Transcript Parallelism
Parallelism What is Paralellism Repetition and parallelism (parallel structure) can add clarity and dramatic punch to your speech. Parallelism is an especially effective technique to provide structure, order, and balance in your speech, in addition to clarifying your argument. Effects of Parallelism Parallel structure is one of the quickest and easiest ways to make a good impression on your readers, especially experienced readers and writers, because the use of parallel structure is always obvious. Parallelism basically means that you use words and phrases that have the same grammatical form to enhance the cohesion of your writing. With parallel structure, the reader can quickly process information and see relationships between ideas. Strong writers use parallel structure to organize words, phrases, clauses, and even whole essays to guide readers through their ideas. Creating Parallel Structure All items in a series should have the same structure to help the reader quickly process information. If one element is an adjective, then all elements should be adjectives; if one element is a noun, then all elements should be nouns; if one element is a verb, then all elements should be verbs, and so forth. Take a look at the examples below: 1. The children are energetic and noisy. = adjective + adjective 2. She bought a skirt and a blouse. = noun + noun 3. He walked slowly and confidently to the witness stand. = adverb + adverb When items in a series do not have the same form, the sentence will sound awkward and out of balance. Comparison of Usage Not parallel structure Parallel Structure I would rather go to a different I would rather go to a different restaurant than waiting in this long line. He thought that he would rather pay for the ticket than filing a legal co Taking a fieldtrip to a museum can give you many benefits: to learn the educational concept in a hands-on method, to engage your classmates in a more informal setting, and you can make a connection between the community and the classroom. restaurant than wait in this long line. He thought that he would rather pay for the ticket than file a leg Taking a fieldtrip to a museum can give you the benefits of learning the educational concept in a hands-on method, engaging your classmates in a more informal setting, and making a connection between the community and the classroom. Revising to create parallel structure... An easy way to check for parallel structure in a piece of writing, whether that structure is between words, phrases, clauses, or paragraphs in an essay, is to think of the core idea in the structure as the trunk of a tree, and each parallel item as a branch off that trunk; once you find the trunk, follow the trunk line to each of the branches directly, checking to ensure that the trunk connects strongly (and correctly) to each branch as illustrated in the diagram below: Examples See below how parallelism was used in these two speakers: "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. " - John F. Kennedy "Today's students can put dope in their veins or hope in their brains. If they can conceive it and believe it, they can achieve it. They must know it is not their aptitude but their attitude that will determine their altitude. " Reverend Jesse Jackson Practice Parallelism Practice: http://aliscot.com/bigdog/parallel_exercise.htm