Use Signal Words to Compare and Contrast

Choose the best signal words to complete the passage. People often debate whether a dog or a cat is a better pet, but these two animals actually have a lot in common. Cats like chasing things, such as a laser light or a ball of yarn; , dogs usually love to chase balls. Cats can shed their fur all over the house. , most dogs shed their fur as well. Lastly, dogs, cats, enjoy a cozy place to take an afternoon nap. Whether a person prefers a dog or a cat, both animals can make a great pet.

Students moving from elementary school to middle school will experience several changes. Elementary students usually stay in one classroom for most of the day, middle school students change classes throughout their day. In elementary school, all students take the same arts classes. , middle school students have choices between different enrichment classes. Still, there are some similarities. Elementary school has some fun advantages, like class parties and more recess; , students in middle school also enjoy certain advantages, such as more freedom and variety. Middle school brings rewarding changes that new students will appreciate.

Sports drinks are commonly consumed by children who participate in athletics, they may not be the best option. Sports drinks contain a lot of sugar and calories. , water is a great choice for rehydrating after most exercise sessions.
sports drinks do tend to taste better than water, fruit-flavored water can be a healthy alternative.

Friends and family members are important to everyone’s emotional health. Friends can make you laugh when school is difficult. , family members can entertain you in any moment, even while eating at the dinner table or enduring long car rides. Friends can understand what it is like to be your age, older family members know what you will face in the future. Your life is better because of the people around you. , the world would be a lonely place.

Though there are differences between small towns and large cities, their residents are attracted to them for some of the same reasons. Small towns allow people to get to know their neighbors well because there are fewer people. , people in large cities can get to know others by getting involved in organizations and events their cities offer. A small town might attract people with its beautiful sights, such as historic buildings.
, city-dwellers are attracted to the beautiful sights of urban areas, such as skyscrapers. Small town residents feel safe knowing most of the people who live there.  , large cities can feel safe because there are always people nearby. Whether a person lives in a small town or a big city, life can be enjoyable.

Glasses and contacts are necessary for people with poor vision, but which option is the best choice? Glasses are easy to put on; , it takes some practice to get used to putting in contacts. When considering comfort, glasses can be difficult to wear during exercise or hot weather.  , contacts can usually stay in all day, no matter the weather. In regards to maintenance, contacts have to be cleaned regularly in a special solution, the lenses of glasses have to be wiped with a soft cloth to remove smudges and dust. Whether contacts or glasses are selected, seeing clearly is the best benefit.

To most people, karate and tae kwon do seem very similar, but there are several differences. Karate was developed in Japan; , tae kwon do was developed in Korea. Tae kwon do has many complicated kicks to learn. , kicks in karate are more basic and focused on self-defense. Tae kwon do does not make use of the hands the way karate does. , tae kwon do uses the hands only as a backup way to fight. Once the details of each sport are studied, it is evident that karate and tae kwon do have very different styles.

Textbooks have been used by students for decades, but can electronic tablets take their place? There are several factors for schools to consider. Textbooks are expensive for schools to purchase; , buying and maintaining tablets can be costly. Textbooks are easily torn up by students and need frequent replacing. , tablets are easy to break. One major benefit of tablets is that a single lightweight tablet can hold the contents of hundreds of textbooks. , a stack of textbooks can be extremely heavy. School officials must carefully weigh these considerations when deciding between textbooks and tablets.