Compare and Contrast

Hi Everyone,

Here's an example of a compare and contrast paragraph. Note that the compare and contrast words are in bold:


Two Teachers

Students who have Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones are immediately aware of the

difference in the lecturing manner of each teacher. First, Mr. Jones has a pleasant

voice, which helps hold the interest of the students. Mr. Smith, however, has a

booming voice, which commands rather than teaches. Mr. Jones pronounces

clearly in a rhythmic pattern emphasizing key words. On the other hand, Mr.

Smith mumbles, running his words together. The moderate tone and inflected

words of Mr. Jones make his lectures more interesting than those of Mr. Smith,

who speaks in a boring monotone. Mr. Jones also adds humour to the subject,

whereas Mr. Smith is always serious about each lesson. Mr. Jones welcomes

questions from students who don’t understand the material, as compared to Mr.

Smith, who hates to be interrupted. Mr. Jones takes his time and explains slowly,

while Mr. Smith rushes through each lesson. Mr. Jones is very enthusiastic

about his subject; he tries to make sure everyone understands a concept before

he moves on to something new. In contrast, Mr. Smith is always in a determined

mood; he feels that he must cover everything. Each teacher has a different voice,

tone, pronunciation, expression, and attitude - and as a result, their lectures are

quite different.



Here's an example of a longer composition (essay):

Some Crucial Differences between Men and Women in Relationships

(adapted from an eHarmony.com article by Dr. Seth Meyers!)

As a counsellor, I’ve noticed some key differences between men and women in terms of their primary relationship (such as marriage). The two genders have the same basic needs – to be noticed, to be loved, and to have a purpose in the relationship – yet they go about getting those needs met in very different ways. [main idea statement]

First, while men and women have the same need to be noticed, they get that need met very differently. For example, when most men have a bad day, they need their girlfriend to notice they’re upset. The guy usually utters a few quick words about his bad day, and then he prefers to move on as opposed to processing his feelings further. On the other hand, most women tend to be more verbal and emotionally expressive than men. When most women have a bad day, they often want to come home and talk about it in detail with their boyfriend.

Second, men and women have the same basic need to be loved and cared for, even though men and women often show their love differently. For example, many men won’t talk openly about the range of their loving feelings for their girlfriend, telling themselves: “She knows.” In contrast, many women I’ve counseled over the years share their loving feelings openly. Women in relationships often wish they got a little more expressiveness in the emotion department from their male partners, but it seems men like to show love through actions – not words. A guy tells himself that showing love means taking his girlfriend on a trip, getting her a special gift, or taking her to a nice dinner.

Finally, men and women often differ in the roles they take on in their relationships. Historically, men have identified more as financial providers and occasional home repairmen, as coaches for their kids’ sports teams, and so forth whereas women often manage things at home, offer more emotional nurturance, and take on a role as the family planner by managing bills, planning events, and organizing the couple’s or family’s social life. Times have changed, yet it is critical for all men and women in relationships to understand their own unique purpose in the relationship, as well as to acknowledge the unique roles and purpose of their respective partners.

Ultimately, men and women have more similarities than differences, which is why many relationships are happy ones which last for years. The more aware men and women can become of what makes each gender unique, the better male-female relationships will be in the future. In other words, there’s still hope!

Words: 450