The Sunday News
Charles Dube
THIS bit is meant to help learners answer questions on comparing things. We have the following questions in mind as we discuss this topic: What does comparing really mean? What is the biggest mistake people make with comparisons? Why do you need to make your comparisons clear? What two kinds of text usually turn up in comparing questions? What should you look at first when you are comparing? Why do you need to write comparisons for some questions when they do not use the word “compare” in the title?
There are always comparing questions in English Language and Literature in English or English Literature. It is one of those things examiners love — so make sure you learn the basics of comparing things carefully. Comparing means finding similarities and differences. It is also about looking at two or more things together. For example, in a question like: compare these two articles. You should consider: the language used, the ideas they contain and how the material is presented.
Do not just write about one thing and then the other. Experts say this is the biggest mistake people make with comparisons.
The whole point of the question is that you write about both things together. It is about making links between them. On the language used, you need to say whether the language is similar or different in the two articles, along with examples to prove your point. The key point is for you to give examples.
When considering the ideas they contain, here you need to look at the ideas in both articles. You are trying to make links between ideas that are similar and ideas that are different. State how the material is presented. You have to write about the layout of the two articles for this bit of the question. You must make your comparisons clear — give the similarities and differences and try to explain why the two things are similar or different.
Comparing things can be a real problem if you do not get the right method. You have got to write about both of the things at the same time — looking at what they have in common and what they do not. Most of the comparing learners will have to do will be between articles or poems — but they do not need to worry, the method is the same whatever you are comparing.
When comparing poems, keep the poems linked together.
Start by making a clear point about something both poems make you feel. Compare the images in the poems. Writing about images means picking out the phrases or words that stick in your mind. You have to explain what kind of picture they give you and why they stick in your mind. Your writing must be interesting and clear. You stand a chance of getting good marks if you write clearly and use interesting phrases.
Lots of poetry questions ask for three or four poems — just use the same method as you do for two. Whatever you do, do not panic — the examiners only want to see if you really know how to compare things. In such a scenario you need to choose three or four poems, and look for these things: the nature of experiences presented in the poems, how the poets get their feelings across and differences between the poems. You must write about all the three or four poems together, and talk about similarities and differences.
The best bit about comparisons is that you always get asked questions about the same kind of thing. You will be asked to compare ideas and themes. You will be asked to compare the language. Watch out — this question is asking for the differences. Having chosen three or four poems take note of the question: “What differences in the use of language do you notice?” You should write about: language which tells you about background and character where applicable, language which is formal and informal and words which are chosen for a particular effect.
Sometimes you have to compare how two poets write about a particular subject or how each poet gets his ideas about that particular subject across. State which poem you liked best and why. When you compare poems, the instructions may say you must write poems from before a particular period and poems from a certain period. Always do exactly what the instructions say.
Here are some reminders on writing descriptions. Remember describing something means saying what it is and what it is like. Keep your describing interesting. You need to be careful how you use words. Do not use the same words all the time. Do not use too many vague describing words, like interesting or beautiful. In fact, do not use them on their own — always add extra information to back them up. If you back them up, you will make your description clearer to understand.
Never use the word “nice” — it does not really mean anything. Think of some other word to use instead. Apart from using different words and explaining vague terms, there are a few more other things you can do to improve your marks for describing questions. Try using images to bring your writing to life. Images are word pictures — they make your writing more fun. You can give a clear picture by saying what something is like.
You can compare things using as — “as fast as”, “as vain as” or “as wasteful as”. You can use metaphors where you say something is something else. Avoid using clichés. Clichés are phrases or images that have been used so often they have become boring like the following examples: Football is a game of two halves. You win some, you lose some. As quiet as a mouse. Avoid using them in your descriptions if you are to score high marks.
Do not use slang or jargon words. Slang is sort of language you use out of school with your friends or mates. Do not use it in your descriptions — the examiners will not know what you mean. Jargon is any sort of technical terms that most people would not understand, like sports terms or even police terms on television. Do not use them unless you explain what they mean. Try to give clear images.
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