Language Function: Compare and Contrast
Language Function: Compare and Contrast
Compare and Contrast means looking at two or more things to find how they are similar and how they are different. It helps us understand things better by looking at their features, qualities, or experiences side by side.
In essays or assignments (especially in English or history)
In job choices or college decisions
In product reviews (e.g., comparing phones or shoes)
In conversations about people, places, or opinions
In debates or when choosing between options
In TV shows or TikToks that break down differences (e.g., “City life vs. Country life”)
Write about two people in your life and how they are alike and different.
Compare two classes at school (e.g., PE vs. Math).
Make a Venn diagram to compare your culture with another one.
Describe two jobs, cities, or hobbies, using compare/contrast words.
Read two short texts and list similarities and differences.
Write about two school lunches or restaurants.
Debate with a partner: Which is better—working indoors or outdoors?
Compare your weekday vs. weekend routines.
Write about a book and its movie version.
Compare your past self and your current self (growth mindset activity).
Helps you see connections and make choices
Develops critical thinking
Useful for arguments, reviews, and reflection
Can be confusing if not clearly organized
Easy to focus only on one side
Overuse of “but” or “also” without depth
Both ___ and ___
Similarly, ___
Just like ___, ___
___ is alike/similar to ___
In the same way, ___
However, ___
On the other hand, ___
Unlike ___, ___
While ___, ___
In contrast, ___
Teaching and plumbing are both important jobs that help society function. Both require problem-solving skills and dedication, and each career helps people in different ways. However, teaching focuses more on mental work, like planning lessons, managing classrooms, and helping students grow. In contrast, plumbing focuses on physical or manual labor, such as repairing pipes and building systems that people use every day. While teachers work mostly in schools, plumbers may travel to homes or construction sites. Both jobs take training, patience, and skill, and neither should be seen as more valuable than the other. We need both mental and manual work to keep our communities strong.