Question

Write a short composition comparing or contrasting two things. Your introduction should be one paragraph, your body should be approximately three paragraphs, and your conclusion should be one paragraph. You may want to review the options for the first exam question. One option requires you to compare or contrast two things, and you can get a better understanding of that by completing this activity.

Some suggested topics are (1) your mother and father, (2) city and country life, (3) childhood and adulthood, or (4) movies and books.

Be sure to prewrite and plan your writing. Before you begin the actual writing, you may also wish to compose a clear thesis statement to focus your thinking. Place the statement somewhere in your first paragraph to keep your writing on track. Many times, the thesis statement works nicely as the last sentence of the first paragraph. The thesis statement can top off an interesting lead-in. Each paragraph in the body should have a strong topic sentence that clearly supports your stated thesis. To make your comparisons or contrasts coherent, use transitional words and phrases like as well as, different from, in contrast, just as, like, on the other hand, the same as, and unlike. Conclude by summarizing the key details of the body. Don’t introduce new material, but do try to give a fresh twist to the wording of your important points. Your reader will be bored if you say exactly what you said before.

Your paragraph should include an introduction, body, and conclusion and include phrases that compare and contrast (like, as well as, on the other hand, and so on).

Answer 1

Movies and books have similarities and differences; but it seems that the differences outweigh the similarities. Both can be used to express fiction; entertain; and be enjoyed by young and old alike. However, books and movies differ in the use of imagination; duration or length of time; audience; and interpretation.

Fiction can be told through books and movies. In fact, a number of movies are adaptations of the novel or book form. Maze Runners and Harry Potter are examples of books turned into movies. Secondly, both are forms of entertainment. Reading fiction or watching a movie entertain us and make us relax. Finally, both can be enjoyed by the young and the old. There is no age limit to being able to get access to books and movies especially now that we have the Internet.

On the other hand, in matters of the use of imagination, the printed form can be limitless. Since movies are visually presented, the audience becomes a passive spectator of the series of events and characters presented to him. Secondly, books take time to finish depending on the age and reading speed of the readers. In contrast, movies can be done in an hour or two. There are even Indie (independent) films that are less than an hour in length. Thirdly, books can only be enjoyed by a single person; while movies can be shared with friends and loved ones at home or in the cinemas which can be more fun. Finally, in matters of interpretation, the printed form can have more details that the interpretation could be different depending on the reader’s age, experience and culture. However, movies are often interpreted by the director or producers and have to suit certain conditions such as budget, target audience, and censorship.

Overall, despite the differences, books and movies have undeniably been great companions of human experience, where a person can escape into some place and time that he can control. Whether the story has a tragic or happy ending, it is still worth our time and experience.

Personally, I prefer good movies spent on Friday nights with my friends. Nothing can beat the relaxing time spent sharing popcorn and soda.