1. Parallelism
Identifying parallel structures in writing and how to decipher their contribution to the overall “meaning” and purpose of a piece.

2. What is a parallel structure/parallelism?
Definition: Similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses. OR
repeated syntactical similarities introduced for rhetorical effect.
Etymology: From Greek, "beside one another"

3. Why use parallel structure in your writing?
Practical reasons why:
1.  Use parallel structure when expressing a list.
Example: The suspect had a scar on the right side of his face, a birthmark on his forehead, and a new beard.
2.  Connect all parallel terms in a list with one conjunction and separate the list from the next clause with an additional conjunction.
Example: The suspect had a scar on the right side of his face and a birthmark on his forehead, and ran toward the south when he heard the police siren.
3.  Use parallel verb tenses when one subject has multiple predicates. Example: The judge threw the gavel, yelled at the lawyer, and overruled the objection for the twelfth time that day.

4. Why use parallel structure in your writing?
Reason why in terms of meaning and purpose of your own written piece…
Use parallel structure when a sentence has MULTIPLE SUBJECTS (especially when setting up a piece that will CONTRAST OR JUXTAPOSE TWO OR MORE TOPICS in an essay or other written piece).

5. Examples of parallel structure
It is by logic we prove, but by intuition we discover." (Leonardo da Vinci)
"The more we do, the more we can do." (William Hazlitt)
"I don’t want to live on in my work. I want to live on in my apartment." (Woody Allen)

6. Discuss the effect of the following parallel structures quotes in helping to convey the overall meaning or purpose of the quote?
"Today's students can put dope in their veins or hope in their brains. If they can conceive it and believe it, they can achieve it. They must know it is not their aptitude but their attitude that will determine their altitude." (Jesse Jackson)