The Syntax Handout



This handout is to assist in the breaking down and writing about the tricky thing called SYNTAX. What is the purpose? Why does the author/speaker use particular things? What makes theirs different?What is Syntax?The arrangement of words in a sentence. Includes sentence length and complexity; the variety and pattern of sentence form; inversion of natural word order; unusual juxtaposition; repetition; parallelism; use of active or passive voice; level of discourse (see Usage); order, including emphatic or subordinate position of elements, etc. Syntax can also be thought of as the rhythm of prose. What does Syntax Do?*Slow down or speed up action using punctuation, long or short sentences, simple or complex constructions.*Lead the reader to an important idea while building up suspense with a periodic sentence.*Emphasize key words, phrases through parallelism-emphasis*Repetition can lull, soothe, bore, or emphasize*Sentence length creates rhythm, builds suspense, adds drama, startles.Note: sentence types reflect the mental state of a speaker. Simple sentences, fragments can show surprise, anger, passion, emphasize a sudden thought, show that a speaker is unable to think pound-complex sentences show higher level thinking, subordination of ideas, more complicated thought patterns linked in subtle ways.What elements do I write about/discuss?*punctuation such as dashes, parentheses*Loose (subject, verb near beginning) vs. Periodic*Parallel structure*Repetition*Sentence length *If you’re grammar savvy, include sentence types (simple, compound, complex, and compound – complex)More Aspects of SyntaxClimax – the main idea or most important point in a sentence. The position of the climax may be varied for effect.Cadence – the rhythm or “music” of a sentence that comes through parallel elements and repetition.Narrative pace – the pace or speed of a passage that comes through the following elements: *length of words*omission of words or punctuation*length of sentences*number of dependent/subordinate clauses *repetition of soundsThe shorter the words (fewer syllables) and the shorter and simpler the sentences, the faster the pace. Conversely, the longer the words (more syllables) and the longer, more complex the sentences, the slower the pace.The 3 P’s of SyntaxProminence: this refers to the importance given to an idea in a sentence. Prominence is achieved both by placement and repetition. Sometimes an idea is isolated in a short sentence where it is given sole prominence. If a word is ever set off alone as a fragment, it is being given prominence that best not be ignored. Instead, ask the question, “why is this word isolated?”Position: this means where the key idea is located. It will most often come at the beginning of the sentence (loose sentence) or at the end of the sentence (periodic sentence). But sometimes, writers use nonstandard syntax, or inverted word order (especially in poems), to draw attention to certain words or ideas.Pace: is the speed of the text and generally complements the author’s purpose. “Syntax” Words to use and become familiar with!CruxShifts (in tone, focus, POV, etc.)Rhetorical devicesRhetorical questionSentence Types: Simple CompoundComplexCompound-ComplexSentence BeginningsOrder of Ideas in Sentence*Natural*Split*InvertedChoppy SentencesLoose SentencePeriodic SentencePolysyllabic WordsBasic Punctuation (or lack of it)(or the overuse of it)Connecting or emphatic punctuation: colons, semicolons, dashesQuestion marksQuotation MarksExclamation MarkEllipses (or dash)ItalicsParenthesisCapitalization (or lack of it)Parallel StructureRepetitionTransitionsPhrases:*Participial*Gerund*Infinitive*Prepositional*Appositives Independent ClauseDependent Clause_adjective_adverb_noun27. Stream of Consciousness28. Coordinating conjunction29. Subordinating Conjunction30. Polysyndeton31. Asyndeton ................
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