Parallelism

Objective

Today, we are going to identify and correct faulty parallel structure in sentences.

1. What are we going to do today?

2. What are we identifying?

3. What are we correcting?

Parallel StructureDirections: Identify the part of speech for each of the underlined words in the following paragraph. Write only the beginning letters of each part of speech under the underlined word.

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom; it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief; it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of Light; it was the season of Darkness; it was the spring of hope; it was the winter of despair; we had everything before; we had nothing before us; we were all going direct to heaven; we were going direct the other way – in short the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

Parallel Structure

When a sentence contains parallel structure, parts of the sentence contain the same pattern of words.

This can happen at three levels: words, phrases, and clauses.

Writers use parallel structure to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.

Parallelism looks like this:

Items in a series must have parallel structure.

Shania , , and

Shania , , and

.

.

Non-parallel structure looks like this:

Don’t create problems by mixing grammatical elements.

Shania , , and

Shania , , and

.

.

Parallel StructureExamples Non-Examples

I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat

I have nothing to offer but bleeding, toil, tears, and sweating

Betty has intelligence, honesty, and humor.

Betty has intelligence, honesty, and she is funny

Good writing requires you to plan outlines, write several drafts, and revise your work

Good writing requires you to plan outlines, write several drafts, and revision

Mary likes hiking, swimming, and to ride a bicycle.

Parallel Structure – Why?

It is important to be able to identify and correct faulty parallel structure because:• Personal: It will help us communicate

our ideas clearly and smoothly • Academic: It will help us pass the end

of the semester test and score better on our essays

• World: Speech writers and politicians often use parallel structure to help us understand their ideas

CFU: Which of these is most important to you and why?

Parallel Structure

Skills Steps:

1. Read the sentence.

2. Identify the parts of speech.

3. Determine if there is a series of words or clauses.

4. Determine if the parts of speech in that series do not match each other.

5. If needed correct it.

Guided Practice

1. Individual surfboards vary in length, width, and how much they weigh.

Guided Practice

2. The lecturer asked the students to speak in tutorials clearly, in a loud voice, and politely.

Guided Practice

3. Planning, drafting, and revision are three steps in the writing process.

Guided Practice

4. Success at university depends on attending classes, reviewing your notes, and to keep up with your readings.

Guided Practice

5. Surfboards are made of a plastic foam core that is shaped by hand and then a shell of fiberglass and resin covers it.

Parallel Structure - Closing Activity

1. Explain why we use parallel structure.

2. In your own words, explain how you correct faulty parallel structure.

3. Correct the faulty parallel structure in the sentence below.

In competition, surfers are judged by the size of the wave, the distance of the ride, and how difficult their maneuvers are.