The Comparison Paragraph

The Comparison Paragraph

 As the nomenclature suggests, this kind of paragraph follows the technique of comparison. In other words, the function of the developers in a comparison paragraph is to compare two subjects to show the similarities between them. Remember, there may be some obvious differences or dissimilarities between the subjects in question but the comparison paragraph has nothing to do with them. It will concern itself only with the common aspects or similarities. The question of the differences may simply be mentioned in the topic sentence/s (sometimes more than one sentence is required in a comparison paragraph to introduce the topic) but its main focus will be on the similarities.

 Before you start writing a comparison paragraph you should first decide how many points of similarity you will make in it. Suppose, you have decided to make only three points. Then, you should decide how you will arrange your developers. There are, in fact, two different procedures for doing this. Either you can alternate one example of your first subject with one of the second or you can write down all your examples of the first subject one by one followed by all the examples of the second. The diagrams below will demonstrate

the procedures more clearly. The two subjects of comparison are represented by X and Y respectively:

           TS    TS

           X I   X1

           Y l   X2

 1 ---   X2    2 --- X3

           Y2                                       Y1

           X3                                       Y2

           Y3                                       Y3

           CS                                       CS

These are the two possible organizational patterns of a comparison paragraph. In each of the diagrams, TS stands for Topic Sentence and CS means Concluding Sentence. Let us now write two paragraphs on the same topic using these diagrams.

Paragraph and Essay

        1. Although the paragraph and the essay are different from each other, there are some structural similarities between them. Firstly, the paragraph has a topic sentences to introduce the main idea. Similarly, the essay has a topic paragraph or thesis statement to introduce the main idea. Secondly, in a paragraph the sentences in the middle serve the purpose of expanding or developing the main idea. In t he same manner, the intermediate part of an essay supports the topic paragraph. Thirdly, every paragraph has a concluding sentence to draw the main idea to a satisfying end. The essay also has a similar concluding paragraph. The paragraph and the essay, therefore, share some common features in respect to their structures.

        2. Although the paragraph and the essay are different from each other, there are some structural similarities between them. Firstly, the paragraph has a topic sentence to introduce the main idea. Secondly, it has a number of sentences

in the middle to develop that main idea. And thirdly, there is a concluding sentence in it to bring the main idea t o a close. In the same way, the essay also consists of a beginning, a middle and an end. It has a topic paragraph to highlight the main idea. Then the paragraphs in the middle expand that main idea. And it has also a concluding paragraph to give the essay a satisfactory end. It is, therefore, obvious that the paragraph and the essay share some common features in respect to their structures.

You have certainly noticed that both the paragraphs above have an identical beginning and ending. But the

developers in them have been arranged in different orders. The difference is shown in the diagrams above. In the second paragraph, however, there is a context modulator.

You should remember that apart from the connectors used in the list paragraph and the example paragraph, you will need some special linkers in a comparison paragraph. They include:

        Similarly

        in the same manner

        in the same way

        likewise

        also

        too and others

MAIN POINTS

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

     ii) Its function is to compare two subjects.

     iii) The examples of the similarities between the subjects can be arranged in two different ways.

VOCABULARY ENRICHMENT

     (to) alternate — arrange by turns; appear one after the other

     (to) concern oneself with — be busy with; interest oneself in

     demonstrate — show clearly by giving examples

     diagram — drawing or design to explain something

     identical — the same; exactly alike

     intermediate — coming between in time, space, etc.

     nomenclature — system of naming

     procedure - order of doing things

EXERCISES

     1. Read the following paragraph and answer the questions below it:-

Novel and Short Story

        Despite the differences between them, the novel and the short story share some common characteristics. For

example, the novel is a narrative in prose. Similarly, the short story is a narrative in prose. Secondly, in the novel there is an elaborate portrayal of characters. In the same manner, the short story also portrays characters, though on a smaller canvas. Thirdly, the novel in its course of action tells a story. Likewise, the short story also tells a story. Clearly, the novel and the short story are similar on certain points.

     a) What technique of paragraph development has been used here?

     b) How have the examples of similarities been arranged? Show it in a diagram.

     c) Underline the words/expressions that indicate similarity.

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

     a) Australia and the Great Britain

     b) Islam and Christianity

     c) Books out Newspapers

     d) Football and cricket

     e) The cow and the Horse