CLASS MATERIAL

WEEK 5
CEL2103 WRITING ACADEMIC TEXTS
SEMESTER 1, 2021-2022

Developing Body Paragraph in Comparison and

Contrast Essay

 Topic sentence to state similarities

 Supporting sentences
 Language:
- Comparison signal words
- Writing comparative sentences
 Body Paragraphs of a Compare and Contrast Essay

A body paragraph is a group of related sentences about a particular topic or idea directly
relating to the thesis. Because essays are composed of multiple body paragraphs, writing
and organising good paragraphs is one of the most important aspects of creating a well-
organised and developed essay.

Activity 1

List the three components of a body paragraph in a compare and contrast essay.

a. ___________________________________
b. ___________________________________
c. ___________________________________

Topic Sentence to State Similarities

Body paragraphs usually start with a topic sentence. It is then followed by supporting
sentences and supporting details.

Activity 2

What are the criteria of a good topic sentence to state similarities?

a. ___________________________________
b. ___________________________________
c. ___________________________________
Activity 3

Identify the components of the topic sentences below. Underline the topic, highlight the
controlling ideas (points of comparison) and double underline the comparison signal words.

1. The similarity between Domino’s and Pizza Hut is the variety of pizzas they are offering.

2. Singapore and Trinidad are both multi-racial countries.

3. Public schools and private schools have a trait in common as both follow a certain
curriculum set by the relevant education authorities.

4. Both great white sharks and bull sharks have similar trait as they are good hunters.

5. Academic and non-academic writing share a few similarities because both types of
writing address the same subject, topic or issues.

Activity 4

Read the topic sentences below. Decide whether they are acceptable or unacceptable topic
sentences which show similarities. Justify your answers.

No Topic sentence Acceptable/ Justification

Unacceptable

1 Both traditional medicine and

modern medicine have many
similarities.

2 Like modern medicine, traditional

medicine is used to treat many
diseases.

3 Traditional medicine and modern

medicine have been practiced by
many in almost all countries.

4 With the improvement of present day

 innovation, traditional medicine has
improved as far as modern
medicine.

5 Traditional medicine is a growing

trend for patients to discover
different forms of self-care.

Activity 5

Construct topic sentences that state similarities according to the essay topics below.

1. Topic: Similarities and differences between being employed and self-employed

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

2. Topic: The comparison between boarding school and day school

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

3. Topic: Similarities and differences between mobile phones and tablets

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

4. Topic: The comparison between backpacking and staying in hotels

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Activity 6

The following are body paragraphs without a topic sentence. Write a topic sentence that
states similarities based on the given essay topic and body paragraph.

Topic 1 The comparison between private schools and public schools

Topic sentence

Both schools apply stringent rules and security measures to maintain a

safe learning environment. This is because of the highly publicised
shootings and other acts of violence that have taken place in schools.
Security measures such as metal detectors are used to help create a safe
place. Schneider (2002) suggested that by adopting a comprehensive
Supporting approach to addressing school safety focusing on prevention,
sentences intervention, and response, schools can increase the safety and security
of students. Access to campuses and buildings is also carefully monitored
and controlled. These schools usually have security guards, so it is easier
to supervise the school population. According to Arthur (2000) when
students are at school, they theoretically can rely on the security of a
controlled environment.

Similarities and differences between Malaysian food and Singaporean

Topic 2
food

Topic sentence

Supporting Both countries’ cuisines are strongly influenced by Indian and Chinese
sentences cuisines due to the large local Malay, Indian and Chinese populations. For
example, spicy food such as curry is very common in Malaysian and
Singaporean cuisine. Ghosh (2018) identified that both Singaporean and
Malaysian cuisines take influence from Chinese and Indian cultures, but
they have their own regional differences from Chinese dialect groups and
more. In addition, Malaysian and Singaporean food also have Portuguese
 influence. This is due to Portuguese settlement in the early 16th century
and remained so for over 100 years. As a result, some of the traditional
Singaporean and Malaysian foods have Portuguese origins like Devil
Curry and Feng. Lim (2020) discovered that the influence of different
cultures like Portuguese has formed into what it has become in the recent
times.

Topic 3 The comparison between American fast food and Turkish fast food

Topic sentence

They are high in fat, sugar and calorie content. Eating foods with more
sugar as the first meal of the day could make a person feel hungrier at
their next meal than if they ate a low-sugar meal. As a result, they can be
addictive, often leading to an increase in body weight and in some cases
obesity. According to Butler (2019) the high calorie and sugar intake can
lead to obesity, which puts a person at risk for developing chronic
diseases. Moreover, both American and Turkish fast foods are created in
Supporting
factories and are made to have a long shelf life. They both contain many
sentences
preservatives and chemical additives which have unforeseen effects on
bodily health. For example, Phthalates, a class of endocrine-disrupting
chemical toxins, are used to line plastic food and beverage packaging and
they can affect a person’s health. Environment International (2018) found
that people who often ate fast food had 35 percent higher levels of
phthalate metabolic reactions than people who mostly eat food bought at
a grocery store and prepared it at home.
 Supporting Sentence & Comparison Signal Words

Supporting sentences in a body paragraph are used to support, explain, illustrate or provide
evidence for the idea expressed in the topic sentence.

Comparison signal words are important in a compare and contrast essay and there are
several signal words that can be used in supporting sentences to connect ideas better.

Activity 7

Read the body paragraphs below and identify the components of a body paragraph. Write
the comparison signal words found in the body paragraphs.

Body paragraph 1

Topic: The similarities and differences between Washington and London

1
Both Washington and London offer a wide array of museums. 2
These cities have
Smithsonian gallery which is the world’s largest museum, education and research complex,
with 19 museums and the National Zoological Park. 3
The Smithsonian’s collections
document the nation’s history and heritage and represent the world’s natural and cultural
diversity. 4According to Smithsonian (2020) The total number of objects, works of art and
specimens at the Smithsonian is estimated at nearly 155 million, including more than 146
million scientific specimens and artifacts at the National Museum of Natural History. 5In
addition, Washington has a National Gallery of Art just like London. 6The National Gallery of
Art, one of the world’s preeminent museums, preserves, collects, exhibits, and fosters the
understanding of works of art at the highest possible museum and scholarly standards. 7The
Gallery's collection includes some 141,000 paintings, drawings, prints, photographs,
sculpture, decorative arts, and new media tracing the development of Western art from the
Middle Ages to the present. 8National Gallery (2020) describes that this gallery is a leading
visual arts institution which oversees the world's largest national collection of a country’s art.

Topic sentence :

Supporting sentences :

Comparison signal words:

Body paragraph 2

Topic: The similarities and differences between American fast food and Japanese fast food

1
American and Japanese fast foods are both similar in that they are convenient. 2To begin
with, both are inexpensive. 3These foods, which will easily fill the stomach, can be bought
for the same price as a bowl of soup. 4This is because the fast food business sells some
of the most profitable food items around such as potato fries. 5This type of food costs the
restaurant just a few cents per packet, but it charges several dollars for each. 6Sodoma
(2018) mentioned that fast food is often touted as being budget-friendly, convenient and
filling. 7Moreover, as indicated in the name, both are very ‘fast’. 8With busy work and social
schedules, many people need to eat quickly and often whilst walking, using public
transport or driving. 9Therefore, not only American but also Japanese fast foods are
conveniently quick and easy to eat. 10
Sander (2019) stated that by making the speed of
service the priority, this ensured that customers with strictly limited time were not
inconvenienced by waiting for their food to be cooked on-the-spot.

Topic sentence :

Supporting sentences :

Contrast signal words :

Body paragraph 3

Topic: The similarities and differences between Apple and Microsoft

1
Both Apple and Microsoft created digital media products. 2These companies have
developed their own portable media players. 3Microsoft manufactured Microsoft Zune High
Definition and Apple produced iPod Touch (Noga, 30). 4Both devices came along with a
storage ability of 30GB, a space that could store up to 7000 audios. 5In addition, they both
have support systems for MP4 and MP3. 6Ionescu (2009) identified that feature-by-
feature, the Zune HD and iPod Touch are very similar. 7Besides that, the two companies
also manufacture specific brands of phones. 8For instance, Microsoft has the famous
Window phone while Apple has iPhone. 9To cater for their clients and to enable them
access these items, they have both set up parallel stores. 10The branded stores, like the
Window Phone Store and the iTunes Store, for Microsoft and Apple respectively are all
stocked with their applications. 11According to Hooper (2019) regarding mobile
 communication devices, on this front, the two companies each have smartphones where
the ubiquitous iPhone faces competition from Windows Phone.

Topic Sentence :

Supporting sentences :

Comparison signal words:

Activity 8

Complete the following body paragraphs with suitable comparison signal words to state
similarities.

Body paragraph 1

One (a) ____________ 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. (b) ____________, people nowadays
use both of these forms. (c) ____________ 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.
Kalam (2017) observed that with the advancements of modern technology, communication
methods have been changing over the years.

Body paragraph 2

(a) ____________ Facebook, Twitter also has the typical offerings associated with social
media sites. Facebook account holders have a homepage containing their “news feed,” a list
of posts by other users with whom the account holder is “friends.” Additionally, posts by fan
pages for businesses, products, and celebrities that the account holder “likes” will appear on
the news feed. (b) ____________, Twitter is not much different on these points. The
homepage also features a list of tweets by other users whom the account holder “follows.”
The account holder can choose to view a list of tweets generated by Twitter’s assessment of
his or her interests under the “Discover” tab. Cornell (2018) identified that Facebook and
Twitter handle multimedia similarly like sharing posts and pictures.
Body paragraph 3

The childhoods of Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin are (a) ____________ which they greatly
impacted the men they grew up to be. Hitler was born on April 20, 1889 in Braunau am Inn,
a town in Austria-Hungary, close to the border with the German Empire. Josef Stalin was
born on December 18, 1878 in the small town of Gori, Georgia, then part of the Russian
empire. Both Hitler's parents came from poor peasant families. Stalin was born the son
of Besarion Jughashvili, a cobbler, and Ketevan Geladze, a washerwoman. Hitler loved his
mother very much, but he had a very difficult relationship with his father. (b ____________
Hitler, Stalin was fond of his mother and had a tumultuous relationship with his father, an
alcoholic who savagely beat him. Bevan (2019) discovered that Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin
are sharing common ground in the way they were brought up.

Activity 9

Using the points given below, write a topic sentence and supporting sentences to compare
the subjects using comparison signal words to state similarities. Use different comparison
signal word for each question.

Essay topic 1: Similarities and differences between home schools and public schools

Point of comparison Home schools Public schools

Supporting points: Supporting points:

Standardised curriculum a. Standardised test a. Standardised test

b. Online resources b. Online resources
c.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
Essay topic 2: Similarities and differences between traditional sports and esports

Point of comparison Traditional sports E-sports

Supporting points: Supporting points:

Game preparation a. Strategy a. Strategy

b. Teamwork b. Teamwork
c.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Essay topic 3: Similarities and differences between real food and supplements

Point of comparison Real food Supplements

Supporting points: Supporting points:

Strengthen the body a. Consists of nutrients a. Consists of nutrients

b. Prevents illness b. Prevents illness
c.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
Essay topic 4: Similarities and differences between online shopping and in store shopping

Point of comparison Online shopping In store shopping

Supporting points: Supporting points:

Convenience a. Variety of stores a. Variety of stores

b. Variety of items b. Variety of items
c.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________