Grammar and Usage:

Parallel Structure

Learning Targets and CCSS

Learning Target• I can recognize and write sentences that use parallel structure.

CCSS• L.9-10.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking

• L.9-10.1a Use parallel structure

Vocab• Phrase- a group of words that function together as a single part of speech (ex. prepositional phrases, participial phrases, infinitive phrases, and gerund phrases)• Clause- group of words containing subject and predicate. Can be

dependent (DC) or independent (IC).• Compound sentences- 2 independent clauses (ICs) joined by a

coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS!!!)• Parallel structure- 2 or more words, phrases, or clauses that are similar length and grammatical form• Syntax-word order• Anaphora- 2 or more clauses that begin with the same word or group

words• Parallelism- creating balanced sentence structure by creating a pattern at the word, phrase, or clause level

Syntax and Parallel Structure

Turn to page 12 and follow along!

Using parallelism is one way to create balanced sentence structure by creating a series at the word, phrase, or clause level.

Words• Parallelism at the word level creates a pattern with simple nouns,

pronouns, adverbs, adjectives, and gerunds (AKA words).

• They will have a pattern: I like running, playing, and sleeping. (All gerunds)My cat loves mice, catnip, and refried beans. (All simple nouns)To know him is to love him. (Both infinitive verbs)

Phrases• Parallelism at the phrase level creates a pattern with prepositional

phrases (a preposition followed by a noun).

• They will have a pattern:She came in the room, down the stairs, and into the kitchen.The cat jumped onto the sofa, over the pillow, then onto my lap.

Clauses• Parallelism at the clause level creates a pattern with a parallel subject and

verb

• They will have a pattern:She’d scour the pots and scrape the pans/ Candy the yams and spice the

hamsIt filled the can, it covered the floor, It cracked the window and blocked the

door

(P.S. For a heap of Parallelism, read “Sarah Sylvia Cynthia Stout” by Shel Silverstein)

Your turn…

•Do #1 and #2 on page 12!

Parallel Structure

• Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words in a series or in a compound structure to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.

• Creates balanced sentences that are powerful in their effect on readers/listeners.

With great speakers, comes great parallelism….Abraham Lincoln (pictured below) and John F. Kennedy (yea, he was in Black Ops) were two presidents known for his great speeches. They contained great parallelism.

Do questions 3 and 4 on page 13 in your SpringBoard book.

Anaphoras• Using anaphora can make you sound really smart and

powerful and convincing. Trust me. • Anaphora is the repetition of the same word or group of

words at the beginning of two or more clauses. • Martin Luther King used anaphora like a boss. For

example, in the “I have a Dream” speech, he started 8 clauses with the phrase “I have a dream...”

Do number 5 on page 13 in your SpringBoard book...

Faulty Parallelism• Sometimes, sentences contain faulty parallelism when similar

elements are not in the same form.

• It can be detected by looking for the pattern, and corrected by repeating the pattern.

Complete the “CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING” on page 13 and turn it in to the box.

Wrapping up…• Did we meet our target?I can recognize and write sentences that use parallel structure.

Remember: Parallelism makes writing powerful! Parallel structure is using the same pattern of wordsParallel structure creates balanced sentencesAnaphora is the repeating of the same word/group of words at the start of 2 or more sentences.

Faulty Parallelism is when similar elements don’t have the same form. It can be recognized and corrected.