The Contrast Paragraph

The Contrast Paragraph

        The Contrast Paragraph is also a kind of Comparison Paragraph in which two things are compared. However, there is also a difference between the two. While in the comparison paragraph the comparison is made to bring out the similarities, in the contrast paragraph the things are compared so that their differences are made clear. In other words, the function of a contrast paragraph is to contrast one subject with another. Remember, only the dissimilar aspects or characteristics of the subjects in question should be your target. If there is any similarity between them, students can simply mention it but they must concentrate on the differences.

The organizational pattern of a contrast paragraph is like that of the comparison paragraph. Here also two procedures can be used. How you will arrange your developers is this case is shown in the diagrams below. Suppose, your subjects are A & B. Then your order of arrangement will be like this:

Al           A1

Bl            A2

A2          Or           A3

B2           B1

A3          B2

B3           B3

That means, either you can alternate your examples of the first subject with those of the second (in this case the contrast may be shown in just one sentence or two consecutive sentences) or write all the examples of the' first subject together to be followed by those of the second with a modulator in the middle of the sets.

Remember, the question of contrast should be brought into focus in the topic sentence.

Here are two paragraphs on the same topic. See how the developers are arranged in them:

Drama and Novel

        1. The drama and the novel are two separate genres of literature. Obviously, there are some differences between them. First of all, the drama is written in dialogue in prose or verse, whereas the novel is a narrative in prose. Secondly, the drama is divided into acts and scenes. On the other hand, the novel is divided into chapters. Thirdly, the drama is intended to be staged but the novel is intended to be read. Fourthly, the drama is a very old form of literature, while the novel is a late growth which cannot be traced back earlier than the sixteenth century. These are only a few of the dissimilarities between the drama and the novel.

        2. In many respects, the drama is different from the novel. The drama, for example, is written in dialogue in prose or verse. Secondly, it is divided into acts and scenes. Thirdly, it is mainly intended to be staged. And fourthly, it is a very ancient form of literature. On the contrary, the novel is a narrative- in prose. It is divided into chapters. It is intended mainly to be read and finally it is a later innovation. These are only a few differences between the drama and the novel.

        Both of the two paragraphs above deal with the differences between the drama and the novel. In each, four

points of contrast have been made. But-so far the organization of the developers is concerned, one is different from the other. In the first paragraph, the examples of the drama have alternated with those of the novel. You have also noticed that only the second point of contrast has been shown in two separate sentences, whereas each of the other three points has been presented in a single sentence. On the other hand, the examples of the drama have all been given together in four consecutive sentences in the second paragraph and then the contrasting examples of the novel have been given in a separate list of four consecutive sentences. In this procedure, the first example of the second subject should correspond with the first of the first subject, the second example of the second subject should correspond with the second of the first and so on. For a neat presentation of the examples, this regularity is essential. Another difference between the two paragraphs is that in the former there are two topic sentences, while in the latter there is only one.

You should remember that certain words and expressions are used in the contrast paragraph to indicate the

contrast. They include:

     but

     on the other hand

     on the other side

     on the contrary

     while

     whereas

     in contrast

     unlike

     and so on

     These are called transitional words.

MAIN POINTS.

     i) The contrast paragraph is developed by using the technique of contrast.

     ii) Its purpose is to point out the dissimilarities between two subjects.

     iii) The developers in a contrast paragraph are arranged in two different ways.

     iv) The transitional words in the contrast paragraph arc different from those in the comparison paragraph.

VOCABULARY ENRICHMENT

   act — main division of a play

   ancient - belonging to times long past

   consecutive - coming one after the other in regular order

   contrary - opposite

   (to) correspond - be in harmony

   dialogue - conversation or talk

   genre - kind; category (of literary form)

   innovation -r something new that is introduced

   narrative - composition in the form of story-telling

   (to) stage - put on the stage

   target - something to be aimed at

  (to) trace back - find the origin of by going back in time.

EXERCISES

1. Write a contrast paragraph on "Classicism Romanticism" using the points given below:

Classicism Romanticism

   Rules were followed                 Rules were ignored

   Emphasis on reason                  Emphasis on emotion

   and good sense                          and imagination

   Didactic function of poetry       Aesthetic function of poetry

    Selected diction                        Common everyday language

2. Write a contrast paragraph on each of the following topics:

   a) The tragedy and the comedy

   b) The TV play and the cinematic play

   c) The college and the university

   d) India and Bangladesh

   e) Football and cricket

3. Here are some random samples of paragraph developers. Say which are usable in a contrast paragraph.

     i) Both the countries are industrially advanced.

     ii) Unlike cricket, football is a very fast game.

     iii) But the Quran has remained intact.

     iv) Shaw too was a prolific writer