Final answer:
Parallel structure in writing ensures balance and clarity, creating a consistent and coherent flow that enhances readability and retention. It is a rhetorical strategy that involves repeating similar grammatical constructs to emphasize ideas and link concepts effectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the lesson, parallel structure in writing helps maintain balance and clarity. This is because using parallelism, or the repetition of a word or grammatical construction, creates symmetry within a sentence. It not only makes an idea easier to remember and sounds pleasing to the ear but also facilitates consistency and precision in writing. The use of similar or equivalent constructions in phrases or clauses helps to emphasize an idea and ensure the writing flows seamlessly. This structural technique is evident in effective communication, such as in President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address, and contributes to the overall coherence of the text.