Developing a Paragraph by Comparison or Contrast

You may develop a paragraph by comparison or contrast. In this case the central idea of a paragraph is made clearer by a series of contrasts or comparisons. Often both methods are used in a paragraph.

Such a paragraph shows how an object or a person is like or unlike some other object or person. A comparison shows the ways in which two things are similar, a contrast - the ways in which they are different.

Here is a sample of a paragraph, the central idea of which is developed by a comparison:

“Such discussions with his son had confirmed in Jolyon a doubt whether the world had really changed. People said that it was a new age. With the profundity of one not too long for any age, Jolyon perceived that under slightly different surfaces the era was precisely what it had been. Mankind was still divided into two species. The few who had “speculation” in their souls, and the many who had none, with a belt of hybrids like himself in the middle. John appeared to have speculation; it seemed to his father a bad lookout.”

(J. Galsworthy. The Forsyte Saga. Book Three)

Writing a Paragraph

A. Find the following in the sample paragraph:

1. The topic sentence;

2. Sentences building up the central idea;

3. The clincher sentence;

4. The ways the writer uses comparison, contrast or both.

B. Use one of the statements to develop a paragraph by comparison, contrast or both. Vary your sentence structure to avoid monotony. Read and discuss your paragraphs in class, or change them for written criticism.

1) City life offers many contrasts to rural life.

2) My brother (or sister, or friend) and I are exact opposites.

Developing a Paragraph by Cause and Effect or by Giving Reasons

Some ideas are developed by stating either the causes or the results of incidents or actions. Some - by giving the reasons for feeling a certain way or for having a certain idea. Here is an example of a paragraph developed in this way:

“Jolyon Forsyte had spent his boy's nineteenth birthday at Robin Hill, quietly going into his affairs. He did everything quietly now, because his heart was in a poor way, and, like all his family, be disliked the idea of dying. He had never realised how much till one day, two years ago, he had gone to the doctor about certain symptoms, and been told: “At any moment, on any overstrain.”

(J. Galsworthy. The Forsyte Saga. Book Three)

Writing a Paragraph

A. Point out the topic sentence of the sample paragraph.

B. Find sentences that give reasons and causes for Jolyon Forsyte's quiet way of life.

C. Use one of the statements to develop a paragraph by cause and effect or by giving reasons.

1) How important is education?

2) Do you like adventurous experience? Why/ Why not?

Developing a Paragraph by Repetition

Often a paragraph can best be developed by numerous repetitions, in different forms, of the topic sentence. This method is particularly valuable in trying to impress them with a vivid picture of a situation.

E.g. “Well, I liked the king, and as king I respected him - respected the office; at least respected it as much as I was capable of respecting any unearned supremacy; but as man I looked down upon him and his nobles - privately. And he and they liked me, and respected my office; but as an animal, without birth or sham title, they looked down upon me - and were not particularly private about it, either. I didn't change for my opinion about me: the account was square, the books balanced, everybody was satisfied.

(M.Twain. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court)

Writing a Paragraph

A. What points does the author make in the preceding paragraph? In how many ways does he express the idea?

B. For what purpose does the author use repetition?

There are other possible ways of developing a paragraph: illustrations or examples, a combination of two or more methods.