Definition and Examples of Comparison in Composition

Definition and Examples of Comparison in Composition In composition, comparison is a  rhetorical strategy and method of organization in which a writer examines similarities and/or differences between two people, places, ideas, or things.Words and phrases that often signal a comparison include similarly, likewise, by comparison, by the same token, in like manner, in the same way, and in a similar fashion. Comparison (often referred to as comparison and contrast) is one of the classical rhetorical exercises known as the  progymnasmata. Comparison/Contrast Essays A Brother of St. Francis, by Grace RhysLaughter, by Joseph AddisonThe Lowest Animal, by Mark TwainLuxuries, by George AdeOf Youth and Age, by Francis BaconOn the Difference Between Wit and Humor, by Charles S. BrooksRed-Bloods and Mollycoddles, by G. Lowes DickinsonTwo Ways of Seeing a River, by Mark TwainWatching Baseball, Playing Softball, by Lubby Juggins Style Scrapbook Comparison in Laurie Lees AppetiteComparison in Sarah Vowells Place Description Etymology From the Latin, compare. Examples and Observations A car is useless in New York, essential everywhere else. The same with good manners.(Mignon McLaughlin, The Complete Neurotics Notebook. Castle Books, 1981)The truth of the matter was, the baby looked very much like a mouse in every way. He was only about two inches high; and he had a mouses sharp nose, a mouses tail, a mouses whiskers, and the pleasant, shy manner of a mouse. Before he was many days old he was not only looking like a mouse but acting like one, toowearing a gray hat and carrying a small cane.(E.B. White, Stuart Little. Harper, 1945)Must a powerful fairy like myself condescend to explain her doings to you who are no better than an ant by comparison, though you think yourself a great king?(Andrew Lang, The Wonderful Sheep. The Blue Fairy Book, 1889)Immigrants in Canada are . . . more culturally similar to the native population than immigrant groups in other nations. Canadian immigrants nationalize at very high rates. They participate in the labor force at rates similar to the native population; their unemployment is lower; their occupational prestige is similar; and their income is the same as the native population.(J.P. Lynch and R.J. Simon, Immigration the World Over. Rowman Littlefield, 2003)establish a clear basis for comparison;make a thorough and specific presentation; andprovide an effective arrangement for the material. Comparison and Contrast EssaysTo gain the most from your use of comparison and contrast, . . . you need to(W.J. Kelly, Strategy and Structure. Allyn and Bacon, 1999)Arranging Details in Comparison and Contrast EssaysOrdering detail in a comparison-contrast essay requires some thought. One possible arrangement is the block pattern whereby all the points about one subject are made (in a block) then all the points about the other subject are made (in a second block). . . .A second possible arrangement for the details of comparison-contrast is the alternating pattern, whereby a point is made for one subject, then for the other. A second point is made for the first subject, then for the other. This alternating pattern continues until all the points are made for both subjects. . . .In general, the block method works better for essays with fewer points of comparison or contrast that are not extensively developed . . ..An alternating pattern is usually a better choice for an essay with many points of comparison and contrast or an essay with extensively developed ideas.(Barbara Fine Clouse, Patterns for a Purpose. McGraw-Hill, 2003) Complaining vs. MoaningVisitors to Britain are rarely able to graspsometimes after decades of residencythe vital distinction its inhabitants make between complaining and moaning. The two activities seem similar, but there is a profound philosophical and practical difference. To complain about something is to express dissatisfaction to someone whom you hold responsible for an unsatisfactory state of affairs; to moan is to express the same thing to someone other than the person responsible. The British are powerfully embarrassed by complaining, and experience an almost physical recoil from people who do it in public. They do love to moan though. The background music of British life is a running aria of moaning about pretty much everythingour weather, our politics, our permanently under-performing national sports teams, our reality-TV-obsessed media, and so on. Moaning, a source of entertainment in its own right, is also an important psychic comfort blanket, a way of venting resentment without taking responsibility for effecting change.(John Lanchester, Party Games. The New Yorker, June 7, 2010) European Football vs. American FootballAlthough European football is the parent of American football, the two games show several major differences. European football, sometimes called association football or soccer, is played in more than 80 countries, making it the most widely played sport in the world. American football, on the other hand, is popular only in the United States and Canada. Soccer is played by 11 players with a round ball. Football, also played by 11 players in somewhat different positions on the field, uses an elongated round ball. Soccer has little body contact between players, and therefore requires no special protective equipment. Football, in which players make maximum use of body contact to block a running ball carrier and his teammates, requires special headgear and padding. In soccer, the ball is advanced toward the goal by kicking it or by butting it with the head. In football, on the other hand, the ball is passed from hand to hand across the opponents goal. These are just a few of the features that distinguish association and American football.(student paragraph, Football and Soccer) A Sexist Interlude by Bill Bryson: Women vs. Men at the Checkout CounterAlthough the store had only just opened, the food hall was busy and there were long queues at the tills. I took a place in a line behind eight other shoppers. They were all women and they all did the same mystifying thing: They acted surprised when it came time to pay. This is something that has been puzzling me for years. Women will stand there watching their items being rung up, and then when the till lady says, Thats four pounds twenty, love, or whatever, they suddenly look as if theyve never done this sort of thing before. They go Oh! and start rooting in a flustered fashion in their handbag for their purse or checkbook, as if no one had told them that this might happen.Men, for all their many shortcomings, like washing large pieces of oily machinery in the kitchen sink or forgetting that a painted door stays wet for more than thirty seconds, are generally pretty good when it comes to paying. They spend their time in line doing a wallet inventory and sorting through their coins. When the till person announces the bill, they immediately hand over an approximately correct amount of money, keep their hands extended for the change however long it takes or however foolish they may begin to look if there is, say, a problem with the till roll, and thenmark thispocket their change as they walk away instead of deciding that now is the time to search for the car keys and reorganize six months worth of receipts.(Bill Bryson, Notes From a Small Island. William Morrow, 1995 Pronunciation: kom-PAR-eh-son Also Known As: comparison and contrast

How to Get an A 15 Must-Ask Questions Before Finals

How to Get an A 15 Must-Ask Questions Before Finals Finals have always been your nightmare? Now they are almost here, and you can’t afford to show up unprepared. Even if you’ve been studying like crazy, the stress and busyness of finals week can make it a tricky time. And you want to be prepared for anything that can happen, right? You have to be informed about everything from the location and time of exam to the type of questions, so that you dont take it too serious or not serious enough. That’s why it’s important to ask these vital 15 questions. They’re guaranteed to keep you from feeling confused and caught on the hop on the big day. 1. Will it be an open-book test? You don’t want to waste your time memorizing facts that you can simply look up in your textbook. Still, using a book in the wrong course can get you an F for cheating. Ask this up front to save your skin. 2. Can we bring notes? Like with the book, it’s wise to know if you can use study aids on your final. Also, it’s good to know how many notes you can have (like one page or 35 card). That way, you can spend time writing enough to get all your info onto a paper that won’t get you in trouble. 3. Is it a paper or online final test? Especially in a hybrid or online course, it’s vital to know whether your final will be online or in print. Often, courses will have both, and you don’t want to miss an entire section just because you didn’t know about it. How much of the overall grade does it count for? At the beginning of the course, your professor probably went over how much the final is worth in regards to your overall grade. Ask the question again. Sometimes, the weight of a final will change depending on how the class is progressing. 5. How much of the test is based on the lecture material? If you are in a course where there is a huge lecture component, it’s good to know how much will be lecture-based and how much will be directly from the book. That way you can focus your study where it will be most effective. 6. What is the structure of the test? In addition to how much will be based on lecture, you need to know the structure of the final exam. Is it true/false? Multiple choice? Multiple-multiple choice? Will there be an essay component? Then, look up test strategies for that particular test structure. 7. Will there be some extra-credit questions? It’s always good to know how many extra points you can earn if you happen to screw up. Every little bit helps. 8. Are there alternative testing methods? If you are a student who has test anxiety, problems with comprehension, or any other documented testing issue, you need to advocate for yourself and ask for an alternative assignment. A good professor will have an option that will allow you to be successful no matter what your circumstances. 9. Will the final exam include a practical element? Some courses – like nursing, foreign language, or laboratory science – might have a practical element or lab component. Make sure you know that ahead of time so that you are prepared interact on test day. 10. How much time will we have for the test? It’s always good to know how much time and how many questions are on the test. That way, you can gauge your progress and track how long you spend on each section. It’s the best way to ensure you complete the whole thing. 11. Will there be a retest? Although some professors have a high-stakes mentality (â€Å"One strike, you’re out†), many professors have an option to retake the test if you do poorly. Know this ahead of time so that you can plan accordingly. If you feel that the first attempt wont be successful, dont panic and find out more ways on how to live through finals to improve your chance to get high scores. 12. How will the test be graded? Will your professor be grading on a curve? Will certain questions be given more weight than others? Try to get the grading rubric ahead of time so that you can make sure your answers (especially essay answers) meet all the criteria of an A+ final. 13. Is there a practice test available? Preparation is the name of the game. If there are practice questions or a full-on practice final you can take, get that information now. You’ll be able to see your weaknesses right away and really focus your studying on what you need to learn. 14. What supplies do I need to bring? Some professors will have all the supplies you need on the day of the test. Others may ask you to bring pencils, â€Å"little blue books,† or calculators. Take it from the pros – you don’t want to be the one student who shows up to the calculus final without a graphic calculator. 15. What are the rules for the test day? For every teacher and course, there will be slightly different variations. Some teachers have rules about the spacing of the desks. Others say it’s okay to work in teams to finish the final. Whatever the individual rules in your classroom, make sure you know them so that you don’t break them. Any questions? Go ahead, comment below!