Different authors often write about the same event or idea differently. When you read two different accounts or descriptions of the same subject, you can learn different things. This way, you can compare and contrast the authors’ points, or their ideas and information, on the subject.
- Firsthand account
- In a firsthand account, the person writing a text is a part of the events. The passage is written using words like “I” and “we.” The author may include his or her feelings and thoughts on the subject.
- Secondhand account
- In a secondhand account, the person writing a text is not a part of the events. The events the author describes have happened to someone else. The author mostly includes information and facts on the subject.
When comparing and contrasting two passages, look for:
- The most important point in each text
- The most important details in each text
- The ideas only found in one text and not in another
- Whether a text has more facts and details or feelings and thoughts
- Whether a text uses the pronouns “I” or “we”