All About AnalogiesAll About Analogies

ObjectivesObjectives1.1.Students will understand what Students will understand what analogies are and how analogies are analogies are and how analogies are used. used. 2.2.Students will be able to make Students will be able to make comparisons between concepts and comparisons between concepts and complete analogies.complete analogies.

Model:Model: Life is like an ever-moving super-ball. Life is like an ever-moving super-ball. No matter No matter what it hits or rolls up against, it has the power to what it hits or rolls up against, it has the power to bounce back.bounce back.

2) Life is like a dream….2) Life is like a dream….

We get so caught up in 'our lives,' that when the situation We get so caught up in 'our lives,' that when the situation changes greatly, our bubble is burst. What happened changes greatly, our bubble is burst. What happened before has as much validity as a dream. before has as much validity as a dream.

Pre-Writing Exercises

1) An unsharpened pencil is like…

a talent undeveloped: a whole lot of potential just needing a talent undeveloped: a whole lot of potential just needing to be sharpened and defined to a perfect point. to be sharpened and defined to a perfect point.

A lonely person is like…

(a single shoe. They know if they look hard enough, they will (a single shoe. They know if they look hard enough, they will find the match. )find the match. )

A sunrise is like…

(a present. It's beautiful to look at but behind the beauty is (a present. It's beautiful to look at but behind the beauty is something brand new.) something brand new.)

A baby is like…

(the stars. We love to sit and watch it sparkle. )(the stars. We love to sit and watch it sparkle. )

What is Analogy?

Analogies are word relationships that compare twoAnalogies are word relationships that compare twothings that have a feature(s) in common but are otherwisethings that have a feature(s) in common but are otherwiseunlike. They often are done to explain something not well unlike. They often are done to explain something not well known by describing something that is known so you can known by describing something that is known so you can generalize the information from what you already understand generalize the information from what you already understand to the new thing.to the new thing.

Analogies are different than metaphors. Analogies set up Analogies are different than metaphors. Analogies set up examples of similar relationships between two things but examples of similar relationships between two things but don't show total likeness. A metaphor does. It tries to turns don't show total likeness. A metaphor does. It tries to turns one thing into another.one thing into another.

Analogies follow a specific format. For example: “Teacher is to School as Doctor is to Hospital.”

Hairbrush : Hair :: Toothbrush : ______Bed : Bedroom :: Stove : _______Straw : Drink :: Fork : ______Hat : Head :: Shoe : ______

(Teeth)(Kitchen)

(Food)(Foot)

1. glove is to hand as monitor is to computer1. glove is to hand as monitor is to computer2. furs were to north American aboriginals as credit is to a 2. furs were to north American aboriginals as credit is to a shoppershopper3. 3. A novel is like a house.A novel is like a house. Without a firm foundation (plot Without a firm foundation (plot and characters) it will crumble.and characters) it will crumble.4. 4. The best recipe for creating a great novelThe best recipe for creating a great novel is to be sure all is to be sure all of your ingredients are present in the correct amounts, added of your ingredients are present in the correct amounts, added at the right time.at the right time.

You are pointing out similarities, not proving they are You are pointing out similarities, not proving they are exactly the same. They are only suggestions; they do exactly the same. They are only suggestions; they do not prove anything but just point out similarities that not prove anything but just point out similarities that you might not have noticed.you might not have noticed.

Synonyms/Antonyms

Up is to down as bottom is to top.Almost is to close as similar is to alike.

Big is to large as little is to small.

Parts of a Whole/ Part-Part

Toe is to foot as page is to book.Nephew is to niece as uncle is to aunt.

Examples of possible relationships

Function/Use

Piano is to music as oven is to bread.Fork is to eat as towel is to dry.

Carpenter is to hammer as dentist is to drill.

Category/Type

Dog is to canine and cat is to feline.

Degree (Size/Intensity)

Angry is to furious as frighten is to terrify.Ant is to elephant as house is to skyscraper.

Grammatical Relationship/Spelling

See is to saw and look is to looked.Busy is to busier as pretty is to prettier.

Reel is to real as horse is to hoarse.

Cause and Effect/Association

Study is to learn as practice is to win.Party is to fun as vegetable is to healthy.

Chicago is to Illinois as Houston is to Texas.

Sequence

First is to Washington as second is to Adams.Friday is to Saturday as November is to December.

To answer an analogy question you must:To answer an analogy question you must:

• Formulate and recognize the relationship between the words in the given word pair

• Select the answer containing words related to one another in most nearly the same way

• Recognize when two word pairs display parallel relationships

• Formulate and recognize the relationship between the words in the given word pair

• Select the answer containing words related to one another in most nearly the same way

• Recognize when two word pairs display parallel relationships

1. Sun :Yellow = Grass :2. Baseball : Bat = Tennis : 3. Pet : Cat = Sport :4. Bike : Ride = Kite :5. Child : Children = Mouse :6. Tall : Short = Dark : 7. Hand : Glove = Foot :8. Boy : Man = Puppy :9. Play : Game = Write :10. Train : Tracks = Boat :

GreenRacketBaseballFlyMiceLightSockDogLetterWater

1. Large : Big = Small :2. Soup : Spoon = Soda :3. Run : Legs = Ride :4. Bird : Wing = Fish :5. Cherry : Red = Sky :6. Ocean : Whale = Jungle :7. Bike : Wheels = Horse :8. Tree : Branch = Person :9. Rabbit : Animal = Flower :10. Jumped : Jump = Ran :

LittleStrawWheelsFinBlueLionLegsArmPlantRun

Analogies test your ability to:Analogies test your ability to:

• Recognize the relationship between the words in a word pair

• Recognize when two word pairs display parallel relationships

• Recognize the relationship between the words in a word pair

• Recognize when two word pairs display parallel relationships

Why Is It Important to Learn Analogies?

Using analogies helps the reader to see the logic in your Using analogies helps the reader to see the logic in your example, perhaps create a visual awareness of what you example, perhaps create a visual awareness of what you are talking about and helps them verbalize and understand are talking about and helps them verbalize and understand your suggestion. It transfers information from one your suggestion. It transfers information from one particular subject to another.particular subject to another.

An analogy essay is an extended analogy, which explains An analogy essay is an extended analogy, which explains one thing in considerable depth by comparing it to another. one thing in considerable depth by comparing it to another. Analogy essays can be used to discuss nearly anything, as Analogy essays can be used to discuss nearly anything, as long as the writer can find a comparison that fits.long as the writer can find a comparison that fits.

How to Write an Analogy Essay?

““Pupils are more like oysters than sausages.Pupils are more like oysters than sausages. The job of The job of teaching is not to stuff them and then seal them up, but to teaching is not to stuff them and then seal them up, but to help them open and reveal the riches within. There are help them open and reveal the riches within. There are pearls in each of us, if only we knew how to cultivate them pearls in each of us, if only we knew how to cultivate them with ardor and persistence.”with ardor and persistence.”

"You shouldn't try to cram everything by rote into a "You shouldn't try to cram everything by rote into a student's head. You should help them think for themselves student's head. You should help them think for themselves and discover their strengths and weaknesses."and discover their strengths and weaknesses."

What True Education Should DoWhat True Education Should Do

Sydney J. Harris 1964.Sydney J. Harris 1964.

•Come up with an analogy. One half of the analogy is the Come up with an analogy. One half of the analogy is the thing being explained, while the other half is the thing being explained, while the other half is the explainer. For example, if you said growing up is like explainer. For example, if you said growing up is like learning to ride a bike, you would be explaining learning to ride a bike, you would be explaining something complex and subtle (growing up) in terms of something complex and subtle (growing up) in terms of something simple that your audience will be familiar something simple that your audience will be familiar with (riding a bike.)with (riding a bike.)

•Draw a vertical line down the middle of a piece of Draw a vertical line down the middle of a piece of paper to divide it in half. On one half, write paper to divide it in half. On one half, write characteristics of the explainer, and on the other half, characteristics of the explainer, and on the other half, the explained. Try to match up the characteristics. the explained. Try to match up the characteristics.

Essay Writing

Explainer(Riding a bike)

Explained(Growing up)

•Write a paragraph discussing the explainer. Start with a Write a paragraph discussing the explainer. Start with a statement like "Growing up is like learning to ride a bike." statement like "Growing up is like learning to ride a bike." Then explain the stages of learning to ride a bike.Then explain the stages of learning to ride a bike.

•Write a paragraph discussing the explained. Start with a Write a paragraph discussing the explained. Start with a statement that gives an overview of what the two share. You statement that gives an overview of what the two share. You might say something like "Growing up also involves getting might say something like "Growing up also involves getting greater and greater freedom as you become more confident." greater and greater freedom as you become more confident." Then explain the steps of the explained in a way that parallels the Then explain the steps of the explained in a way that parallels the explainer.explainer.

•Discuss the differences. Sometimes there is a very important Discuss the differences. Sometimes there is a very important aspect of the explained that doesn't match up with the aspect of the explained that doesn't match up with the explainer. For example, you eventually completely learn to explainer. For example, you eventually completely learn to ride a bike, but you never stop growing up and learning new ride a bike, but you never stop growing up and learning new things. You may want to draw attention to this important things. You may want to draw attention to this important distinction.distinction.

• Growing up is like Growing up is like learning to ride a learning to ride a bike."bike."

• Growing up is like Growing up is like learning to ride a learning to ride a bike."bike."

Reading a critical essay is like...taking a roller-coaster ride blindfolded

Make your ideas flow smoothly – you are taking your blindfolded reader on a roller coaster ride of your design – nothing too jarring, but not a straightaway stretch for the whole length of the ride, either. Good anticipatory progression toward your best argument, with all the excitement of that last climb and downward swoop. You are the architect - design a good coaster!

... or going on a long car rideRemember the driving analogy? Well, now imagine you are the passenger in that car. As a passenger, wouldn't you get more out of a car ride to an unfamiliar place if you were prepped before hand on interesting landmarks you might pass along the way, and the route you were going to take on your way there? Otherwise, might it just be a boring, untutored waste of time during which your attention wandered away from the main point?

Your paper's introduction should act as such a map of the journey you are about to take your reader on. Your reader will then be able to enjoy the different legs of the trip, marvel at the landmarks you might pass, and otherwise get a good overview of the journey right from the beginning. Each paragraph should begin with a spot-check of interesting landmarks you are about to pass. When you get to the end of the trip you will feel fulfilled and confident that as a reader you have gotten everything out of the trip you could have – remember – it is not the destination (thesis proven) that reflects the writer's skill, style and spirit, but the journey the reader takes to get there.

Growing up is like learning to ride a bike

Kim Harrison once said “growing up is hard, love, otherwise, everyone would do it.” Difficulties and frustration, in our growth path, are indispensable, but at the same time, we can also learn a lot of knowledge from them, just like learning to ride a bike.

Growing up is like learning to ride a bike. When we start to get on the bike, we don’t know how to control the direction and how to keep balance, thus we will be full of hope and feel fearful as well. This situation also appears in the way of our growing up. When we initially contact with the society, we feel both curious and scared about the unknown future.

In the process of learning to ride a bike, it is possible for us to ride on a muddy, bumpy road. We will fall over and get frustrated. This phenomenon is just like the situation when we meet obstacles while growing up, which is a blow to our confidence. All we have to do is to face the trouble and overcome it.

Some of us choose to learn to ride the bike with other’s help, although the number of falls reduces, meanwhile, we will learn slowly and even fail to ride well without other’s company. On the contrary, if we decide to try it by ourselves, we can learn fast despite we my fall down more times. The principle has the same effect in life. If we depend too much on our parents, probably, we have this or that difficulty to face, but at the expense, we learn less; on the contrary, we can learn more from difficulties if we are independent enough.

When we ride a bike, sometimes we like to ride fast, which will make us miss many beautiful scenery along the way; when we grow up, we will be pursuing a goal, as a result, we miss the people caring about us.

Among above situations, it is reasonable that growing up is like learning to ride a bike. In the meanwhile, it teaches us that every life has its thorns and roses, we have to learn from sufferings and enjoy the sweets.

Growing up is like riding a bike

The lesson drawn from riding a bike when I was ten remains fresh in my memory. Watching the awesome bicycle borrowed from my friend Jane, I just couldn’t help stepping on the paddles at once. Then my first journal of riding a bike started. Once laying hands on the handles, I was a bit nervous, but not afraid. When the wheels rotated, I felt I was walking in the cloud, being carefree and easy. A big smile swung on my face. After 5 laps’ steady and smooth riding, I found myself skillful enough to challenge the downhill. Therefore, I rode downward the slope with absent mind when a man burst unexpectedly, at that moment, I had no idea how to shift my handles; what was even worse, the handles went out of control precisely. I was going to knock down the man. Witnessing this, Jane, who was standing over there and watching me, turned pale right away and shouted to me in broken voice, “brake, brake, stop”. My head went into a blank sheet at that time,

so I loose my hands at once. Consequently, I fell down from the bike with my three toes of the right foot winded tightly by the wires of the rear wheel. Jane rushed to me by leaps and bounds, anxious and concerned. My whole body was paralyzed on the ground, only leaving an overall cold sweat covering me. She kept asking what’s wrong with me, but I gave no response. From then on, I never rode bicycle any more.

Riding a bike was the vivid portrayal of growing up. When we were little kids, ….