I can identify the similarities and differences between the two texts, and make some comparisons and / or contrasts SECURE THERAPY Breaking down the skill: Identify to use skimming and scanning skills to locate parts of the texts Similarities and differences I can look at two texts and find ideas that are about the same area or topic, and can work out if they agree or disagree Some comparisons and/or contrasts I can use connectives to compare quotations from the text and point out their similarities and differences To develop our comparison skills, we can compare two objects by looking for similarities and differences. We treat them exactly as we would a text in an exam. TASK 1: Compare and contrast images A and B. Look for similarities and differences in the way that they look. Use the additional information below them to help you. A B Weight: 100 grams Calories: 52 Fat: 0.2 grams Carbohydrate: 14 grams Origin: Asia Sugar 10g Weight: 132 grams Calories: 62 Fat: 0.1 grams Carbohydrate: 12g Sugar: 9 grams Origin: Asia Similarities Differences
First Text Second Text Comparison Table Tennis Connective Structuring a response to comparison is a bit like a game of table tennis. You have to repeatedly move back and forth between the two texts, using connectives between your ideas. Take a look at the example below: The appearance of the fruits is quite different. The apple is red and has a stalk with a green leaf whereas the orange has no stalk and is orange in colour. TASK 2: You try completing some comparison paragraphs about the images below. Remember to use the following structure in each paragraph. STATEMENT ABOUT IMAGE A CONNECTIVE STATEMENT ABOUT IMAGE B TOP TIP CHOOSE A CONNECTIVE FROM THE CORRECT LIST TO HELP YOU CONNECTIVES TO SHOW SIMILARITY Likewise Similarly CONNECTIVES TO SHOW DIFFERENCE Whereas On the other hand
How to Compare Texts Comparing texts follows exactly the same procedure as with images. You need to: Read the question carefully Identify exactly what you are trying to compare Find similarities and differences Structure them into table tennis comparison paragraphs We will be working on this question: Compare how Text A and Text B present American foods. Think about: What you learn about American foods Different attitudes to American foods 10 Marks Text A Junk Food Heaven by Bill Bryson Some weeks ago I announced to my wife that I was going to the supermarket with her next time she went because the stuff she kept bringing home was not fully in the spirit of American eating. Here we were living in a paradise of junk food - the country that gave the world cheese in a spray can - and she kept bringing home healthy stuff like fresh broccoli. It was because she was British, of course. She didn t really understand the rich, unrivalled possibilities for greasiness and goo that the American diet offers. I longed for artificial bacon bits, cheese in a shade of yellow unknown to nature and creamy chocolate fillings, sometimes all in the same product. I wanted food that squirts when you bite into it or plops onto your shirt in gross quantities. So I accompanied her to the supermarket and while she was off squeezing melons and pricing mushrooms I made for the junk food section - which was essentially all the rest of the store. Well, it was heaven. The breakfast cereals alone could have occupied me for most of the afternoon. There must have been 200 types, and I am not exaggerating. The most immediately arresting was called Cookie Crisp, which tried to pretend it was a nutritious breakfast but was really just chocolate chip cookies that you put in a bowl and ate with milk. Brilliant. I grabbed a box of the cereals and sprinted back to the trolley. What s that? my wife asked in the special tone of voice with which she often addresses me in retail establishments. Breakfast, I panted as I dashed past, and don t even think about putting it back and getting muesli.
TASK 3: Re- read the question then highlight the main ideas in this text. Bullet point five main ideas below then repeat for the second text. Text B Why do Brits Love American Food? by Katy Salter Juicy burgers, stacks of fluffy pancakes, Cobb salads festooned with crispy bacon, and cherry pie topped with whipped cream: American food is glorious. Especially in America. But why is it becoming Britain s go- to cuisine? Are the pleasures of hot dogs and red velvet cake so great we ve forgotten our own food culture? It appears so. Britain is having a passionate love affair with American grub and, embarrassingly for us, it s an unrequited romance. It started with the cupcake. A post- Sex and the City raft of cutesy bakeries opened across the country. Soon no high- street cake shop was complete without pastel- hued cupcakes, whoopie pies or the frankly bizarre cake pop. Until the Great British Bake Off came along, for a time there, it was like Victoria sponge never happened. Next came burgers. Then barbecue (which must now refer to Southern US- style slabs of slowly smoked meat rather than grilling a family pack of bangers). Hot dogs, meatballs, doughnuts and fried chicken all followed. These trends have begun to spread out from London, and probably won t stop until the whole country is drowning in a sea of sprinkles and Kraft cheese slices.
We have added some similarities and differences to the table below. Find the quotations that show these and add them to the correct columns. Similarity or Difference Quotation from Text A Quotation from Text B Bryson suggests that the British do not like unhealthy American food. Salter suggests that they do. Bryson and Salter both celebrate examples of American junk food. Both writers describe some of the sweet foods America has produced. Both writers show that American foods are getting more popular. TASK 4: Tick to indicate whether you think the connectives show a similarity or a difference. You should aim to use these in your response. Connective Tick for similarity Tick for difference However Similarly Likewise On the other hand In agreement In contrast
TASK 5: Study the different parts of this example. This is how you should structure each comparison paragraph. Bryson complains that the food his wife was buying was not in the spirit of American eating. Similarly, Salter agrees that American food is glorious especially in America. Both writers suggest that they appreciate American food. Write a statement about the first text by Bryson Use an appropriate connective to show similarity or difference Write a statement about the second text by Salter Add a mini- conclusion which sums up why the ideas are similar or different. Use the example above and the quotations from your table to continue your response below. Remember the question: Compare how Text A and Text B present American foods. Think about: What you learn about American foods The different reasons people like and dislike them Phrase Bank: Similarity The texts agree when describing Bryson states that Likewise, Salter explains This shows that Difference There is a difference when Bryson thinks In contrast, Salter says As such, the writers do not