Lesson 4 Comparing and Contrasting
• To be able to use skim and scan techniques.
• To be able to discuss if a text achieves its purpose.
• To be able to explain which text is best and why.
DNA:
As human activity changes over the centuries, so does the size of its settlements. This is as true around the world as it is in the United Kingdom. In England, London has been the largest city since the Norman conquest in 1066. Meanwhile, other places have risen or fallen in the rankings depending on how people’s jobs have changed. For example, some 700 years ago, farming and sea trade were really important, so places like Bristol, King’s Lynn, Lincoln and Norwich were amongst the largest in the country. Fast-forward a few hundred years and the scene looked very different. Huge new factories and mills drew people in from the fields. That meant that places like Manchester and Birmingham rapidly grew to become amongst the top five cities by population in England.
1. According to the text, what has caused the sizes of settlements to change?
2. Find and copy the names of two towns that were amongst the largest in England 700 years ago 3. ‘… places have risen or fallen in the rankings.’
What does the word rankings mean?
Extension: Label the content domain next to the question.
When we compare and contrast texts, we decide what is the same and what is different about them. We may look at similarities and
differences in language, grammar, structure and presentation, content and style.
When we evaluate texts, we decide whether we like them or not and why, and whether they do the job they are supposed to.
When evaluating stories, we may evaluate the plot, the characters, the setting, the author’s choice of language and description and the pace of the book (whether lots happens all of the time or not). Stories are meant to entertain us so we will also decide whether the story did this or not!
When evaluating non-fiction texts, we may evaluate whether the text is fit for purpose (does its job properly). For example, if a text is a non- chronological report on giraffes, we will decide whether the text gives us enough appropriate information about giraffes to do its job
properly. We may also evaluate the structure, layout and presentation
and intended audience.
The structure and organisation of a text can help us to understand and read it more easily.
Comparing, contrasting and evaluating structural choices
Read the following two texts and answer the questions
below.
How are the texts similar?
How are the texts different?
Which text is the best instruction
text? Why?
What language do they use?
How are they presented?
What style are they
written in?
Comparing, contrasting and evaluating structural choices
A.
How to make a good cup of teaIf you would like to brew a decent cup of English Breakfast tea, then begin by filling an electric kettle (or one you put on the gas stove – whatever your preference) with water, plug it in and flick the switch to boil (or pop it on the hob over a flame). While the kettle is coming to the boil, you can prepare by placing a tea-bag into a suitable sized cup or a mug (bone china is the best) and get a teaspoon ready for some serious stirring. When the water in the kettle is boiling, you should carefully pour it into the cup (please make sure that you take care not to scald yourself by splashing the water) and stir with the teaspoon (don’t let it go off the boil as this will ruin the taste of the tea). You will need to remove the piping hot tea-bag from the cup with the teaspoon and dispose of it in a bin (a food waste or compost bin is best). Then, you could add milk to make it creamier and cooler, again this depends on personal taste. You may choose to add some sugar to sweeten (think carefully about the health implications before putting too much in)
before finally stirring the cup of tea to ensure everything is mixed
together. Now it is ready for you to drink at your leisure. Enjoy your tea!
Create a double bubble map comparing the features of the two texts:
Text A Text B
How are the texts similar?
How are the texts different?
Which text is the best instruction
text? Why?
What language do they use?
How are they presented?
What style are they
written in?
Answers
How are the texts similar?
They both tell you how to make a cup of tea. They both give us the same information. Did you notice any other similarities?
How are the texts different?
Text A – written like a story, with lots of detail and description.
Text B – written in numbered short sentences without lots of detail and description.
Which text is the best instruction text? Why? Text B – because it gets straight to the point, has a simple, easy to follow layout (easy to read) and gives clear, concise instructions in order (using numbered points) to help you make tea quickly and easily.
What language do they use?
Text A – descriptive language such as piping hot teabag, add milk to make it creamier and cooler.
Text B – direct language, e.g. imperative verbs – switch, put, pour and precisely chosen adverbs - carefully.
How are they presented? What style are they written in?
Text A – prose, lots of lengthy sentences, all running together like a story.
Text B – numbered points, correctly ordered, short sentences, precise details.
