Exercises

Exercise #1: Directions: Copy and Paste. Convert the following passages into a single sentence that uses parallel structure. Rearrange phrases and delete unnecessary words. For example,

original: Rocky was an excellent cook. He was also a charming host.

revision: Rocky was an excellent cook and a charming host.

1. Scientists and mystics have ignored each other's field of knowledge. When considering each other's goals, they have shown only distrust.

1.

2. In Rain Man, Tom Cruise's character shatters his brother's orderly, predictable world. A plot is concocted by Tom's character to exploit his bother's amazing talents.

2.

3. She was a skilled soccer player. As a snow boarder, however, she was incompetent.

3.

4. Al Gore is a champion of the environment. He is also a friend of the working class. Yet, clearly he is also an advocate for big government.

4.

5. So have I spent my life, reading books and looking at pictures. Sometimes plays catch my attention. I have listened to vast amounts of music. And I have written about all of these things.

5.

Exercise #2: Copy and Paste. Rewrite the following sentences so that they achieve parallel construction. The awkward construction is in bold.

Ex= (incorrect) The triathlon requires that each participant swim for three miles, bike for fifty miles, and running for ten miles.

(correct) The triathlon requires that each participant swim for three miles, bike for fifty miles, and run for ten miles.

1. Previously, English classrooms were taught by the Socratic method, while now cooperative learning is emphasized.

1.

2. I love the transition between each season. I cherish the weather between summer and fall, winter and spring, and between spring and summer.

2.

3. I left my previous job angry and harboring regret for my boss and my actions.

3.

4. You should not study too much nor fail to find the time to study at all.

4.

5. Ask not what you country can do for you, interrogate yourself introspectively and ascertain how you, yourself, could possibly assist this great nation, America.

Answers:

1. Scientists and mystics have ignored each other's field of knowledge. When considering each other's goals, they have shown only distrust.

1. Scientists and mystics have ignored each other's field of knowledge and distrusted each other's goals.

2. In Rain Man, Tom Cruise's character shatters his brother's orderly, predictable world. A plot is concocted by Tom's character to exploit his bother's amazing talents.

2. In Rain Man, Tom Cruise's character shatters his brother's orderly, predictable world and exploits his bother's amazing talents.

3. She was a skilled soccer player. As a snow boarder, however, she was incompetent.

3. She was a skilled soccer player but an incompetent snow boarder.

4. Al Gore is a champion of the environment. He is also a friend of the working class. Yet, clearly he is also favors big government.

4. Al Gore is a champion of the environment, a friend of the working class, and an advocate of big government.

5. So have I spent my life, reading books and looking at pictures. Sometimes plays catch my attention. I have listened to vast amounts of music. Thinking is something else I have done often. And I have written about all of these things.

5. Because I have I spent my life, reading books, looking at pictures, watching plays, listening to music, and thinking about the world, I have written about all of these things.

Exercise #2:

1. Previously, English classrooms were taught by the Socratic method, while now cooperative learning is emphasized.

1. Previously, English classrooms were taught by the Socratic method, while now they are taught by the cooperative learning method.

2. I love the transition between each season. I cherish the weather between summer and fall, winter and spring, and between spring and summer.

2. I love the transition between each season and cherish the weather between summer and fall, winter and spring, and spring and summer.

3. I left my previous job angry and harboring regret for my boss and my actions.

3. I left my previous job angry at my boss and regretful of my actions.

4. You should not study too much nor fail to find the time to study at all.

4. You should not study too much nor too little.

5. Ask not what you country can do for you, interrogate yourself introspectively and ascertain how you, yourself, could possibly assist this great nation, America.

5. Ask not what you country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.