Compare/Contrast - Brainstorm Review

Brainstorm (Compare/Contrast)

This week you will be brainstorming for essay #2. The Venn Diagram below will help you get started. 

Your topic will be organized in a later page for outline.

BRAINSTORMING FOR IDEAS

 

                                                                                                                student sitting at desk thinking of ideas                                            

Review Unit 5, Brainstorming with Venn Diagram (page 101).

You've already written a Discussion piece on two figures you admired. Pick ONE character to Compare/Contrast brainstorm and identify those qualities that are the same and those that are different between you and the character you have chosen.

Re-read page 100 at the top of the page about the importance of identifying somehow with your topic, the character you've chosen from Hidden Figures. Go back into the Reader and locate the places where you will find facts about her situation.

For example, you can start thinking about:

  • what features/events/characteristics do you have in common with your character?
  • what features/events/characteristics do you not have in common?
  • can you develop a thesis by comparing and contrasting these traits?

 

                                                                     Three circles showing differences/similarities and the same

 

Review page 101, "Brainstorming with a Venn Diagram' and see how the two countries of Malaysia and Thailand have differences and what they have in common.

Notice in the left circle is one topic (Malaysia) and in the right circle is the other topic (Thailand) - both circles describe unique characteristics that are different from the other topic.

So what turns up in the middle? What the two have in common - or similarities.

Practice drawing your own Venn Diagram at home about you and the Hidden Figures character. Put yourself in one circle, and the character in the other circle. Start picking areas where you are different.  For example:  school? education? family situation? housing or home life? parents/grandparents? children? public and private discrimination? work environment? your character? facing challenges? community work?

What do you have in common? Any similarities would fall in the middle of your Venn Diagram (as shown in the book). Pick any area in your life that you may have something in common with your character and place it here. Thus, you have similar situations and differences to write a Compare/Contrast paper.

If you have nothing in common, that's okay. Your essay can be a total Contrast paper, citing the differences with your character. It's possible you may have no differences. If so, you'll have a total Comparison paper.

Next, will be your Assignment to Submit a list of three areas (differences or similarities) that will go into your Three Body Paragraphs.