I need help with parallel structure. My essay is contrasting cats and dogs, with cats being the superior (sorry dog lovers). One paragraph is to be block method the other is to be point by point.
II. Body
A. Needs
1. Feeding
a. Cats
b. Dogs
2. Training
a. Cats
b. Dogs
3. Grooming
a. Cats
b. Dogs
4. Medicating
a. Cats
b. Dogs
B. Personalities
1. Cats
a. Playing
b. Vocalizing
c. Independence
d.
2. Dogs
a. Playing
b. Vocalizing
c. Independence
d.
I know some of these words aren't parallel. Also, do the topics and sub topics have to be parallel. I don't know if using gerunds and cat and dog would be correct.
Also what is another sub topic i could use for personalities or can anyone think of better ones?
Hold on while I look at all this...
The only parts that aren't parallel are the two instances where you have written "Independence" -- that word (r a word that gives the same meaning) needs to become a gerund.
Paragraph A is point-by-point, right? And paragraph B is block?
Now ... find another word for "independence" but in -ing form.
I'll be looking through the following; you should do the same:
http://www.answers.com
http://www.onelook.com
http://www.thesaurus.com
If you cannot come up with a gerund form of "independence," then you'll need to turn "playing" and "vocalizing" into noun forms to be parallel with "independence."
So everything else doesn't have to be parallel like needs and personalities and cats and dogs aren't gerunds but that's ok since they are a different part of the outline?
Needs and Personalities are parallel -- they are both nouns. (Level A and B)
Next level (1, 2, etc.) in A are all parallel -- all gerunds.
The only terms not parallel with others in their own level are the two instances of "independence."
Parallel structure is an important writing technique that helps create balance and clarity in your sentences and paragraphs. It involves using consistent grammatical structures for items or ideas that are being compared or contrasted.
In your essay, to improve parallel structure, you can revise the subtopics and sub-subtopics. Let's look at the paragraph you provided as an example:
II. Body
A. Needs
1. Feeding
a. Cats
b. Dogs
2. Training
a. Cats
b. Dogs
3. Grooming
a. Cats
b. Dogs
4. Medicating
a. Cats
b. Dogs
In this section, you can make it more parallel by using consistent grammatical structures. For example:
II. Body
A. Needs
1. Feeding
a. Cats
b. Dogs
2. Training
a. Cats
b. Dogs
3. Grooming
a. Cats
b. Dogs
4. Medicating
a. Cats
b. Dogs
B. Personalities
1. Cats
a. Playing
b. Vocalizing
c. Exhibiting independence
2. Dogs
a. Playing
b. Vocalizing
c. Exhibiting loyalty
In this revision, I changed "Independence" to "Exhibiting independence" and "Loyalty" to "Exhibiting loyalty" to maintain parallelism. This makes the structure of the subtopics consistent.
Regarding another subtopic to use for personalities, you can consider adding "Affection" as a sub-subtopic. For example:
B. Personalities
1. Cats
a. Playing
b. Vocalizing
c. Exhibiting independence
d. Showing affection
2. Dogs
a. Playing
b. Vocalizing
c. Exhibiting loyalty
d. Showing affection
This addition provides another point of comparison between cats and dogs and helps maintain parallel structure.
Remember, when revising for parallel structure, ensure that the grammatical structures used for each item or idea being compared or contrasted are consistent.