Write a Compare and Contrast Paragraph

1. Write a Compare and Contrast Paragraph By Wynn Scheer (View Note Page for teacher notes.) Students need to learn how to write a compare and contrast paragraph. We will be using the familiar story of Cinderella to teach this skill.Students need to learn how to write a compare and contrast paragraph. We will be using the familiar story of Cinderella to teach this skill.

2. Introduction Has everyone heard of the fairy tale Cinderella? Question: What makes Cinderella a fairy tale and not just a story? Activation: You must draw on prior knowledge students have of fairy tales. Ask the students what they think makes a story a fairy tale. Engage students in a discussion allowing them to share what they think makes a story a fairy tale.Activation: You must draw on prior knowledge students have of fairy tales. Ask the students what they think makes a story a fairy tale. Engage students in a discussion allowing them to share what they think makes a story a fairy tale.

3. Answer It has characters with magical powers Starts with once upon a time and has a happy ending It has been told over and over for many years Has a good and bad character Activate: Call on students and make a list of fairy tales on the Smartboard. Have students point out what makes a story a fairy tale compared to other stories.Activate: Call on students and make a list of fairy tales on the Smartboard. Have students point out what makes a story a fairy tale compared to other stories.

4. Question What are the main parts of a fairy tale? Activate: Tell students that fairy tales have the same elements of any story. Ask them if they can list them. If the students are older you can include point of view, conflict, and theme. For the younger grades I suggest only talking about plot, characters, and setting.Activate: Tell students that fairy tales have the same elements of any story. Ask them if they can list them. If the students are older you can include point of view, conflict, and theme. For the younger grades I suggest only talking about plot, characters, and setting.

5. Answer The main parts of fairy tales are plot, characters, and setting. Activate: Put those three elements, plot, characters, and setting, on the board as visuals for the students.Activate: Put those three elements, plot, characters, and setting, on the board as visuals for the students.

6. Question Who are the main characters in Cinderella? Activate: Discuss that there are many characters in the story, but some are more important than others. Those characters we call main characters.Activate: Discuss that there are many characters in the story, but some are more important than others. Those characters we call main characters.

7. Answer The main characters are Cinderella, wicked stepmother, stepsisters, fairy God-mother, and Prince. Activate: Ask the students if they agree that the story plot would change if any of these characters were taken out of the story.Activate: Ask the students if they agree that the story plot would change if any of these characters were taken out of the story.

8. Question What is the setting of Cinderella? Activate: Ask the students what the setting would be if we were writing a story about our class performing a play for the school. The setting would be our school and the time would be now. Lead them to decide what the setting would be for Cinderella. Activate: Ask the students what the setting would be if we were writing a story about our class performing a play for the school. The setting would be our school and the time would be now. Lead them to decide what the setting would be for Cinderella.

9. Answer The story takes place in the home of Cinderella and at the Ball. The time is long ago. Activate: Is the exact date important? Discuss why or why not they think the date is important. Activate: Is the exact date important? Discuss why or why not they think the date is important.

10. Question What is the plot of Cinderella? Activate: Ask students if their parents ever ask what a movie they want to see, or have seen, is about. Do you tell them everything that happened? Tell them you only tell the important parts. You are giving a summary of the movie. A summary is a shortened version. When we give the plot it is the important events, or a summary.Activate: Ask students if their parents ever ask what a movie they want to see, or have seen, is about. Do you tell them everything that happened? Tell them you only tell the important parts. You are giving a summary of the movie. A summary is a shortened version. When we give the plot it is the important events, or a summary.

11. Answer Cinderella�s stepmother tries to prevent her from attending the Ball. Her fairy Godmother helps her. She falls in love with and marries the Prince, and lives happily ever after. Activate: Call on the students to tell the main events of Cinderella, and use story strips to write them. Have students check to see if they are in chronological order and tell only important events.Activate: Call on the students to tell the main events of Cinderella, and use story strips to write them. Have students check to see if they are in chronological order and tell only important events.

12. Elements of Story When we read the two versions of Cinderella , look for the plot, main characters, and setting. Plot-the sequence of events in the story Main Characters-important people in the story Setting-time and place of story Demonstration: Choose two versions of Cinderella and run them off for the students to have at their seats or post them online.Demonstration: Choose two versions of Cinderella and run them off for the students to have at their seats or post them online.

13. Main Characters and Setting While I read the first and second versions of Cinderella, highlight the main characters and setting. Application: Pass out run-offs of two versions of Cinderella or go to the web page where you have them posted. Have students highlight the main characters and settings of the stories and share their answers with the class. Application: Pass out run-offs of two versions of Cinderella or go to the web page where you have them posted. Have students highlight the main characters and settings of the stories and share their answers with the class.

14. Graphic Organizer Use the organizer to fill in the blanks and give the plot of each version of Cinderella. First�.. Next�.. Then�.. Finally�� Application: Use a printed graphic organizer or have students use Inspiration on the computer to organize the events of the story for the plot.Application: Use a printed graphic organizer or have students use Inspiration on the computer to organize the events of the story for the plot.

15. Grapevine Game Not all versions of Cinderella have the same characters, setting, or plot. The story has been told and retold and there are many versions of the same story. Let�s try the grapevine game and see if we can keep a story the same after many people have repeated the story. Integration: Tell the students there are many versions of Cinderella. Ask them why they think they are not all the same. Online you can show them the many versions from around the world. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000849.shtml Integration: Tell the students there are many versions of Cinderella. Ask them why they think they are not all the same. Online you can show them the many versions from around the world. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000849.shtml

16. Grapevine Activity We will split into two groups. I will tell the first person in each group the same story. You will whisper it to the person next to you and so on down the line. The last two people will repeat the story as they heard it told. Integration: Have a simple story prepared and tell it to two different group leaders. Have them whisper the story to the next person, and so on down the line. The last person will repeat what they heard. Repeat the story you started and see how much difference there is from the original story and even the two groups interpretation. Integration: Have a simple story prepared and tell it to two different group leaders. Have them whisper the story to the next person, and so on down the line. The last person will repeat what they heard. Repeat the story you started and see how much difference there is from the original story and even the two groups interpretation.

17. Reflect and Share What was the result of our story being passed down the row? Now add many more people, hundreds of years, and different customs and you can begin to see why we have so many versions of Cinderella!

18. Compare and Contrast Do you ever have to compare two things? Maybe you have to make a choice about which movie to watch, or where to eat. When you make those choices you are comparing and contrasting. We are going to compare and contrast two versions of the fairy tale Cinderella. We will choose two from different countries to read. Then, using a graphic organizer, fill in the setting, characters, and plot for each story. Integration: You should pre-select two versions of Cinderella and have them posted or run off for the students. Explain we will compare and contrast or find how they are the same and different. A graphic organizer will be used to help the students list the elements. Guide the student through finding and filling our the organizer on the Smartboard.Integration: You should pre-select two versions of Cinderella and have them posted or run off for the students. Explain we will compare and contrast or find how they are the same and different. A graphic organizer will be used to help the students list the elements. Guide the student through finding and filling our the organizer on the Smartboard.

19. Venn Diagram After completing the graphic organizer for the two stories we will use the information we have gathered and complete a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the two versions. How are the two stories the same and different. Integration: We have read two stories and now we will show how they are the same and different. Post a large Venn diagram on the Smartboard. Label each side with the name of one of the stories. Call on students to give the elements of the stories and list them in the appropriate sections of the Venn diagram.Integration: We have read two stories and now we will show how they are the same and different. Post a large Venn diagram on the Smartboard. Label each side with the name of one of the stories. Call on students to give the elements of the stories and list them in the appropriate sections of the Venn diagram.

20. Main Idea With the Venn diagram we created you will write a paragraph comparing and contrasting the two versions. Begin with the main idea: The two stories of Cinderella are similar, but different. Integration: Now you will begin to write the paragraph. This first time we will give them the topic, opening sentence. Have them begin with- The two stories of Cinderella are the same and different.Integration: Now you will begin to write the paragraph. This first time we will give them the topic, opening sentence. Have them begin with- The two stories of Cinderella are the same and different.

21. Supporting Details Support the main idea with supporting details telling if the characters, setting, or plot are the same or different. Integration: Start with the setting for each and tell if they are the same or different. Continue comparing with the characters and plot.Integration: Start with the setting for each and tell if they are the same or different. Continue comparing with the characters and plot.

22. Closing Sentence Conclude your paragraph by restating the main idea that the versions of Cinderella are the same but also different. Remember to proofread and peer edit your paragraph! Integration: Write the opening topic sentence on the Smartboard. Ask students to reword the sentence. Tell them that your closing sentence of a paragraph must restate the main idea.Integration: Write the opening topic sentence on the Smartboard. Ask students to reword the sentence. Tell them that your closing sentence of a paragraph must restate the main idea.

23. On Your Own! Comparing and contrasting is something we do all of the time. For our next paragraph I want you to choose two holidays to compare and contrast! Integration: You have guided the students through a compare and contrast paragraph. Now they will write one on their own. Have them choose two holidays to compare and contrast.Integration: You have guided the students through a compare and contrast paragraph. Now they will write one on their own. Have them choose two holidays to compare and contrast.