Question

We have already spoken… of the lunar month as the period during which the moon returns to the same position with respect to the sun; more precisely this period (about 29 ½ days) is spoken of as a lunation or synodic month: as, however, the sun moves eastward on the celestial sphere like the moon but more slowly, the moon returns to the same position with respect to the stars in a somewhat shorter time; this period (about 27 days 8 hours) is known as the sidereal month. Again, the moon’s path on the celestial sphere is slightly inclined to the ecliptic, and may be regarded approximately as a great circle cutting the ecliptic in two nodes. . .” Does this passage contain compare and contrast organization? If so, where, and what types of signal words and phrases are used? Provide more than two reasons for your answer.

Answer 1

This passage contains a compare and contrast organization. The author establishes a comparison between the lunation or synodic month and the sidereal month. In this paragraph it is possible to distinguish the connectors “as” and “however” which are used not only to connect ideas, but also to introduce a comparison between the space processes. In addition, the use of the word “like” is used to make a comparison  (“the sun moves eastward on the celestial sphere like the moon but more slowly…”) Finally, it is possible to identify a point by point organization as the writer explains and compare both processes in the same paragraph; for example, it is stated that the lunation or synodic month lasts about 29 ½ days while the sidereal month 27 days 8 hours.