Chapter 14 - Compare and Contrast Essays
From seven sentences about A and seven about B to genuine comparative writing
The gap this chapter addresses
These students compare constantly - phone models, game versions, streaming platforms - but a genuine controlling idea rarely appears without explicit teaching.
Point-by-point is the recommended default at B1 - it forces the comparison onto the page rather than two parallel descriptions that never meet.
Additional activities for Chapter 14
Activity A15-20 min
Block vs. Point-by-Point Conversion. Students take a block-structured paragraph and convert it to point-by-point structure, then discuss which version makes the comparison itself more visible.
Activity B15-20 min
Controlling Idea Upgrade. Given the flat claim 'A and B are different,' students revise it into a controlling idea that states why the difference matters, for three different topic pairs.
Further resources
GenAlphaWrite Companion Website
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writealpha.com
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© Dr. Saad Torki
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Last update: 10 July 2026