COMMUNITY EDUCATION & TRAINING

CENTURY
SELF-STUDY PROGRAMME

AET L4 ENGLISH

LESSON 4:

COMPARATIVE ESSAY
REQUIRED TOOLS TO STUDY

Get the following tools before you start

1. An exercise book

2. A pen

3. Dictionary and

4. Earphones (optional)

5. Water
 WEEK 2 – DAY 1

Today’s Lesson is based on the following Unit Standard

• US ID: 119636 Write/Sign for a variety of different purposes

• Specific outcome 3 Use writing/signing conventions to organise texts.

• Assessment criterion 1 Texts are structured and organised so that content or

• Assessment criterion 2
• Assessment criterion 3
information is clearly and logically sequenced and
arranged.
Conventions for paragraphs/chunks of signs are used
appropriately.
Links between sentences and paragraphs are correctly
used and help the flow of ideas.
 EXPECTED OUTCOMES

By the end of this lesson you are expected to be able to write a defined text which meets the
following criteria:

• Correct structure
• Well organised
• Relevant content
• Clear language
• Ideas must be well thought and
• Be linked in a logical sequence
• Use appropriate conventions (linking words) to join sentences and paragraphs

(((((())))))))
 EXPLANATION OF KEY WORDS USED IN THIS LESSON
Text Written work, e.g. letter, essay, report etc.

structured (text) Arranged text in accordance with the format of the defined text. Referring to
the physical appearance of the text
Organised (text) Well written ideas. Relevant information or details written or placed correctly
in the structured text.
Content/information What is written in the text.

Clearly (written text) Choice of words used correctly in the text and using grammar correctly.

Logically sequenced (text) Ideas or information written in a way that shows thinking - ideas/events are
written in a following order.
Arranged Grammatically structured sentences and paragraph

Conventions Refers to spelling, punctuation, capitalisation and all other language rules.

Links Words used to connect sentences and paragraphs to help the flow of
information in text to continue smoothly.
Compare Find similarities

Contrast Find differences

 Write/Sign for a variety of different purposes

Text 1 – Comparative essay

Comparative essay is an essay that usually

needs the author to compare two subjects that
have same relation in terms of similarities and
differences.
Before writing – decide on at least two or three points to compare and contrast

For example:
Topic: Compare Lifestyle before lockdown and Lifestyle during lockdown

Points to compare and contrast

• Social distance
• Use of smart phones
• Precautions
 PLANNING THE ESSAY

Topic: Compare lifestyle before lockdown and during lockdown

SIMILARITIES
Life before lockdown • People interact Life during lockdown
• People use smartphone to
Differences communicate Differences
• People are cautious

Handshakes and hugs Point 1: Social distancing

social distance

Limited use Point 2:

Rapid use
Use of smartphones

Point 3: More cautious

Less cautious Precautions
DECIDING ON THE OUTLINE OF THE COMPARATIVE ESSAY

Block structure Point by Point

• All of the information about one of the subjects  Each similarity (or difference) for one subject
being compared/contrasted is given first, and is followed immediately by the similarity (or
• All of the information about the other subject is difference) for the other.
listed afterwards.  

Introduction
Life before lockdown: (First subject)  Social distance (Point 1)
 Social distance Life before and during lockdown
 Use of smartphone
 Precaution
Life during lockdown (Second subject)  Use of smartphones (Point 2)
 Social distance Life before and during lockdown
 Use of smartphone
 Precaution  Precautions(Point 3)
Life before and during lockdown

 Conclusion
 EXAMPLE 1: COMPARING USE POINT BY POINT
Before the outbreak of Covid 19 which led to the implementation of lockdown, care free interaction
between people existed. People were able to interact physically by shaking of hands and or hugging, but
now people are prohibited from interacting in that way. They are rather encouraged to greet using their
elbows or feet. People shared even cramped spaces everywhere, in transport or even in shops. However
since lockdown, people are encouraged to practices safe social distancing of at least 1meter apart from one
another.
Smartphones has always been used by many as a tool to interact with others, although majority of older
generation used it basically to make phone calls. Nowadays many use social networking far more than
before lockdown including the older generation. Some have recently discovered the function of WhatsApp
video calling on their smartphones.
When it comes to precautions, similarly to life during lockdown, people knew the rule of covering their
mouths with their hands or handkerchief when coughing, except now people are encouraged to cover their
mouths by coughing into their elbows and wear face masks whether they are sick or not. Likewise,
washing of hands has always been a norm, just that now during lock down washing of hands is done
more frequently.
In conclusions people’s lifestyle have evidently changed since the implementation of lockdown. Although
people are continuing to interact and communicating as before, but the effects of Covid 19 has forced people
to live life differently as we see increase in use of more functions of smart phone and precaution all over,
people are wearing all sorts of masks out there.
 EXAMPLE 2: COMPARING USE POINT BY POINT
Subject 1– lifestyle before lockdown
Before lockdown people were allowed to greet by shaking hands and hugging. They were able to share small  
spaces like sitting in a full taxi or train whether they knew each other or not. In classroom setup and or churches Paragraph 1
people could sit next to each other and share hymnbooks. (Point 1- Social distance)

Subject 2– lifestyle during lockdown

   
Now in lockdown people are discouraged from greeting using handshakes and hugs. People are encouraged to  
used elbow greeting and or use their feet with shoes on. Travelling in full taxis or trains is monitored and people Paragraph 2
are no longer allowed to go to church or school  
(Point 1- Social distance)
Subject 1– lifestyle before lockdown
Previously people used their smart phone for basic use like making phone calls, send a message whether by  Paragraph 3
short message services (SMS) or WhatsApp. Many also had other social network accounts like Facebook and  
Instagram which were basically mostly popular among youth. (Point 2 – use of smart
  phones)
Subject 2– lifestyle during lockdown
Paragraph 4
Nowadays, we see people using their smartphones optimally. Many are using WhatsApp video calls which they  
never used before. Older generation have discovered other communication tools like Skype and Zoom using (Point 2 – use of smart
their smartphones to communicate with colleagues and others. phones)

Subject 1– lifestyle before lockdown

In the past people knew the rule of covering their mouth when coughing. They did that using their closed fist or Paragraph 5
with a handkerchief. Washing of hands was done selectively, like before eating and after using a restroom.  
(Point 3 – Precaution)
Subject 2– lifestyle during lockdown
Now during lock down washing of hands is done more frequently and not necessarily determined by before Paragraph 6
eating or after the use of a rest room. You are not even allowed to touch your own mouth without washed hands  
(Point 3 – Precautions)
EXAMPLE 3: COMPARING USING BLOCK METHOD
Subject 1– lifestyle before lockdown
Before lockdown people were allowed to greet by shaking hands and hugging. They were able to  
share small spaces like sitting in a full taxi or train whether they knew each other or not. In a Paragraph 1
classroom setup and or churches people could sit next to each other and share hymnbooks.

Furthermore previously people used their smart phone for basic use like making phone calls, send Paragraph 2
a message whether by short message services (SMS) or WhatsApp. Many also had other social
network accounts like Facebook and Instagram which were basically mostly popular among youth.

Lastly, in the past people knew the rule of covering their mouth when coughing. They did that Paragraph 3
using their closed fist or with a handkerchief. Washing of hands was done selectively, like before
eating and after using a restroom.
Subject 2– lifestyle during lockdown
   
However lifestyle during lockdown is different. People are discouraged from greeting using  
handshakes and hugs. People are encouraged to used elbow greeting and or use their feet with Paragraph 4 
shoes on. Travelling in full taxis or trains is monitored and people are no longer allowed to go to
church or school
Nowadays, we see people using their smartphones optimally. Many are using WhatsApp video Paragraph 5
calls which they never used before. Older generation have discovered other communication tools
like Skype and Zoom using their smartphones to communicate with colleagues and others.

Unlike before, now during lock down washing of hands is done more frequently and not Paragraph 6
necessarily determined by before eating or after the use of a rest room. You are not even allowed to
touch your own mouth without washed hands
COMPARE AND CONTRAST STRUCTURE WORDS

Compare and contrast structure words are transition signals which show the similarities or
differences. Below are some common examples.

Compare (Similarities) Contrast (Difference)

Similarly However
Likewise In contrast
also In comparison
both... and... On the other hand
not only... but also... while
neither... nor... whereas
just like but
similar t
 FORMATIVE 2: COMPARATIVE ESSAY

Topic: Compare and contrast your own lifestyle before and during lock down.

Planning:

• Think of two or three points to compare and contrast

• Decide on a layout of your essay, i.e. Point by Point method or Block method
• NB!! Whichever method you choose to use please remember your essay must meet the following
criteria:
• Correct structure
• Well organised
• Relevant content
• Clear language
• Ideas must be well thought and
• Be linked in a logical sequence
• Use appropriate conventions (linking words) to join sentences and paragraphs
You can beat the spread of Covid 19
Stay home
& Study