Making Connections Through Analogies

How are analogies used in informational texts?

• to disprove a theory or hypothesis

• to explain abstract or unfamiliar concepts

• to provide transitions between paragraphs

• to make the tone sound more formal

Which sentences provide a strong analogy? (Select all correct answers.)

• A great movie is a roller coaster ride of emotions.

• Just like the warrior and her sword, a pen is the weapon of a writer.

• Benito wears a leather jacket, and bikers wear leather jackets. Benito must be a biker.

• We must all climb outside our comfort zones, just as squirrel climbs a tree.

Why would the phrase “James is the Santa Claus of gym class” NOT be considered an effective analogy?

• The context does not make sense for the comparison.

• Santa Claus is not comparable to anyone else.

• Nothing is compared in this statement.

• The audience doesn’t know who James is.

Imagine that you are explaining English punctuation to a young child. Which would be the MOST effective analogy to help explain the concept of a period (.)?

• a car horn

• a crosswalk

• a STOP sign

• a green traffic light

In the hands of someone with harmful intentions, how can analogies prove to be dangerous tools?

• Analogies can create long-lasting confusion that prevents people from making decisions.

• Analogies make significant connections seem far less powerful than they actually are.

• Analogies, even weak and misleading ones, can be powerful tools of persuasion.

• Analogies meant to persuade or influence people are often disguised as explanations.

Which strategy generally works best to strengthen the impact of an analogy?

• Explain the points of comparison in detail.

• Include it along with many other analogies.

• Let readers figure out how the two things relate.

• Repeat the analogy several times.

A sixth-grade teacher wants to persuade his students to complete a tough activity so that they have time for a fun, educational game at the end of class. Which analogy would work BEST for his audience?

• “Come on, guys . . . you’ve got to roll down the hill before you can climb the mountain!”

• “Come on, guys . . . you’ve got to look up all of the hard words in the dictionary before you understand the story!”

• “Come on, guys . . . you’ve got to eat all of your supper before you can chow down on chocolate cake!”

• “Come on, guys . . .you’ve got to take out the garbage in order to keep your house clean!”

In the essay “Life Is an Open Book,” what analogy is used to argue for the use of open-book tests?

• high school students and medical students

• test questions and riddles

• final exams and board games

• books and movies

Which two literary devices are most closely related to analogies?

• rhythm and rhyme

• simile and metaphor

• conflict and suspense

• alliteration and onomatopoeia

Which is the BEST synonym for the term analogy?

• similarity

• understanding

• comparison

• concept