Comparing and contrasting texts helps readers understand what they read better. When you compare and contrast, you notice what is the same and what is different between the passages.
Passages can be compared and contrasted by theme, topic, or pattern of events.
- Theme
- The theme is the main message of a text. It shows the main idea of the story. For example, family is important.
- Topic
- The topic is the subject of the text. For example, friendship, family, nature, and adventure can all be topics.
- Pattern of Events
- Sometimes, events happen in a story in a certain pattern. For example, the events in a myth explain how something came to be in nature.
4th Grade Reading - Compare and Contrast Literature Lesson