Connect Across the Curriculum

Literary Analysis: Analyze Text Structure: Compare and Contrast
Academic Vocabulary

  • • compare (kum-pair) verb When you compare, you look closely at how things are alike or different.

How Is Nonfiction Organized? One way that writers organize information is by comparing and contrasting ideas.

These planets have a lot in common. They are mostly made up of rock and metal, so they all have hard, uneven surfaces.

This is a comparison. It tells about something that is alike on the planets— the surface. Common and all are signal words.

On the other hand, each planet is also different from the others in its group. For example, each of the four rocky planets has a different kind of atmosphere.

This is a contrast. It tells about something that is different on the planets— the atmosphere. On the other hand and different are signal words.

Practice Together

Use a Comparison Chart You can use a chart to help you compare and contrast information. Look back at the selection. Find two more comparisons and contrasts for the four planets closest to the sun. Remember to look for clue words.

The Four Planets Closest to the Sun

How They Are AlikeSignal Words from TextHow They Are DifferentSignal Words from Text
have similar surfaces“all have hard and uneven surfaces”have different atmospheres“different kind of atmosphere”

Try It!

Find Comparisons and Contrasts Review the text for the remaining four planets in “Here, There, and Beyond.” Work with a partner to make a chart like the one above for the four planets farthest from the sun.