Analogy of the Cell Project
Objective: Your goal is to create an analogy that relates to a eukaryote cell. Your final
product is a story about something that has similarities to a cell’s structure. There are
seven main parts to an animal cell. You need to have an analogy for the word in italics
and scientific definitions for the subtopics that follow.
1. Cell Membrane: lipid bilayer, phospholipid, osmosis
2. Cell Wall
3. Chloroplast
4. Ribosomes: locations, functions, structure
5. Cytoplasm
6. Mitochondria: cellular respiration, structure, products/reactants
7. Nucleus: nucleolus, chromatin, nuclear envelope/pores
Definition of analogy: A similarity between things that are otherwise unlike. For
example, the motor in a car is analogous to a power plant, since both are used to produce
power. Synonyms: resemblance, similarity, comparison, and metaphor.
Topics: Every group needs to have their own analogy. No two analogies can be the
same. To start, your topic needs to be complex. Second, it is easier if it is a thing.
Examples: castle, mall, Hogwarts, school, New York City, concert hall, car, football
stadium, cruise ship, etc.
Rough Drafts: The paragraph should be about one of the eight parts assigned. There
should be about six or more sentences in the paragraph. There will be a total of eight
rough drafts to earn a “B”. You will need to do more paragraphs if you are striving for an
“A”. The teacher may offer advice to improve your rough drafts, but if you receive no
advice, it does not mean it is an “A” or cannot be improved.
Format:
1:
2-4:
5-6:
The first sentence should describe the analogy, for example, mitochondria
is like the engine of a car.
The second, third, and fourth sentences should describe that specific part
of the cell in scientific terms.
The fifth and sixth sentences should describe that specific part of the
analogy.
Final Draft: On October 2nd 2015, your project is due. Both students type up their own
final draft. Requirements: font size 12, Times New Roman font, double-spaced, and title
for each paragraph in bold. Write paragraphs in the order listed above. Include a title
page on the front of your final draft with your name, period, date, and row #. You will
staple the rubric to the back of the final draft.
Group/Individual Work: Students will have roughly twenty minutes in class to work
with their partner. Rough drafts are due in class. Partners can discuss ideas, concepts,
analogies, and supporting evidence. Even though you are working with your lab partner,
every student must turn in his or her own write-up. The partners can turn in the same
analogy, but each member must write it up individually.
Grading: This is a 110-point project. Each rough draft is worth 10 points for a total of
70 points. The typed final versions are 20 points each. The mandatory presentation is 20
points. Please see the rubric for more details. The visual aide is due at the presentation.
Students who want an “A” grade need to challenge themselves. You should write more
than just the seven paragraphs. The class time will be given for just seven paragraphs.
This means you either need to work on the project outside of class or come to class
prepared and work quickly while in class. The following are suggestions: 1) Do the
analogy on a plant cell instead of an animal cell 2) Describe the cytoskeleton and its
structure and how it aids in cell division 3) Describe other cell organelles, including
peroxisomes and lysosomes, etc.
Analogy Example: An eukaryote cell can be compared to a house. The outside walls
are like the cell membrane. The front and back doors are like channel proteins. The
satellite dish is like a receptor protein. The kitchen is like the ribosomes. The halls and
stairs are like the endoplasmic reticulum. The mailbox is the Golgi apparatus. The food
produced by the kitchen is like the proteins. The furnace of the house is like the
mitochondria. Lastly, the people inside the house are like the nucleus.
1. Cell Membrane
________________________________
2. Cell Wall
________________________________
3. Chloroplast
________________________________
4. Ribosome
________________________________
5. Cytoplasm
________________________________
6. Mitochondria
________________________________
7. Nucleus
________________________________
Name: ______________________ Row: _______
Date: ________________ Period: _______
Cell Analogy Rubric
Beginning
Final
Version
Novice
Correct format,
perhaps not
typed or has one
sentence
explanation per
paragraph.
Correct format,
typed and has
two detailed
sentence
explanation of
science per
paragraph.
5 points
Incomplete or
visual aide (text
and drawings)
are too small for
the audience to
see.
10 points
Text is small and
difficult to read.
Proficient
Excellent
Correct format,
typed and has 3+
detailed sentence
explanation of
science per
paragraph.
Everything in
proficient
category.
Advanced
comprehension
of cell theory.
Grade
15 points
(Bonus)
Visual Aide
5 points
Presentation
Students read
from their note
cards.
5 points
Rough
Drafts
Vague analogy,
incorrect
format, one
sentence
explanation of
science.
4 points
10 points
Visual aide is
large, and labels
are easy to read.
15 points
Students
sometimes read
from note cards
and sometimes
looked at
audience.
Student glanced
at note cards,
looked at
audience, and
projected voice.
10 points
15 points
Good analogy,
related to
concept, has two
detailed sentence
explanation of
science or
sentences
explaining the
science are not
detailed.
20 points
Everything in
proficient
category, plus
colorful, clear,
concise, good
looking.
Perhaps use of
large detailed
model.
Creative analogy
and has three+
detailed sentence
explanation of
science.
8 points
20 points
Students are
well dressed,
didn’t read
from note
cards, share
equal parts,
looked at
audience,
projected
voice.
20 points
Student has
gone above
and beyond
what was
assigned.
Extra
organelles or
processes are
described in
detail.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
6 points
10 points
Total Points =
total