What in the world is
Syntax?
Syntax: how the sentence is
constructed
and how it contributes to and enhances
meaning and effect
In other words:
How the author puts the words
together
How this helps the author tell the
story
It’s like in the movies-----when the characters are in trouble, the music gets
quick and frantic
when there’s a love scene, the music gets slow &
melodious
Now………
How does an author do this with
words & sentences?
In order to quicken the pace, the author will
use shorter, monosyllabic words in short,
simple sentences.
In order to slow down the pace, the author will
use longer, polysyllabic words in complex and
convoluted sentences.
When analyzing syntax, consider
such questions as:
• Are the sentences simple and direct, or complex and
convoluted?
• How do dependent clauses relate to main (independent)
clauses?
• How does the author use repetition or parallel structure for
emphasis? (and always say what it emphasizes and why)
• Does the author write periodic or cumulative sentences?
• Are there instances of balanced sentences or antithesis?
• Are there rhetorical questions in the passage?
• Are ideas set out in a special way for a purpose or effect?
Arrangement of Ideas – Are ideas set out
in a special way for a purpose or effect?
• Loose sentence: makes complete sense if brought to a
close before the actual ending.(main point is “frontloaded”) ex. We reached Edmonton / that morning / after
a turbulent flight / and some exciting experiences.
• Periodic sentence: makes sense only when the end of the
sentence is reached. (main point is “end-loaded”) ex. That
morning, after a turbulent flight and some exciting
experiences, we reached Edmonton.
• Parallel structure: refers to a grammatical or structural
similarity between sentences or parts of a sentence. It
involves an arrangement of words, phrases, sentences, and
paragraphs so that elements of equal importance are
equally developed and similarly phrased.
wrong: In the winter, I usually like skiing and to skate.
right: In the winter, I usually like skiing and skating.
right: In the winter, I usually like to ski and to skate.
additional ex. He was the kind of man who knew what he
wanted, who intended to get it, and who allowed nothing to
stand in his way.
• Natural order sentence: a sentence where the subject comes
before the predicate (main verb) ex. Oranges grow in
California.
• Inverted order sentence: a sentence where the predicate
(main verb) comes before the subject.
ex. In California grow oranges.
• Split order sentence: divides the predicate into two parts
with the subject coming in between.
ex. In California grow oranges.
An author will vary these sentences for an
effect – and it is your job to decide what
effect (s)he was trying to achieve
Sentence Classifications
Consider the following four basic types in
examining sentence structures
• Declarative: makes a statement
ex. The king is sick.
• Imperative: gives a command
ex. Bow to the king.
• Interrogative: asks a question
ex. What’s the matter with the king?
• Exclamatory: makes an exclamation
ex. The king is dead!
Four Basic Structures
• Simple sentence: one independent clause*
ex. The singer bowed to her adoring audience.
• Compound sentence: two or more independent clauses
(joined by a comma with a coordinating conjunction—and,
but, for, or, nor, yet, so—or a semicolon)
ex. The singer bowed gratefully to the audience, but she
sang no encores.
ex. The singer bowed gratefully to the audience; however,
she sang no encores.
*an independent clause has a subject and a verb, and can
stand alone because it has a complete thought
• Complex sentence: one independent clause and one or
more dependent (subordinate) clauses.*
ex. Although the singer bowed gratefully to the audience,
she sang no encores.
• Compound-complex sentence: two or more independent
clauses and at least one dependent (subordinate) clause.
ex. The singer bowed gratefully while the audience
applauded, but she sang no encores.
* A dependent (subordinate) clause has a subject and a verb;
however, it cannot stand alone because it does not have a
complete thought
Always look for the anomalies –
that is, the things that are
different from regular writing.
And remember – syntactically,
you create emphasis by:
• Position – where you put something in the
sentence
• Proportion – the size of the idea and how
much of the piece the idea takes up
• Isolation – setting it off by itself
• Repetition – the number of times something
is repeated
The author did this on purpose –
there is nothing serendipitous (by
chance) in literature
So let’s look at a paragraph by
Nancy Mairs-----
I am a cripple. I choose this word to name me. I
choose from among several possibilities, the most common
of which are “handicapped” and “disabled.” I made the
choice a number of years ago, without thinking, unaware of
my motives for doing so. Even now, I’m not sure what
those motives are, but I recognize that they are complex and
not entirely flattering. People – crippled or not – wince at
the word “cripple,” as they do not at “handicapped” or
disabled.” Perhaps I want them to wince. I want them to
see me as a tough customer, one to whom the
fates/gods/viruses have not been kind, but who can face the
brutal truth of her existence squarely. As a cripple, I
swagger.
What’s the first thing you notice
that’s different?
The sentence: I am a cripple
Why does the author use this short
sentence (and in the first sentence –
remember, position)?
To draw attention to the politically
incorrect word -----cripple
And why use the word?
To shock, and to show that even though
people don’t call her this to her face, the
word is always present
So what do you notice next?
What’s different?
I am a cripple. I choose this word to name me.
I choose from among several possibilities, the most
common of which are “handicapped” and
“disabled.” I made the choice a number of years
ago, without thinking, unaware of my motives for
doing so. Even now, I’m not sure what those motives
are, but I recognize that they are complex and not
entirely flattering. People – crippled or not – wince
at the word “cripple,” as they do not at
“handicapped” or disabled.” Perhaps I want them to
wince. I want them to see me as a tough customer,
one to whom the fates/gods/viruses have not been
kind, but who can face the brutal truth of her
existence squarely. As a cripple, I swagger.
Remember? Isolation
These words are in quotation marks to
isolate them.
Why?
To show how people try to pretty up the
word, cripple? – maybe because it is
uncomfortable for people to face the
person who is crippled
So what do you notice next?
What else is different?
I am a cripple. I choose this word to name me.
I choose from among several possibilities, the most
common of which are “handicapped” and “disabled.”
I made the choice a number of years ago, without
thinking, unaware of my motives for doing so. Even
now, I’m not sure what those motives are, but I
recognize that they are complex and not entirely
flattering. People – crippled or not – wince at the
word “cripple,” as they do not at “handicapped” or
disabled.” Perhaps I want them to wince. I want them
to see me as a tough customer, one to whom the
fates/gods/viruses have not been kind, but who can
face the brutal truth of her existence squarely. As a
cripple, I swagger.
Remember: repetition
but also isolation
If you repeat a distasteful word – it becomes less
distasteful. Perhaps she wishes that if you confront the
word, you will eventually be able to look at her, the
person, not just her, the cripple.
Doesn’t this seem to point out that it’s not only people
who are not crippled who wince at the word?
And crippled people not only have to wince at the word
– they have to live with actually being crippled
So what do you notice next?
What else is different?
I am a cripple. I choose this word to name me.
I choose from among several possibilities, the most
common of which are “handicapped” and “disabled.”
I made the choice a number of years ago, without
thinking, unaware of my motives for doing so. Even
now, I’m not sure what those motives are, but I
recognize that they are complex and not entirely
flattering. People – crippled or not – wince at the
word “cripple,” as they do not at “handicapped” or
disabled.” Perhaps I want them to wince. I want them
to see me as a tough customer, one to whom the
fates/gods/viruses have not been kind, but who can
face the brutal truth of her existence squarely. As a
cripple, I swagger.
Repetition – harsh word – wince
Why?
Perhaps to show you that you aren’t the
only one who is uncomfortable by
someone who is crippled. She is still a
person – look past the condition to the
person.
So what do you notice next?
What else is different?
I am a cripple. I choose this word to name me.
I choose from among several possibilities, the most
common of which are “handicapped” and “disabled.”
I made the choice a number of years ago, without
thinking, unaware of my motives for doing so. Even
now, I’m not sure what those motives are, but I
recognize that they are complex and not entirely
flattering. People – crippled or not – wince at the
word “cripple,” as they do not at “handicapped” or
“disabled.” Perhaps I want them to wince. I want
them to see me as a tough customer, one to whom the
fates/gods/viruses have not been kind, but who can
face the brutal truth of her existence squarely. As a
cripple, I swagger.
Position: fates/gods/viruses
Why have these juxtaposed (jammed
right next to each other)?
Don’t we blame fate & the gods for
someone being crippled? Who does she
blame? The virus that attacked her?
So what do you notice next?
What else is different?
I am a cripple. I choose this word to name me.
I choose from among several possibilities, the most
common of which are “handicapped” and “disabled.”
I made the choice a number of years ago, without
thinking, unaware of my motives for doing so. Even
now, I’m not sure what those motives are, but I
recognize that they are complex and not entirely
flattering. People – crippled or not – wince at the
word “cripple,” as they do not at “handicapped” or
disabled.” Perhaps I want them to wince. I want them
to see me as a tough customer, one to whom the
fates/gods/viruses have not been kind, but who can
face the brutal truth of her existence squarely. As a
cripple, I swagger.
What did the author do here?
• Repetition – cripple
• Position – last, short abrupt sentence
• Use of the action verb – swagger to refer
back to her as a tough customer
Why? We don’t look at her as a person, but as
a cripple. We’re wrong – but she is strong
enough to handle it
So why did the author write this
essay?
• To get us over being uncomfortable with the
word cripple?
• To get us over being uncomfortable with
people who are crippled?
• To get us to see crippled people as merely
people?
• To let us know that they have to live with
being crippled?
Do you see why syntax can be
an important key in writing?