READING COMPREHENSION

STANDARD 2.1   Structural Features w Level 4

COMPARE AND CONTRAST

Compare and contrast is a structural pattern found in informational text that can help strengthen your comprehension.

• To compare is to tell how two or more things, events or characters are alike.
  

• To contrast is to tell how two or more things, events, or characters are different.
  

So, to compare and contrast is to look at how two or more things are alike and how they are different. It is a skill you can use to clarify how people, events, or things are alike and how they are different in an effort to better understand text. One of the best tools to use when comparing and contrasting only two things is a Venn Diagram like the one pictured below.

To use a Venn Diagram, think about all of the ways that two things are alike. Then think about all of the ways that they are different. In the left circle, write whatever describes the first thing only. In the right circle, write only what describes the second thing. In the overlapping area (in the middle) write whatever describes both things.

Venn Diagram