Enhancing Writing with Parallel Structure
Explore the concept of parallel structure in writing, its importance, and how it can improve the clarity and balance of your written work. Learn from famous examples by Eleanor Roosevelt and Martin Luther King, Jr., while also understanding the pitfalls of faulty parallelism. Discover how correct parallelism can elevate the quality of your writing through effective examples and explanations.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
HomeButton.png Parallel Structure Making Writing Clear and Balanced
HomeButton.png What Is Parallel Structure? Parallel structure involves putting together elements of similar structure to achieve balanced writing. Parallelism is an effective literary and rhetorical device that enables a writer to convey an importance, to explain an idea or to draw a comparison. (In fact, that sentence just used parallelism.) When an audience sees or hears parallelism, they sit up and take note. It is also effective because it is easily remembered.
HomeButton.png Famous Examples of Parallel Structure Great rhetoricians and speakers know how effective parallel structure can be. Eleanor Roosevelt: Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people. Roosevelt used parallelism to compare types of intellects and people.
HomeButton.png Famous Examples of Parallel Structure Martin Luther King, Jr.: Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.. King used parallelism to emphasize a point the need to take action immediately.
HomeButton.png Faulty Parallelism Faulty parallelism occurs when writers do not use a parallel structure to communicate a series of ideas: With proper preparation and planning, students can expect to have higher grades, to get a better education, and they will be successful in college and careers. What are the ideas that seem to have the same importance? Students can expect to have higher grades. 1. Students can get a better education. 2. Students will be more successful in college and careers. 3.
HomeButton.png Correct Parallelism With proper preparation and planning, students can expect to have higher grades, to get a better education, and to be successful in college and careers. Now all three ideas are in the same form infinitive phrases.
HomeButton.png Parallel Structure Improves the Quality of Your Writing Poor: Sarah has intelligence, honesty, and she is funny. Improved: Betty has intelligence, honesty, and she is funny humor. Poor: Good writing requires you to plan outlines, write several drafts, and revision. Improved: Good writing requires you to plan outlines, write several drafts, and revision revise your work.
HomeButton.png It s Your Turn Read the following sentence and determine which part is not parallel. How can the sentence be fixed? The children were arguing in the lobby, talked during the movie, and complained on the ride home.
