Michigan State University
Michigan State University: Introduction to Synthesis
Learn what synthesis is, why you might write a synthesis essay, and techniques for developing several types of synthesis essays. While this site is written for a college writing course, it is both useful and accessible for high school...
University of Washington
University of Washington: Patterns of Organization
In addition to defining and describing various patterns of text organization, this website provides outlines illustrating each pattern. RI.11-12.3 Text development
Other
Hong Kong Polytech: Functions in Academic Writing
Provides a wealth of interactive exercises dealing mainly with the structuring of sentences in different kinds of academic writing.
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Writing Essays for Exams
This handout provides a comprehensive look at writing essays for exams including what a well-written answer to an essay exam question includes, a step-by-step decription of how to write an effective essay exam, an explanation of patterns...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Holt, Rinehart and Winston: Writer's Model: Compare and Contrast Example 1
This three-page essay provides an example of an comparison/contrast essay. Clicking on the "Writer's Guide" link in the upper right-hand corner of the page enables the user to get tips, directions, and explanations on the essay.
English for Everyone
Reading Comprehension Assessment: "A Streetcar Named Desire" [Pdf]
Read Theory provides a free reading comprehension assessment that is designed for middle grade students. Five multiple choice questions and two extended inquiries are included on this nonfiction reading assessment that addresses two...
Grammarly
Grammarly Handbook: Comparison and Contrast
This Grammarly Handbook resource provides examples of paragraphs that are arranged by the comparison and contrast organizational structure.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Teaching the Compare and Contrast Essay Through Modeling
Contains plans for three lessons that teach young scholars how to write comparison contrast essays after modeling the form to them. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to sites used in the...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Context Clues Intro
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart discusses context clues and how they are used to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words. There is sufficient material for several lessons on this topic. Included are activities and...
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Parallel Structure in Pairs
This lesson discusses the importance of parallel construction in pairs and comparisons or contrasts. This tutorial lesson shares a short slideshow with the lesson's content.
Read Works
Read Works: Snowflake Bentley
[Free Registration/Login Required] In this ReadWorks read aloud lesson, students will describe Bentley's environment and his interactions with it. Students will evaluate the impact a person's environment can have on life. Then students...
Read Works
Read Works: Telephones: Then and Now
[Free Registration/Login Required] This short literary text passage is about how telephones have changed over the years. This passage is intended for guided practice and is designed to reinforce essential reading comprehension skills...
E Reading Worksheets
E Reading Worksheets: Text Structure Worksheets
This site provides several assignments and graphic organizers related to identifying text structures. Analyzing the following types of text structures are provided: main idea and supporting details; cause and effect; chronological order;...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Informational Text: Reading Response: Compare Contrast [Pdf]
This graphic organizer can be used as a response to informational texts. Students will write two topics from their informational text as a during or post-reading activity. Under each topic, students will list similarities and differences...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Informational Text: Reading Response: Compare Contrast [Pdf]
This graphic organizer can be use with students when they read an informational text. Using a Venn diagram to organize content, students will write important similarities and differences after reading an informational text and analyzing...
E Reading Worksheets
E Reading Worksheets: Text Structure Activities
Numerous links related to analyzing text structures are provided on this site. Lesson plans, PowerPoint slides, graphic organizers, rubrics, and quizzes related to text structures are also provided to support students while analyzing...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Whose Piece Is Larger?
Fourth graders are always concerned about whether they get their equal piece when things are divided. In this instructional activity, 4th graders will use fraction bars to visually see how to compare fractions
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont Colleges: Writing an Argument
Brief handout describing different forms of argument for writing.
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
Depaul University: Center for Urban Education: Compare and Contrast [Pdf]
This graphic organizer includes a Venn Diagram. Students will then answer a guiding question to synthesize the information on the Venn Diagram.
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
Depaul University: Center for Urban Education: Compara Y Contrasta [Pdf]
Students will compare and contrast information with the aid of this Venn Diagram that has been translated into Spanish. Students will answer a guiding question to help them summarize the content of the diagram.