Use this planning guide to define the key details for your comparison. When you are through, you can e-mail this planning information to yourself, your instructor, or both.

1. Find a situation requiring comparison of two or more items. Describe that project in the input box below:
   

2. Choose what to compare. Describe what you plan to compare in the input box below:
   

3. Define the purpose and audience for this project. Describe the purpose and audience of your comparison in the input box below:
   

4. Do some research. List the information sources you've found for this project in the input box below:
   

5. Identify the points of comparison. In the input box below, list the points of comparison you'll use:
   

6. Plan how to write each comparative point. In the input box below, take some notes on how you'll write each comparative section:
   

7. Plan and develop graphics. List and describe the graphics you would need in your comparison in the input box below:
   

8. Sketch the headings you'll use. List the headings you would use in this comparison and briefly describe the contents of those sections:
   

9. Plan an introduction. In the input box below, try rough-drafting an introduction in which you indicate the topic and purpose and provide an overview of the rest of the comparison:
   

10. Consider adding a conclusion. Take a look at the ideas for conclusions in Chapter 4 of Power Tools for Technical Communication and sketch your ideas for your own in the input box below:
    

11. Consider the format. In the input box below, describe the format you'll use for your comparison:
    

12. Review and revise your rough draft. When you've written the rough draft of your comparison and reviewed it, use the input box below to describe the problems you find:
    

Your name:
E-mail this planning information to me:
E-mail this planning information to my instructor: