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