Compare and Contrast Student Samples
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Below are two essays. The first one is a block essay and the second one is a point by point essay. I would like you to make two notices and two wonders about each essay.
This is a fun activity that is often done in the classroom. Let’s see if we are able to do this well in an online environment.
I have hidden the responses of your classmates until you complete yours.When the other come available, make at least two comments on what others noticed.
Notice: Highlight a paragraph that shows one of the styles listed: block or point by point. Explain what is unique to that style
Wonders: Hightlight any questions that you have about either of the essays.
Peer Response: Respond to at least two other peers notices or wonders. I have hidden the responses of your classmates until you complete yours. When the other come available, make at least two comments on what others noticed.
Comparison and Contrast Essay: Block Method
I noticed that block method seems to be structured more on fact.
Block is more in groups rather than point by point
I like the block method. It is easier for me to read, and it seems more interesting…
the block method seems easier to read and understand.
There are two basic patterns writers use for comparison/contrast essays: the block method and the point-by-point method. In the block method, you describe all the similarities in the first body paragraph and then all the differences in the second body paragraph. The guideline below will help you remember what you need to do in each part of a comparison/contrast essay using the block method.
I wonder who came up with these formats. Where they a genius? I sure hope so. :)
It needs the person who wrote those at the end
i agree
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Introduction
1. Attract the reader’s attention.
2. Provide background information about your topic.
3. Identify the two things being compared and contrasted.
4. State the purpose for making the comparison and/or contrast.
5. State the thesis. |
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Body Paragraphs
1. In the first paragraph, discuss the similarities.
2. In the next paragraph, discuss the differences. |
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Conclusion
1. Paraphrase the thesis.
2. Summarize the main similarities and differences.
3. Paraphrase the importance of the topic. |
BLOCK METHOD STUDENT ESSAY
Fighting the Battle against Drugs
The use of drugs has increased in recent years, according to numerous articles in medical journals. They threaten communities all over the world because of how affect the organs of the body and their functions. Crack and cocaine are two of these dangerous drugs. Thus, it is important for health care professionals to have knowledge about them in order to deal with any problems related to their use that patients may experience. While they may appear similar at first glance, in fact they have three major differences.
It’s good that health care professionals are prepared for this sort of thing. Imagine if they weren’t. So many lives would be lost.
Great point! I am sure those people that do drugs are grateful for the doctors.
Yes it is! I very much agree that it is good that the health care professionals are prepared for this.
They used great wording to express how major the impact of drugs are. Had they just said:
" many people doing drugs are going to have a negative effect on the body, "
I would have lost interest and went to something more of interest and more educational.
Drugs are very bad and they can totally ruin your life.
That is why it is important to stay away from drugs.
Pugs before drugs!!!!!!!!!
I noticed that the block by block seems to go into the subjects more in depth.
I notice that the last sentence of this paragraph makes me think the essay is going to be about the three major differences.
I think it is very good that these scientists are actually looking into these drugs, and warning everyone about them.
I wonder what would happen to society if scientists hadn’t been researching on these drugs…
I like how this person uses the dangers of drugs and the grave atmosphere to pull people in. If they were to state it, “Drugs are very bad for the body. Some are good, but most are used in a bad way,” I would be much less interested because of how that changes the serious tone.
That’s a really good point. The introduction could have been something that didn’t draw you in, but instead it was something that you wanted to read more about.
Yeah, I agree, sometimes the hook can draw you in in different ways.
Hey y’all :) This is Angel! 9th grade! 14 years old, soon to … (more)
Hey y’all :) This is Angel! 9th grade! 14 years old, soon to … (more)
I wonder if one of the reasons why the use of drugs has increased biased on hospital use or use for getting high, because lately states in the US have been making the use of originally illegal drugs legal.
I noticed that this statement is showing that drugs are dangerous, maybe this is more than just a compare/contrast essay.
I noticed in this paragraph and sentence that it is a great example of a block method because it only shows how the two drugs are alike.
What method do you think is better, Block method or Point by Point?
So, the thesis sentence doesn’t follow all the thesis material as the ones we learned about yesterday did.Those are all part of the intro paragraph . Does anyone know if the entire paragraph is considered a thesis if it introduces the topic, says purpose, and if the essay will explore both the similarities and the differences or one or the other?
Only the last sentence of the introduction paragraph is considered the actual “thesis” statement. The information before the thesis is considered different sub-points and is somewhat like supporting evidence that just introduces the topic of the thesis statement and supports it.
I was wondering is the last sentence in this paragraph the thesis statement.
Crack and cocaine have three similar effects on the human body. Although crack is heat resistant and cocaine is destroyed by heat, both cause hypertension. Also, crack and cocaine bring about physiological and psychological damage, depending on pre-existing conditions and the extent of drug use. For example, hallucination, psychosis, paranoia and aggressive behavior may occur, and an overdose of either may cause cardiac collapse or convulsion. Finally, use of both drugs can lead to addiction.
This paragraph demonstrates the block method. This paragraph is unique to the block method because the paragraph only describes the similarities — not the differences — between crack and cocaine and their similar effects on the body.
I noticed that all of the similarities of the two drugs were listed in this paragraph.
I believe the paragraph here displays using the block method, because they list a bunch of similarities of crack and cocaine, but no differences.
I never knew that crack was heat resistant!
Anyways, this is a good passage, I like the way that the author views drugs.
This paragraph demonstrates the block method, because it is only showing the effects of both of the drugs. Rather than the different effects of each.
What are the differences of effects of each drug?
I wonder why crack is resistant to heat and cocaine is destroyed by it.
I notice that this sentence confuses me, after reading the last sentence of the introductory paragraph.
Notices how the author has one difference in the beginning, but then switches to the similarities. Do you think he is providing foreshadowing for the next paragraph? He could also be saying that they are similar and different making you aware of the next paragraph. This provides some uniqueness to the writing pattern.
I wonder who even thought up the idea of cocaine and crack? Someone had to make it, and I wonder how they were inspired to try it.
I wonder why people do these drugs if these are the side affects they give, it doesn’t make any sense.
Despite crack and cocaine’s similarities, they have three major differences. First, although crack and cocaine are derived from the coca plant, they differ in form. Crack has the form of flakes whereas cocaine is found in the form of powder, which can be dissolved. Furthermore, both crack and cocaine contain cocaine, but in various percentages: crack contains as much as 90 percent pure cocaine whereas cocaine contains from 15 to 25 percent pure cocaine. Another major difference is how they enter the body. For example, crack is smoked in a pipe or cigarette. It enters the body by the lungs into the bloodstream. Cocaine, on the other hand, is inhaled as a powder or is injected if dissolved. It enters the body via the nasal mucosa into the bloodstream or, if injected, directly via the bloodstream.
I wonder who made the method of “inhaling” cocaine… It seems extremely unwise to inhale a powder.
I thought it was really weird that they did that, they would have cocaine bugars or something. HAhaa…ha…
I completely agree. Does anyone taking the drug worry about choking on the powder?
Inhaling any kind of powder is crazy! For example, if you are eating a lemon bar with a ton of powdered sugar on top, and you breathe in right as you are about to take a bite, you end up coughing and blowing the powdered sugar on the floor.
Doing it with Cocaine is crazy in a similar way to powdered sugar, It hurts to inhale and sometimes makes a mess. The worse thing about cocaine is the effects on your body are worse then that of powdered sugar.
I noticed that there are three similarities and three differences mentioned here. That is a good tip to store away when researching is finding three similarities and three differences between your topics before you begin to write.
I wonder if just consuming the raw coca plant has the same physiological and psychological effects as crack and cocaine?
I noticed that this paragraph showed all of the differences between the two drugs.
I was intrigued at the way they presented this paragraph. They talk about a few similarities between the two, but mostly different. They compare in a nice, clean way.
I’m curious to know who was the first to discover these drugs, and why they ever would have thought to put them in their body?
I noticed that this paragraph focused on the differences and that the paragraph before focused on the similarities.
I wonder why crack isn’t called cocaine, even though it has more cocaine in it than cocaine…
Hey y’all :) This is Angel! 9th grade! 14 years old, soon to … (more)
Hey y’all :) This is Angel! 9th grade! 14 years old, soon to … (more)
I think that the block essay form is probably the most common, yet most effective form of writing an essay; it helps to describe more and has more information than a point-by-point essay form.
I think it’s kind of strange how crack has more cocaine in it than actual cocaine does, but it’s called crack.
They might also attack you if you refuse and start walking away. Then they could mad because it’s highly likely they are on drugs too.
They might even attack if you have nothing to do with them except live across the street. You might just be getting n your car to go to work at 4:30 in the morning and they will randomly come hit you in the head. My brother had it happen to him.
I wonder why cocaine has less pure cocaine then crack. I think that it is funny that cocaine has less pure cocaine then crack( cocaine is the name of the substance!)
Wouldn’t inhaling it hurt, like really bad? I don’t understand why anyone would want the side effects, AND all that powder in their lungs! Why would anyone try this?
I totally agree why would people subject themselves to that.I feel bad for them.
I think that it mostly has to do with peer pressure. So many people fall into those things due to peer pressure.
In conclusion, it can be seen that, while being alike in three ways, these two drugs differ in three ways. They affect the body in similar ways. Both can lead to physiological problems such as convulsions and psychological problems such as hallucinations. Furthermore, their use may result in addiction. However, cocaine and crack differ in form, content of pure cocaine and method of entry into the body. Therefore, it is important that health care professionals know about these drugs.
I did not know that about high fructose corn syrup.
I wonder what would cause someone to even think about trying one of these drugs.
I wonder how someone would of thought to make these.
I noticed that in the last two paragraphs even though it talks specifically about one or the other similarities or differences it mentions the of they are not using specifically.
I have decided that I will not do drugs….. PUGS BEFORE DRUGS!!!
I wonder which drug is the most dangerous for you body. Crack or Cocaine?
I wonder how a doctor figures out what a person has taken, if they are similar like this?
Comparison and Contrast Essay: Point by Point
Point by point seem to be more of a opinion essay (in the way it is set up). Since students don’t always have evidence on witch point is the most important.
In a point by point structure, you write one paragraph about one point. You will address both similarities and differences on one point. For Coke or Pepsi, you might address the taste in one paragraph.
I don’t understand why one would write in this fashion. It seems very tedious and time consuming.
I agree! I normally use the block method. What about you?
Yeah! Not only that, it’s almost hard to retain what you are reading because it is what I would call “jumpy” where it jumps around between comparing and contrasting in an almost too seamless way.
I agree. It just seems to be disorganized.
POINT BY POINT STUDENT EXAMPLE
Before the advent of computers and modern technology, people communicating over long distances used traditional means such as letters and the telephone. Nowadays we have a vast array of communication tools which can complete this task, ranging from email to instant messaging and video calls. While the present and previous means of communication are similar in their general form, they differ in regard to their speed and the range of tools available.
I think that the block method is a little more black and white and easier to follow than the point by point. The point by point seems much harder to write and even a little hard to read.
Why do people write like this? It seems harder to write and it is very confusing to read.
Here is an example. Lets say you are comparing the taste of Mr. Pibb and Dr. Pepper and also the sales. You can do something like this.
Compare the differences and similarities on the topic of taste in Paragraph 1
And then compare and contrast in the number of sales the number of sales in the other.
It is more complicated, but it is easier to get your facts strait across.
Point by point seems harder for everyone. It makes it more difficult to follow, and writing it would be hard.
Yes, it does seem harder for everyone to read and write it.
This paragraph is a great demonstration of the point-by-point method, because the author points out how the methods of communication vary from a long time ago to now; and also how they are similar from then to now.
I noticed point by point seems to be less explanatory than the block method.
I think that this way of writing is hard to understand. Other ways of writing would be much easier to understand.
I notice that the point-by-point example is much clearer to me, and easier to read than the block style. The opening paragraph clearly explains what the essay is about.
I don’t even get why point by point exists. Its POINT-less…. Haha, pun intended. It is very confusing to read…
I wonder what people thought when the telephone first came out. Imagine being raised with no sort of communication like we have today.
Texting is how I keep in reach with my best friend/ cousin. If we didn’t have texting, I think My hand would hurt from the long letters being sent several times a week.
I wonder if our culture (now) could actually function without the technology. We are SO depended on it nowadays. Would we be prepared to lose it?
One similarity between current and previous methods of communication relates to the form of communication. In the past, both written forms such as letters were frequently used, in addition to oral forms such as telephone calls. Similarly, people nowadays use both of these forms. Just as in the past, written forms of communication are prevalent, for example via email and text messaging. In addition, oral forms are still used, including the telephone, mobile phone, and voice messages via instant messaging services.
This paragraph uses the point by point method. This paragraph is unique to the point by point method because the paragraph takes one topic — the form of communication — and addresses the similarities and differences of this one topic.
Do you think this essay was easier to understand than the first one?
The Point by Point style of writing can clearly be seen in this paragraph. Evidence of this is shown when the writer states similarities of modern and historic forms of communication (the fact that the philosophy of historic communication still remains) along side the differences between modern and historic communication ( the physicals forms in which communication is done).
This paragraph uses the point-by-point method when it points out how we use some of the same methods as they did a long time ago, but also how communication has evolved.
I noticed that this essay seemed to flow better than the last one.
Which story did you find more interesting?
However, there are clearly many differences in the way we communicate over long distances, the most notable of which is speed. This is most evident in relation to written forms of communication. In the past, letters would take days to arrive at their destination. In contrast, an email arrives almost instantaneously and can be read seconds after it was sent. In the past, if it was necessary to send a short message, for example at work, a memo could be passed around the office, which would take some time to circulate. This is different fromthe current situation, in which a text message can be sent immediately.
I wonder how people handled emergent messages without current technology such as text messaging or portable cell phones?
I wonder how it would feel to come for a time when you had to send a letter that took a days to get a crossed the country when now we can send a message a crossed the world in just seconds
When I was little, I was pen pals with my Bff/cousin, along with two of my other cousins. It could take up to a week for a reply. It was very hard to wait.
I wonder to. I think I would get very impatient very quickly.
I wonder what it was like back then to know that the info you just received via mail or in person was days,weeks or even months old!
How much of an inconvenience was it to not be able to send a text from your fingertips.
I wonder how many messages got lost as they were past around like this?
I am sure there where many there were probably very many.
I wonder how much present-day communication has changed how businesses operate?
Another significant difference is the range of communication methods. Fifty years ago, the tools available for communicating over long distances were primarily the telephone and the letter.By comparison, there are a vast array of communication methods available today. These include not only the telephone, letter, email and text messages already mentioned, but also video conferences via software such as Skype or mobile phone apps such as Wechat, and social media such as Facebook and Twitter.
I wonder what people thought when the telephone first came out. Imagine being raised with no sort of communication like we have today.
It is pretty incredible to look at the communication that people used before technology, such as cell phone technology, was engineered. It is interesting to look back at the different communication methods such as mailing letters and think, “Wow! That was so inefficient!” But at the time, for the technology that was available, mailing letters was relatively efficient.
This paragraph also contains evidence of a point by point style of writing. For example, the writer provides similarities between the forms of modern and historic mediums of communication by showing that historic forms of communication are still used today (communication via telephone and/or letter). Contrasting this, the writer also provides differences in the mediums of communication between modern and historic times (advancements and new forms of communication that have arisen in modern times).
I wonder how people reacted to the invention of the telephone.
This is unique to the essay because it says that there were mostly two things used to communicate long-distance back then; telephone and mail. And then it says that “By comparison, there are a vast array of communication methods available today.” This sentence compares the two types of communication.
I wonder if the inventor of facebook felt any regret over what he made, like steve jobs.
That’s a good point. I haven’t thought about that!
I never thought about that. I wonder what it would feel like to do something and have it go super big then regret doing it!
I wonder if people ever even thought that things like Skype were even possible? It really is amazing all the ways of communication we have.
In conclusion, methods of communication have greatly advanced over the past fifty years. While there are some similarities, such as the forms of communication, there are significant differences, chiefly in relation to the speed of communication and the range of communication tools available. There is no doubt that technology will continue to progress in future, and the advanced tools which we use today may one day also become outdated.
I wonder how technology will advance in the future.
I noticed that the block paragraph seems to be easier to pay attention to. It seems like the point by point ones don’t hold your attention as well, but I think that either one you could benefit for either one based on how you write it.
I notice that this sentence really summarizes the whole essay.
This sentence summarizes the differences and similarities of communication now and back then. And is a key part of the essay because it is part of the conclusion and you need a strong conclusion for any story!
I noticed that we have some very advanced technology, i’m looking forward to how it will advance.
This essay seems thought out and planned, they did a nice job. I notice that they seem to have put in a lot of effort.
Yeah for sure, I think that was right on target!
I wonder what new technology will come out in the future. I am really excited to see!
General Document Comments 0
I thought it was interesting that while Crack and Cocaine have three major similarities, they also have three major differences. They are both very harmful to the body.
Those are very interesting facts Micah. Thank you for saying that so plainly and easy to understand.
This essay is a good point by point because it has multiple, smaller, paragraphs describing one detail per paragraph.
I think the point by point technique is also pretty handy. It can help people who sometimes struggle to think of similarities. I also feel like there’s a tiny bit of block format in this. It shows the differences between two times and their communication systems.
On “Fighting the Battle against Drugs” writing it in a block format was the best option. It describes the differences and similarities of the two dangerous drugs very well. Reading the paragraphs, I found it quite interesting that crack and cocaine both cause hypertension. I believed these addictive drugs lower and “relax” blood pressure not increase it.
I thought of another way people used to contact others, smoke signals people used them as warnings and also used them for help. each paragraph was leading to another point to another subject.
What i found interesting in the paragraph about drugs was how they both come from the same plant and yet they come in different forms.
I wonder if you pick either form depending on your audience?
I wonder what the next big form of communication will be.
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