Analogy / 53Now consider whole-by-whole organization arranged chronologically:
Topic A: roller-coaster ride
Point 1: beginning of ride—thrills
Point 2: middle of ride—chills
Point 3: end of ride—spills
Topic B: stock-market index
Point 1: January—beginning of ride
Point 2: June—middle of ride
Point 3: December—end of ride
With these patterns in mind, choose the one that best suits your topic and purpose
and which will have the greatest impact on your audience. Try several patterns until
you find the one that works best.
STEP 6: Writing—Implementing the Plan
Now you are ready to prepare the first draft of your analogy. The following sugges-
tions may help:
- Begin with a topic sentence or thesis sentence that states the analogy. [See
Writing a Paragraph in Chapter 2, Writing, for a discussion of topic sentences.
See Writing a Multi-Paragraph Paper in Chapter 2, Writing, for an explanation of
thesis sentences.] - Using the organizational plan selected in Step 5 above, develop the analogy,
maintaining unity within each division of the paper. [See Sample Revision for
Unity in Chapter 3, Revising.] - Use details and vocabulary that help readers follow subtle parts of the analogy
as well as the more obvious stated parts. [See specific detail in the Glossary
for a quick reference, and see Sample Revision for Specific Detail in Chapter 3,
Revising, for explanations and examples.] - Aim for good sentence variety and adequate emphasis. [See Sample Revision
for Sentence Variety and Sample Revision for Emphasis in Chapter 3, Revising,
for examples.] - Make sure the parallels are adequately developed and clarified by transitions so
that readers follow a smooth development. [See Sample Revision for Transition
in Chapter 3, Revising.] - Conclude with a summary or clincher that ties together the analogy. [See
conclusion in the Glossary.]