Download 6.1 Parallelism

Writing with Concord: Parallel Structure
What would you think if your friend
said this to you?
My favorite pastimes are playing
playingsoccer,
soccer,
listening
listeningtotomusic,
music,and
andTV.
watching TV.
We make the sentence clearer
by expressing the pastimes in
the same way:
My favorite pastimes are
playing soccer,
listening to music,
and watching TV.
Writing with Concord: Parallel Structure
Expressing related ideas in similar forms keeps
writing on track.
Like railroad tracks, these similar
forms are said to be parallel.
Parallel structure is the
arrangement of corresponding parts
of a sentence, or group of sentences,
in similar grammatical forms.
Writing with Concord: Parallel Structure
Parallel structure is the
arrangement of corresponding parts
of a sentence, or group of sentences,
in similar grammatical forms.
Usually, each part begins with
--ed word (hopped, skipped, and jumped)
-- ing word (wishing and hoping)
to phrase (to think or to do)
The parts are joined by
-- and
-- or
Identifying Problems with
Parallel Structure
Mickey likes to bike, swim, and to go on long
walks.
Place the parallel elements in a column to
make sure they have exactly the same form:
Mickey likes
to bike
swim
to go on long walks.
Identifying Problems with
Parallel Structure
Mickey likes to bike, swim, and to go on long walks.
Correction 1: Mickey likes
and
Correction 2: Mickey likes
and
to bike,
to swim,
to go on long walks.
biking,
swimming,
going on long walks.
Correction 3: Mickey likes to
bike
swim
and
go on long walks.
Parallel Structure
All lists should be in parallel structure. Not all lists use
–ed words, -ing words, or to phrases.
This was on an actual radio commercial:
I want a girl with a career, brains, and pretty.
I want a girl with
I want a girl with
a career, (noun)
a career, (noun)
brains, (noun)
brains, (noun)
and beauty. (noun)
and pretty. (adjective)
Writing with Concord:
Advanced Parallel Structure
Let’s look at some key sentences from President John F.
Kennedy’s 1961 Inaugural Address. Here President
Kennedy explains both the promise and the threat of
modern technology.
For man holds in his mortal hands the power
to abolish all
formsofofhuman
human
poverty
all forms
poverty
andand
all
formsofofhuman
human
life.
all forms
life.
Note the parallel grammatical forms joined by and:
adjective + noun + prepositional phrase
The repetition of key words adds to the sense of order
in the passage.
Writing with Concord: Parallel Structure
Prepositional phrases
A prepositional phrase contains
• a preposition
• a noun or pronoun
(the object of the preposition)
• any modifiers of the object
over
waves
the rolling
waves
Writing with Concord: Parallel Structure
Speakers often use a series of parallel structures to
emphasize a point.
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us
well or ill, that we shall pay any price,
bear any burden, meet any hardship,
support any friend, oppose any foe to assure
the survival and the success of liberty.
verb + any + noun
Read this sentence aloud. What effect does the
repetition have?
Writing with Concord: Parallel Structure
Revise each sentence to create parallel
structures. You may need to add or delete some
words.
1. The future looks bright and hopefully.
2. Each member voiced his or her opinion, then
a vote on the proposal.
3. Children scamper over the playground, and
there are dogs playing in the field.
Writing with Concord: Parallel Structure
Revise each sentence to create parallel
structures. You may need to add or delete some
words.
1. The future looks bright and hopeful.
Bright and hopeful are parallel because both
are adjectives.
Writing with Concord: Parallel Structure
Revise each sentence to create parallel
structures. You may need to add or delete some
words.
2. Each member voiced his or her opinion then
voted on the proposal.
Voiced and voted are parallel because both
are verbs and in the past tense.
Writing with Concord: Parallel Structure
Revise each sentence to create parallel
structures. You may need to add or delete some
words.
3. Children scamper over the playground, and
dogs play in the field.
Children scamper and dogs play are parallel
because both begin with a noun subject
followed immediately by a verb.
Writing with Concord: Parallel Structure
On Your Own
Revise each sentence to create parallel structures. You
may need to add or delete some words.
1. The play ended tragically but predictable.
2. We could see every star and the planets clearly.
3. Wisdom and being cautious are what we need most.
4. Carrie is a true friend, a teacher who is patient, and an
artist with talent.
5. The forest has suffered unintentional harm, but it will now
benefit from our kindness that we intend to give.
[End of Section]
Writing with Concord: Parallel Structure
Answers
Revise each sentence to create parallel structures. You
may need to add or delete some words.
1. The play ended tragically but predictably.
2. We could see every star and (every) planet clearly.
3. Wisdom and caution are what we need most.
4. Carrie is a true friend, a patient teacher, and a
talented artist.
5. The forest has suffered unintentional harm, but it will now
benefit from our intentional kindness.
Review A
Identify each group of parallel structures in this famous
sentence from President Kennedy’s 1961 Inaugural Address.
Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and
foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new
generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by
war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our
ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow
undoing of those human rights to which this nation has
always been committed, and to which we are committed
today at home and around the world.
Review A
Identify each group of parallel structures in this famous
sentence from President Kennedy’s 1961 Inaugural Address.
Prepositional Phrases
Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe
alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of
Adjectives + Prepositional Phrases
Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined
by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage,
and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human
Prepositional Phrases repeating to which and committed
rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to
Prepositional Phrases
which we are committed today at home and around the world.
Review B
You have been asked to write an encouraging message to be
posted on your class Web site. Write a short message to your
classmates that includes at least three examples of parallel
structure.
Review B
You have been asked to write an encouraging message to be
posted on your class Web site. Write a short message to your
classmates that includes at least three examples of parallel
structure.
[possible answer]
When I was still in middle school, I had no idea how
much I would need to learn and how much I would
need to change in high school. Now I am more
confident, more aware, and more knowledgeable
about my world and my school. Here I am learning not
only how to think, but also how to live.
The End