Parallelism

Parallelism: 

Parallelism Connecting ideas smoothly

What is Parallelism?: 

What is Parallelism? Parallelism means that all of the ideas in your sentences line up logically. When sentences are parallel, they flow smoothly and have symmetry. The next few slides present examples of parallel vs. non-parallel sentences.

Parallel Structure: 

Parallel Structure

Non-Parallel Structure: 

Non-Parallel Structure

Parallelism in a series: 

Parallelism in a series Whenever you present a series , each item should line up logically with the beginning of the sentence. For example: I have to get the children dressed, fed, and packed for school by 7:30 a.m. Note how each of the items in the series of actions line up with the beginning of the sentence: I have to get the children dressed , fed , and packed for school by 7:30 a.m.

Parallelism in a series: 

Parallelism in a series Parallel: I have to get the children dressed , fed , and packed for school by 7:30 a.m. Non-parallel: I have to get the children dressed, fed and be packed for school by 7:30 a.m. Non-parallel: I have to get the children dressed, feed them and packed for school by 7:30 a.m.

Parallelism in a series: 

Parallelism in a series Not Parallel: By brainstorming, applying prewriting strategies, all research completed , writing several drafts, and proofreading for errors, I have improved my writing greatly. Parallel: By brainstorm ing , apply ing prewriting strategies, complet ing all research , writ ing several drafts, and proofread ing for errors, I have improved my writing greatly.

Parallelism in a series: 

Parallelism in a series Not Parallel: The homework center has helped me with my comma splices, organization, writing better sentences , and thesis statements. Parallel: The homework center has helped me with my comma splices, organization, sentence writing skills , and thesis statements.

Parallelism – parts of speech: 

Parallelism – parts of speech Sometimes a sentence sounds OK, but would sound better if the parts of speech were all the same. For example: Not Parallel: Eric is handsome, intelligent, and a good athlete . Parallel: Eric is handsome, intelligent, and athletic . Note how handsome , intelligent , and athletic are all adjectives describing Eric.

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Not Parallel : Over-scheduling only leads to frustration, becoming exhausted , mounting stress, and low productivity. Parallel: Over-scheduling only leads to frustration, exhaustion , mounting stress, and low productivity. Frustration, exhaustion, stress, and productivity are all NOUNS . Parallelism – parts of speech

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Not Parallel: The woods were spooky, dark, musty-smelling, moss-covered, allegedly haunted, a private place , and dangerous for children. ( a private place = noun ) Parallel: The woods were spooky, dark, musty-smelling, moss-covered, allegedly haunted, private , and dangerous for children. ( private = adjective ) ADJECTIVES  spooky, dark, musty-smelling, moss-covered, haunted, private , and dangerous Parallelism – parts of speech

Parallelism Challenge: 

Parallelism Challenge Can you locate the non-parallel elements in the following sentences?

PARALLEL STRUCTURE: 

PARALLEL STRUCTURE Poor: Betty has intelligence, honesty, and she is funny Improved: Betty has intelligence, honesty, and she is funny humour 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

Words and Phrases: 

Words and Phrases Mary likes hik ing , swimm ing , and to ride a bicycle. Mary likes hik ing , swimm ing , and riding a bicycle.

Words and Phrases: 

Words and Phrases He is talented , intelligent and has charm . He is talented, intelligent and charming . The production manager was asked to write his report quick ly , accurate ly , and in a detailed manner . The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly .

Clauses: 

Clauses This novel is not to be tossed lightly aside , but to be hurled with great force . In matters of principle , stand like a rock ; in matters of taste , swim with the current .

Clauses: 

Clauses The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and to do some warm-up exercises before the game. The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and that they should do some warm-up exercises before the game

Quick Test: 

Quick Test Directions: In the items that follow, choose the correct word or phrase within the context suggested by the sentence. Now try a different type!

Item 6: 

Item 6 Pasta boiling in water, __________, and garlic bread baking in the oven welcomed Francisco as he opened the door. simmered tomato sauce in the pan tomato sauce simmering in the pan tomato sauce that simmered in the pan saucy tomatoes that were simmering in the pan Pasta boiling in water, __________, and garlic bread baking in the oven welcomed Francisco as he opened the door. simmered tomato sauce in the pan tomato sauce simmering in the pan tomato sauce that simmered in the pan saucy tomatoes that were simmering in the pan

Item 7: 

Item 7 During our vacation in the Bahamas, we hope __________, to enjoy beautiful sunsets, and to dance ourselves dizzy at reggae clubs. that we eat delicious seafood that eating delicious seafood occurs to eat delicious seafood eating delicious seafood During our vacation in the Bahamas, we hope __________, to enjoy beautiful sunsets, and to dance ourselves dizzy at reggae clubs. that we eat delicious seafood that eating delicious seafood occurs to eat delicious seafood eating delicious seafood

Item 8: 

Item 8 Karen wished Ray chewed with his mouth closed, for otherwise he was everything she wanted in a date; he was tall, intelligent, and __________. he looked good being good looking one handsome man to look at handsome Karen wished Ray chewed with his mouth closed, for otherwise he was everything she wanted in a date; he was tall, intelligent, and __________. he looked good being good looking one handsome man to look at handsome

Item 9: 

Item 9 To win Laurie’s love, Albert visited the florist for roses, the drugstore for a box of chocolates, and __________. bought an expensive gold necklace at the jewelry store the jeweler for an expensive gold necklace the jeweler where he bought an expensive gold necklace to buy an expensive gold necklace To win Laurie’s love, Albert visited the florist for roses, the drugstore for a box of chocolates, and __________. bought an expensive gold necklace at the jewelry store the jeweler for an expensive gold necklace the jeweler where he bought an expensive gold necklace to buy an expensive gold necklace

Item 10: 

Item 10 Kimberly won’t date Terry because he is too short, too noisy, and _________. because he picks his teeth with his fingers too impolite is the most impolite man she has ever met Picking his teeth with his fingers Kimberly won’t date Terry because he is too short, too noisy, and _________. because he picks his teeth with his fingers too impolite is the most impolite man she has ever met Picking his teeth with his fingers

Can you fix the following? : 

Can you fix the following? At most area high schools, acts of vandalism can result in suspension, detention, or even being expelled from school.

Answer:: 

Answer: Not parallel: At most area high schools, acts of vandalism can result in suspension, detention, or even being expelled from school . Corrected: At most area high schools, acts of vandalism can result in suspension, detention, or even expulsion.

Can you fix the following? : 

Can you fix the following? It is sometimes easier to lie or to use a euphemism than telling the truth.

Answer:: 

Answer: Not parallel: It is sometimes easier to lie or to use a euphemism than telling the truth . Corrected: It is sometimes easier to lie or to use a euphemism than to tell the truth .

Can you fix the following? : 

Can you fix the following? The waste dump is ugly, an environmental danger, unsafe, hazardous to children, and foul-smelling.

Answer:: 

Answer: Not parallel: The waste dump is ugly, an environmental danger , unsafe, hazardous to children, and foul-smelling. (danger = noun) Corrected: The waste dump is ugly, environmentally dangerous , unsafe, hazardous to children, and foul-smelling.

Can you fix the following? : 

Can you fix the following? People often get caught in lies when they stutter, look down, turn red, misusing words, breathe hard, or fidget.

Answer:: 

Answer: Not parallel: People often get caught in lies when they stutter, look down, turn red, misusing words , breathe hard, or fidget. Corrected: People often get caught in lies when they stutter, look down, turn red, misuse words , breathe hard, or fidget.

Don’t forget to apply parallelism to your own writing!: 

Don’t forget to apply parallelism to your own writing! Be sure to check your series and parts of speech parallelism.

End of presentation.: 

End of presentation.