1. Parallelism / Repetition
A Skill for Writing; A Skill for Life

2. What? / Why?
This structure allows for both greater syntactical variety and semantic emphasis. In other words, you can vary your sentences and emphasize your points.
This structure has three (3) primary purposes that can overlap each other:
Flow
Suspense
Emphasis

3. Flow
To understand this, let’s look at a bad example for understanding:
I really enjoy running, jumping, and to sing.
What’s wrong with this sentence?

4. Yep!
“Running” and “Jumping” share a parallel structure (gerund), and it obviously clashes with the infinitive structure “To Sing.”
Think about it! “running, jumping, and to sing” just hits the ear in the wrong way.
How do I fix it?

5. Be Aware! Pick a structure, and stick with it!
I really enjoy running, jumping, and singing.
I really love to run, to jump, and to sing.
Either way you’re a winner!

6. Edit for Parallelism
After opening the bottle and before he poured the drink, he lost the cap.
Megan loves to play video games, but she also loves participating in outdoor sports.
Mike has learned that he loves early sunrises, sunset dinners, and eating picnics under the stars.
To succeed is my goal, but failing is my forte!

7. Suspense Consider the following:
Julie dreaded going into the basement; she knew what waited. She turned the antiquated door knob, made her way down the creaking stairs, peered through the flickering light from the weak bulb, and screamed when she saw the mass of evil huddled in the corner. Her screams were not enough.
How does the author use parallel structure to build suspense?

8. Yep!
The repeated use of verb + event creates an impending sense of an inevitable outcome.
Your turn! Create a moment using parallel structure. Pick one:
Horror / Fear
Romance
Comedy
Family Drama

9. Emphasis
Consider the following paraphrases of a recent political speeches:
We must reduce government spending; we must lower the national debt; we must end overseas exportation of our jobs; and we must do this now!
Are there any honest politicians left in Washington? No! Are there any lobbyist that have our best interests at heart? No! Are we willing to let this continue in our Nation’s capital? No!
Clinton is a liar, a cheat, and a lapdog for big corporations!
How do the authors use parallel structure to create emphasis?

10. Yep!
The repetition of structure hammers home the point of each speech. The speakers clearly want the listeners to retain a very specific idea.
Your turn! Quickly pick a school appropriate political or school topic and write four points in parallel structure.