In your first draft, you may have a lot of mistakes and misspellings. You can do some editing to fix these errors, but it’s still not enough. The next part of your essay should be stronger than the draft.
You should work on two things: your Introduction and organization.
Also, look for errors in your writing that may be highlighted by electronic grading. Ultimately, you should improve your writing as much as possible.
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Table of Contents
Introduction is weak
An introduction to a poorly graded essay is one of the main factors that determine the overall grade of your essay. In most cases, your introduction should be clear, concise, and well-organized. It should also be the narrowest part of the inverted pyramid, as it states the overall point of your paper.
To improve your essay, follow these tips. Incorporate your connection to the topic in your introduction. This will grab the reader’s attention and make the transition to the main point of your essay smooth.
You should provide your audience with the context for your paper by using your thesis statement. Using a professional thesis writing statement should establish your point of view on the issue and indicate exactly which aspects of it you plan to address in your paper. Ask yourself, “What does this sentence tell me about my topic?”
Write a shorter introduction. A short title will draw the reader into your paper. It should also indicate what your essay is all about and entice them to read more. An interesting introduction can also draw readers to the entire paper.
Remember, the introduction is the most important part of your essay, and it should be written well! If you do, you’ll have a much higher chance of earning a good grade.
Wordy writing
In an essay, wordiness is an obvious problem that can ruin your grade. Wordiness takes many forms, including redundancy, filler, and too much repetition of words.
Neither of these features will help you win admission to a prestigious school nor score a high grade on an exam. But you can avoid wordiness by adopting some best practices and avoiding common writing mistakes.
As a general rule, use fewer words when you can say the same thing more simply. A good way to avoid this problem is to write more concisely and use action verbs rather than forms of to be. For example, never use two words when one will do. Similarly, avoid utilizing half-phrases with many words. It’s much more effective to use short analogs.
During revision, check your text for excessive repetition. If you have two or three sentences that are too long, try rewriting them to eliminate unnecessary words.
You might notice wordiness in the middle of a sentence by noticing the repetition of a word or phrase. This can lead to poor coherence and make your text unclear to the reader. Luckily, there are some easy solutions to fixing wordiness.
Unclear sentences
Writing is an art. A student should avoid using vague sentences in their essays. They lack substance and concreteness. A good amount of research can be wasted if the language is too vague. An academic essay should present facts in a clear, concrete manner and provide specific detail. Using unclear language can make a student’s essay look amateurish and unprofessional. Nevertheless, it can also confuse.
When composing an essay, always ensure the flow is smooth and the paragraphs are logically linked. Identify any passive verbs and make sure they do not repeat the same words. Be sure to properly document all of your sources and format the reference section. Proofread your essay for errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Read it out loud and ask yourself whether you understand it well enough.
In addition to the technical issues, students should avoid rewriting the essay themselves because they may not have learned from the feedback. Therefore, teachers should try to avoid rewriting sentences. They should also avoid pointing out gaps in logic and confusing language. Rather than rewriting sentences, they should make a note in the margin indicating the error and prompt the student to come up with a solution.
Spelling and grammar errors
Students are often frustrated to find spelling and grammar errors after they have submitted their college applications. Many students panic and call counselors for help, only to discover that they made even the simplest of errors. While a small grammar or spelling mistake won’t kill your chances, it can cause nightmares for your future. To avoid this scenario, make sure to check your essay for any mistakes that could cause a poor grade.
Detecting nonword errors requires consideration of the variety of word forms and various causes of these errors. True word errors should be corrected according to context and semantic accuracy. Spelling and grammar rules apply to nonword errors, not just to nonword errors. Incorrect sentence structure may indicate an inability to read or understand a passage. Correcting sentence structure with boundary disambiguation rules can reduce the likelihood of errors.
Proofreading is essential to avoid the risk of making mistakes. While spell-checkers can save time and eliminate grammatical errors, they cannot replace human proofreading. Make sure you take enough time for each draft and practice using tools to improve your proofreading skills. Make a list of frequent mistakes that you make and use these as a reference when proofreading. Make a buddy system of two people who read your work for you. It will ensure that everyone checks each other’s work to catch mistakes.
How to avoid it
Students may not realize it, but it is easy to get stuck grading an essay. There is so much to do that the process can become a rabbit hole. Luckily, there are a few strategies that can help you stay focused and avoid going down the rabbit hole. One of these methods is to set a timer. Setting a timer is not the same as racing against a clock, but it can help you focus on the trees instead of the rabbit.
Conclusion
The conclusion is the last part of an essay. It should summarize the body’s arguments and re-state the thesis. If possible, the conclusion should also discuss some broader implications of the main idea. In this way, the reader will know why the essay was written. If it is not, it is a mistake and should be eliminated from the essay. Besides, it does not make sense to repeat evidence that was already presented in the body.
The conclusion should leave the reader thinking – and ideally, nodding in agreement. Depending on the topic, this may be as simple as stating a thought-provoking question or quoting a powerful quote from the research.
A good quotation will illustrate the main idea of the essay, while broader scenarios may provide some food for thought. For example, the thesis of Virginia Woolf may have implications for feminists in the future.
It is also important to follow the proper essay format. If you are writing an essay, follow the proper formatting guidelines to ensure that your paper flows smoothly.
When writing a conclusion, be sure to cover all the points you’ve discussed in the main body of the essay. Remember, the conclusion is also the last part of the essay that a reader reads. If the conclusion doesn’t communicate your ideas well, it will hurt the grade.
