Final answer:
An analogy uses comparison to elucidate or emphasize a point, often making complex subjects understandable by relating them to more familiar ones. It is found in the sentence that begins with a statement of comparison and may include reasons or analyses of their similarities, commonly utilizing similes or metaphors.
Step-by-step explanation:
An analogy is a rhetorical device that compares two different things to highlight some form of similarity. The sentence that contains the analogy will begin with a statement that compares these unlike subjects and may provide reasons or analysis to explain their similarities. A common example is using a simile, which employs the words like or as, or a metaphor, which compares two things without such signal words.
In considering the effectiveness of rhetorical devices such as analogy, metaphors, and similes, we can see how they enable a writer to clarify complex subjects by comparing them to something more familiar to the reader. For example, the writer might liken the spread of a virus to a thief on a robbery spree, immediately conveying the concept of rapid and unwelcome proliferation.
Recognizing Points
Analogies can also serve to make the subject matter more relatable and understandable, especially if the subject is complex. This strategy is often used in effective communication to enhance understanding and retention.