Informational Writing Resources 📋
Example Teacher Directions for a Compare/Contrast Writing Project
Compare/Contrast Writing Project Example Instruction Steps:
Assign a general topic that can contain similarities and differences. Two things need to be compared and contrasted against each other. These are what we will call “topics.”
Show mentor papers as examples. Students should see an end goal before they jump into the project to show them that writing is 1.) possible and 2.) directions are clear.
Students can brainstorm points for both topics of the paper in order to find similarities and differences.
Review essay vocabulary terms. Focus specifically on transition words with this genre of writing.
Help students learn common organization styles for compare/contrast pieces of writing
**Note: decide if students will write in point-by-point style or block method**
Help students narrow down a claim based on the topics with reasons for why they think the way they do.
Students can choose an organizational style for their paper. You can also decide that everyone is going to try one organizational style.
Students develop a claim statement. Example Compare/Contrast Claim Setup.
Introduction paragraph lesson. An introduction has 3 parts: A hook/opener/attention grabber, a summary of the topic or reading material, and the claim statement.
Body paragraphs lesson. A typical compare/contrast body paragraph has different parts depending on the organizational method chosen:
-Point-by-Point or Reason-by-Reason: Each body paragraph contains both topics regarding one specific point from the claim. A topic sentence that goes back to the claim, an introduction to evidence, a piece of evidence, an explanation or elaboration of evidence, both topics regarding one point at a time, and a transition to a new topic or idea.
-Example: Essay on fruits vs vegetables, fruits and vegetables vary in size, shape, and color, the first body paragraph is about size and talks about both fruits and vegetables
-Block Method: Each paragraph has only one topic, but all points are addressed for that topic. The final body paragraph offers the main analysis. A topic sentence that goes back to the claim, an introduction to evidence, a piece of evidence, an explanation or elaboration of evidence, one topic at a time that contains all points, and a transition to a new topic or idea.
Example: Essay on fruits vs vegetables, fruits and vegetables vary in size, shape, and color, the first body paragraph is all about fruits in terms of size, shape, and color, the second paragraph is about vegetables in terms of size, shape, and color, and the third paragraph offers evaluation of the two.
You may have to show students how to find source information and how to insert sources into their writing if they are using an outside source for support.
Students can outline body paragraphs and organize their writing.
Students can revise their introductions and create drafts of their body paragraphs.
Conclusion paragraph lesson. A conclusion typically has 3 parts: A review of the claim or argument, a “what does the reader do with this information now,” and a call to action.
Students can create a complete draft of their compare/contrast paper.
Revise and edit.
Free Compare/Contrast Essay Guide
Now with Canva Template Link! Modify the packet for use in your own classroom!
Lesson Ideas
Assignment #1: Is America turning into a dystopian society? (Based on the book Uglies by Scott Westerfeld)
Blog Posts
Looking at these documents, you may think I am a little bit crazy. I am okay with that. However, I am excited to have a go at this project with my third hour group. I am constantly evaluating how I end a novel unit, and I enjoy reflecting on the type of paper writing I express as important to my students. When my grade-level colleague and I attended MCTE in October and listened to Kelly Gallagher, we got excited about the idea of a multi-genre project with our sixth graders. We teach a variety of paper genres throughout the school year, including the five-paragraph essay, but we wanted students to get a chance to be innovative and inquisitive about the world around them.