PARALLEL STRUCTURE Using repetition for clarity and emphasis

PARALLEL STRUCTURE Using repetition for clarity and emphasis

PARALLEL STRUCTURE • Parallel structure is the “good” kind of repetition. • When used properly, parallel structure helps a writer maintain clarity and establish points of emphasis.

PARALLEL STRUCTURE Clarity (making meaning “clear”) • The floor was littered with discarded soda cans, crumpled newspapers, and clothes that were wrinkled. This sentence doesn’t sound right. What’s wrong with it? • The floor was littered with discarded soda cans, crumpled newspapers, and clothes that were wrinkled. • The floor was littered with discarded soda cans, crumpled newspapers, and wrinkled clothes.

PARALLEL STRUCTURE Emphasis During World War II, Winston Churchill needed to inspire his countrymen. He wanted to get across this idea: We will fight the enemy wherever they appear. We will not surrender. Not very inspiring, is it? So he turned to parallel structure to help him out.

PARALLEL STRUCTURE After working hard for awhile, and doing the dreaded “rewriting” a few times, he turned this line: We will fight the enemy wherever they appear. We will not surrender. Into: We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender. What words create the parallel structure in the sentence above?

PARALLEL STRUCTURE We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.

PARALLEL STRUCTURE • Let’s look at parallel structure in one of America’s most famous speeches.