Ideas for Writing Comparisons and Contrasts

I like to use a Venn diagram to lay out my ideas before I write a compare-contrast piece. Place the opposing topic. one on either side, the outer spaces of the circles. Place the way they are alike in the area where the two circles intersect.

Here’s as example of how to setup the Venn diagram:

Before or During Sunrise  VS  During or After Sunset

Other general topics to get you thinking. Add detail words to limit the topic [largest (animals)] – [smallest (animals)]

largest-smallest                most treasured-least appreciated              summer-winter

easy-difficult                   heroic-senseless                                        bright-dark

family-friends                 memorable- forgettable                             brothers-sisters