Comparing Texts | Student Worksheet

Why Compare Texts?

Two authors can write about the SAME topic but make very different choices! Comparing texts helps us understand how different approaches, perspectives, and purposes shape how information is presented. Good readers notice not just WHAT texts say, but HOW they say it!

Similarities vs. Differences

SIMILARITIES

What do both texts have in common?

"Both texts discuss..." "The authors agree that..."

DIFFERENCES

How are the texts NOT alike?

"While Text A..., Text B..." "Unlike Text A, Text B..."

Remember: A good comparison includes BOTH similarities AND differences!

What Can You Compare?

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PURPOSE: Why did each author write this? (To inform? Persuade? Entertain?)

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AUDIENCE: Who is each text written for? (Experts? Kids? Everyone?)

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FOCUS: What does each author emphasize or spend the most time on?

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STRUCTURE: How is each text organized? (Chronological? Problem/solution?)

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TONE: What attitude does each author have? (Serious? Fun? Worried?)

Let's Compare: Two Texts About Volcanoes

Text A: Science Textbook

Volcanoes are openings in Earth's crust where magma, hot gas, and rock fragments escape from deep underground. There are three main types of volcanoes: shield volcanoes, cinder cones, and stratovolcanoes. Eruptions occur when pressure from magma becomes too great. Scientists called volcanologists monitor volcanic activity using seismographs and satellite imagery to predict potential eruptions and protect nearby communities.

Text B: Survivor's Account

I'll never forget the morning Mount St. Helens erupted. The ground shook like a giant earthquake, and then I heard a roar louder than anything I'd ever heard. Within minutes, a wall of ash blocked out the sun. We couldn't see our hands in front of our faces. My family grabbed what we could and ran. Everything was covered in gray powder - cars, houses, trees. Some people lost everything that day. I was only seven, but I still remember the fear in my parents' eyes.

Analyzing the Two Texts

Aspect	Text A (Textbook)	Text B (Survivor)
Purpose	To inform/teach about volcanoes	To share a personal experience
Focus	Scientific facts and types	Emotional impact and what happened
Tone	Formal, objective, neutral	Personal, emotional, descriptive
Structure	Organized by categories (types, monitoring)	Chronological (story order)
What's Missing?	No personal stories or emotions	No scientific explanations

Key Insight: Same topic (volcanoes), very different approaches!

Sentence Starters for Comparing Texts

"Both texts discuss..." (similarity in topic)
"However, Text A focuses on... while Text B emphasizes..." (difference in focus)
"Text A is written for... whereas Text B is written for..." (audience)
"The tone of Text A is... but Text B has a... tone." (tone)
"Unlike Text A, which uses..., Text B uses..." (structure/approach)
"A reader who wants to... should choose Text... because..." (purpose)

Your Turn!

1. What is ONE similarity between the volcano texts?

2. What is ONE difference in how the authors approach the topic?

3. If a student wanted to FEEL what a volcano eruption was like, which text should they read? Why?

A. Text A - because it has scientific facts B. Text B - because it shares a personal experience with emotional details C. Both texts equally D. Neither text

4. Using a sentence starter from above, write ONE comparison sentence about the two volcano texts.

Remember: Different Approaches Serve Different Purposes!

Neither text is "better" - they just have different GOALS:

Text A helps you LEARN facts about volcanoes
Text B helps you UNDERSTAND what an eruption is like
TOGETHER, they give you a complete picture!

Key Question to Ask: "Which text would be better if I wanted to ___?"