Common Essay Errors
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Transcript of Common Essay Errors
Common Essay Errors
Formatting italicize or underline book title!indent paragraphsfont size (12 pt)spacingcomma placement (always inside quotation
marks, avoid comma splices)
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
Thesis StatementCreate a thesis statement that responds to the prompt. It
doesn’t have to be word for word, especially if a word in the prompt, like aesthetically, is in a form that doesn’t agree. Use synonyms. Ex: In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley posits that humans are negatively influenced by society.
Your thesis statement should be arguable
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/
Word Choice and AnalysisRedundant/repetitive analysis or word choice.
If you don’t have anything else to say about the point you’re making, move on
Avoid using the same word of phrasing in rapid succession
http://ezinearticles.com/?Writing-Tip:-Repetitive-Word-Choice&id=406576
Word ChoiceAvoid colloquial/informal language and
contractions
Word Flow Read your essays out loud or have someone
read it to you
Apostrophe UseApostrophes indicate contractions or
possession, not pluralization
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/apostrophe
Writing about a novelIntroduce characters- audience as general
reader, not your teacher
Length Requirement 3-5 pages means three full pages minimum
DO NOT mess with the formatting to meet the
page requirement. It's obvious.
Integrating QuotesShouldn’t be a stand alone sentence with no
introduction or analysis
Handout: Practice
Your quotesDirections: Identify four quotes (minimum) that
you would like to use in your essay. Practice how you will integrate them.
Reflection Do you commonly make any of these errors?
How do you plan to address them in your Frankenstein essay?