Plagiarism
The first common mistake is plagiarism! You may be new to the term or not that familiar with it. Let us explain simply what it is and why you should never plagiarise in an essay paper or any writing. Here is a list of a few things that are classed as plagiarism
- Copying someone else’s work without proper citation or reference
- Turning someone else work into your own
- Not correctly citing or giving credit to the original author of the sentence which you used
- Using someone else’s work as your own and without credit
- Taking a concept or idea as your own
We have discussed in previous blogs a lot about plagiarism, so if you need more information do check them out! However, we can briefly go over how to avoid it. It is a very simple process and can be done with paraphrasing tools that are available online like Rewording. However, when using these tools do not simply copy and paste over the text. You still need to input your own ideas and thoughts into the original text. Remember to also cite your source and reference correctly. All information or text has been borrowed from somewhere. So, make sure to double-check you have cited the sources and given credit where needed.
Too many arguments which are not focused
You need to be focused and order your arguments carefully. Make your body flow correctly and have a meaning. This will give your essay a big boost compared to if your arguments are all over the place and do not link with one another. Again, this goes the same way for too few arguments. Make sure you have a balance and focus on arguments that support and make your argument more credible.
To ensure your arguments are credible and have a strong structure make sure to plan ahead and link points together carefully. By doing so make your essay more clear and have a nice flow for the reader. You only need a few arguments to make your essay strong, don’t overuse and don’t underuse.
The introduction is not focused enough
An introduction can make or break your essay. This section sets the “stage” for your essay and draws in your readers. In this section, you are here to persuade the reader why your essay is worth reading. Or in academic cases, why is your case/topic important.
The most common mistake is introducing an extreme amount of information and topics which are rarely discussed in the body text/discussion section and only mentioned in the introduction. The only time which these statements are mentioned are usually towards the end of the essay in the conclusion which makes readers confused and unaware of where this statement came from. So, make sure you elaborate on all the points you mentioned in your introduction and not just put them in the introduction.
Repetitiveness in your essay
Now you may think it is a good idea to reinstate your original argument over and over again. However, this at times can make your statement redundant and can make the reader feel like they are reading the same thing multiple times. Again this goes for your sentence structures, you need to make sure there is variety within your writing to make sure your essay does not feel boring and has variety for the reader.
However, you can still use repetition within your essay when writing. But, I emphasise that you use it with care. Only choose what is important to be repeated to the reader. Never overuse the key points, otherwise, you will break the flow of your essay. It’s neither bad nor good to repeat yourself in essays. Personally, I think you should use it carefully to make certain key points and statements clear, otherwise, you do not need to repeat yourself. The reader understands from the first point you already made, you don’t need to repeat it again.
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