Teacher Guide | Grade 3 ELA | FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.3.R.3.3
Benchmark: Compare and contrast how two authors present information on the same topic or theme.
Clarification: Students should analyze how different authors approach similar subjects, noting similarities and differences in their perspectives, information presented, text structures, and overall treatment of the topic.
To find ways things are SIMILAR or the SAME
To find ways things are DIFFERENT
What the text is mostly about
The message or lesson the author teaches
How the author thinks about or presents a topic
How information is organized in a text
| Element | Questions to Ask |
|---|---|
| Main Idea | What is each author's main point? Are they the same or different? |
| Details & Facts | What information does each author include? What do they leave out? |
| Author's Purpose | Why did each author write this? To inform, persuade, or entertain? |
| Author's Perspective | How does each author feel about the topic? Is one more positive or negative? |
| Text Structure | How is each text organized? (cause/effect, problem/solution, etc.) |
| Text Features | What features does each use? (headings, pictures, diagrams) |
Collect two articles or books about the same topic (pandas, weather, a historical figure). Read both aloud, then have students complete a class Venn diagram. Discuss: "Why might these authors have written about this differently?"
Compare different versions of the same fairy tale (traditional vs. fractured, different cultures). Use a T-chart to list what each version includes or changes. Great for discussing author choices!
Find two kid-friendly news articles on the same event. Have students identify: What facts do BOTH include? What does only ONE include? Why might that be?
After comparing two texts, have students role-play interviewing each "author" about why they made certain choices. This builds inference skills about author purpose and perspective.
| Question Type | Example Stem |
|---|---|
| Similarity | "How are the two passages similar?" |
| Difference | "How does Passage 1 differ from Passage 2?" |
| Author's Treatment | "How do the authors present information about [topic] differently?" |
| Both Texts | "Which statement is true about BOTH passages?" |
| Specific Comparison | "What information does Passage 1 include that Passage 2 does not?" |
| Purpose Comparison | "How is the author's purpose in Passage 1 different from Passage 2?" |
| Misconception | Clarification |
|---|---|
| "If texts are about the same topic, they say the same things" | Authors make choices about what to include, emphasize, or leave out—even on the same topic. |
| "One text must be 'right' and one 'wrong'" | Different doesn't mean wrong. Authors can both be accurate but focus on different aspects. |
| "Comparing texts means just listing facts from each" | True comparison analyzes HOW and WHY texts differ, not just what they say. |
| "The longer text has more information" | Longer doesn't mean more detailed—sometimes shorter texts are more focused. |
• Use shorter, simpler texts with obvious differences
• Provide sentence starters: "Both texts ___" / "Only Text 1 ___"
• Use highlighting: one color for similarities, another for differences
• Pre-fill part of the Venn diagram
• Compare three texts instead of two
• Analyze subtle differences in author tone and word choice
• Have students find their own texts to compare
• Explore how genre affects how topics are presented