This lesson provides a compare and contrast strategy technique for nonfiction text. First, students are introduced to the terms compare and contrast, and asked to find similarities and differences between two common items. Next, students reference an article to practice evaluating text by comparing and contrasting. A Reader's Tool Kit handout guides students to identify ways in which an author relates ideas and relationships. Students are then introduced to Venn diagrams as tools that demonstrate similarities and differences. To show that they understand compare and contrast, students independently apply the techniques they learned to curriculum-based materials and present their findings to the class. While this resource uses specific nonfiction texts, the activity may be used with a variety of materials. (author/ncl/jg)