Subjects

Analogy
It is often effective academic style to illustrate what something is like by describing something similar to it. You say that x is like y.
EXAMPLE 1

The Role of Systems Engineers
Using a different analogy, Mar says the systems engineer is like the "conductor of an orchestra who gets everybody to play at the right intensity at the right time." He emphasizes that systems engineering focuses on what is best for the overall system, even if that requires the engineering specialists to design less than optimal subsystems.

Is it fair to compare the modern cases of "de-repressed memory" of child sexual trauma to the witch-crazes of several centuries ago? There are some parallels, but the differences are just as striking. In terms of similarities, some of the modern stories actually resemble the stories of earlier times (e.g., witches flying into bedrooms).

An analogy can be drawn to the early-1980s competition among cable TV vendors to receive exclusive franchises from communities. Those educators smart enough to participate in that bargaining process received substantial resources buildings wired for free, dedicated channels, sophisticated production equipment because the vendors knew public service applications would help determine who won. In the same manner, during today's much larger war in the information services industry, educators that have innovative alternatives to "talking heads" instruction can find vendors happy to share the costs in exchange for help with the regulators, legislators, and judges who are determining which coalitions will manage the nation's information infrastructures.