Topic Summaries

Comparative topic sentences

• Similarity:
  • Throughout both Text A and Text B, the idea of _____ has a profound impact on the characters.
  • In Text A and Text B, the authors present us with...
  • Both Author A and Author B challenge the notion that...
  • The concept of _____ is a key concern in both Text A and Text B.
  • Text A and Text B both seek to highlight...
• Difference:
  • Whilst Text A and Text B both explore notions of _____, they do so in slightly different ways.
  • Where Author A suggests that _____, Author B instead condones...
  • Text A’s presentation of _____ as _____ is challenged by Text B which instead suggests...
  • Throughout Text A and Text B, readers are exposed to differing perspectives of...
  • In Text A, Author A establishes a sense of _____ that stands in contrast to Author B’s depiction of...

Comparative concluding sentences

• Similarity:
  • To this end, both Author A and Author B seek to communicate...
  • Therefore, Text A and Text B are unified in their portrayal of...
  • Thus, both authors share a similar desire for...
  • In spite of the subtle differences in their approach to _____, both Text A and Text B suggest that...
  • Hence, the notion of _____ is of paramount importance to readers’ understanding of both Text A and Text B.
• Difference:
  • Thus, whilst both texts are concerned with the notion of _____, ultimately, Author A and Author B present very different ideas about...
  • Therefore, where Text A acts as an indictment of _____, Text B instead contends that...
  • Whilst the idea of _____ is common to both texts, the nature of the authors’ messages are distinct in that...
  • Thus, the concept of _____ can be seen to play a vastly different role in both Text A and Text B.
  • Consequently, Author A and Author B both adopt markedly different stances towards the question of...

Types of comparison

• You can make connections in the form of similarities and differences in either the textual features or meaning of a text.
• These combinations give us 4 types of comparison, and you should aim to showcase all 4 in your writing.

1. Similarities in textual features
   
   • e.g both authors use the motif of blood to symbolise guilt
2. Similarities in meaning/intent
   • e.g. both authors convey the horrors of war and its destruction of innocence
3. Differences in textual features
   • e.g. where Author A uses subtle connotations, Author B is instead more overt and uses hyperbole
4. Differences in meaning/intent
   • e.g. where Author A focuses on the victims of war, Author B by contrast focuses blame on the powerful