Parallel Structure by Shmoop

Shmoop
23 Sept 201404:01
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script delves into the power of parallel structure in language, using Julius Caesar's famous phrase 'I came, I saw, I conquered' as a prime example. It explains that parallelism enhances the impact of a message by presenting a list of ideas in a pattern that is easy to follow and remember. The script emphasizes the importance of consistency in the part of speech used throughout the list and the use of helper words or suffixes to maintain parallelism. It also provides examples and corrections to illustrate the concept, highlighting three common types of parallelism: infinitives, gerunds, and adverb parallelism. The summary encourages viewers to apply these techniques to make their writing or speech more compelling, potentially achieving great success without resorting to negative tactics.

Takeaways
  • 📝 Parallel structure is a powerful grammatical tool that enhances the impact of language, as exemplified by Caesar's famous phrase 'I came, I saw, I conquered'.
  • 🔍 It creates a pattern for the reader to follow, making ideas easier to understand and remember, which is crucial for effective communication.
  • 🚫 The primary rule of parallelism is to maintain consistency in the part of speech used throughout the list.
  • 🔄 Avoid mixing parts of speech within a list, as it can confuse the audience and detract from the message.
  • 🔑 To fix broken parallelism, sometimes slight adjustments are needed to ensure all items in the list are grammatically consistent.
  • 📖 Recognizing and correcting parallelism can make sentences sound more polished and professional.
  • 🔑 Two key indicators of parallelism are the consistent use of a part of speech and the presence of a common suffix or helper word in each item.
  • 🔑 Infinitives, which are the 'to' form of verbs, are a common type of parallel structure that can be used with or without the 'to'.
  • 📚 Gerunds, which are the '-ing' form of a verb used as a noun, also follow the principle of parallelism and should be consistent within a list.
  • 📝 Adverb parallelism involves using adverbs that end in '-ly' to describe verbs, maintaining a uniform structure.
  • ✅ Keeping lists parallel with the same part of speech and suffix or helper word can enhance the persuasiveness and clarity of your writing, potentially helping you 'conquer' your goals without resorting to force.
Q & A

  • What is the significance of parallel structure in language?

    -Parallel structure is powerful in language as it forms a list of ideas that are tied together, creating a pattern for the reader to follow, making ideas easier to understand and remember. It also adds a sense of rhythm and coherence, which can be particularly impactful in speeches or written works.

  • What is the classic example of parallel structure mentioned in the script?

    -The classic example of parallel structure mentioned is Julius Caesar's phrase, 'I came, I saw, I conquered.'

  • Why is it important to maintain a consistent part of speech in a parallel structure?

    -Maintaining a consistent part of speech in a parallel structure ensures that the list of ideas is uniform and coherent. It prevents confusion and helps to maintain the flow and impact of the message.

  • What is the number one rule of parallelism?

    -The number one rule of parallelism is to pick a part of speech for your list and stick to it throughout, avoiding a mix of different parts of speech.

  • How does the script illustrate the misuse of parallel structure?

    -The script uses the example of Patrick ruining the school production by saying his line incorrectly, fainting into Brutus' arms, and his inability to spit out another word. The misuse is highlighted by starting with verbs and ending with a noun, which breaks the parallel structure.

  • What is the corrected version of the example sentence provided?

    -The corrected version is: 'Patrick ruined the school production of Julius Caesar by saying his line wrong, fainting, into Brutus' arms, and blanking on the rest of the script.'

  • What are the two key aspects to identify and correct parallelism?

    -The two key aspects are ensuring that every item on the list is the same part of speech and looking for a suffix or helper word that appears in every item on the list.

  • What are the three common types of parallelism mentioned in the script?

    -The three common types of parallelism mentioned are infinitives ('to' form of verbs), gerund parallelism ('-ing' form of a verb used as a noun), and adverb parallelism (words ending in '-ly' used to describe verbs).

  • Why should infinitives be used carefully in parallel structures?

    -Infinitives should be used carefully because they can disrupt the parallel structure if not all items in the list are in the 'to' form. It's important to ensure that the structure remains consistent and parallel.

  • How does the script suggest fixing broken parallelism?

    -The script suggests that some tweaking might be needed, such as adjusting the part of speech or the form of the words to maintain consistency and parallelism throughout the list.

  • What is the benefit of using parallel structure in writing or speech?

    -Using parallel structure in writing or speech can make the content sound more impressive and memorable, which is particularly useful when trying to convey important messages or when aiming to have a lasting impact on the audience.

  • How does the script relate the concept of parallel structure to the broader context of communication?

    -The script relates parallel structure to the broader context of communication by emphasizing its role in making speech or writing more effective and engaging. It suggests that mastering parallelism can help in various forms of communication, from ruling an empire to writing an English paper.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Understanding Parallel Structure

This paragraph introduces the concept of parallel structure, emphasizing its power and importance in communication. It uses Caesar's famous phrase 'I came, I saw, I conquered' as an example to illustrate how parallelism creates a pattern that makes ideas easier to grasp and remember. The paragraph explains that parallel structure involves listing ideas with the same part of speech and using connectors like 'or', 'and', or commas. It also provides a humorous example of how breaking this rule can confuse and lose an audience. The paragraph concludes with a reminder that maintaining parallel structure can enhance the impact of one's message, whether in ruling an empire or writing an English paper.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Parallel Structure
Parallel structure refers to the use of a consistent grammatical form or pattern across a series of words, phrases, or clauses. In the context of the video, it is a powerful tool that enhances the impact of language, making ideas more memorable and impactful. The classic example given is 'I came, I saw, I conquered,' which demonstrates the effective use of parallelism with verbs in the past tense.
💡Part of Speech
A part of speech is a category of words that have similar grammatical properties, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. The video emphasizes the importance of maintaining the same part of speech throughout a parallel structure for clarity and coherence. For instance, mixing verbs with nouns in a list, as in the example 'saying, fainting, and inability,' disrupts the parallelism and confuses the audience.
💡Suffix
A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning or create a new word. In the context of parallelism, suffixes often indicate the same part of speech, helping to maintain the parallel structure. For example, in the sentence about Patrick, the '-ing' suffix in verbs like 'saying' and 'fainting' is a clue to the parallel structure being used.
💡Helper Word
Helper words, also known as function words, are words that provide structure in sentences but do not carry the primary meaning. In the video, helper words like 'and' and commas are used to connect items in a parallel structure, ensuring the list flows smoothly and is easy to follow. They are crucial for creating a coherent and grammatically correct parallel structure.
💡Infinitives
An infinitive is the base form of a verb, often preceded by 'to' (e.g., 'to run', 'to jump'). In the video, infinitives are presented as one of the three common types of parallelism. They can be used to create a list of actions that follow a consistent grammatical pattern, such as 'to cry, scramble for, and put on a toga,' which maintains the parallel structure.
💡Gerund
A gerund is a verb form that ends in '-ing' and functions as a noun in a sentence. The video explains that gerunds can be used in parallel structures when the actions are presented as things being done, such as 'baking cookies, leading the PTA, and pressuring her son into live theatre.' The use of gerunds helps to maintain the parallel structure by keeping the same part of speech throughout the list.
💡Adverb
An adverb is a part of speech that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. In the video, adverb parallelism is discussed, where adverbs ending in '-ly' are used to modify verbs in a consistent manner, such as 'watching proudly, devotedly, and lovingly.' The presence of the '-ly' suffix is a clear indicator of adverb parallelism.
💡List
A list in the context of the video refers to a series of items, phrases, or clauses that are presented in a parallel structure. The use of lists with parallelism helps to organize ideas and make them more accessible and memorable to the reader or listener. For example, the list of actions in 'I came, I saw, I conquered' is easy to remember because of its parallel structure.
💡Empire
An empire is a group of nations or territories under the authority of a single ruler or government. In the video, the concept of ruling an empire is used metaphorically to illustrate the power of parallel structure in language. Just as a ruler needs to command attention and convey ideas effectively to govern, so too does a writer or speaker when using parallelism to enhance their message.
💡English Paper
An English paper typically refers to an academic essay or written assignment in the field of English language and literature. The video mentions writing an English paper as an example of a situation where the use of parallel structure can enhance the quality and effectiveness of the writing. It suggests that parallelism can make arguments or points more compelling and easier to understand.
💡Drama Teacher
A drama teacher is a professional who instructs students in the performing arts, particularly in theater and acting. In the video, the drama teacher is used as a character in an example to illustrate how not maintaining parallel structure can lead to confusion. The correct use of parallelism, as demonstrated in the revised example, helps to clarify the teacher's actions and intentions.
Highlights

Parallel structure is a powerful grammatical tool that makes ideas easier to understand and remember.

The classic example of parallel structure is Caesar's phrase, 'I came, I saw, I conquered.'

Parallel structure involves creating a pattern for the reader to follow using 'or', 'and', or commas.

Parallelism enhances the impact of language, which is crucial for leadership and persuasive writing.

The key rule of parallelism is to choose a part of speech for the list and maintain consistency throughout.

Changing parts of speech within a list, like starting with verbs and ending with a noun, can confuse the audience.

To fix broken parallelism, adjust the sentence structure to maintain the same part of speech.

Parallelism is easy to spot and fix if items in a list are the same part of speech and have a common suffix or helper word.

Three common types of parallelism are infinitives, gerunds, and adverbs.

Infinitives are the 'to + verb' form and should maintain parallel structure even without the 'to'.

Gerunds are the '-ing' form of a verb used as a noun and should be consistent in a parallel structure.

Adverb parallelism involves using adverbs ending in '-ly' to describe verbs in a parallel manner.

Maintaining parallel structure with orderly lists can enhance the power and clarity of language.

Parallel structure can help convey complex ideas in a memorable and impactful way.

Using parallelism effectively can make a significant difference in persuasive communication.

Parallel structure can be a distinguishing feature of powerful and influential speech or writing.

Understanding and applying parallelism can improve one's ability to communicate complex ideas effectively.

Parallelism is a grammatical technique that can elevate the quality of language in various contexts.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

Grammar Rule 5: Parallelism

Parallel Structure

Parallelism: The secret to great writing

Using Parallel Structures || GRADE 8 || MELC-based VIDEO LESSON | QUARTER 3 | MODULE 6

Parallel structure | Syntax | Khan Academy

PARALLEL STRUCTURE | English Lesson

Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating:

Related Tags
Parallel StructureLanguage PowerCaesar's ConquestEnglish WritingGrammar TipsCommunication SkillsWriting TechniquesRhetorical DevicesLiterary AnalysisEducational Content