8th Grade Reading

8th Grade Reading focuses on enhancing comprehension, analysis, and critical thinking skills through diverse literary texts.

Comprehension SkillsAnalyzing Literary ElementsCritical Thinking and Inference
Comparing and Contrasting TextsUnderstanding Author’s Purpose and PerspectiveInterpreting Figurative Language
Using Reading Skills in Everyday LifeResearch and Information GatheringCommunication through Reading and Writing
Active Reading StrategiesTime Management for Reading Assignments
Comprehension SkillsAnalyzing Literary E...Critical Thinking an...Comparing and Contra...Understanding Author...Interpreting Figurat...Using Reading Skills...Research and Informa...Communication throug...Active Reading Strat...Time Management for ...
Advanced Topics

Comparing and Contrasting Texts

Spotting Similarities and Differences

Advanced readers can look at two or more texts and notice how they are alike and different. This skill is called comparing and contrasting. It helps you understand authors' choices, themes, and styles.

Steps to Compare and Contrast

  • Identify the topic or theme in each text.
  • Look at how different authors approach the topic.
  • Use Venn diagrams to organize similarities and differences.
  • Think about why these differences matter.

Why It's Important

This skill helps you think deeper about what you read and prepares you for assignments in high school and beyond.

Real-World Use

Comparing and contrasting is useful when making decisions, such as choosing between two products or understanding different news reports.

Examples

  • Reading two poems about friendship and discussing how each poet describes it.

  • Comparing a novel and its movie adaptation to see what changes were made and why.

In a Nutshell

Comparing and contrasting reveals deeper insights by examining similarities and differences between texts.

Key Terms

Compare
To look for similarities.
Contrast
To look for differences.
Next
Understanding Author’s Purpose and Perspective