Compare and Contrast Essay Draft

Traditional Education vs Remote Learning

Comparison

Online learning and traditional classroom learning both are mechanisms of providing education to learners. The learners access the same class readings and do the same assignments with either mechanism of learning. In as much as one involves physical presence and the other one is an online-based, both of these learning modes deliver more or less the same outcome as long as the teachings are done correctly and the students examined in the right way. However, there are several differences between traditional classroom learning and distant learning as discussed below. Comment by Matthew: This structure is grammatically acceptable, but “are both” is standard and less marked. Comment by Matthew: “In as much as” is a tricky transition phrase. I would avoid using at this level in your writing, in the same way that I generally suggest people avoid semicolons and other tricky punctuation. It simply doesn’t quite make sense here. Acceptable transition words here include “Although” and “While” among a few others. Comment by Matthew: We “an” telling us there’s going to be a noun, but then we only get “online-based” which is an adjective. We need a noun here—“an online-based” what? Or, we can remove “an,” which frees us from needing a noun. Comment by Matthew: This is a broad adjective. Could you more narrowly define what “correctly” means? Otherwise, it’s sort of true by definition. Just like if I said “We shouldn’t eat too much” is true by definition, right? Because if it’s “too much,” we already know we’ve made an error. Similarly, teaching will always be good if it’s done “correctly”—it’s tied up in that definition. So what do you mean here? Comment by Matthew: We’re missing our verb of being here. Comment by Matthew: This isn’t much of a comparison, truthfully. We just know that they “deliver the same outcome” and do the same assignments. In what other ways are they similar?

Contrast

Flexibility

In terms of flexibility, online education outshines traditional classroom mode of education. This flexibility means that the individuals who already have commitments with work and family can still access education through their preferred schedule. The online classes will mold with the individual’s schedule because the learner can log into the classes anytime. For the classroom-based education on the other hand, there is little or no flexibility. This reduced flexibility is because the student has to attend classes at a certain fixed location within a certain period in a day. there can be some flexibilities where students can choose full time, or part time evening classes but still they will have to physically attend classes within the selected time so that they receive the required knowledge for their learning. In this regard, traditional class-based learning is generally less flexible than the online-based learning. Comment by Matthew: “Mode” is a countable noun, so we need an article here. Since we’re referring to a specific mode, we need the definite article “the.” Comment by Matthew: Don’t forget to capitalize new sentences. Comment by Matthew: Both “full-time” and “part-time” are multi-word adjectives. See how they are a single idea, even if they’re made up of two parts? When we have multi-word adjectives coming before the noun they modify (here “classes”), we hyphenate them, just as I’ve done in this comment. Comment by Matthew: This “but” separates two independent clauses, so we need a comma before it. Any time everything to the left of the “but/and” and everything to the right of it could be independent sentences on their own, we need that comma. Comment by Matthew: This is an awkward construction. Consider making it more concise.

Discipline and self-motivation

When it comes to discipline and self-motivation, traditional classes seem to be more advantageous than the online-based classes. The traditional education has structured class attendance several times per week with a routine face-to-face interactions with instructors helps students to remain focused on the tasks. Students attending classes have a lot of opportunities to be reminded regarding assignments, exams, and any upcoming event, which improves their learning disciplines and self-motivation. Online education on the other hand requires individuals who have that self-push to be disciplined. The high flexibility means that there is no one to push you around and thus students may struggle to stay motivated when they are learning from the comfort of their homes. Comment by Matthew: “a” can’t modify a plural noun like “interactions.” When nouns are plural, we don’t need the article in front of them. Comment by Matthew: Generally, we’d express this idea spatially—we’d use the word “where” instead of “with” here. Comment by Matthew: Subject-verb agreement. “Instructors” is your plural subject, but “helps” is verb conjugated in the singular. How do you conjugate “help” in the third-person plural? Comment by Matthew: Typically, we are reminded “of” or “about” things, rather than “regarding” them. Comment by Matthew: An interesting phrase, but it’s not one we usually use. Try to find a different word here. Comment by Matthew: See the note I left above about commas with “and” and “but” separating independent clauses.

Social interactions

Social interactions happens in both learning models but is more prevalent in the class-based learning model. For online classes, the social interaction between teachers and students and among students happens via chat rooms, emails, and video call platforms like Zoom. However, such interaction is not as intense as the one that happens for the class-based learners. The class-based learners interact in real time, and can find common interests in learning so easily due to their close proximity and ease to open up and make friends in the classroom. The class-based students can easily ask their teachers some questions for more clarifications or emphasis on certain ideas without having to strain due to network issues or delays that are sometimes experienced during online classes. A class-based student can even seek the teacher during his/her free time for consultation on certain topics that prove challenging. Online learners can also consult their teachers but it all depends on the process involved. Comment by Matthew: Subject-verb agreement. Plural subject with a singular verb. See the above note on this. Comment by Matthew: Since “interactions” (in the plural) is still our implied subject here, we need this verb to be plural to match it. I would also consider adding a subject (like “they”) here for clarity. Comment by Matthew: Good transition word! Comment by Matthew: See how the bit after this “and” couldn’t be a complete sentence on its own? “can find common interests . . .” etc. doesn’t have a subject. That means we *don’t* want this comma. “And” on its own can connect these two elements. That’s how it’s different from the comma errors I mentioned earlier. Comment by Matthew: I’m just a little confused on the language here. They can “find common interests so easily due to . .. ease to open up.” What does that mean? Whose “ease”? And why do the people in classrooms have this “ease”? Consider revising this bit. Comment by Matthew: See the above notes about independent clauses. First, do we have two independent clauses here? If so, do we need a comma? Review these rules. Comment by Matthew: What does this mean? What “process” are we talking about here? Consider finding a better way to close this paper up—something that is clearer and better sums up the ideas you’ve presented in the compare and contrast.