A comparative paragraph makes one claim that needs both excerpts, then supports it with evidence from each and a sentence that links them. Plan the claim and the link before you write anything else.
This lesson is part of SPM subjects and learning resources. It uses the skills from choosing evidence and explaining language choices.
What is the four-part frame?
- Claim: one point about how the two excerpts relate.
- Evidence A and comment: a short quotation from the first, explained.
- Evidence B and comment: a short quotation from the second, explained.
- Link: a sentence saying what the comparison shows.
Worked example: two excerpts on waiting
Both excerpts are original and not from any set text.
Excerpt A. Wati sat on the bench outside the clinic, turning her bus ticket over and over. Each time the door opened she looked up, then down again.
Excerpt B. The old man stood at the gate from morning. “She will come when she comes,” he told the neighbour, and did not move.
Claim. Both characters wait for someone, but Wati’s waiting is anxious while the old man’s is patient.
Evidence A. “turning her bus ticket over and over” shows restless movement, which suggests nerves. “looked up, then down again” shows hope and disappointment repeating.
Evidence B. “did not move” shows stillness, and the reported words “She will come when she comes” show acceptance.
Link. Wati’s small, repeated movements show that she cannot rest until the wait ends, whereas the old man’s stillness suggests he has made peace with not knowing.
Each excerpt gets equal space, and the link sentence ties the two together.
The mistake: two summaries in one paragraph
A weak version describes A in three sentences, then B in three sentences, and ends with “both wait”.
| Feature | Side-by-side | Point-by-point |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | All of A, then all of B | Claim, then A and B on the same point |
| Linking words | One, at the end | Throughout |
| What it shows | Two readings | One comparison |
Point-by-point is stronger because the comparison is the argument. Side-by-side leaves the marker to do the comparing.
How do I choose the point of comparison?
Pick one thing both excerpts share, such as a mood, a trait, a kind of action or a word choice. Then ask how each excerpt handles it differently. One point is enough for a paragraph.
Check yourself
Use the excerpts above. Write a claim that focuses on movement, and name one piece of evidence from each excerpt.
Answer
A sample claim: Wati’s waiting is shown through constant movement, whereas the old man’s is shown through stillness.
Evidence A: “turning her bus ticket over and over”. Evidence B: “did not move”. The contrast in movement is the point.
What to study next
Try all four skills together in the original mixed-skill practice, and check your paragraph drafts with the structured-answer self-review.
If you would like a teacher to help you write the link sentence, see online one-to-one English Literature tuition.