Student Writing Handbook Fifth+Edition

(Marvins-Underground-K-12) #1

56 / Methods of Development


Consider these additional points that make the preceding analogy a suitable one:



  • The topic sentence clarifies the analogy.

  • The part-by-part organization allows the writer to discuss each point in terms
    of both the manager and the gardener.

  • The chronological order moves from planting to harvesting.

  • The vocabulary furthers the analogy with such mutual ideas as working
    conditions, attending, production, yields, reaping, and sowing.

  • Transitions clarify the development, especially words such as both, each, and
    likewise, as well as the repetition of the key words.

  • The concluding sentence ties together the two subjects and uses an adage to
    complete the comparison.


The preceding model, its analysis, and the additional models and analyses online
should help you develop an analogy suitable to whatever situation you confront. You
may choose to use an analogy only as an introduction, as a single point in a longer
paper, or as a paper in itself. In any case, follow the same developmental process as
set out in this section.

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