SECOND
QUARTER:
COMPARE AND
MODULE 4
CONSTRAST
FAMILIAR TEXTS
WHAT IS FAMILIAR TEXT?
Familiar Texts are previously taught books or passages used as a practice text when students are
learning a new skill. Using a familiar text creates an opportunity for students to focus on the new
literacy skill without getting hung up on decoding or comprehension.
Compare and Contrast
Compare and Contrast is a text structure or pattern of organization where the similarities and
differences of two or more things are explored. It is important to remember that with the
compare and contrast text structure the text should be discussing similarities and differences. If
the text only discusses similarities, it is only comparing. Likewise, if it only discusses ways that
the things are different, it is only contrasting. The text must do both to be considered compare
and contrast.
Example: Apples and oranges are both fruits, which means that they have seeds inside of them.
Each has a skin, but orange skins are thick and easy to peel. Apple skins are thinner and do not
peel easily. Oranges also contain more acid than apples, but both fruits are delicious.
Identifying when the writer is comparing and contrasting is usually not difficult because the
speaker will bounce back and forth between two subjects and this pattern is generally pretty easy
to recognize. However, here are some signal words that may indicate that the text is written
using the compare and contrast organizational pattern: like, unlike, both, neither, similar, and
different.
NAME:
SECTIONS:
Compare and Contrast Worksheet
Dinosaurs
Overview: Compare and contrast is one type of text structure. When a
writer is using the compare and contrast text structure, he or she is
explaining how two things are the same or different.
Directions: read each paragraph. A graphic organizer is used to show the
structure of the text. Fill in the missing boxes with the appropriate info.
1. Dinosaurs can be
carnivores or herbivores.
Carnivores have sharp teeth.
Herbivores have round
teeth. Carnivores eat meat.
Herbivores eat plants. Now
you can look at a dinosaur's
teeth and you will know
which type it is.
2. Some dinosaurs are
bipeds. Bipedal
dinosaurs walk on two
legs. They may use
claws on their hands to
attack. Other dinosaurs
are quadrupeds. That
means that they walk on
four legs. This helps
them move faster.
3. Was T-Rex a
scavenger or predator?
A predator will hunt
living animals. A
scavenger will look for
other sources of food.
Predators have eyes on
the front of their heads.
Scavengers' eyes tend to
be more to the side. T-
Rex probably did both.
Direction: read the following questions and encircle the letter of the correct answer.
1. When you are comparing two things, what are you looking for?
A. Similarities
B. Differences
C. Similarities and differences
D. None of the above
2. Which of the following group of signal words would you most likely find in a proper contrasting
two things?
A. While, however, unlike and however
B. Meanwhile, likewise and the same as
C. Although, however, above all
D. In addition, finally, contrary to
3. Which of the following group of signal words would you mostly find in a proper comparing of
two things?
A. However, above all, although
B. Like, both, neither and similar
C. Meanwhile, likewise, contrary to
D. Finally, in addition, above all
4. In which of the following situations could you compare and contrast?
A. You are voting for class president and there are three students running
B. You are writing an essay about which time period you’d rather live in: the 1980s or the 1880s.
C. You are deciding what the major differences are between the first and last Harry Potter books.
D. All of the above
5. Kelvin is writing about the Greek myths that he recently read. He describes how they each focus
on a hero’s quest and how each hero is different. Kelvin is ________.
A. Comparing Greek myths but not contrasting them
B. Comparing Greek myths with Roman myths
C. Comparing and contrasting Greek myths
D. Not comparing or contrasting
6. Before you write a compare and contrast essay, you should, ________.
A. Choose one difference between the items that is most important
B. Pick which item is better
C. Revise your essay using a flow chart
D. Re-write for your essay using a Venn diagram
7. When comparing and contrasting, you should ________.
A. write similarities in the overlapping sections of a Venn diagram
B. write differences in the overlapping sections of a Venn Diagram
C. write similarities in the arrows of a flow chart
D. skip pre-writing and begin writing the essay right away
8. Which of the following statements contrasts mammals and reptiles?
A. Humans are mammals.
B. Both mammals and reptiles are vertebrates.
C. Mammals are warm blooded while reptiles are cold blooded.
D. Mammals and reptiles can live in the same habitat
