Five Steps to Writing an Analogy Essay

Isaiah David reports:

"An analogy compares two unlike things to illustrate common elements of both. An analogy essay is an extended analogy, which explains one thing in considerable depth by comparing it to another. Analogy essays can be used to discuss nearly anything, as long as the writer can find a comparison that fits...Come up with an analogy. One half of the analogy is the thing being explained, while the other half is the explainer...Draw a vertical line down the middle of a piece of paper to divide it in half. On one half, write characteristics of the explainer, and on the other half, the explained. Try to match up the characteristics...Write a paragraph discussing the explainer. Start with a statement like 'Growing up is like learning to ride a bike.' Then explain the stages of learning to ride a bike...Write a paragraph discussing the explained. Start with a statement that gives an overview of what the two share. In the example above, you might say something like 'Growing up also involves getting greater and greater freedom as you become more confident.' Then explain the steps of the explained in a way that parallels the explainer...Discuss the differences. Sometimes there is a very important aspect of the explained that doesn't match up with the explainer...You may want to draw attention to this important distinction."