1. The item being described: This is the subject of the sentence, the thing you're comparing.
2. The word "like" or "as": This is the crucial part that makes it a simile.
3. The thing it's being compared to: This is the other object or concept that provides the comparison.
Here's the basic structure:
Item being described + "like" or "as" + thing it's being compared to
Example:
* The sun (item being described) is like (word "like") a giant ball of fire (thing it's being compared to).
Important Note: The comparison should create a clear image in the reader's mind and add meaning or emphasis to the item being described.