PARALLEL
STRUCTURE
Created by Sheree
Springer
Examples, sentences, and
rules from
chompchomp.com
OBJECTIVES
• By the end of class, you will be able to
identify sentences with parallel
structure
and
you’ll be able to use parallel structure
to write amazing arguments.
• English Language Arts, Grade 9-10,
Language Standard 1a
WHY DO WE NEED TO
KNOW THIS?
Parallel structure is a rhetorical device that
speakers use for effect. Do any of these sound
familiar?
• “To be or not to be, that is the question?”
• “I have a dream that one
day this nation will rise
up and live out the true
meaning of its creed:
‘We hold these truths to
be self-evident that all
men are created equal.”
"Ask not what your country can
do for you; ask what you can do
for your country."
Why are these so effective?
PARALLEL STRUCTURE IN
A NUTSHELL
Parallel structure looks like this:
• Students are
,
, and
.
Nonparallel structure looks like this:
• Students are
,
,
Anyone guess the rule?
.
THE BASIC RULE:
When you include a list (or even just
parts of a sentence), each part
should have the same grammatical
structure.
Everything
should match!
NOT THIS: Students capped their
pens, were closing their notebooks,
and zipping their book bags as they tried
to alert Professor Jones, rambling at the
lectern, that the end of class had arrived.
THIS: Students capped their
pens, closed their notebooks,
and zipped their book bags as they tried
to alert Professor Jones, rambling at the
lectern, that the end of class had arrived.
IS IT PARALLEL?
• Monica brewed espresso, steamed milk, and told jokes as
she prepared Mike’s latte.
• Natasha tried holding her breath, chewing a piece of gum,
and poking her belly, but she could not quiet her empty
stomach, which rumbled during the chemistry exam.
• In the restroom, Tishena was brushing her hair, freshened
her lip-gloss, and took deep breaths, trying to work up
the courage to walk to her first speech class.
• Celine looked behind the toilet, in the laundry basket, and
checked under the bed, but she could not find Squeeze,
her nine-foot albino python.
WITH A PARTNER, FILL IN THE BLANKS
WITH PARALLEL STRUCTURE
• A bathroom sink filled with hair, counter surfaces piled
with paper and books, and ________ dissuaded Beverly
from sharing the apartment with Tina.
• To make his weight class for the wrestling match, Bart
sipped a diet soda, nibbled carrot sticks, and _________.
• The presence of a vampire, a space alien, or _________will
make Noreen reject a movie.
• If we manage to pass our calculus class, we will celebrate
by shouting, high-fiving, and _______________________.
• Crisp apple slices, crunchy carrot sticks, and
_________________ were all ground to a pulp by Simone's
hardworking molars.
SO WHAT DID WE
LEARN AGAIN?
Students are
,
, and
Remember, make each part of
the sentence match! Use equal
grammatical units.
.
ON YOUR OWN
Think of an argument that you’ve had in the
last week. Your task is to add some pizazz
and power to your argument by using
parallel structure.
VS.
The nitty gritty: Write a ½ page argument
using at least 3 examples of parallel structure.