Analogy Charting

Purpose: to create a visual framework of text-to-self connection and note differences and similarities between a new familiar concept. “Analogies are based on the compare/contrast text frame, and as students explore relationships by connecting to already known ideas, they broaden their understanding of important concepts or vocabulary.” (Buehl 2009)

Procedure:

1. Select a familiar concept that can serve as an analogy for a new concept. The familiar concept should be well understood by all students and have characteristics which are analogous to those of the new concept.

2. Introduce analogy and have students brainstorm characteristics of both concepts to put under the “similarities” column.

3. Have students brainstorm differences between the two concepts and fill out the other side of the analogy chart.

4. Discuss relationship categories and “what you understand now” (summary statement).

Benefits:

· Provides students a foundation (outline) for developing organized compare/contrast summaries

· Allows students to relate to the new concepts by making connections to their background knowledge

Limitations:

· The “familiar concept” must truly be familiar to the students and directly comparable to the new concept