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Syntax Check List

This document provides a checklist of syntax and sentence structure techniques for analyzing writing. It discusses elements like sentence length and type, punctuation patterns, clause placement, and other rhetorical devices. Some specific techniques covered include parallel structure, anaphora, antithesis, rhetorical questions, and chiasmus. The checklist aims to evaluate how an author employs various techniques for emphasis, effect, or purpose.

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miki
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54 views

Syntax Check List

This document provides a checklist of syntax and sentence structure techniques for analyzing writing. It discusses elements like sentence length and type, punctuation patterns, clause placement, and other rhetorical devices. Some specific techniques covered include parallel structure, anaphora, antithesis, rhetorical questions, and chiasmus. The checklist aims to evaluate how an author employs various techniques for emphasis, effect, or purpose.

Uploaded by

miki
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Syntax Check List

Sentence Length

 Telegraphic (5 or less words) or Short (5


-10) or medium (15-20 words) long and
varied (30 or more)?
 Intentional fragments for emphasis?
 Clause after clause after clause
Sentence Beginnings
 Is there a good variety or does a pattern emerge?
 Anaphora- repeating same words or word to start several
sentences to create a memorable effect in order to reinforce
an idea
Example: Never again will I be late. Never again will I risk it.
 Are words set out in a special
way for a purpose or effect?
 Inversion- “Yoda speak”
Example: Late I was.
Type of Sentence

 Inductive- Hard to write, the point (assertion)


is made at the end. Examples are given in the
beginning.
 Deductive- like most essays, point/assertion
made at the beginning and then writer gives
examples to back it up
Parallel Structure

 Does it repeat the same grammatical


structures?
Example: We were laughing, jumping, and
racing.
 Antithesis- contradictory parallel items
Example: It was the best of times. It was the
worst of times.
Punctuation Patterns

 Commas,,,,
 Dashes----
 Parenthesis ( )
 Ellipsis…
 Colon:
 Semi colon;
Arrangement of Ideas:
Main Clause Placement
 Are ideas set out in a special way for a purpose or
effect?
 Loose/cumulative- a sentence with its main clause at
the beginning and additional grammatical units
added after it; can convey a great deal of information
and imagery in an economical way. A loose sentence
makes complete sense if brought to a close before its
actual ending; it accumulates extra information as it
goes on.
Main Clause Placement

Examples:
"So I opened it - you cannot imagine how
stealthily, stealthily - until, at length, a single dim
ray, like the thread of the spider, shot from out
the crevice and fell upon the vulture eye." (Edgar
Allan Poe, "The Tell-Tale Heart")
Main Clause Placement
 Periodic sentence- independent clause comes at
the end, similar to “Yoda speak.”
Example:
"And though I have the gift of prophecy,
and understand all mysteries, and all
knowledge; and though I have all faith, so
that I could remove mountains, and have
not charity, I am nothing.“- Bible, Corinthians
Main Clause AGAIN

 Balanced or parallel - involves the arrangement


of the words, phrases, etc. so that elements of
equal importance are equally developed and
phrased
Example:
"White chickens lay white eggs, and brown
chickens lay brown eggs; so if white cows give
white milk, do brown cows give chocolate milk?"
Another example of balanced/parallel

Example:
Wrong: In the winter, I like skiing and to skate.
Right: In the winter I like skiing and skating.
Right: In the winter I like to ski and to skate.
Main Clause Placement

 Natural order- a sentence where the subject


comes before the predicate (main verb)
Example: Oranges grow in CA.
 Split order sentence- divides the predicate into 2
parts with the subj. coming in between
Example: In CA oranges grow.
Basic Sentence Structure
 Which ones are used?
 Simple- one independent clause
Example: The singer bowed to her adoring
audience.
 Compound- 2 or more independent clauses
(joined by a coordinating conjunction or a semi
colon)
Example: The singer bowed gratefully to the
audience; however, she sang no encores.
Basic Sent. Structure
 Complex – one independent and one or more
dependant clauses
Example: Although the singer bowed gratefully to
the audience, she sang no encores.
 Compound-complex- 2 or more independent and
at least one dependant clause
Example: The singer bowed gratefully while the
audience applauded, but she sang no encores.
Basic Sentence Types
Which ones are used?
 Declarative- makes a statement.
Example: The king is sick.
 Imperative- gives a command
Example: Bow to the king.
 Interrogative- asks a question???
Example: Where is the king?
 Exclamatory- makes an exclamation!!!
Example: The king is dead!
Other Emphasis Strategies

Rhetorical questions- A question that


expects no answer. It is used to draw
attention to a point.
Example: Can’t we all just get along?
More…

 Asyndeton (ə-sĭn'dĭ-tŏn‘)-normally occurring


conjunctions (and, or, but, for, nor, so, yet) are
intentionally omitted in successive phrases, or
clauses; a string of words not separated by
normally occurring conjunctions.
Example: Thank you. He comes, he sleeps, he
goes. So the plot thickens....
- CS Lewis
More Strategies…
 Polysyndeton (pŏl'ē-sĭn'dĭ-tŏn')- repetition of
conjunctions in close succession for effect
Example: And soon it lightly dipped, and rose, and
sank, and dipped again …
 Anadiplosis (a-nə-də-plō-səs)- repetition at the
beginning of a phrase of the word or words with
which the previous phrase ended
Example: He is a man of loyalty-loyalty always
firm.
More…

 Epanalepsis- repetition at the end of the clause or


sentence of the word or phrase of which it began.
Example:
"He is noticeable for nothing in the world except for the
markedness by which he is noticeable for nothing.”
-Edgar Allan Poe, "The Literati of New York City”
Example: "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice."
-The Bible, Phil. 4.4
 Antithesis- the placing of a sentence or one of its
parts against another to which it is opposed to
form a balanced contrast of ideas
“Give me liberty or give me death.”
 Anaphora- A rhetorical term for the repetition of
a word or phrase at the beginning of successive
clauses
Action movies are my favorite. I love action
movies with Nicolas Cage. Cage has made his
millions from action movies.
Finished…

 Chiasmus (kee-aZ-moos)- the order of the terms


in the first of two parallel clauses is reversed in
the second. This may involve a repetition of the
same words (‘Pleasure's a sin, and sometimes
sin's a pleasure’—Byron)
Example: Despised, if ugly; if she's fair, betrayed.
Apply
 Choose two new terms you learned today and
display your knowledge of these terms through
alternative modes or memory trick. For example: If I
just learned the term “metaphor” and “simile,” I
would draw a picture
Her hair was as white as snow

Her hair was snow


Homework

AP Literature Rhetorical terms


Read then highlight the terms
you are not familiar with

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