Page 438 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

man and his dog be different from the relationship of a
homeowner and her dog? How might it be the same?

Plan

List three points of comparison or contrast between the life of a

dog owned by a homeless person and a dog owned by a
person who has a home. Plan a paragraph that shows the

differences or similarities in these dogs’ lives.

Draft

Now you are ready to write. Draft a paragraph comparing or

contrasting the lives of two dogs: one belonging to a homeless

person and one belonging to a homeowner. Use one of the two

beginnings that follow, or make up your own. Note that in the
second opening, the dogs are named. It takes a sentence to

establish the names, but cumbersome repetition is avoided.

Opening 1: A homeless person’s dog lives much like any other
dog.

Opening 2: Banjo and Cadet are mixed-breed dogs who are

much loved by their owners. But Banjo travels the open road

with his homeless owner, while Cadet lives with his family in a

three-bedroom house with a yard.

Setting Up a Comparison-Contrast