{"id":140,"date":"2023-05-11T12:12:34","date_gmt":"2023-05-11T12:12:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-technicalwriting\/chapter\/comparing-and-contrasting-2\/"},"modified":"2023-05-23T16:54:56","modified_gmt":"2023-05-23T16:54:56","slug":"comparing-and-contrasting-2","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-technicalwriting\/chapter\/comparing-and-contrasting-2\/","title":{"raw":"Comparing and Contrasting","rendered":"Comparing and Contrasting"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Describe techniques for comparing and contrasting<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>Compare &amp; Contrast<\/h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1512\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"315\"]<img class=\"wp-image-1512\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4975\/2020\/02\/06195421\/Compare-and-Contrast-Essay-3-300x158.png\" alt=\"Venn diagram comparing Saint Bernards and Cockapoo dogs. \" width=\"315\" height=\"166\" \/> <strong>Figure 1<\/strong>. Comparing and contrasting means looking for similarities and differences between two things, which you can see nicely in a Venn diagram.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nCompare and contrast is a rhetorical style that discusses the similarities and differences of two or more things: ideas, concepts, items, places, etc. This rhetorical style is one that you\u2019ll see often as a complete essay, but you may also use it quite a lot within paragraphs of any kind of essay in which you need to make some kind of comparison to help illustrate a point.\r\n\r\nA compare and contrast essay does two things: It discusses the similarities and differences of at least two different things. First, you must find a basis of comparison to be sure that the two things have enough in common.\r\n\r\nAfter that, you identify their differences.\u00a0You may structure the compare and contrast essay using either\u00a0the\u00a0<strong>alternating method<\/strong>\u00a0(stating one aspect of one thing and immediately discussing the same aspect of the other item and how they are similar or different) or the\u00a0<strong>block method<\/strong>\u00a0(discussing all of the aspects of one thing and then discussing all of the aspects of another).\r\n<h2>Techniques<\/h2>\r\nKeep the following in mind when you write a comparison and contrast essay.\r\n<h3>Basis of Comparison<\/h3>\r\nIn order for your essay to be a success, you need to have a basis of comparison about the things that you\u2019re comparing.\u00a0 Do the things have enough in common for it to make sense to write about them in a compare and contrast essay?\u00a0For example, it would make sense to compare in-person and online courses because the two have enough in common to justify discussing the similarities and differences of the two types of courses.\r\n<h3>Alternating Method<\/h3>\r\nWhen you use the alternating method, you discuss one aspect of the first item and then immediately discuss the same aspect of the second item.\u00a0You may discuss the amount of computer time required for an in-person course and an online course.\u00a0You may state that while you need to work on the computer for both courses, you would need to spend twice as much time on the computer for the online course.\r\n<h3>Block Method<\/h3>\r\nWhen you use the block method, you discuss one subject and then discuss the next subject. Usually, you would write one paragraph discussing all aspects of the first subject and then write a second paragraph discussing all aspects of the second subject and so on.\r\n\r\nFor example, if you begin with a discussion of the online course, you might discuss the amount of computer time required, the costs, the typical student success rate, and the usual instructional pedagogy. Next, you would turn to your discussion of an in-person course and discuss each of those aspects for the in-person course.\r\n\r\nWith the block method, you do not go back and forth in your discussion. First, you focus on the first subject (the online course) and then you focus on the second subject (the face-to-face course).\r\n<h3>Combination Method<\/h3>\r\nFinally, when you combine the two, you\u2019re writing a compare and contrast essay that follows the combination method.\u00a0You may spend a couple of body paragraphs using the alternating method and then decide to switch to the block method for a deeper analysis of each of the subjects. As you can imagine, no one approach always works best, depending on the subjects, which is probably why the combination method evolved. In any case, each of these methods is not meant as a formula; use these approaches to guide you as you master this style of writing.\r\n<h4>How to Effectively Compare and Contrast Information<\/h4>\r\nWhen comparing and contrasting, you can either chunk or sequence your analysis. When you chunk you analysis, you first talk about Choice A, explicating whatever points you wish, and then discuss Choice B, elaborating as necessary. For example, if you were comparing Saint Bernards with Cockapoos, you could have a paragraph or so about Saint Bernards and then move on to the Cockapoos.\r\n\r\nPeople find information easier when technical writers chunk information because you don't need to hold in your memory what the writer said about Subject A, Topic 3 while reading Subject B, Topics 1 and 2.\r\n<table style=\"height: 390px;\" border=\"2\" width=\"344\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Chunking<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Sequencing<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Choice A\r\n\r\nI. Subject A\r\nA.\u00a0Topic 1\r\n\r\nSubject A\r\nB. Topic 2\r\n\r\nSubject A\r\nC. Topic 3\r\n\r\nII.\u00a0Subject B\r\nA.\u00a0Topic 1\r\n\r\nSubject B\r\nA.\u00a0Topic 1\r\n\r\nSubject B\r\nA.\u00a0Topic 1<\/td>\r\n<td>Choice B\r\n\r\nI. Topic 1\r\n\r\nA.\r\n\r\nB.\r\n\r\nII. Topic 2\r\n\r\nA.\r\n\r\nB.\r\n\r\nIII. Topic 3\r\n\r\nA.\r\n\r\nB.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n&nbsp;","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Describe techniques for comparing and contrasting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Compare &amp; Contrast<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_1512\" style=\"width: 325px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1512\" class=\"wp-image-1512\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4975\/2020\/02\/06195421\/Compare-and-Contrast-Essay-3-300x158.png\" alt=\"Venn diagram comparing Saint Bernards and Cockapoo dogs.\" width=\"315\" height=\"166\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1512\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Figure 1<\/strong>. Comparing and contrasting means looking for similarities and differences between two things, which you can see nicely in a Venn diagram.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Compare and contrast is a rhetorical style that discusses the similarities and differences of two or more things: ideas, concepts, items, places, etc. This rhetorical style is one that you\u2019ll see often as a complete essay, but you may also use it quite a lot within paragraphs of any kind of essay in which you need to make some kind of comparison to help illustrate a point.<\/p>\n<p>A compare and contrast essay does two things: It discusses the similarities and differences of at least two different things. First, you must find a basis of comparison to be sure that the two things have enough in common.<\/p>\n<p>After that, you identify their differences.\u00a0You may structure the compare and contrast essay using either\u00a0the\u00a0<strong>alternating method<\/strong>\u00a0(stating one aspect of one thing and immediately discussing the same aspect of the other item and how they are similar or different) or the\u00a0<strong>block method<\/strong>\u00a0(discussing all of the aspects of one thing and then discussing all of the aspects of another).<\/p>\n<h2>Techniques<\/h2>\n<p>Keep the following in mind when you write a comparison and contrast essay.<\/p>\n<h3>Basis of Comparison<\/h3>\n<p>In order for your essay to be a success, you need to have a basis of comparison about the things that you\u2019re comparing.\u00a0 Do the things have enough in common for it to make sense to write about them in a compare and contrast essay?\u00a0For example, it would make sense to compare in-person and online courses because the two have enough in common to justify discussing the similarities and differences of the two types of courses.<\/p>\n<h3>Alternating Method<\/h3>\n<p>When you use the alternating method, you discuss one aspect of the first item and then immediately discuss the same aspect of the second item.\u00a0You may discuss the amount of computer time required for an in-person course and an online course.\u00a0You may state that while you need to work on the computer for both courses, you would need to spend twice as much time on the computer for the online course.<\/p>\n<h3>Block Method<\/h3>\n<p>When you use the block method, you discuss one subject and then discuss the next subject. Usually, you would write one paragraph discussing all aspects of the first subject and then write a second paragraph discussing all aspects of the second subject and so on.<\/p>\n<p>For example, if you begin with a discussion of the online course, you might discuss the amount of computer time required, the costs, the typical student success rate, and the usual instructional pedagogy. Next, you would turn to your discussion of an in-person course and discuss each of those aspects for the in-person course.<\/p>\n<p>With the block method, you do not go back and forth in your discussion. First, you focus on the first subject (the online course) and then you focus on the second subject (the face-to-face course).<\/p>\n<h3>Combination Method<\/h3>\n<p>Finally, when you combine the two, you\u2019re writing a compare and contrast essay that follows the combination method.\u00a0You may spend a couple of body paragraphs using the alternating method and then decide to switch to the block method for a deeper analysis of each of the subjects. As you can imagine, no one approach always works best, depending on the subjects, which is probably why the combination method evolved. In any case, each of these methods is not meant as a formula; use these approaches to guide you as you master this style of writing.<\/p>\n<h4>How to Effectively Compare and Contrast Information<\/h4>\n<p>When comparing and contrasting, you can either chunk or sequence your analysis. When you chunk you analysis, you first talk about Choice A, explicating whatever points you wish, and then discuss Choice B, elaborating as necessary. For example, if you were comparing Saint Bernards with Cockapoos, you could have a paragraph or so about Saint Bernards and then move on to the Cockapoos.<\/p>\n<p>People find information easier when technical writers chunk information because you don&#8217;t need to hold in your memory what the writer said about Subject A, Topic 3 while reading Subject B, Topics 1 and 2.<\/p>\n<table style=\"height: 390px; width: 344px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Chunking<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Sequencing<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Choice A<\/p>\n<p>I. Subject A<br \/>\nA.\u00a0Topic 1<\/p>\n<p>Subject A<br \/>\nB. Topic 2<\/p>\n<p>Subject A<br \/>\nC. Topic 3<\/p>\n<p>II.\u00a0Subject B<br \/>\nA.\u00a0Topic 1<\/p>\n<p>Subject B<br \/>\nA.\u00a0Topic 1<\/p>\n<p>Subject B<br \/>\nA.\u00a0Topic 1<\/td>\n<td>Choice B<\/p>\n<p>I. Topic 1<\/p>\n<p>A.<\/p>\n<p>B.<\/p>\n<p>II. Topic 2<\/p>\n<p>A.<\/p>\n<p>B.<\/p>\n<p>III. Topic 3<\/p>\n<p>A.<\/p>\n<p>B.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-140\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">Lumen Learning authored content<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Compare and Contrast. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Lumen Learning . <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/compare-and-contrast\/\">https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/compare-and-contrast\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em>Other<\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":395986,"menu_order":11,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"lumen\",\"description\":\"Compare and Contrast\",\"author\":\"Lumen Learning \",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/compare-and-contrast\/\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"other\",\"license_terms\":\"\"}]","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-140","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":126,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-technicalwriting\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/140","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-technicalwriting\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-technicalwriting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-technicalwriting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/395986"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-technicalwriting\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/140\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":454,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-technicalwriting\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/140\/revisions\/454"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-technicalwriting\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/126"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-technicalwriting\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/140\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-technicalwriting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=140"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-technicalwriting\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=140"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-technicalwriting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=140"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-technicalwriting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}