How To: Use Comparing Strategies DQ3: HELPING STUDENTS PRACTICE AND DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF NEW KNOWLEDGE
Element 17 Examining Similarities and Differences
Comparing is the process of identifying similarities and differences between ideas or things. A variety of strategies can be used when designing comparison activities. We will discuss sentence stems, Venn diagrams, double bubble diagrams and comparison matrices. Sentence Stem Comparisons This strategy can be used to have the students compare and contrast people, characters, places, events, concepts or processes. The comparisons can be general or specific. Marzano’s Becoming a Reflective Teacher, gives the following examples: General – House cats are similar to lions because ____________________. House cats are different than lions because _______________________. Specific – Sherlock Holmes and Gandalf are both characters who enjoy solving mysteries, but they are different because ____________________________. After a gym teacher has provided a series of critical-input experiences on baseball and fast pitch softball, he might assign a sentence stem assignment comparing and contrasting the two sports. A completed example can be found in Marzano’s A Handbook for the Art and Science of Teaching and looks something like this. Baseball and fast pitch softball are similar because they both…

• Have 4 bases in a diamond shape • Have 9 defensive players. • Have the same ball/strike counts: 4 balls = walk & 3 strikes = out
Baseball and fast pitch softball are different because…

• In baseball, the bases are 90 feet apart, but in fast pitch softball the bases are 60 feet apart. • In baseball, the pitching distance is 60 feet, 6 inches, but in fast pitch softball, the pitching distance is between 40 and 46 feet depending on the level of play.

• In baseball, the pitcher throws overhand, bit in fast pitch softball, the pitcher throws underhand.
Another sentence stem example comparing monarchy and dictatorship is presented in The Art and Science of Teaching on page 72. An empty sentence stem template is attached.

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Sentence Stem Comparison A

______________________ and _____________________ are similar because they both: _______________________________________________________________________. _______________________________________________________________________. _______________________________________________________________________. __________________________ and ________________________ are different because: ________________________________________________________________________. ________________________________________________________________________. ________________________________________________________________________.

Sentence Stem Comparison B

______________________ and _____________________ are similar because they both: _______________________________________________________________________. _______________________________________________________________________. _______________________________________________________________________. __________________________ and ________________________ are different because: ________________is______________, but _________________is__________________. ________________is______________, but _________________is__________________. ________________is______________, but _________________is__________________.

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Venn Diagrams Students use these visual representations to compare and contrast two or three people, characters, places, things, events, concepts or processes. Similarities between the topics of comparison are written where the circles intersect and characteristics that they do not have in common are written where the circles do not intersect. They can be used for specific, general, abstract or concrete comparisons. A Venn diagram could be used in all subjects to compare and contrast information.

• Science example – used to compare and contrast two or three ecosystems • Math example – used to compare and contrast different quadrilaterals • History example – used to compare and contrast figures in history or presidential candidates • English example – used to compare and contrast two characters from a novel
Below is a Venn diagram example that is found in The Art and Science of Teaching.

1.

Can coexist with representative government.

Forms of government.

Often perceived as police states.

1.

2.

Not uncommon for people to show great affection for the ruler.

Government dominated by a single person.

Not uncommon for ruler to be hated or feared.

2.

3.

Usually comes in to power through heritage.

History has examples of rulers who were considered by many as tyrants.

Usually comes into power through coercion or force.

3.

Monarchy

Dictatorship

A Venn diagram template that can be used to compare two concepts is attached.

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VENN DIAGRAM Things in Common

Concept 1__________________________

Concept 2__________________________

Written Explanation of Comparisons Discovered: _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________

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Double-Bubble Diagrams This strategy compares the attributes of two people, places, things, concepts, etc. Students write the two topics being compared in the large gray circles. Common attributes are listed in the center smaller circles connected to the topic bubbles and the unique attributes are written on the outside edge of the diagram connected to the appropriate topic bubble. Please see the monarchy, dictatorship example below.

1. Coexists with representative governments.

Forms of government.

1. Often perceived as police states.

2. Not uncommon for people to show great affection.

Monarchy

Dominated by a single person.

Dictatorship

2. Not uncommon for ruler to be hated or feared.

3. Usually comes into power through heritage.

Both had historical examples of tyrants.

3. Usually comes into power through coercion or force.

A foreign language class could use this strategy to compare the customs or beliefs of the United States to a country that uses the foreign language they are studying. Similarities in customs or practices would be put in the middle circles and areas of differences would be written on the left and the right sides. A blank double-bubble template is attached that can be used to compare two concepts.

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Double-Bubble Comparison

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Comparison Matrix A comparison is a more formal way to compare two or more concepts. A matrix (chart) is completed with the concepts to be compared written across the top of each column of the grid and the identifying attributes or questions written in the rows at the left side of the grid. The students then record their information or answers in each cell of the grid. The final column can be used to share the similarities and differences between the concepts. This last column helps summarize the similarities and differences discovered while completing the matrix. Please see the monarchy, dictatorship, and democracy matrix below for an example. Figure 3.9 Comparison Matrix from The Art and Science of Teaching, (page 75)
Monarchy How the leaders come to power King or queen gains throne out of heritage. Sometimes a monarch takes over country by force. Often a leader for life. Dictatorship The dictator usually takes power through coercion or force. Often is leader for life. Democracy Leaders are elected by the people, sometimes influenced by others. The leader doesn't have total power. May be voted out of office. Similarities & Differences Actually, monarchy and dictatorship are more alike and democracy is different. Monarchs and dictatorships are similar in that power over people is taken by, or given to, an individual, but in a democracy, the people decide who will have the power. Even though monarchy and dictatorship are somewhat similar, they are also different in that the dictator takes over by force, but the monarch is usually designated as a result of heritage. Similarities & Differences

The reaction from the people

Throughout history are examples of monarchs loved by the people, but some were hated by certain persecuted groups. People are generally expected to obey the rule of the monarch. Monarch holds power and can change laws. Can become like dictators.

Often in history the dictator is hated or feared by most people.

People are often split on their reactions but accept the elected leader, knowing they can try to elect a new one before too long. Generally the people are seen to have power through their votes. If they don't like what's happening, they can elect new leaders.

The role of the people

People must obey the dictator. Often there are serious consequences to not being loyal.

Similarities & Differences

Another example where students can use a comparison matrix is comparing different eras like the Middle Ages, the European Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment. The questions on the left side of the grid could include: What are the major forms of government in each era? What is the enduring legacy from each era? How did class structures change during each era? A customizable template that can be used to compare two concepts is attached.

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Comparison Matrix for __________________________ & _________________________________

Items to Compare

Concept 1

Concept 2

Similarities & Differences

Attribute 1

Attribute 2

Attribute 3

Attribute 4

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