English Language Arts
Grade 11
15 min
Analogies: challenge
Analogies: challenge
What you'll learn
- Apply their understanding of complete sentences to write 3 original complete sentences, each containing a subject and a predicate.
Tutorial Preview
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Analyze the complex relationships (e.g., cause/effect, degree, function) within abstract and literary analogies.
Deconstruct extended analogies (conceits) in American literature to determine an author's purpose and theme.
Create original, sophisticated analogies to support a thesis in a synthesis essay.
Evaluate the rhetorical effectiveness and potential logical fallacies of analogies used in persuasive texts.
Differentiate between literal and figurative analogies and explain their distinct rhetorical functions.
Apply precise analogical reasoning to solve AP-style multiple-choice questions.
How is a government like a ship at sea, and why was this 'Ship of State' analogy so powerful for figures like Lincoln? 🚢
This tutorial moves beyond si...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Analogical ReasoningThe cognitive process of transferring information or meaning from a familiar subject (the source) to an unfamiliar or abstract subject (the target) to explain or persuade.Using the familiar workings of a computer's hardware and software (source) to explain the relationship between the human brain and consciousness (target).
Source and Target DomainsThe two components of an analogy. The Source Domain is the known concept used to explain; the Target Domain is the abstract or unknown concept being explained.In 'Conscience is a man's compass,' the compass is the familiar Source Domain, and conscience is the abstract Target Domain.
Extended Analogy (Conceit)An analogy developed in great detail, often forming the central framework of...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Rule of Relevant Similarity
An analogy's strength depends on the number and significance of relevant similarities between the source and target domains.
When analyzing or creating an analogy, focus on the specific points of comparison that directly support the argument. If the relevant differences outweigh the similarities, the analogy is weak or false.
The Bridge of Relationship (X is to Y as A is to B)
The core of an analogy is a consistent relationship. The relationship between the first pair of terms must be identical in nature to the relationship between the second pair.
To solve or test an analogy, articulate the precise relationship in the first pair (e.g., 'X is the tool used by Y') and see if it applies perfectly to the second pair ('A is the...
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Challenging
For a synthesis essay on the theme of the 'American Dream' as an often-unattainable ideal in American literature, which of the following original analogies provides the most sophisticated and defensible framework?
A.The American Dream is a carrot on a stick, always dangling just out of reach, motivating the chase but never meant to be caught.
B.The American Dream is a lottery ticket, offering a slim chance at immense wealth that is based more on luck than on merit.
C.The American Dream is a race where runners start at different positions but are told the track is fair.
D.The American Dream is a mirage in the desert, appearing as a tangible oasis of success that recedes or vanishes upon approach.
Challenging
In his sermon 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,' Jonathan Edwards uses the conceit of a spider dangling over a fire to describe a sinner's position before God. How does the choice of a 'spider' as the source domain rhetorically shape the audience's understanding of the sinner (the target domain)?
A.It suggests the sinner is creative and industrious, like a spider weaving a web.
B.It implies the sinner has a hidden, venomous nature that justifies their punishment.
C.It emphasizes the sinner's complete powerlessness, fragility, and repulsiveness in the eyes of a supreme being.
D.It portrays the sinner as a complex and misunderstood creature deserving of sympathy.
Challenging
A common political argument states, 'A national government's budget should be run like a family's household budget.' Based on the principles of analogical reasoning, what is the most significant flaw in this literal analogy?
A.Families use cash, while governments use complex financial instruments.
B.The head of a family is a parent, while the head of a government is a president.
C.government can issue currency, set interest rates, and engage in deficit spending to stimulate a national economy, functions that have no parallel in a family budget.
D.Families have fewer people to account for than a national government.
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Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "Analogies: challenge"?
Analogies: challenge is a Grade 11 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Analogies: challenge?
You'll be able to: Apply their understanding of complete sentences to write 3 original complete sentences, each containing a subject and a predicate.
Is "Analogies: challenge" free to practice?
Yes. You can read the tutorial preview for free, and signing up for a free ExcelOS account unlocks the full tutorial and all practice questions with instant feedback.
How many practice questions are included with Analogies: challenge?
This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.