Compare and contrast in informational texts
key notes:
🏀 Authors often compare and contrast ideas, events, people or things.
🏀 To compare is to show how two things are alike. When authors compare, they often use signal words like in the same way, both or similarly.
🏀 To contrast is to show how two things are different. When authors contrast, they often use signal words like unlike, on the other hand or however. These signal words help to show how two subjects or topics are different.
Learn with an example
🐵Use the text to compare and contrast the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution are both important parts of US history. The Declaration of Independence stated that the American colonies would no longer be ruled by England. On the other hand, the Constitution describes how the United States government works. It also lists the rights of Americans.
| The united states constitution | The United States Constitution | |
| An important part of US history | ||
| Describe how the government |
Look at the signal words and the surrounding details in the text.
The Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution are both important parts of US history. The Declaration of Independence stated that the American colonies would no longer be ruled by England. On the other hand, the Constitution describes how the United States government works. It also lists the rights of Americans.
These signal words help show the differences and similarities between the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence:
| The united states constitution | The Declaration of independence | |
| An important part of US history | ✔ | ✔ |
| Describes how the government | ✔ |
🐵Use the text to compare and contrast pogo sticks and trampolines.
If you like to jump, you might want to try a pogo stick or a trampoline. You can hop from one place to another on a pogo stick. However, if you want to stay in one place, a trampoline might work better. Pogo sticks only work well on hard surfaces. But trampolines can be placed on softer surfaces, like grass.
| Pogo sticks | Trampolines | |
| Can take you from one place to another | ||
| Can be used on soft surfaces |
Look at the signal words and the surrounding details in the text.
If you like to jump, you might want to try a pogo stick or a trampoline. You can hop from one place to another on a pogo stick. However, if you want to stay in one place, a trampoline might work better. Pogo sticks only work well on hard surfaces. But trampolines can be placed on softer surfaces, like grass.
These signal words help show the differences and similarities between pogo sticks and trampolines:
| Pogo sticks | Trampolines | |
| Can take you from one place to another | ✔ | |
| Can be used on soft surfaces | ✔ |
🐵Use the text to compare and contrast alligators and crocodiles.
People often confuse alligators with crocodiles. How can you tell these reptiles apart? Alligators have U-shaped noses, while the noses of crocodiles look more like Vs. When a crocodile closes its mouth, its lower and upper teeth can be seen. In contrast, an alligator’s lower teeth are hidden when its mouth is closed.
| Alligators | Crocodiles | |
| Have noses shaped like Vs | ||
| Lower teeth are hidden when mouth is closed |
Look at the signal words and the surrounding details in the text.
People often confuse alligators with crocodiles. How can you tell these reptiles apart? Alligators have U-shaped noses, while the noses of crocodiles look more like Vs. When a crocodile closes its mouth, its lower and upper teeth can be seen. In contrast, an alligator’s lower teeth are hidden when its mouth is closed.
These signal words help show the differences and similarities between alligators and crocodiles:
| Alligators | Crocodiles | |
| Have noses shaped like Vs | ✔ | |
| Lower teeth are hidden when mouth is closed | ✔ |
let’s practice!
