Compare and Contrast Outline
Compare and contrast examines the similarities and differences between two or more people, events, concepts, ideas, etc.
What I realize about teaching kids to write is this: we oftentimes get so fancy with techniques and strategies and all that that we forget to give kids the real practical skills of writing that, as adults, we use constantly! One of the most important tool I use as an adult writer is outlining. Yep – that simple, ol’ thing!
I outline my blog posts, my books, my presentations in the infancy stage – so that I am sure that my reader/audience/staff gets the information that they need to from me. Without an outline, I may take a…more…um….ROUNDABOUT (I think that’s what they call it! ha!) way to the point.
When I think back on my own teaching (where I realize again and again that I had no clue what I was doing), I realize that I skipped this step entirely! So, in an effort right my wrongs and help your kids and you out, I’m going to share with you a series of outline for different types of informational writing…here is the first. (When I think about teaching this to kids I think about how INDEPEDNENT with writing they will be if they master these outlines…that excites me more than anything!)
Introduction
- Thesis statement about Topic A and Topic B (the two subjects/topics/events you are comparing and contrasting)
- Point #1 (writer¹s idea about both Topic A and Topic B)
- Point #2 (writer¹s idea about both Topic A and Topic B)
Compare and Contrast Paragraphs
- Topic A Point 1
- Supporting detail/reference
- Example of Point 1
- Topic B Point 1
- Supporting detail/reference
- Example of Point 1
- Topic A Point 2
- Supporting detail/reference
- Example of Point 2
- Topic B Point 2
- Supporting detail/reference
- Example of Point 2
Conclusion
- Summary of main points
- Restatement of thesis