ABSTRACT
Throughout history, exemplary teachers have used analogies to introduce new concepts to students (Hesse, 1966; Hoffman, 1980; Oppenheimer, 1956; Thagard, 1992). The analogies serve as initial models, or simple representations, of the concepts. It is not surprising, therefore, that contemporary teachers and textbook authors use analogies to introduce concepts. They frequently preface their explanations with expressions, such as, “Similarly,” “Likewise,” “Just as,” and “That is comparable to.” These expressions are all ways of saying to students, “Let me give you an analogy.”
