Comparing Two Sources on the Same Topic
Basics on the topic Comparing Two Sources on the Same Topic
Comparing Two Sources on the Same Topic – Introduction
When researching a new topic, it is important to combine the information from more than one source. We need to use at least two sources to speak knowledgeably about the topic.
When using two or more sources on the same topic, we need to compare and contrast two texts to see which information from each source we should include in our essay or presentation. In this way, we can make sure that we have a more complete understanding of the subject we are researching.
Comparing sources is a useful skill, which is why students usually learn to compare and contrast two texts on the same topic in the 2nd or the 3rd grade.
Comparing Two Sources on the Same Topic – Graphic Organizer
When you compare and contrast two similar texts, you can use a graphic organizer. When reading each of the two texts, list key points from each text in the dedicated column.
Let’s have a look at two texts examples and try to compare and contrast them using the graphic organizer above. Here is the first text:
Sharks are predatory animals that live in the ocean. There are over 500 different species of sharks, ranging from tiny sharks like the dwarf lantern shark, to huge sharks like the whale shark, which can grow as long as 49 feet! Sharks are skilled hunters that can easily locate prey in the water with the help of their special senses.
From this source we learn that sharks are predatory animals, there are over 500 species of sharks, the smallest shark is called the dwarf lantern shark, and the biggest is the whale shark, which can grow as long as 49 feet, sharks are skilled hunters, and they have special senses that they use to locate prey. Let’s add these details to our graphic organizer:
Now, let’s analyze the second source:
Sharks are amazing creatures that can be found in every ocean in the world. While most people think sharks are terrifying, they are very important to the ocean. They help keep the balance of marine life and play a crucial role in the ecosystem. Unfortunately, more than 50 species of sharks are endangered due to commercial fishing and ocean pollution.
From this text we learn that sharks can be found in every ocean in the world, sharks are important to the ocean, they help keep the balance of marine life and play a crucial role in the ecosystem, more than 50 species are endangered because of commercial fishing and ocean pollution. We can list these ideas in the graphic organizer:
Now, we can clearly see all the important information we have gathered from the two texts. While some information was the same in both texts, there were also different facts included. This is why we need to use more than one source: if we’d had only the first source available, we wouldn’t have known about the information from the second text.
Comparing Two Sources on the Same Topic – Summary
When researching a topic, it is important to combine the information from more than one source. To speak knowledgeably about the topic, we need at least two sources.
The graphic organizer can help us compare and contrast the most important points presented by two texts on the same topic:
| Text 1 – Key Points | Text 2 – Key Points |
|---|---|
| - predators - live in the ocean - skilled hunters - use special senses to locate prey |
- live in every ocean - keep balance of marine life - play a role in the ecosystem - are endangered because of fishing and pollution |
Now you are ready to compare and contrast two sources for your research! For more practice, watch our video and use our worksheets on comparing two sources on the same topic!
Frequently Asked Questions about Comparing Two Sources on the Same Topic
Transcript Comparing Two Sources on the Same Topic
Comparing Two Sources on the Same Topic. "What are you DOING?" "I'm giving a historical presentation, so I am researching my great grandfather, Chester Maxwell, the Third." "Never heard of him." "Let me find my resources and then tell you all about him." When researching a topic it is important to integrate or combine, the information from more than one source. We use at least two sources to help us write summaries or speak knowledgeably about the subject. To compare the information, we can use a graphic organizer. Let's read the first text, highlighting key details and listing the important facts.. and do the same for the second text! From our lists, we will be able to summarize the topic by paraphrasing ALL the important details. Here's the first source about Pearl's great-grandfather. As a young cephalopod, Chester Maxwell the Third was known for his curiosity, which would often get him into trouble. One day, while exploring outside of his den, Chester encountered a shark! A frightened Chester sprayed his ink at the predator and got away. That evening he noticed ink still remained on a tentacle. As he swiped it across seaweed, a lightbulb went off! Chester immediately went to work at bottling his ink, and soon his empire was born. From then on, he was known as the Ink Master. From this source, we learn... Chester was known for his curiosity... he sprayed ink at a shark... the ink swiped off onto seaweed... giving him the idea of bottling his ink to sell. He built a successful ink empire... and was known as the Ink Master. Let's list these details in our graphic organizer, paraphrasing them like this. Now, let's analyze the next source. Chester Maxwell, the Third, the sea-renowned ink maker, and businessman, had another side to his personality. He was a very talented writer. His books were just as popular as his ink business, but nobody knew because he went by the name, Algernon Lewis when writing. In his later years, he wrote the classic, Fry in the Well. Which many believe was the story of Chester’s childhood. What details do we learn in this source? (...) Chester had another side to his personality... he was a talented writer... his books were popular... nobody knew he wrote them because he went by the name Algernon Lewis. He wrote the classic, Fry in the Well, which was believed to be about his childhood. We can list these ideas in the organizer by paraphrasing them like this. Looking at our information gathered, we can see why reading multiple sources is important. If we had read only source one, we would only have learned about Chester's ink empire. We wouldn't know that he was a talented writer that wrote many famous books and went by another name. We learn that information in source two. Reading both sources gives us a more complete picture of our topic. While Pearl summarizes the information for the presentation, let's review. Remember... When learning about a topic it is important to integrate or combine, the information from more than one source. The information gathered can help us write strong summaries, or speak knowledgeably about a subject. "Chester Maxwell, the Third, was an inventor, businessman, and writer. A chance encounter with a shark would change his life forever. He revolutionized ink production, making it easier for writers to tell their stories. Chester was a great writer himself. He wrote several books under the name of Algernon Lewis. His greatest work was the memoir called, Fry in the Well."
Comparing Two Sources on the Same Topic exercise
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Find the true statements.
HintsA graphic organizer is often used to compare key points from different sources.
It's okay to use more than 2 sources to learn about a topic, but less than 2 is not recommended. With only one source, a lot of interesting information may be left out!
SolutionTRUE:
- When learning about a topic, it is important to integrate or compare information from more than one source.
- A graphic organizer is a good tool to compare information from different sources.
- Television is usually not recommended as a reliable source for research.
- Inventing stories is great for writing fiction, but it's not a replacement for research on actual events, places, or people.
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Find 3 key points.
HintsKey points are reasons and evidence the author uses to support the text's main idea. Read the text again. What is the main idea of the story?
Details can help create an environment for a story, but if they do not advance the main goal or idea, they are not a key point.
There are 3 correct choices and 2 false choices.
SolutionThe main idea of this text, is that Chester created a business empire bottling and selling his ink. The key points which led to this are:
- Chester was known for his curiosity.
- Chester sprayed ink at a shark, and got some on his tentacle. This gave him an idea.
- Chester began bottling his ink, and his empire was born.
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Find 3 key points.
HintsThree sentences are key points, and two are not.
Details can help create an environment for a story, but if they do not advance the main goal or idea, they are not a key point. Look at the choices, which choices support the main idea?
SolutionKEY POINTS:
- Jubilee taught himself about rubbers and plastics from an early age.
- Johnny Jubilee used his expertise to create new toys and models.
- Jubilee now runs a specialty novelty toy shop in his home town.
- Johnny Jubilee is American.
- Johnny Jubilee wrote an autobiography.
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Find the key points.
HintsAre all of the available key points listed in the text? Which ones are not? These choices CANNOT be key points.
Details can help create an environment for a story, but if they do not advance the main goal or idea, they are not a key point. Look at the choices, which choices support the main idea?
Solution"Likes science" and "plans to travel to mars" are NOT key points in the text, as they don't support the main idea.
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Determine what the key point is.
HintsRead the text again. Are all of the choices listed in the text? Which ones are not? These choices CANNOT be key points.
Details can help create an environment for a story, but if they do not advance the main goal or idea, they are not a key point. Look at the choices, which choice supports the main idea?
Only one choice is correct.
Solution"Many believe Fry in the Well is the story of Chester's childhood." is the only key point from the text.
Chester being a cephalopod, Pearl's great-grandfather, and an ink master don't support the main idea. -
Complete the summary using key points from 2 sources.
HintsFill in the gaps with notes from both texts mixed in chronological order. What happened first? Next? After that?
Key points from text 1 are used for the first, second, and seventh gaps. Key points from text 2 are used for the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth gaps.
SolutionJohnny Jubilee is an American engineer and scientist. Jubilee taught himself about rubbers and plastics from a very early age. Later Jubilee worked for a large toy company and used his expertise to create new toys and models.
Johnny Jubilee won the exceptional scientist award after he invented an amazing new rubber. Johnny's new rubber product is used in cutting-edge industries, such as space exploration and amusement parks, as this exceptional rubber can withstand high stress and intense temperatures.
Jubilee has also earned many other awards and medals for advancing materials in the science and tech industries. Johnny Jubilee now runs a specialty novelty toy shop in his hometown.
