Transcript File

Adventures in Parallel
Structure… and also
schemes of repetition
A random mismatch of useful strategies
for reading and writing better
Good writing is a highwire act–
it requires balance and
No you’re not! I’m
coordination
a visual metaphor
Stupid
I’m’a
kill you,
metaphor!
you stupid
bird!
symbolic of the
introduction of
unbalanced
clauses into a
sentence
structure!
Parallel (grammatically equal) sentence elements regularly
appear in lists or in a series, in compound structures, in
comparisons using than or as, and in contrasted elements.
Words,
phrases,
clauses,
and whole
Democracy
demands
responsibility,
Subject
Verb
Object
series
of sentences
within
paragraphs
be parallel.
whereas
tyrannycan
demands
obedience.
Subject
Verb
Object
What is parallel– or balanced– in this sentence?
For parallel structure, balance nouns with
nouns, prepositional phrases with
prepositional phrases, main clauses with
main clauses, and so on
Thepursued
He
After
1981
George
inaugural
hisisdog
discharged
celebration
through from
thewas
woods,
the
well
Navy,
under
he
organized,
the
plans
bridge,
to usewith
and
the large
over
GI bill
the
public
torailroad
gocelebrations,
to college,
tracks.to finish
elaborate
in
three years,
private
andparties,
to thenand
getintimate
a job on the East
gatherings.
coast.
Noun Phrases!!
Prepositional
Phrases!!!
Infinitive Phrases!!!
Some rules of parallel
construction (Correct the
sentences!)
1) Do not mix forms! If you construct your
sentence using a certain type of phrase,
keep it consistent!
– Johnny likes to eat, to drink, and fighting.
– The production manager was asked to write
quickly, accurately, and in a thorough manner.
– The teacher said the student failed because he
waited until the last minute, cheated on the
last test, and has low motivation.
Some rules of parallel
construction (Correct the
sentences!)
2) A sentence that begins with clauses must
consistently use clauses! Keep the voice
consistent!
• The coach told the players that they should
get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too
much, and to do some warm-up exercises
before the game.
• The salesman expected that he would
present his product at the meeting, that
there would be time for him to show his
slide presentation, and that questions would
be asked by prospective buyers.
Some rules of parallel
construction (Correct the
sentence!)
3) Lists after colons: Make sure all the
elements in a list are in the same
form!
•
The dictionary can be used for these
purposes: to find word meanings,
pronunciations, correct spellings, and
looking up irregular verbs.
Closely related to
parallelism is antithesis
• Antithesis is a
type of
parallelism
where words,
phrases, or
clauses are
juxtaposed for
contrast.
When distance runners reach the
state they call ‘the zone,’ they find
themselves mentally engaged yet
detached.
When distance runners reach the
state they call ‘the zone,’ they find
themselves mentally engaged with
their physical surroundings yet
detached from moment-to-moment
concerns about their conditioning.
When distance runners reach the
state they call ‘the zone,’ they find
that they are empirically engaged
with their physical surroundings, yet
they are completely detached from
moment-to-moment concerns about
their conditioning.
Rhetoricians from Lincoln to Martin
Luther King use parallel constructions to
create emotional suspense in their
speeches.
“In a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can
not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground […]
It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the
great task remaining before us—that from these
honored dead we take increased devotion to that
cause for which they gave the last full measure of
devotion—that we have highly resolved that these
dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation,
under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—
and that government of the people, by the people,
for the people, shall not perish from this earth.”
Abraham Lincoln—November 19, 1863
Of course, parallel construction is just
one syntactic technique authors can use
to create these effects!
Some common syntactic emphasis techniques:
Climax: Repetition
Anaphora:
Epistrophe:
Anadiplosis:
Repetition
Repetition
Repetition
of words,
ofof
of
the
the
last
same
phrases,
same
word
group
group
oforone
of
clauses
ofclause
words
words
inat
order
atthe
thebeginning
of
end
increasing
of of
successive
the
number
following
or importance.
clauses.
clause.
• Excellent
Exercise
To
Fear
become
leadsbuilds
athletes
to
a top-notch
anger,
stamina
need
anger
player,
in
toyoung
leads
be respectful
I to
children;
thought
hate, hate
like
of
exercise
themselves,
an
leads
athlete,
builds
to the
their
Istamina
trained
dark side!
in
teenagers
like
teammates,
an athlete,
and
their
young
I ate
schools,
adults;
like an
and
athlete.
exercise
their communities.
builds stamina in old geezers.