Why Compare Texts?
Comparing texts is a crucial reading skill that helps students think more deeply about what they read. On Florida's FAST assessment, sixth graders must compare how different authors approach the same topic, analyze texts in different genres, and identify shared themes across multiple passages. This skill builds critical thinking that extends far beyond the classroom.
Key Concepts
Compare: Find similarities between texts (how they are alike)
Contrast: Find differences between texts (how they are unlike)
Genre: The category or type of text (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, etc.)
Perspective: The author's viewpoint or attitude about a topic
Theme: The central message or lesson of a text
Activities to Try at Home
📰 Same Story, Different Sources
When a current event happens, read about it from two different news sources together:
- How do the headlines differ?
- What facts are included in both? What's different?
- Do the authors seem to have different perspectives?
- Which source seems more objective? More emotional?
Why it works: This shows how the same event can be presented differently depending on the author and publication.
🎬 Book vs. Movie Night
Read a book together, then watch the movie adaptation:
- What scenes were changed or left out?
- How are characters different in each version?
- Does the theme stay the same?
- Which version told the story more effectively? Why?
Examples: Wonder, Holes, Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, The Giver
📚 Two Stories, One Theme
Find two stories or movies that share a theme (like courage or friendship):
- What message do both stories share?
- How does each story express that theme differently?
- Which characters represent the theme in each story?
- Which story communicates the theme more effectively?
🗣️ Different Genres, Same Topic
Explore how the same topic is covered in different formats:
- Read a poem about nature, then read a nature article
- Watch a documentary, then read a related novel
- Compare a song's lyrics to a speech on the same theme
- Discuss: What can one format do that the other can't?
Questions to Ask When Comparing Texts
- "What is the topic of each text? Are they the same or related?"
- "What type of text is this? How does the genre affect how information is presented?"
- "What is each author's perspective or opinion on the topic?"
- "What similarities do you notice between these texts?"
- "What differences stand out to you?"
- "Do both texts share a theme or message? How do they express it differently?"
- "Which text is more convincing/effective/interesting? Why?"
Parent Tip: Use a Simple Framework
When comparing any two texts, use these three questions:
1. What are they both about? (Topic/Subject)
2. How are they alike? (Similarities)
3. How are they different? (Differences: genre, perspective, evidence, tone)
This simple structure works for any comparison - from news articles to novels to movies!
Everyday Comparison Opportunities
At Home
- Compare reviews of a product before buying
- Read two recipes for the same dish
- Compare how two family members tell the same story
- Look at the same topic in different encyclopedias
Online
- Compare YouTube videos on the same topic
- Look at different websites about the same subject
- Read comments with different perspectives
- Compare how different creators explain a concept
Sentence Starters to Practice
For Similarities
- "Both texts..."
- "Similarly, both authors..."
- "Like Text A, Text B also..."
- "The texts share..."
For Differences
- "Unlike Text A, Text B..."
- "However, they differ in..."
- "While Text A... Text B..."
- "On the other hand..."
Informacion para Padres (Spanish Summary)
Por que comparar textos? Comparar textos es una habilidad de lectura critica. En la evaluacion FAST de Florida, los estudiantes de sexto grado deben comparar como diferentes autores abordan el mismo tema, analizar textos de diferentes generos, e identificar temas compartidos.
Conceptos Clave:
- Comparar: Encontrar similitudes entre textos
- Contrastar: Encontrar diferencias entre textos
- Genero: El tipo de texto (ficcion, no ficcion, poesia)
- Perspectiva: El punto de vista del autor sobre un tema
Actividades en Casa:
- Leer sobre el mismo evento en dos fuentes de noticias
- Comparar un libro con su pelicula
- Encontrar dos historias con el mismo tema
- Comparar diferentes formatos sobre el mismo tema (poema vs. articulo)
Preguntas para hacer: "En que se parecen estos textos?" y "En que se diferencian?"