Compare & Contrast Essays EAP Worksheets & Games

EAP Compare and Contrast Essays Worksheet - Writing Exercises: Categorising, Gap-fill, Identifying, Creating an Essay Outline, Writing an Essay In this informative compare and contrast essays worksheet, students are introduced to compare and contrast essay structure and attempt an essay writing practice using block structure. First, students read a description of compare and contrast essays and compare the two structures for organising this type of essay - block structure and point by point structure. In pairs, students then discuss the differences between the two structures. Next, students arrange transition words used in compare and contrast essays according to their functions. After that, students read an example essay and underline all the transition words that show similarities and differences. Students then complete sentences using the transition words. Following that, students write sentences that compare or contrast pairs of subjects. Next, students choose two subjects for a compare and contrast essay. Students then list their similarities and differences and use the list to complete a compare and contrast essay outline. Finally, students use the outline to write their own compare and contrast essay. show less

EAP Compare and Contrast Essays Worksheet - Writing Exercises: Identifying, Gap-fill, Unscrambling, Outline and Essay Writing, Peer Review and Feedback In this free compare and contrast essays worksheet, students learn and practice point-by-point compare and contrast essay structure. First, students read about the difference between block structure and point-by-point structure for compare and contrast essays. Students then read a point-by-point compare and contrast essay and scan it, listing the four points of comparison, which form the main idea of each body paragraph. After that, students list four points of comparison for three topics. Students then complete sentences with comparison and contrast transition words or phrases. Students then move on to unscramble sentence parts to make example topic sentences for a compare and contrast essay. Next, students choose a topic and create an outline for a point-by-point compare and contrast essay and then write an essay using the outline. Lastly, students swap essays with a partner for peer feedback. show less

EAP Compare and Contrast Essays Activity - Writing and Speaking: Discussion, Matrix Completion, Presenting, Paragraph Writing, Peer Feedback, Communicative Practice - Group Work In this useful compare and contrast essay activity, students make comparisons using selected criteria in a matrix, present their ideas, and then collaboratively write a structured point-by-point paragraph. First, in groups, students select four criterion cards relevant to their assigned matrix topic, discuss examples and evidence for both sides of each criterion and complete each comparison cell of the matrix with the examples and evidence. Each group then prepares and presents one row from their completed matrix to the class in three stages. In stage one, groups present both sides using evidence. In stage two, groups decide whether the comparison shows a similarity or a difference and explain why it matters. In stage three, groups use transition words to express their comparison in one or two sentences. Afterwards, groups transform a different row of their matrix into a structured point-by-point paragraph that includes a topic sentence, evidence and examples, and suitable transition phrases. Groups then swap their paragraph with another group, who reads it and completes a feedback checklist, including one positive comment and one point for improvement. Finally, each group reads and discusses the feedback they received. show less

EAP Compare and Contrast Essays Game - Reading and Vocabulary: Ordering, Gap-fill - Pair Work In this engaging compare and contrast essay game, students arrange parts of an example point-by-point essay into a logical order and then complete gaps with transition words and phrases. First, pairs have five minutes to put sentence strips into a logical order following a point-by-point compare and contrast essay structure. Pairs score one point for each correctly placed strip. Next, pairs have three minutes to complete gaps in the text with transition cards, scoring one point for each correct answer. The pair with the most points at the end of the game wins. show less

EAP Compare and Contrast Essays Worksheet - Reading and Writing Exercises: Gap-fill, Writing an Outline and Essay - Speaking Activity: Discussion, Communicative Practice In this useful compare and contrast essay writing practice, students plan and write a compare and contrast essay about wind power and solar energy using one of three recommended structures. First, students read a text about wind power and solar energy and then match words in bold from the text to their definitions. Next, students complete advice about writing a compare and contrast essay. After that, students complete an essay writing revision checklist and then use the text and their own ideas to list similarities and differences between wind power and solar energy. Students then use the list of similarities and differences to prepare an essay outline. Next, students use their outline to write a compare and contrast essay about wind power and solar energy. Finally, students swap papers with a partner and use the revision checklist to review and provide feedback on their partner's essay. show less