Academic essays are an inescapable part of each student’s education. One of the most valuable abilities you may acquire during your college years is the ability to write properly. So you all should know how to avoid common essay writing mistakes.
Writing is a difficult task. It is, nonetheless, a part of our life, particularly when it is in the shape of required academic work. By now, you know how to write an essay and what makes a good essay. So, let us move on to how to avoid mistakes in essay writing.
We all want to avoid mistakes. If not in life, you can always avoid mistakes in essay writing.
These are Some of the Common Mistakes that you Must Avoid when Writing an Essay
1. Not Prioritizing the Thesis Statement:
Both your introduction and the essay as a whole should have a thesis statement. It becomes a common mistake when people neglect to include this argument in the most interesting area of the essay — the introduction.
A thesis statement presents your claim or point of view on an issue, as well as why or how you believe it. A vague thesis statement fails to explain your point of view.
Example of a vague thesis statement: Students in high school should be required to do a half year of community service.
This is unclear since it does not explain why high school students should do community service for a half year. A solid thesis statement explains all the reasons and your questions in brief.
How to Avoid this Common Mistake:
- This is the correct way of writing the above thesis statement: Community service should be required of high school students before graduation since it teaches them how to make a difference in the world.
- This was corrected by responding to the question, “Why?” What is the reason for my judgement?” The response is then completed by adding the word “because.”
- Always question yourself how and why before making a general claim about what something is.
- Always make your thesis statement engaging and clear.
2. Repeating Same Points or the Introduction:
People frequently repeat the first paragraph of their essays in the conclusion.
The conclusion, or last paragraph of your essay, is not the place to restate the introduction in new words. This section of the essay, rather than being a place of restatement, is extremely important and should not be overlooked.
Avoid repeating the same points. Repeating the same points shows you have done a weak research.
How to Avoid this Common Mistake:
- An effective essay conclusion should include an intriguing remark about what the essay demonstrated or concluded, as well as some fresh ideas for the reader.
- Raise more questions, consider more implications, or close your article with an interesting quotation.
- Never begin your conclusion by saying, “In conclusion.” When readers realize that this is your final paragraph, they will understand that this can only be the end of your essay.
3. Not Having Enough Evidence or Facts to Support your Thesis:
This is sometimes due to a lack of proof. You’ve picked a topic and prepared a thesis statement that isn’t backed up by many facts. Other times, it’s because you’ve been preoccupied with your own thoughts and opinions rather than the evidence.
How to Avoid this Common Mistake:
- Before you choose a thesis statement, look for proof and support. Many people don’t devote enough time to the prewriting stage. As a result, they do not assess their subject to determine whether there is evidence to back up their statements.
- Before you commit to writing an essay on a topic, look for references.
- You shouldn’t create an academic essay on a topic about which you can’t locate facts and supporting information.
- At the same time do not give too much information or facts. You should know how to balance.
4. Complex Structure:
Many students confuse the ability to write an essay with the ability to construct a complicated framework. When professors teach students to write a topic that follows the style guidelines, this does not imply that the essay must be difficult to read. It simply implies that the students must communicate the message in a clear and concise manner.
How to Avoid this Common Mistake:
- Excessive sentences and words should be avoided.
- Keep the essay’s main point in mind.
- In the essay, use simple constructions.
- To incorporate the information you wish to express, use simple sentences.
5. Lack of Original Ideas:
When someone give facts without explaining how or why they show a point, they make this error. One apparent example is when someone writes a quotation without analyzing or interpreting what it means, or when someone does not address a fact.
How to Avoid this Common Mistake:
Make a short note of what the evidence signifies as you’re copying and gathering it. With regards to each and every piece of proof, these notes will assist you in adding your analysis and opinions on the evidence you use when you create your essay.
Highlight where you have facts and quotations in your manuscript as you revise it. Then go through it again to check if you described what each piece of evidence means.
6. Wrong Formatting:
The content isn’t the only thing that matters in an essay. You should never overlook the formatting details, regardless of how you create the information. It won’t matter how beautifully your material is written if you do this. If an essay appears to be poorly written, it is likely to be judged as being one.
How to Avoid this Common Mistake:
- Select the appropriate style and format.
- Pay attention to the following details: paper size, font size, page numbers, margins, and spaces.
- Adhere to the general guidelines and directions.
7. Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is unethical and will not be tolerated by any professor or teacher. Moreover, with today’s technological advancements, we can readily detect plagiarism.
How to Avoid this Common Mistake:
- Make a list of the sources you’re using.
- Cite instances from the literature, scientific papers, and other sources.
- Make sure you cite the source of the concept you’re using.
- Never use a quote as your own sentence.
8. Not Proofreading and Editing the Essay:
When someone hasn’t corrected and edited their work, it’s clear. Not only are there errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation, but the topic of an essay is also weak.
Every academic essay you write should be revised and edited. The content and arrangement of an essay are the subjects of revision.
How to Avoid this Common Mistake:
- Ensure that your information is relevant to your primary points and thesis statement. Also, make sure the essay has a logical writing structure and that the writing flows properly.
- If you don’t know how to assess if your material is solid and well-organized, the best option would be to avail yourself of editing and proofreading services with someone who can read your early draft and provide input.
Conclusion
During the academic writing process, these writing errors can be corrected or avoided. Prewriting, writing a draft, revising, editing, and giving in a final draft are all steps in the creating process that can help you create an essay you’re happy with–one you’ll like turning in to a teacher.
However, we understand that it will be too much for you to be able to notice or address all of these problems on your own. So, it is advisable to seek help from editing services. They are great at what they do. Essay editing and proofreading services are always here to make your essay flawless.
-Isabell S.
