Are you in search of common mistakes to avoid in academic writing? Then you need to read this blog, which will provide you with all the information.
Every student writes an academic essay that is a complete failure.
It doesn’t get the grade you expected, there are comments and adjustments in the margins, or it gets a failing mark. It stings, it erodes your self-esteem, and it’s especially terrible when it occurs at the beginning of the school year. You are not, however, obligated to feel this way. If you want to create good academic essays, you must avoid making several frequent writing errors.
Year after year, as an academic writing coach and teacher, I’ve witnessed the five most common blunders students make in their essays.
1. Creating a thesis statement that is ambiguous
2. Inadequate data and proof to back up the thesis statement
3. Failing to consider and analyze their own ideas
4. Using an excessive amount of long and ambiguous language
5. They do not rewrite or edit their essays before submitting them.
Fortunately, you won’t have to make the same mistakes again because we’ll be looking into these issues in greater depth today. As a result, you can either fix or (better yet) avoid these problems!
5 Deadly common mistakes to avoid in academic writing
#1 Creating a thesis statement that is ambiguous
Your claim or point of view on an issue, as well as why or how you think it, is presented in a thesis statement. When a thesis statement is overly vague, it falls short of elucidating a point of view. Here’s an example of a too-broad thesis statement:
Students in high school should be forced to participate in community service for a half year.
One of the reasons that make this perplexing is that it doesn’t explain why high school students should perform six months of community service. Good thesis statements clarify why something is true to the reader.
What steps can you take to prevent this from happening?
This begs the question of why or how this claim is true in the first place. Here’s a revised version of the previous thesis statement:
Kids should be forced to undertake half a year of community service before graduating from high school because it teaches them how to make a difference in the world.
By responding to the inquiry, “Why?” I was able to correct this statement. “Could you explain why I believe the things I believe?” Following the addition of the word “because,” my response is completed.
Another form of the thesis statement is one that describes how something happens. In that case, ask yourself, “How does an argument or method come about?” To gain a greater understanding of something, always go beyond a generic description of what it is and ask yourself how and why it is.
#2 Inadequate data and proof to back up the thesis statement
This is sometimes due to a lack of evidence being offered. You’ve chosen a topic for your paper and written a thesis statement that isn’t well-supported by evidence. Sometimes it’s because you were more concerned with your own beliefs and ideas than with the evidence.
What steps can you take to prevent this from happening?
Look for proof and support before deciding on your thesis statement (you should know before you start writing an essay that you can support it). Many people do not commit enough time to the prewriting stage. As a result, they do not research their topics to see if there is evidence to support their positions. Look for possible sources before committing to writing an essay on a specific topic.
If you can’t find facts and proof to back up your claim, you shouldn’t write an academic essay about it. You should be able to construct a list of prospective subjects for your paper during the prewriting phase of the academic writing process.
#3 Failing to consider and analyze their own ideas
When someone offers information without explaining how or why they are showing a point, they make this mistake. When someone offers a quotation without providing any analysis or interpretation of what it means, for example, or when someone states a fact without debating it, this is an obvious example.
What steps can you take to prevent this from happening?
As you proceed, jot down a quick note about the relevance of the evidence you’re copying and collecting. “What does this mean?” should be the first question asked after every piece of evidence. These notes will help you add your analyses and ideas on the evidence you’ll need to back up your statements when you’re writing your essay.
Make a note of the locations in your paper where you have facts and quotations as you revise it. Then have someone else read it to see if you accurately conveyed the evidence. Write one if you don’t already have one.
#4 Using an excessive amount of long and ambiguous language
This error occurs when your sentences are long and contain a lot of words and phrases, making it harder to understand what you’re saying. A variety of sentence forms should be visible when someone reads your article. Complex and compound-complex linguistic constructs are balanced by simple sentences. It is easier for your reader to understand your point of view if you employ a range of terms.
Because people desire to appear “intellectual” most of the time, they misuse words and phrases that aren’t necessary or might be stated in a shorter amount of time, resulting in this problem.
What steps can you take to prevent this from happening?
You’ll be able to avoid this issue more regularly if you’ve had enough practice writing in a more compact manner. For the time being, I’ll provide you with some tips on how to recognize and fix the issue.
Use a different color than you did before to make your long sentences stand out. Take a peek at what they have to offer. Think about the following issues:
• Is it difficult to read, and if so, are there any changes I can make to make it easier to read?
• Can words and phrases be removed without affecting the meaning?
• Is it possible for me to split this sentence down into smaller chunks?
Have someone else read your essay to assist you to improve your writing skills in this area. You will most likely require advice on how to make your sentences more intelligible.
Hemingway Editor and Slick Write are two excellent online tools for modifying difficult-to-understand language.
#5 They do not rewrite or edit their essays before submitting them.
It’s obvious when someone hasn’t gone over their work with a fine-tooth comb. Not only are there errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation, but the essay’s subject is typically deficient.
Every academic essay you write should be revised and corrected because it can mean the difference between getting an A or B, a B or C, or a C and D.
The primary focus of revision is on an essay’s content and organization. Correcting problems in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and referencing style are what editing is all about. The reader can tell if you haven’t proofread something yourself since it’s clear. These flaws will be noticed by teachers and instructors since they require them to pause in the middle of their reading.
What steps can you take to prevent this from happening?
You should also make sure that the essay has a logical writing organization and that the writing flows properly to guarantee that your content is on-topic and supports your primary ideas and thesis statement.
To see if your content is sound and well-organized, you’ll probably need to work with someone who can read your rough draught and provide you input.
You can prevent making mistakes in spelling, grammar, and punctuation by giving yourself ample time to revise. If you’re having problems editing, I recommend making a self-editing checklist of things to look for as you go through the process. Your to-do list will help you focus on the mistakes you make on a regular basis.
Read your essay aloud, making sure that each sentence is correct. There are a few grammar and spelling checkers that can help, but none of them are perfect.
How to Avoid Common Writing Mistakes When Writing an Essay
It is feasible to amend or avoid specific writing blunders within the academic writing process. Prewriting, writing an outline, revising and editing your material, and finally putting in a final draft are all critical steps in the writing process. This will assist you in writing an essay that you are proud of and that you will like handing into a teacher.
However, if you fear you won’t be able to detect or address any of these issues on your own, seek feedback on your essays. You might be able to get help from a teacher or private tutor, or you might be able to get help from an educational writing group.
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