Comparing Perspectives

This worksheet engages students in Grades 7 and 8 in a thoughtful comparison of adapted literary excerpts by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman. Through close reading, tone analysis, word choice examination, imagery interpretation, and thematic comparison, students explore how each author expresses ideas about individuality, self-reliance, and personal identity. The activity emphasizes evidence-based responses and helps students see how philosophical ideas are shaped by style and language.

Academic Focus

• Comparing & Contrasting Texts (Grades 7-8) – Identify similarities and differences in how two authors approach shared ideas.
• Tone, Word Choice & Imagery Analysis – Examine how language and literary devices shape meaning and perspective.
• Theme Development Across Authors – Analyze how individuality and self-reliance are conveyed in different voices and styles.
• Textual Evidence for Comparison – Support interpretations with specific details from both excerpts.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with middle school ELA standards.
• Four Analytical Questions – Requires thoughtful, text-supported responses rather than surface-level comparison.
• Philosophical Reading Practice – Helps students engage with abstract ideas through concrete textual analysis.
• Structured Comparative Format – Guides students in organizing similarities and differences clearly.
• Low-Prep Printable – Easy to use for classroom instruction, small groups, independent work, or homeschool lessons.

This comparing perspectives worksheet helps students strengthen skills in comparative analysis, interpretive reading, and evidence-based writing. By examining Emerson’s and Whitman’s approaches to individuality and self-reliance, learners gain deeper insight into how authors communicate complex ideas through tone, imagery, and style. It’s a practical, discussion-ready resource that supports meaningful literary analysis in both classroom and homeschool settings.

This worksheet is part of our close reading passages worksheets collection.