: Common Mistakes in Essay Writing and How to Avoid Them
The dirty dozen: common mistakes in essay writing and how to avoid them
Undergraduate research essays generally suffer from particular problems. This brief document highlights the most common problems and what can be done to avoid such problems. If your essays ends up being afflicted with any of these problems, we will put a number (with a circle around it) that pertains back to the listed problems in this document. For example if you find the number ‘3’ written on your essay, it pertains to problem ‘3’ thus you should keep a copy of this document to interpret your essay feedback.
The Research Essay
1. Essay is not in the right format
Your essay should be:
1. In 12 point font.
2. Double spaced.
3. Margin sizes of 2.54 centimetres (top, bottom, left and right)
4. Stapled in the top left hand corner.
5. No plastic sleeves
6. Have page numbers (preferably in the format of 1 of 6, 2 or 6, 3 or 6 etc.)
7. Cleared by Turtitin plagiarism (see Moodle website for instructions)
8. Clearly state the essay title at the beginning of the essay.
2. Essay is too short or too long.
The essay is supposed to be 2,500 words in length. This does not include references or bibliography. You can go over this by 250 words if you need to (i.e. a total of 2,500 words) but it should not be less than 2,250 words. Note requirements 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 that will allow me to clearly estimate the exact amount of words, not conforming to these requirements will immediately trigger suspicions your essay is too short or too long. If you have tables or diagrams these should generally go in the body of the essay where they should then be analysed and discussed. Please contact me in advance if you feel it is necessary to include appendixes.
3. Not answering the question
Make sure you answer the question. The best way to make sure you are doing this is to read the question carefully and to continually go back and make sure you have not strayed from the question.
Undergraduate research essays generally suffer from particular problems. This brief document highlights the most common problems and what can be done to avoid such problems. If your essays ends up being afflicted with any of these problems, we will put a number (with a circle around it) that pertains back to the listed problems in this document. For example if you find the number ‘3’ written on your essay, it pertains to problem ‘3’ thus you should keep a copy of this document to interpret your essay feedback.
The Research Essay
1. Essay is not in the right format
Your essay should be:
1. In 12 point font.
2. Double spaced.
3. Margin sizes of 2.54 centimetres (top, bottom, left and right)
4. Stapled in the top left hand corner.
5. No plastic sleeves
6. Have page numbers (preferably in the format of 1 of 6, 2 or 6, 3 or 6 etc.)
7. Cleared by Turtitin plagiarism (see Moodle website for instructions)
8. Clearly state the essay title at the beginning of the essay.
2. Essay is too short or too long.
The essay is supposed to be 2,500 words in length. This does not include references or bibliography. You can go over this by 250 words if you need to (i.e. a total of 2,500 words) but it should not be less than 2,250 words. Note requirements 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 that will allow me to clearly estimate the exact amount of words, not conforming to these requirements will immediately trigger suspicions your essay is too short or too long. If you have tables or diagrams these should generally go in the body of the essay where they should then be analysed and discussed. Please contact me in advance if you feel it is necessary to include appendixes.
3. Not answering the question
Make sure you answer the question. The best way to make sure you are doing this is to read the question carefully and to continually go back and make sure you have not strayed from the question.