Comparison and Contrast: Equality and Inequality

Objective: to write a comparison and contrast essay
Initial Draft (Lesson 6)
Step 1 – Choose a literary time period/movement
 Early and Colonial America (Puritanism)
 The Revolutionary Period
 Transcendentalism
 Romanticism
 Realism/Regionalism
 Modernism
 The Harlem Renaissance
 The Beat Generation
 Postmodernism
Step 2 – Choose a theme from the following list:
 Religion and Faith
 Good vs. Evil
 Community
 Nature
 The American Dream
 Alienation
 Disillusionment of Man
 Freedom
 Equality/Inequality
 Individualism
 Technology
 Family
 Identity (the journey to or loss of)
Step 3 – Choose two works (short works of no more than 20 pages) with your theme by
different authors from the time period/movement you have chosen. So, same theme
and time period but different authors.
Step 4 – Complete the following prewriting chart.
Portfolios that are not completed according to the instructions provided will receive a grade of 0. Please
read this entire document.
English 11 B: Unit 1 Comparison and Contrast
Prewriting Chart
Name:
Chosen Theme:
Title of Essay:
Selection #1
Title, author, and genre (TAG)
Year written and time
period/movement
What is the author’s message
about the theme you have
selected?
(e.g., If you selected
“Freedom,” the author’s
message could be:
Freedom is being able to
pursue one’s own unique path
in life.)
How does the author reveal
the theme to the reader?
Selection #2
Title, author, and genre (TAG)
Year written and time
period/movement
What is the author’s message
about the theme you have
selected?
(e.g., If you selected
“Freedom,” the author’s
message could be:
Freedom is being able to
pursue one’s own unique path
in life.)
How does the author reveal
the theme to the reader?
Portfolios that are not completed according to the instructions provided will receive a grade of 0. Please
read this entire document.
Both Selections
Do the authors have similar or
different messages about the
theme? Explain.
Consider what you know about
the authors and their time
period/literary movement.
Why do you suppose the
authors’ messages are similar
or different?
The Big Idea/Thesis
(Reminder: Your thesis should be placed towards the end of your introduction and restated in
your conclusion)
In one or two sentences,
summarize the big idea of your
analysis (e.g., If you selected
“Identity,” the big idea of your
analysis could be:
“Sunrise” and “Year at Home”
are both postmodern comingof-age stories about a young
person’s journey to identity,
but one story is about the
importance of developing a
unique identity while the other
is about valuing a shared
identity.)
* A Word version of this chart has been provided on the Message Board.
Step 5 – Use the rubric below to self-evaluate.
Rubric
The literary selections are appropriate - /2
A theme and title are present - /2
Similarities and differences are thoroughly and meaningfully considered - /4
The big idea is interesting, unique, and insightful (shows deep understanding) - /2
Final Draft (Lesson 10)
Portfolios that are not completed according to the instructions provided will receive a grade of 0. Please
read this entire document.
Step 1 - Use the ideas on your prewriting chart to write your comparison and contrast
essay.
1. Header and Title
 Name, Teacher, Class, Date – left-justified
 Title is centered and capitalized correctly
2. Introduction –
 Interesting opening, TAG, and thesis (big idea)
3. Body – Clear, appropriate organization (e.g., AABB or ABAB)
 Organization is described in Writing with Power, pages 268-70.
AABB Organizer (block approach)
First Paragraph or Paragraphs
Topic 1 about Selection 1
Topic 2 about Selection 1
Topic 3 about Selection 1
Subsequent Paragraph or Paragraphs
Transition
Topic 1 about Selection 2
Topic 2 about Selection 2
Topic 3 about Selection 2
OR
ABAB Organizer (point-by-point approach)
Body Paragraph 1
Topic 1 about Selection 1
Topic 1 about Selection 2
Body Paragraph 2
Transition
Topic 2 about Selection 1
Topic 2 about Selection 2
Body Paragraph 3
Transition
Topic 3 about Selection 1
Topic 3 about Selection 2
4. Conclusion
 Restatement of the similarities and differences in different words
Portfolios that are not completed according to the instructions provided will receive a grade of 0. Please
read this entire document.
 Concluding sentence that leaves a final impression (draw an insightful
conclusion--state what the similarities and differences suggest)
Step 2 (extra-credit) – Use the following rubric to self-evaluate. Attach your completed
rubric, self-awarded overall score, and a three- to four-sentence explanation of why you
believe your essay deserves that score.
Rubric
Formatting (essay is formatted MLA style – MLA heading, in-text citations for quotations
from the texts, and a Works Cited page)– /2
A thesis is present in the introduction and states the essay’s big idea– /3
The treatment of the theme in the works is thoroughly compared and contrasted– /10
The essay is reasonably organized and transitions are used – /3
The conclusion ties the ideas in the essay together– /3
There are virtually no errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage– /3
Extra credit (self-evaluation)— /2

Portfolios that are not completed according to the instructions provided will receive a grade of 0. Please read this entire document. English 11 B Unit 2 Portfolio Guidelines Objective: to write a comparison and contrast essay Initial Draft (Lesson 6) Step 1 – Choose a literary time period/movement  Early and Colonial America (Puritanism)  The Revolutionary Period  Transcendentalism  Romanticism  Realism/Regionalism  Modernism  The Harlem Renaissance  The Beat Generation  Postmodernism Step 2 – Choose a theme from the following list:  Religion and Faith  Good vs. Evil  Community  Nature  The American Dream  Alienation  Disillusionment of Man  Freedom  Equality/Inequality  Individualism  Technology  Family  Identity (the journey to or loss of) Step 3 – Choose two works (short works of no more than 20 pages) with your theme by different authors from the time period/movement you have chosen. So, same theme and time period but different authors. Step 4 – Complete the following prewriting chart. Portfolios that are not completed according to the instructions provided will receive a grade of 0. Please read this entire document. English 11 B: Unit 1 Comparison and Contrast Prewriting Chart Name: Chosen Theme: Title of Essay: Selection #1 Title, author, and genre (TAG) Year written and time period/movement What is the author’s message about the theme you have selected? (e.g., If you selected “Freedom,” the author’s message could be: Freedom is being able to pursue one’s own unique path in life.) How does the author reveal the theme to the reader? Selection #2 Title, author, and genre (TAG) Year written and time period/movement What is the author’s message about the theme you have selected? (e.g., If you selected “Freedom,” the author’s message could be: Freedom is being able to pursue one’s own unique path in life.) How does the author reveal the theme to the reader? Portfolios that are not completed according to the instructions provided will receive a grade of 0. Please read this entire document. Both Selections Do the authors have similar or different messages about the theme? Explain. Consider what you know about the authors and their time period/literary movement. Why do you suppose the authors’ messages are similar or different? The Big Idea/Thesis (Reminder: Your thesis should be placed towards the end of your introduction and restated in your conclusion) In one or two sentences, summarize the big idea of your analysis (e.g., If you selected “Identity,” the big idea of your analysis could be: “Sunrise” and “Year at Home” are both postmodern comingof-age stories about a young person’s journey to identity, but one story is about the importance of developing a unique identity while the other is about valuing a shared identity.) * A Word version of this chart has been provided on the Message Board. Step 5 – Use the rubric below to self-evaluate. Rubric The literary selections are appropriate - /2 A theme and title are present - /2 Similarities and differences are thoroughly and meaningfully considered - /4 The big idea is interesting, unique, and insightful (shows deep understanding) - /2 Final Draft (Lesson 10) Portfolios that are not completed according to the instructions provided will receive a grade of 0. Please read this entire document. Step 1 - Use the ideas on your prewriting chart to write your comparison and contrast essay. 1. Header and Title  Name, Teacher, Class, Date – left-justified  Title is centered and capitalized correctly 2. Introduction –  Interesting opening, TAG, and thesis (big idea) 3. Body – Clear, appropriate organization (e.g., AABB or ABAB)  Organization is described in Writing with Power, pages 268-70. AABB Organizer (block approach) First Paragraph or Paragraphs Topic 1 about Selection 1 Topic 2 about Selection 1 Topic 3 about Selection 1 Subsequent Paragraph or Paragraphs Transition Topic 1 about Selection 2 Topic 2 about Selection 2 Topic 3 about Selection 2 OR ABAB Organizer (point-by-point approach) Body Paragraph 1 Topic 1 about Selection 1 Topic 1 about Selection 2 Body Paragraph 2 Transition Topic 2 about Selection 1 Topic 2 about Selection 2 Body Paragraph 3 Transition Topic 3 about Selection 1 Topic 3 about Selection 2 4. Conclusion  Restatement of the similarities and differences in different words Portfolios that are not completed according to the instructions provided will receive a grade of 0. Please read this entire document.  Concluding sentence that leaves a final impression (draw an insightful conclusion--state what the similarities and differences suggest) Step 2 (extra-credit) – Use the following rubric to self-evaluate. Attach your completed rubric, self-awarded overall score, and a three- to four-sentence explanation of why you believe your essay deserves that score. Rubric Formatting (essay is formatted MLA style – MLA heading, in-text citations for quotations from the texts, and a Works Cited page)– /2 A thesis is present in the introduction and states the essay’s big idea– /3 The treatment of the theme in the works is thoroughly compared and contrasted– /10 The essay is reasonably organized and transitions are used – /3 The conclusion ties the ideas in the essay together– /3 There are virtually no errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage– /3 Extra credit (self-evaluation)— /2