Focus on Genre: Comparative Science Article

A science article is expository nonfiction that gives information about the natural world.

Science writers often compare and contrast things they write about to help readers understand how things in the natural world are similar or different.

… In addition, Earth and Mars spin at about the same rate—one rotation every twenty-four hours— but Mercury and Venus both take months to rotate just once.

Words such as same and both signal a similarity. The word but signals a difference.

Your Job as a Reader: Reading Strategy: Make Connections

As you read, think about what you already know about the subject. Make connections to important facts and ideas in the text. Note and explain each connection on your Connections Chart.

Illustration of the Selection 1 title page, “Here, There, and Beyond”