The Comparison-Contrast Pattern
Lesson plan on two ways to organize an essay that compares two poems.
ENGLISH 11AP:
Daily Plan
UNIT: The Elements of Poetry
DAY: 25
Assignment to have been completed: Students were to have done a rough draft of their response to the prompt.
Objectives: To organize an essay on one of two comparison/contrast patterns
Activities:
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A. Answer any questions remaining on the two poems.
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B. Articulate the purpose for the comparison or contrast: How do the two poems provoke a strikingly different response through similar scenes?
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1. What comparison does the prompt require?
Demonstrate with concrete details and specific explanations how the scenes in the two poems are similar.
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2. What contrast does the prompt require?
Demonstrate with concrete details and specific explanations how the two speakers’ responses are dissimilar?
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C. Determine which elements of the poem support the two focuses of the poem.
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1. Which of the elements support the similarity of the scenes?
Choice of detail, imagery, figures of speech
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2. Which of the elements support the dissimilarity in the speakers’ responses?
Theme, figurative language, tone
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D. Select the specific details that belong to these elements and list them under the appropriate element.
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E. Formulate a thesis statement. In that statement, identify the subject to be compared and the subject to be contrasted, establish the purpose of the comparison/ contrast, and make clear whether you will concentrate on similarities or differences.
Example: Despite the fact that “The Indifferent” and “Love’s Deity” are written by exactly the same poet, they present two completely different views of fidelity.
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F. Determine the structure of your essay. You may use either a subject-to subject comparison or a point-by-point comparison. Both are outlined here.
| Subject-to-Subject | Point-by-Point |
|---|---|
| Introduction (including thesis) “The Wild Swans at Coole” Similarity of Scene Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 “The Wild Swans at Coole” Dissimilarity of Response Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 “The Great Scarf of Birds” Similarity of Scene Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 “The Great Scarf of Birds” Dissimilarity of Response Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 Conclusion |
Introduction (including thesis) Similarity of Scene Point 1 “The Wild Swans at Coole” “The Great Scarf of Birds” Point 2 “The Wild Swans at Coole” “The Great Scarf of Birds” Point 3 “The Wild Swans at Coole” “The Great Scarf of Birds” Point 4 “The Wild Swans at Coole” “The Great Scarf of Birds” Dissimilarity of Response Point 1 “The Wild Swans at Coole” “The Great Scarf of Birds” Point 2 “The Wild Swans at Coole” “The Great Scarf of Birds” Point 3 “The Wild Swans at Coole” “The Great Scarf of Birds” Point 4 “The Wild Swans at Coole” “The Great Scarf of Birds” Conclusion |
- G. Use transitional expressions:
- Comparison - similar to, similarly, like, likewise, just like, just as, furthermore, moreover, equally, again, also, too, so, in comparison to, as well as, and
- Contrast - on the contrary, on the other hand, instead of, different from, while, although, unlike, even though, nevertheless, however, otherwise, except for, and yet, still
Assignment for next class meeting: Word process a complete first draft of your essay.