dramas are usually emotional and event driven stories.

Comparing and Contrast Elementary Stories- This could be expanded to many upper grade levels. This particular set of passages are just targeted for specific grade levels.

Comparing Parts of a Story- The common trifold of a story is the beginning, middle, and end. Look at each of portion of the particular story and go from there.

Comparing Themes and Settings of Stories- Themes are the big ideas or the critical belief that is explored in a story. Setting are where they take place.

Contrasting the Point of View of Narrated Stories- Depending on the point of view of the narrator, a story can be told completely differently and be viewed by the reader as such. Just think about the narrated movies versus non-narrated movies with a similar story.

Similar Themes and Patterns of Events- Many stories explore similar themes and tones. The events are often non that similar though.

Story Comparison- Being able to find those difference is key to doing welkl with these worksheets.

Writing Explanatory Conclusion Statement- Writing conclusions are tough. Making sure they explain something is even more so.


Ready to go Worksheets:

Emily and Rachel - Emily and Rachel have both written about their wedding plans. Read both paragraphs. Then compare and contrast them by writing the things that they did on the lines below beneath their names. If they did anything that was the same, write it in the middle.

Which Is It? - Underline the clue words. Write your answer on the line.

Clue Words - What is the meaning of each of these sentences?

Two Gardens - Liam and Marco have both written short descriptions of their gardens. Read each description. Then fill out the Venn Diagram below to compare the two gardens.

Members of a Family - Think about two of the people in your family. Write a paragraph that both compares and contrasts the two family members.

Answer Keys - These are the answer keys to five worksheets that are posted above.

Using Transitional Words - Writers use transitional words to suggest whether something is being compared or contrasted.

People and Birthdays - You will explore both of these concepts in detail.

Five Minute Fury - Write as much as you can, as fast as you can, in five minutes. Use the back of the page if you need more space.

Alternating and Dividing - In the first, use the alternating method of comparing and contrasting. In the second, use the dividing method.

Using Venn Diagrams - You can use a Venn Diagraph as a pre-writing tool to organize your thoughts about two subjects.

Alternating Method - How is your relationship with your friends when you meet in person the same as your relationship when you interact over social media? How is it different?

Two Teachers - Think about two of your teachers. Using an alternating pattern, write a paragraph.

Homes - What is the difference between the two homes and what is the same?

Time to Buy - For this assignment, you are going to prepare to do some shopping! Think of something that you would like to purchase. Either by going out to a store or browsing online, find two different versions of the item that you might like to buy.

Mitchell and Elm Street - Everyone has one of these in their own two.

Why Is Comparing and Contrasting Things Such a Vital Skill?


Comparative thinking is a natural method for evaluating the world around and what is presented to us. Our innate universe is surrounded by this skill. How do you know if something is better or worse, if you have a problem comparing things? It is almost impossible to understand how good or bad something is, if there is nothing available to compare it to. When we open up with this skill it is very important to be able to identify benchmarks. The goal of thinking in a comparative light is to be able to gauge how far the gap between two items is. This gap is defined as the difference between the benchmark and the known comparison.


The key foundation that is built here is the ability to form a valid argument. Arguments can go in many different directions. Why would we not want to be able to shape the form that the argument takes? Understand what our best and least acceptable answer is can be very powerful.


One of the best ways to form your argument is to use a Venn diagram. This will allow you clearer and visually see where everything stands. This simple chart can make a huge impact as to the availability to choices of what is contrasted and compared. If you shade the Venn diagram it will clearly stand out and force your audience to accept the overall outcome.


There are many different benefits that come as a result of being very straight forward and successful with this skill. The first thing that it does for you is improve your put concepts or events into containers and build you internal memory. Being able to delineate between things in a substantial manner is the core foundation of forming higher order thinking skills.


There are many different ways that you can approach teaching concepts to students. I find that most teacher pick random items for students to begin to differentiate begin. This is a bit of a balancing act where students need to first determine some qualities that can be attributed to each item and then they need to find the differences between these items in their qualities. This is a nice tactic, but I would recommend that as you compare different concepts, whatever you are doing that day, keep a centralized them around everything. This will help your students begin to compartmentalize things. Eventually as students start to master this skill, we see huge leaps in the thought process.


Comparative thinking is a process that takes a great deal of time and effort to learn to master. The first caution I would provide you with is that skill requires a much greater amount of wait time. We are basically asking students to do an essay in the head. Make sure that they can full describe the items that you are asking them to consider and reason with. This is not a good time to dump brand new material on them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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