Most Common Mistakes in Student Essays

Writing and Studying Skills and Tips

Fret not, for we』ve all been there.  We』ve all gotten back essays with red marks strewn across them. Everyone makes mistakes.  Even professors.   Students, writers, and teachers all need a little reminder of what not to do.  So, we』ve compiled a list of the top ten mistakes made in student essays.  You may relate to some, and not to others.  Regardless, these are the most "popular" errors and little ways to avoid them in your next paper.

No thesis
Explanation:  As simple as it seems, most people often neglect the single most important sentence in the entire essay.  A thesis is your basic argument ― your "tag line." If you could sum up the debate in your essay in one sentence, this would be it: the thesis.
Fix:  While there are always exceptions to the rule, it is advisable to place your thesis statement at the end of your introductory paragraph.  It should consist of the general argument and the ways (evidence you plan to use) to prove it.
No conclusion
Explanation: People sometimes stop writing an essay before it ends.  A summary (or denouement) is always required in essay writing.
Fix: Very simple.  You do not need to add anything new (although you can) to this paragraph.  Just add an extra small paragraph to the end of your paper summarizing what you have just said.  Essentially your introductory paragraph more complex.
No evidence
Explanation: The evidence in essays is with documentation, research, quotations.  An essay without evidence proves absolutely nothing and will become pure opinion. Evidence makes fact.  Think of yourself as a lawyer and bringing in specific items to prove your point in a court of law.
Fix: Go to the library. Look on the internet.  You must have at least one piece of evidence (quotation, paraphrased idea) from a book, article, documented source, for each idea you try to prove.
Misuse of commas
Explanation: People use commas in different ways.  They are generally used in series of nouns and to separate to clauses in a sentence.  If this confuses you, then seek out a grammar book or ask your professor/teacher for help.  
Fix: Find a grammar book (we recommend STRUNK AND WHITE).  Look through your essay purely for commas.  If you are looking at your text for nothing more than commas, then you are sure to take out unnecessary commas and put in necessary ones.
Plagiarism
Explanation: Plagiarism is when you take another person』s writing, fact, text, and use it as your own.  Unfortunately, some students do this purposely, while others accidentally fall into the trap.
Fix:  Always, always, always cite your facts!  Document any quotation and all facts you use in your essays with either footnotes or internal documentation.  Do not make the mistake of forgetting to cite information that you have paraphrased. Sometimes (with picky professors) this can be considered plagiarism, too.
Spelling errors/Typos
Explanation: This is pretty self-explanatory.  Often, people leave spelling mistakes in their essays (which can be typos, but not necessarily), and lose easy points.
Fix: Do not simply use your computer』s spell-check feature, as it often overlooks words.  Do a read-through of your essay just for spelling.
Punctuation problems
Explanation: People also encounter punctuation problems often in essays, which includes semi-colon, colon, period, misplaced participles, etc.  
Fix: Read through your essay solely for punctuation.  Make sure you end every sentence with a period, exclamation mark, or question mark in the correct place.
Lack of transitional phrases
Explanation: When new paragraphs begin, they always need a transition, or a sentence ending the previous idea and leading into the next.
Fix: Go through your essay and look at beginning of each paragraph.  Read the paragraphs as independent mini-essays.  If they make sense alone, they probably have a transition.  If not, add just a simple sentence introducing the idea.
Lack of structure
Explanation: Essays, like buildings, need structure.  They need a beginning, middle, and an end. In the middle, they need substance.
Fix: Create an outline for your essay.  Follow it!
Repetition
Explanation: When an essay discusses the same idea in every single paragraph, it borders on boredom and repetition.  The writer obviously has little to say (and probably has done little work).
Fix: Make sure each paragraph has a different focus.  Use your outline to guide you.

How to Make and Use an Essay Outline

An essay outline is probably the most important friend you will have while writing your essay.  It is the scaffolding of your paper and the skeleton of your ideas.  It is the framework by which you will write a killer essay.  And frankly, it is difficult to write one without an outline.

When you begin writing an essay outline, use the following model as a guide:

I. INTRODUCTION:

Thesis:_____________________________________________________.

II. BODY PARAGRAPH 1:

Opening Sentence:___________________________________________.

Detail 1:____________________________________________________.

Detail 2:____________________________________________________.

Detail 3:____________________________________________________.

III. BODY PARAGRAPH II:

Transition/Opening Sentence:_________________________________.

Detail 1:____________________________________________________.

Detail 2:____________________________________________________.

Detail 3:____________________________________________________.

IV. BODY PARAGRAPH III:

Transition/Opening Sentence:_________________________________.

Detail 1:____________________________________________________.

Detail 2:____________________________________________________.

Detail 3:____________________________________________________.

V. BODY PARAGRAPH IV:

Transition/Opening Sentence:_________________________________.

Detail 1:____________________________________________________.

Detail 2:____________________________________________________.

Detail 3:____________________________________________________.

VI. CONCLUSION:

Reconfirmed Thesis:_________________________________________.

If you use this rough guide and fill in the blanks as you are researching your essay, you will find writing the essay so simple.  You have all you need in front of you.  It is researched and organized.  All you have to do now is fill in the blanks with transition words and smooth language.

How to Write an Essay

Essays are sometimes the most daunting assignments in school (and later on in the professional world). To students, the phrase runs, "You either have it or you don』t."  Writing skills. Some people can take an hour to write a masterpiece, while others slave over a page assignment for weeks.  

While they may be terrifying, they are manageable, controllable tasks that anyone can accomplish.  There are just a few steps to take and you will find yourself complete with essay in hand and time in the future.

Essays come in many forms: standard Five-Paragraph essay, Compare-Contrast essay, Application essay, Research/Term paper, Essay Exam, and so on.  Many teachers and professors will design a specific essay questions for you, that you will then have to answer in their designated fashion.

Regardless of the , follow the following general steps and you will be able to write an essay of any sort.  Writing is not a simple deed.  However, as opposed to tests, you will not be forced to memorize data for a single hour.  Rather, you can research and formulate your own thoughts, expressing your knowledge in a personal way.  This latter example is a major reason many people prefer essays to other forms of factual testing.

Read and comprehend the essay topic/question
Reread the question several times to make sure you truly understand what it is asking.  People often write an essay that has nothing to do with the topic.  Discuss it with your teacher or other students.

Research the topic
Go to the library, internet, read some books, look over your notes.  Hone in on the specific question at hand and read information pertaining to it.

Write an outline
As elementary as it seems sometimes, outlines are the scaffolding for all successful writing.  It does not have to be a formal outline, but just sketch out the order of your essay in some method that you understand.

Write a thesis statement
The thesis statement is the foundation of your essay.  Write that one sentence that argues the point, the debate, the crux of your essay.  It will be the final sentence of your introduction and the starting point for the rest of the writing.

Write the paper
Just write. It does not have to be a masterpiece as you write that first draft.  Just get something on paper that you can eventually mold into a final product.

Edit the paper for content
Edit the paper to make sure you are staying on target, following your thesis, and have enough supporting evidence to prove your thesis.

Edit the paper for grammar
Give your essay a quick look solely for grammatical problems (spelling, punctuation, transitions, and so on).

Have someone else read over the essay
Even the most accomplished writers have editors.  Sometimes you can become "immune" to your own writing and are unable to see what makes sense and what does not make sense.  Let someone else read over it to make sure that your argument is cohesive.

Print the paper
Printers can sometimes distort your paper, no matter how well written.  Print it out a day or so in advance in order to take care of any last minute errors.

Turn it in!