LESSON
WRITING
Write a comparison-and-contrast paragraph
7
GET READY
Emily is writing a short article for the PTA newsletter about two after-school programs.
What kind of information do you expect to find in the article?
STUDY THE MODEL
A
Read the article. What do both programs have in common?
Welcome to Rosedale High School
in the Wood Hazel
School District. Rosedale maintains high academic standards in
its curriculum, but it also has excellent after-school
programs—an arts program and a sports program.
Both programs run from approximately 4
P
.
M
. until
5:30
P
.
M
, which makes them ideal for students whose parents
work. Moreover, they are both free of charge. The arts
program is led by Mr. Michaels, a school teacher. Likewise, the
sports program is managed by Coach Williams. While the
programs are both in the same school, they are different in
some ways. The arts program runs throughout the academic
year, from September until June, whereas the sports program
is shorter, running from September until May, and there is no
program in December. The arts program is much smaller, with
only 50 students. In contrast, the sports program is much
larger, with over 120 students. The sports program is well
established; in fact, it has existed since the school opened in
1985. Unlike the sports program, the arts program is much
newer, having just started in 2010. Both programs are highly
successful. Rosedale holds top honors in art shows with over
35% of the students winning ribbons at the city’s art fair.
Similarly, the sports program holds top honors in athletics with 70% of its teams winning a
championship within the past three years.
Rosedale is proud to continue the tradition of strong and valuable after-school
programming again this year. Talk to your children and see if they prefer arts or sports.
Enroll them today.
When
comparing
and
contrasting
two things, writers use certain words
to express similarities and differences.
Comparison (show similarities) Contrast (show differences)
both
whereas/while
as well/not either
different
similarly
in contrast
likewise
however
like
unlike
Writing Tip
126
UNIT 9
