Lakshminarayan, Devaki
(2015)
Compare and Contrast: Similar but Different.
Language and Language Teaching, 4 (1).
pp. 72-75.
ISSN 2277-307X
Abstract
The skill of comparing and contrasting plays a very critical role in comprehension. We use this skill in our everyday lives, for instance while comparing the prices of two sweets, or knowing which shop sells goods at a cheaper price. It is often assumed that this skill develops
automatically. However, it is necessary to teach children the strategies for looking at the similarities and differences in order to develop literacy skills. These strategies help students to focus on the language used to bring out the similarities or differences. Focusing on
similarities and differences also draws their attention to details, helps to clarify ideas, encourages them to think critically by grouping information according to different requirements and enhances content knowledge. Targeted
activities can be used to help students look for
similarities between the dissimilar; and differences between the similar. Such perspectives help them to construct new insights into what they are learning. These skills may also be used in other subjects. An outcome of
teaching the skills of comparison and contrast is nuanced comprehension.
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