Name Compare and Contrast

Compare and Contra st: The Venn Diagram

A Venn Diagram is a graphical depiction of what is the same about two things and what is different about
them. You can use a Venn Diagraph as a pre-writing tool to organize your thoughts about two subjects. You
can also use a Venn Diagram to map out what is the same and what is different about two topics in a piece of
writing. For this exercise, you will use a Venn Diagram to organize your thoughts about two subjects. Then you
will write a paragraph that compares and/or contrasts the subjects.

1. Choose a topic. Remember that the goal of your paragraph will be to give a reader a deeper
understanding of the relationship between two things. For example: methods of cooking, types of diets, rural
life vs. suburban life, etc.

2. Generate ideas. Write down as many things as possible that you can think of about your topic. Make two lists,
one of each item that is being compared and/or contrasted.

3. Sort your ideas. Now use a Venn Diagram to sort your ideas into three categories, as shown in the sample
Venn Diagram. Write things that both items have in common in the center of the diagram.

4. Determine your approach. Will you use an

alternating or dividing pattern to present your
ideas? In the alternating method, you compare
and contrast two subjects point for point. In the
dividing method, you make all of your points
about the first subject; then you make all of
your points about the second subject.

5. Draft your paragraph. Draft your paragraph

on a separate sheet of paper.

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