The document discusses parallelism in writing and provides examples of proper and faulty parallel construction. It defines parallelism as having closely related parts of a sentence fit harmoniously together. It then provides examples of parallelism in form, logic, and relationship and formulas for creating parallel structures.

1. Freewrite 15 minutes Any style Any form Any approach to the topic Topic: Small moments can be the most rewarding.

2. Parallelism

3. What is parallelism? It is the goal of having closely related parts of a sentence fit harmoniously together. Faulty parallelism: Gillian wanted to know why I was late, why I hadn’t phoned, and did I even take it seriously? Proper parallelism: Gillian wanted to know why I was late, why I hadn’t phoned, and why I didn’t take it seriously. “ Formula”: why + I + verb

4. Parallel in Form Items in a series should be expressed in similar ways Faulty parallelism: Three ways to control stress are having an active social life, eating a balanced diet, and regular exercise.

5. Three ways to control stress are having an active social life, eating a balanced diet, and regular exercise. Three ways to control stress are having an active social life, eating a balanced diet, and getting regular exercise. “ Formula”: active verb form Three things to control stress are an active social life , a balanced diet , and regular exercise . Formula”: adjective + noun Three ways to control stress are to socialize often, to eat a balanced diet, and to exercise regularly. Formula”: infinitive verb form

6. Parallel in Logic Items in a series should be related in logic Faulty parallelism: Santa Claus is a man in a red suit, white beard, big belly, and eight flying reindeer.

7. Santa Claus is a man in a red suit, white beard, big belly, and eight flying reindeer. Santa Claus is a man in a red suit, with a white beard and big belly . He has eight flying reindeer. “ Formula”: separate items not closely enough related to be parallel in form

8. Parallel by Relationship Word groups paired by contrast, alternation, or another relationship are strongest when parallel in form Faulty parallelism: I thought I would save money but instead there was a financial loss.

9. I thought I would save money but instead there was a financial loss. I thought I would save money , but instead I lost it . “ Formula”: I + verb + noun

10. The advantages of public transit are low fare and the environment is saved. Public transit helps us to save money and to protect the environment . “ Formula”: infinitive verb form + noun Public transit saves money and protects the environment . “ Formula”: present tense verb form + noun

11. What fascinates me about New York is the size of the buildings and the people. What fascinates me about New York is the people and the size of the buildings. “ Formula”: noun

12. Practice Handout

13. Practice Go back to your freewrite and make it parallel wherever possible. Highlight sentences that are parallel. Choose two sentences to explain, at the end, how they are parallel (the “formula”)