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Day 82: Use parallel grammatical constructions when describing simultaneous actions.
Using parallel grammatical constructions means describing actions in the same way so that any words referring to all the actions make grammatical sense. Simultaneous actions are actions that occur at the same time. This is quickly becoming more complicated than it needs to, so let’s look at an example. Consider this sentence.
“A good teacher should be helpful and provides clear directions.”
In this example, the teacher is doing two actions: being helpful and providing directions. The words that relate to both actions are “A good teacher.” The problem is that “should be helpful” is not written in the same manner as “provides clear directions.” As such, one of these (or both) needs to change.
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Three possible revisions are as follows.
“A good teacher SHOULD BE helpful and SHOULD PROVIDE clear directions.”
“A good teacher SHOULD BE helpful and PROVIDE clear directions.” (This is the same as the first revision. The word “should” is implied for the second action.)
“A good teacher IS helpful and PROVIDES clear directions.”
In summary, find the actions that are occurring at the same time and make sure that they are written the same way grammatically.
Day 83: End paragraphs with an impact or action statement.
How you end a paragraph is as important as how you begin it. So far, you identified the main idea of the paragraph (only one), you have established the context for the idea, and you have provided content.
Now, you need to close it. The paragraph has a single, main point, and the end of the paragraph is an effective place to state that idea. Because this statement is the main point of the paragraph, you want your reader to pay close attention to it.
You can use a very short sentence, use words that provoke a strong emotion, write directly to the reader (using “you,” if appropriate for the document), or provide a command for some action. If the paragraph is at the end of a persuasive document, an action step is probably your best choice.
This applies to both nonfiction and fiction writing. Consider this opening paragraph from Ayn Rand’s fictional novel Anthem.
It is a sin to write this. It is a sin to think words no others think and to put them down upon a paper no others are to see. It is base and evil. It is as if we were speaking alone to no ears but our own. And we know well that there is no transgression blacker than to do or think alone. We have broken the laws. The laws say that men may not write unless the Council of Vocations bid them so. May we be forgiven!
The paragraph opens with context: sin, doing something wrong. Then it describes the sinful actions. Finally, it ends with a high-impact action statement: “May we be forgiven!”