1.比較與對照的基本定義
比較(comparison)主要是指出兩個或兩個以上不同種類的共同點或相似點(similarities)，如人物、事物、地點、思想、觀點等。對照(contrast)主要是指它們的不同點(difference)。在大學英語中，比較和對照法往往同時使用。寫作時，首先應考慮要比較和對照的兩個或兩個以上的事物， 然后列一個表，發(fā)現(xiàn)這些事物的最主要特征，相同的或類似的特征可以比較，不同的特征可以組成對照。例如：
例1.Punctuality is the main constituent of good character.Aperson，who is always in time for his appointment，shows real considerationfor others.On the other hand，a person who is always lateshows his selfishness and thoughtlessness and he is not worthy tobe friend with.(本段對守時(in time)與不能守時(late)的兩種不同的人進行了對照， 用表示對照的連接詞“On the otherhand”進行了很好的連接。)。
例2.Paintings and photographs have something in common.But there are also some differences between them.(這段很好地展示出本文將用比較與對照的方法進行寫作。)
Paintings and photographs are visual art forms.They both cancapture a specific moment for all time.A painting reflects the skilland talent of a painter，likewise the quality of a photograph canrepresent the skill and talent of a photographer.(本段對paintingsand photographs兩個不同的種類進行了分析， 用連接詞(both)進行了很好的連接，用連接詞(likewise)用同樣的方式對它們的相同點(the skill and talent)進行了比較)。
Photographs are created by using film，a camera，and specialpaper.In contrast，paintings are created with paint，brushes，andcanvas.Photographs，like paintings，are often framed and displayedon walls in homes and galleries.Both can vary in size.However，photographs are usually small enough to keep in albumswhere they document family events. ( 本段比較和對照法同時使用)。In conclusion，although paintings and photographs are similarin some ways，there are also some differences between them.(本段對本文的比較與對照進行了小結)。
2.比較與對照的兩種基本寫作方法
2.1整體對比法(one-side-at-a-time method)
整體對比法：既先描述甲，再描述乙(A1，A2，A3，...B1，B2，B3，...)例 如大學英語作文“Where to live———In the City or inthe Countryside” 第一段可描述幾點城市生活(A1，A2，A3，...)，第二段可描述幾點農(nóng)村生活(B1，B2，B3，...)，用整體對比法寫作。
例3.Many people appreciate the conveniences of the city.
(A).The city has better transportation service and health care.Citydwellers can easily enjoy themselves in restaurants，departmentstores and concert halls.They are well-informed about what is goingon at home and abroad，and have the access to better education，better jobs and more opportunities for business. (A1，A2，A3，...)But country life is also attractive. (B).Country people are inclose contact with nature.They breathe fresh air and listen to thesong of the birds.They make friends with crops and trees，cows andsheep.And they enjoy the peace and calm of the pastoral environment.(B1，B2，B3，...)
However，both the city and the country have their own disadvantages.The city，despite all its good points，may be a place toocrowded for people to live in.And urban citizens are often underpressure，worrying over such problems as pollution，crime and unemployment.(A1，A2，...).As for rural inhabitants，they are freefrom becoming layoffs all right，yet they may find life far from thecity less convenient，and sometimes not as colorful or full of vigor.
(B1，B2，...)
2.2逐項對比法(point-by-point method)逐項對比法： 既雙方同時描述， 逐點進行比較(A1，B1;A2，B2;A3，B3...)
例4.Riding a bicycle has a lot of advantages over driving acar.First，it is a physical exercise to ride a bicycle. (A1).In contrast，sitting in the car，one tends to gain weight.(B1).Besides，it ismuch more economical to ride a bike than drive a car.On the otherhand，the only fee a bike-rider has to pay is the annual tax.However，the annual fees for a car are costly. (A2，B2).On the otherhand，a bike needn’t be equipped with a parking lot，but a carmust.(A3，B3).Most important of all，it is beneficial to the environmentto ride a bicycle because the bike doesn’t consume petrol;itis a pollution -free transport.In contrast，the exhaust released bythe car is harmful to the environment.(A4，B4).
3.常用于比較與對照寫作方法的過渡連接語
要寫好大學英語作文，使作文連貫、流暢，有條理，邏輯性強，靈活運用過渡連接詞至關重要。如無連接詞，作文實質上是一堆簡單句的拼湊，讀起來也枯燥無味。另外，過渡詞也是信息詞，能較好地表明作者想比較或對照的意圖。
比較(comparison)主要是指出兩個或兩個以上不同種類的共同點或相似點(similarities)，如人物、事物、地點、思想、觀點等。對照(contrast)主要是指它們的不同點(difference)。在大學英語中，比較和對照法往往同時使用。寫作時，首先應考慮要比較和對照的兩個或兩個以上的事物， 然后列一個表，發(fā)現(xiàn)這些事物的最主要特征，相同的或類似的特征可以比較，不同的特征可以組成對照。例如：
例1.Punctuality is the main constituent of good character.Aperson，who is always in time for his appointment，shows real considerationfor others.On the other hand，a person who is always lateshows his selfishness and thoughtlessness and he is not worthy tobe friend with.(本段對守時(in time)與不能守時(late)的兩種不同的人進行了對照， 用表示對照的連接詞“On the otherhand”進行了很好的連接。)。
例2.Paintings and photographs have something in common.But there are also some differences between them.(這段很好地展示出本文將用比較與對照的方法進行寫作。)
Paintings and photographs are visual art forms.They both cancapture a specific moment for all time.A painting reflects the skilland talent of a painter，likewise the quality of a photograph canrepresent the skill and talent of a photographer.(本段對paintingsand photographs兩個不同的種類進行了分析， 用連接詞(both)進行了很好的連接，用連接詞(likewise)用同樣的方式對它們的相同點(the skill and talent)進行了比較)。
Photographs are created by using film，a camera，and specialpaper.In contrast，paintings are created with paint，brushes，andcanvas.Photographs，like paintings，are often framed and displayedon walls in homes and galleries.Both can vary in size.However，photographs are usually small enough to keep in albumswhere they document family events. ( 本段比較和對照法同時使用)。In conclusion，although paintings and photographs are similarin some ways，there are also some differences between them.(本段對本文的比較與對照進行了小結)。
2.比較與對照的兩種基本寫作方法
2.1整體對比法(one-side-at-a-time method)
整體對比法：既先描述甲，再描述乙(A1，A2，A3，...B1，B2，B3，...)例 如大學英語作文“Where to live———In the City or inthe Countryside” 第一段可描述幾點城市生活(A1，A2，A3，...)，第二段可描述幾點農(nóng)村生活(B1，B2，B3，...)，用整體對比法寫作。
例3.Many people appreciate the conveniences of the city.
(A).The city has better transportation service and health care.Citydwellers can easily enjoy themselves in restaurants，departmentstores and concert halls.They are well-informed about what is goingon at home and abroad，and have the access to better education，better jobs and more opportunities for business. (A1，A2，A3，...)But country life is also attractive. (B).Country people are inclose contact with nature.They breathe fresh air and listen to thesong of the birds.They make friends with crops and trees，cows andsheep.And they enjoy the peace and calm of the pastoral environment.(B1，B2，B3，...)
However，both the city and the country have their own disadvantages.The city，despite all its good points，may be a place toocrowded for people to live in.And urban citizens are often underpressure，worrying over such problems as pollution，crime and unemployment.(A1，A2，...).As for rural inhabitants，they are freefrom becoming layoffs all right，yet they may find life far from thecity less convenient，and sometimes not as colorful or full of vigor.
(B1，B2，...)
2.2逐項對比法(point-by-point method)逐項對比法： 既雙方同時描述， 逐點進行比較(A1，B1;A2，B2;A3，B3...)
例4.Riding a bicycle has a lot of advantages over driving acar.First，it is a physical exercise to ride a bicycle. (A1).In contrast，sitting in the car，one tends to gain weight.(B1).Besides，it ismuch more economical to ride a bike than drive a car.On the otherhand，the only fee a bike-rider has to pay is the annual tax.However，the annual fees for a car are costly. (A2，B2).On the otherhand，a bike needn’t be equipped with a parking lot，but a carmust.(A3，B3).Most important of all，it is beneficial to the environmentto ride a bicycle because the bike doesn’t consume petrol;itis a pollution -free transport.In contrast，the exhaust released bythe car is harmful to the environment.(A4，B4).
3.常用于比較與對照寫作方法的過渡連接語
要寫好大學英語作文，使作文連貫、流暢，有條理，邏輯性強，靈活運用過渡連接詞至關重要。如無連接詞，作文實質上是一堆簡單句的拼湊，讀起來也枯燥無味。另外，過渡詞也是信息詞，能較好地表明作者想比較或對照的意圖。