Comparing texts about World War One using comparative topic sentences | English

Starter quiz

When analysing a piece of war literature, we might consider the writer's choice of form, language and structure. Match these key terms to their definitions.
- form
  
  ⇔
  
  the type of text a writer uses ✓
- language
  
  ⇔
  
  the words a writer has chosen ✓
- structure
  
  ⇔
  
  how a text is put together e.g. its beginning, middle and end ✓
In the unit 'Literary perspectives from the First World War', we read a number of different text types. Match each text type to its definition.
- short story
  
  ⇔
  
  designed to be read in one sitting, written in prose ✓
- poem
  
  ⇔
  
  designed to be read in one sitting, written in stanzas ✓
- memoir
  
  ⇔
  
  an account based on someone's memories ✓
- letter
  
  ⇔
  
  a written message (often) from one person to another ✓
- extract
  
  ⇔
  
  selected moment from a text ✓
In 'Literary perspectives from the First World War', we have come across a number of different writers. Match each writer to a text they have written.
- Wilfred Owen
  
  ⇔
  
  'Mental Cases' ✓
- Katherine Mansfield
  
  ⇔
  
  'The Fly' ✓
- Vera Brittain
  
  ⇔
  
  'Testament of Youth' ✓
- Ian Beck
  
  ⇔
  
  'Propping Up The Line' ✓
In 'Literary perspectives from the First World War', we have come across a number of different writers. Match each writer to something we know about them.
- Wilfred Owen
  
  ⇔
  
  best remembered for poetry about realities of trench warfare ✓
- Katherine Mansfield
  
  ⇔
  
  the master of the short story, experimental in plot and characters ✓
- Vera Brittain
  
  ⇔
  
  lost a fiancé, two close friends and her brother in WW1 ✓
- Ian Beck
  
  ⇔
  
  inspired by the experiences of their grandfather ✓
Which word best completes this sentence comparing 2 texts: "______ Owen and Beck present the brutal reality of trench warfare."
- Whilst
- However
- Both ✓
- Similar
- But
Which word best completes this sentence comparing 2 texts: "______ Owen experienced the trenches first hand, Beck was inspired by his grandfather’s time in France."
- Whilst ✓
- However
- Both
- Similar
- But

Exit quiz

When writing an analytical paragraph which compares two texts, you should start with a ______ which states the paragraph's main idea.
- 'topic sentence' ✓
Starting with the first, put these sentence ideas in the order for a paragraph which compares two texts.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  create a topic sentence stating the paragraph's main idea
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  develop your topic sentence by stating an idea about Text 1
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  compare Text 2 to Text 1
Which word best completes this sentence comparing 2 texts: "______ Beck and Mansfield create fictitious short stories to explore the long term impacts of war."
- Whilst
- However
- Both ✓
- But
- Similar
Which word best completes this sentence comparing 2 texts: "______ Beck presents trauma of a soldier, Mansfield considers the trauma of a father who has lost a son."
- Whilst ✓
- However
- Both
- Similar
- But
Starting with the first, put these sentences in order for a paragraph which starts by comparing two texts.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  Both Mansfield and Beck explore long term trauma from WW1.
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  Beck focuses on the physical and psychological trauma of a soldier.
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  On the other hand, Mansfield considers a father who has lost a son.
Starting with the first, put these sentences in order for a paragraph which starts by comparing two texts.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  Owen and Beck share a desire to present the horror of the trenches.
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  The structure of Owen's poems often controls the pace we experience this horror.
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  By contrast, Beck creates short episodes in his short story to pace the horror.

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

Comparing one text to another can often help you evaluate it more clearly.
You can compare what each writer chose to write about, and how they chose to write about it.
The opening line of comparative paragraphs could start with a topic sentence which states the paragraph's main idea.
The next sentences of a comparative paragraph could focus on the differences between the two texts you wish to compare.

Common misconception

You can't compare different text types to each other. For example, a short story to a memoir.

By comparing different forms, we can often come to understand why a writer chose a particular text type more deeply - what this particular text type allowed them to do or convey to the reader.

Keywords

Evaluate - to consider something carefully and make a judgement about it
Form - in literature, the type of text a writer uses; short story, memoir, poem are all examples
First person - the narrator is a person in the story, using pronouns like 'I', 'we', 'me'
Third person - the narrator is not a person in the story, using pronouns like 'she', 'he', 'they'
Method - the tools a writer uses to create their work; structure, form and language are perhaps the most significant examples.