If I had a penny every time students asked me which structure is better…
When structuring a comparative essay, there are 2 main kinds of structures available to our teens: a Block approach or an Integrated approach.
Block approach
Each text will have a whole paragraph dedicated to it, while a third paragraph explores both texts together.
Usually it looks like:
Body paragraph 1: Text A
Body paragraph 2: Text B
Body paragraph 3: Text A + B
Integrated approach
Each paragraph explores both texts together.
Usually it looks like:
Body paragraph 1: Text A + B
Body paragraph 2: Text A + B
Body paragraph 3: Text A + B
Which is better?
Our general advice regarding which structure to use is that it depends on the arguments the student is making!
If the student is exploring a lot of differences, we recommend using a block approach as it will give the student time and space to properly explore what is different in each text.
If the student is exploring a lot of similarities, an integrated approach will be more helpful in structuring those ideas.
Was this helpful? Make sure you subscribe to our mailing list so you don’t miss any updates on what’s happening in VCE English!
Do you have a teen who needs more support than you can provide? Contact us today and let’s chat about your teen’s needs!
Tuition that cares 