ANALOGY ESSAY PRE-WRITING
THE PROCESS
PROCESS: 1. First, chse a subject that cncerns yu: Sme issue in yur career field, frm persnal experience, r f natinal cncern plitics, war, ecnmy, histry, educatin This will be yur Subject X 3
PROCESS: 2. Then determine what pint yu want t make abut it: What is the purpse f my analgy? What d I want/have t say abut my subject (Subject X)? What is my argument? Ablishing the Patrit Act Cndemning the Iraq War Preventing Teen Smking Fr Subject X Against Subject X T get the reader t understand 4 Subject X as I d
PROCESS: 2. ARGUMENT Chices: Yu can argue fr OR against sme issue (as in the IOE) Yu can try t explain yur X as yu understand it a hbby, sprt, majr, career, addictin the persn (teacher) r the abstractin (teaching) Yu can clarify hw a cmplicated system wrks financial (stck market), bilgical (brain, cardivascular system), plitical (electral cllege) 5
PROCESS: 3. Then list the mst significant traits abut Subject X: Negative traits if yu re against it Psitive traits if yu re fr it that which makes it bad r gd thse traits that illustrate yur verall pint Invasin f privacy Invasin f a svereign state Invasin f a freign substance If we were t stp here = Example Essay 6
PROCESS: 4. At this pint, yu want t find a Subject Y Anther subject that shares thse traits A subject that will help yu make the verall pint against/fr Subject X *Lk fr this subject utside the class r categry t which Subject X belngs T use items frm the same class = Cmparisn Essay 7
PROCESS: 4. At this pint, yu want t find a Subject Y What ther act r belief shares these (psitive/negative) traits? nt ALL f thse traits listed but sme SIGNIFICANT nes (5+) What else is like Subject X? 8
PROCESS: 4. At this pint, yu want t find a Subject Y Keep an eye n yur Purpse: What is the significance f the link between these 2 subjects? Why are yu bthering t discuss the resemblances between these 2 subjects? 9
SUBJECT Y
SUBJECT Y: O Already knwn Is easily recgnizable by mst peple Has a cnsensus frmed abut it (mst agree) Has had sme decisin/actin made n it (law, ban) O Outside the class r categry t which Subject X belngs T use items frm the same class = Cmparisn 1 1
12 ANALOGY ESSAY SUBJECT Y: O Shares at least 4+ resemblances with Subject X Certainly, Subjects X&Y shuld have mre similarities than differences
EXAMPLES
O O O O EXAMPLE #1 Suppse yur Subject X were sme frustrating situatin And the argument behind the analgy (yur purpse, thesis, claim) were t argue against it Yu wuld then list this frustrating situatin s negative traits Why is it frustrating? Why shuld it be stpped? Then find anther activity just as negative r frustrating: NOT: the Iraq War is like the Vietnam War BUT: the Iraq War is like a bad vacatin 1 4
O Subject X: fast fd EXAMPLE #2 O Argument: against it shuld be reduced t much
O List f (-) traits: EXAMPLE #2 fast, rushed, pr quality, empty calries, bad effect n the bdy, bdy utside (pimples, fat), bdy inside (chlesterl, fat), made in unsanitary cnditins, made by peple wh dn t care abut their wrk (in it fr the paycheck, dn t care abut custmers) in large dses (verindulgence) = dangerus serves a basic human need, serves it quickly, serves it relatively cheaply/inexpensively, but at a higher cst dwn the rad (lng-term effects)
O Pssible Subjects Y: EXAMPLE #2 Internet, prn, prstitutin, pisn O Title: Fast Fd Is like Prstitutin O Analgy Statement: Fast fd is like prstitutin in terms f its effects n the bdy, its initial price, and its lng-term csts.
PITFALLS
What t Avid: O Avid it: If yu are having difficulty finding mre than ne resemblance If yu can get nly a slid paragraph ut f it If it wuld appear n a tee shirt, a bumper sticker, a pster, r a cffee mug, avid it. 1 9
What t Avid: DESCRIPTIVE vs. EXPLANATORY O We have tw basic types f analgies: Descriptive and Explanatry O When it cmes t chsing apprpriate tpics fr this Analgy Essay, avid descriptive analgies. O While bth make cnnectins between unrelated subjects, nly ne f these analgy types has any prfundity, insightfulness, depth, r cmplexity t it. *Avid CLICHES*
What t Avid: O O DESCRIPTIVE vs. EXPLANATORY Descriptive analgies are mre like clichés are cute, ne-liners that may appear n tee shirts, bumper stickers, r cffee mugs have n depth t them Life may be like a bx f chclates, BUT yu will nly get a neparagraph explanatin ut f that clever line. Explanatry analgies cnversely, are deep, thught-prvking, multi-faceted ideas, cnnectins, crrespndences, assciatins that can easily be explred in a lengthy essay.
What t Avid: COMPARISON-CONTRAST vs. ANALOGY O Avid writing a Cmparisn-Cntrast essay instead f an Analgy essay. O While bth lk fr similarities, remember that significant differences exist between these tw distinct Rhetrical Strategies:
What t Avid: O O COMPARISON-CONTRAST vs. ANALOGY Cmparisn-Cntrast cmpares subjects that are in the same class r categry (they re related) and balances the discussin n differences and similarities. Analgy n the ther hand, cmpares subjects acrss class bundaries (they re unrelated) and disprprtinately discusses the resemblances mre than the differences. Further, Analgies are mre metaphrical, cnnecting subjects previusly uncnnected, t transfer the feelings r pinins f ne subject t anther OR t get readers t think differently, t see ne subject anew r afresh.
What t Avid: COMPARISON-CONTRAST vs. ANALOGY O T Illustrate A Cmparisn Essay wuld discuss the similarities between the 1929 Stck Market Crash and the current market truble. Hwever, an Analgy Essay culd cmpare the current market truble and its bailut t rewarding a spiled child fr his/her tantrums r ther pr, selfish behavir.
What t Avid: EXAMPLE/ILLUSTRATION vs. ANALOGY O Avid writing an Example/Illustratin essay instead f an Analgy essay. O While bth argue fr r against Subject X, remember that significant differences exist between these tw distinct Rhetrical Strategies:
What t Avid: O O EXAMPLE/ILLUSTRATION vs. ANALOGY Illustratin merely lists reasns fr/against Subject X makes n mentin f Subject Y r its shared resemblances t Subject X Analgy argues fr/against Subject X, t BUT argues by cmparing, relating, cnnecting discusses the resemblances between subjects X&Y as a means f arguing fr/against Subject X