Comparative reports compare or contrast particular characteristics of similar things or processes. Comparative reports are typically structured as follows:
- General statement
- Introduces ‘things’ to be compared
- Description
- systematic analysis of similarities and differences
| Title | Stars and Planets |
|
General statement Entities (Things) |
Our solar system comprises the sun (a huge star) and all the planets orbiting it as well as other material. Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a star and a planet? |
| Description | |
|
Similarities and Differences Movement |
The basic difference is that a star gives off light and a planet only reflects light. A star is a ball of gas. Pressure at the centre of the star causes a nuclear fusion reaction to start. This fission burns and creates light for millions of years. A planet is a spherical ball of rock or gas that is usually found orbiting a star. Over time a star will eventually change properties and become a planet but a planet will remain relatively unchanged. |
| Appearance | When observing planets and stars through a telescope, several differences can be seen. Stars appear to twinkle whereas brighter planets don’t. The closer, larger planets appear as disk-shaped; in contrast , the stars tend to be points of light. |
