Different authors often write about the same event or idea differently. When you read two different accounts or descriptions of the same subject, you can learn different things. This helps you compare and contrast the authors’ points, or their ideas and information.
- Point of View
- The point of view of a passage is who is telling the story, or whose thoughts and feelings are shown. Some authors share their ideas in first person point of view, and some passages share others’ ideas in third person point of view.
- First person
- First person point of view is used when a passage is presented from the author’s point of view. Passages written in first person point of view use words like “I,” “we,” and “us.”
- Third person
- Third person point of view is used when a passage presents thoughts, feelings, or ideas that are not the author’s. Passages written in third person point of view use words like “he,” “she,” and “them.”
When comparing and contrasting two passages, look for:
- The most important point in each text
- The most important details in each text
- The ideas only found in one text and not in another
- Whether a text has more facts and details or feelings and thoughts
- Whether a text uses the pronouns “I” or “we”