Writing with Concord: Parallel Structure

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Writing with Concord Parallel Structure
Parallel Structure Review A Review B
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Writing with Concord Parallel Structure
What would you think if your friend said this to
you?
My favorite pastimes are playing soccer,
listening to music, and TV.
My favorite pastimes are playing soccer,
listening to music, and watching TV.
Would you wonder if he really liked listening to
TV?
Look how we make the sentence clearer by
expressing the pastimes in the same way.
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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.
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Writing with Concord Parallel Structure
Lets look at some key sentences from President
John F. Kennedys 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 forms of human poverty and all forms
of human life.
For man holds in his mortal hands the power to
abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms
of human 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.
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Writing with Concord Parallel StructurePrepositi
onal phrases
A prepositional phrase contains

• a preposition

• a noun or pronoun
• (the object of the preposition)

• any modifiers of the object

waves
the rolling
over
waves
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Writing with Concord Parallel Structure
As this example shows, sentences can contain
multiple levels of parallel structures.
We observe today not a victory of party, but a
celebration of freedom symbolizing an end, as
well as a beginning signifying renewal, as well
as change.
noun prepositional phrase
participial phrase
nouns joined by as well as
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Writing with Concord Parallel StructureParticipi
al phrases
A participial phrase contains

• a verb form usually ending in ing or ed

• a noun, pronoun, or adjective
• (the complement of the participle)

• any modifiers

seeming
unaware
of the consequences
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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 good
or ill, that we will 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?
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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.
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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 bothare
adjectives.
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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 bothare
verbs and in the past tense.
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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
parallelbecause both begin with a noun subject
followed immediately by a verb.
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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.
• 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
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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.
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Review A
Identify each group of parallel structures in
this famous sentence from President Kennedys
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 Americansborn in
this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a
hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient
heritage, and unwilling to 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.
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Review A
Identify each group of parallel structures in
this famous sentence from President Kennedys
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 Americansborn in
this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a
hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient
heritage, and unwilling to 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.
Adjectives Prepositional Phrases
Prepositional Phrases repeating to which and
committed
Prepositional Phrases
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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.
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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.
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The End