How can u tell if somthing is in series or parallel?

[mr_coffee]

Hello everyone, I'm having troubles finding a system to figure out if the circuit is in series or parellel. I knew how to do it with capacitors, but with resistors it throws me off...here is the picture:
http://www.webassign.net/hrw/hrw7_27-19.gif
I thought #1 was in series, because the current postive pole hits the resistors + to -, then it hits the other resistor in the same way.
#2. it seems to be in parellel because it doesn't fallow that pattern
#3. it also seems to be parellel because it doesn't fallow that patern exactly? ANy ehlp wold be great

 

[Pengwuino]

Well parallel just means the electricity has more then 1 path to take so just start at a terminal and figure out if there's more then 1 path you can take to the other terminal

 

[mr_coffee]

ohhh, thank u soo much it worked perfectly! simple concept too :)