Bad Essay Writing Examples and How to Avoid Them
Introduction
Writing essay is a common assignment that students have to complete across different subjects and at various education levels from high school through college. Many students struggle with essay writing and end up submitting work that demonstrates poor writing quality and skills. In this article, we will examine some common bad essay writing examples to avoid and provide recommendations for improving writing.
Lack of Clear Thesis Statement
One of the biggest mistakes students make is not including a strong, clear thesis statement. The thesis statement is a sentence that presents the main argument or point you will make in your essay and should be placed at the end of the introduction paragraph. Without a clear thesis statement, readers will not know the main point or stand you are taking on the topic. Make sure your thesis statement directly answers the essay question or prompt and presents your stance in a succinct but comprehensive way.
For example, if writing about the causes of the American Civil War, a weak thesis would be:
“This essay will discuss the American Civil War.”
A stronger thesis would be:
“The primary cause of the American Civil War was the debate over states’ rights versus federal authority that emerged from issues of slavery and secession.”
Not Having a Logical Organization
Essays should be organized logically to guide the reader through the ideas. Follow an outline with an introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs each discussing a main point, and a conclusion paragraph. Each body paragraph should have a topic sentence to introduce the paragraph’s idea and supporting details/evidence to back it up. Use logical transitions to connect ideas between sentences and paragraphs. Lack of cohesive organization will confuse readers and undermine your arguments.
For example, do not jump randomly between ideas or discuss supporting details before introducing the main point they relate to. Make sure each paragraph and sentence flows sensibly from the previous one with the use of transition words and phrases.
Insufficient Evidence and Examples
Doing research and including specific evidence and examples is vital for developing credible arguments in an essay. Using only broad generalizations or personal opinions without concrete evidence or data shows poor critical thinking and will not persuade readers. Make appropriate use of data, facts, statistics, direct quotes from experts/authorities on the topic and examples whenever possible to strengthen analysis and arguments. An essay with little to no evidence and examples demonstrates the writer did not thoroughly research or investigate the topic.
For instance, in a paper about declining bee populations, instead of just stating pesticides harm bees, provide a direct quote or statistic from a scientific study about links between a specific pesticide and bee die-offs. Cite where facts, quotes and data came from using proper citations. Avoid plagiarism by firmly acknowledging all outside sources.
Poor Use of Language
Sloppy or casual language without regards for grammar, spelling, punctuation and style will distract and undermine an essay’s credibility. Proofread carefully to correct all errors. Use academic style with formal language free of slang or contractions whenever applicable. Choose vocabulary purposefully to effectively convey meaning. Maintain consistency in verb tenses and avoid shifts between past and present tense. Sentence structure matters too – vary lengths and structure for a more engaging read.
For example, do not write as you would in a text or email with words like “gonna” – use appropriate variants like “going to.” Avoid run-on sentences or fragments and use clear, straightforward syntax. Use a dictionary to look up unfamiliar words. Consider having another set of eyes proofread to catch errors you may have missed. Applying basic writing conventions is necessary for a polished final product.
Weak Introduction and Conclusion
The introductory and concluding paragraphs frame an essay and leave a lasting impression on readers. An ineffective opening will turn readers off before they bother with the rest. The introduction should use an attention-grabbing opening to draw readers in and provide relevant context and background on the topic. The thesis should be the last sentence of the intro. Similarly, the conclusion should not just restate your thesis but synthesize main points and leave readers with final considerations to contemplate. Both sections require thoughtful composition.
For example, do not simply state your topic in the introduction or mirror the same opening paragraph verbatim in the conclusion. The intro and conclusion should bookend the essay cohesively yet be distinct sections conveying important framing context. Consider a relevant anecdote, quote, surprising fact or thought-provoking question to engage readers to start, ending with key takeaways and implications.
Improper Format
Students often lose points for failing to follow specified formatting guidelines such as font style/size, margins, pagination and citations/bibliography or reference list style. Proper formatting is important for readability and tells your reader you cared enough to present your work neatly. Pay careful attention to any given instructions or requirements for formatting from assignments or style guides. Consistency in presentation shows precision.
For example, if instructed to use 12 point Times New Roman font with 1-inch margins, do not instead use 14 point Arial font with 0.5 margins. If told to cite sources in APA format, ensure in-text citations and reference list follow current APA style guidelines precisely. Match requirements for pagination, title page formatting, running headers or other presentation specifics. Formatting may seem trivial but it reflects attention to detail.
Time Management
The biggest essay mistakes often result from poor time management. With enough lead time, essays can be finely crafted, but too many students cram at the last minute resulting in a rushed, disorganized effort. It’s easy to procrastinate, so plan backwards from the deadline by blocking out daily writing and research sessions. Break writing down into manageable steps over many short sessions, rather than one marathon session. Leave adequate time for multiple drafts, proofreading and revision.
For example, instead of writing an entire 10-page paper the night before, try writing one detailed outline and two solid draft pages per week until complete well ahead of deadline. Block out focused writing time in your calendar and avoid distractions during those periods to maximize work accomplished each session. Taking deadlines seriously ensures a well executed, thoughtfully composed final product. Meeting goals in chunks leaves flexibility for unexpected delays as well.
Being too Broad or Narrow
The topic and scope should suit the length and focus required. Broad topics risk superficial treatment and lack of depth due to word count limitations. Likewise, esoteric micro-topics may bore readers lacking sufficient context or relevance. Consider your audience and assignment parameters. For an undergraduate class paper, a too specialized topic may lack context for nonspecialists, and common knowledge topics lack original insights. A master’s thesis naturally requires more specificity.
For example, in a 1000-word essay “The impact of technology on society” may struggle to deeply cover effects across all areas of modern life, while “Comparing operating systems of X university computers from 1990 to present” risks boring readers unfamiliar with campus IT history. Scope must match space constraints while maintaining interest and analytical depth. Topics at the “just-right” middle ground of familiarity and specificity tend to work best.
Incorrect Tone and Voice
Academic writing generally uses a formal, objective tone appropriate to analytical rigor versus casual conversation. The level of formality also depends on discipline and intended audience. Maintaining a consistent, neutral tone helps establish credibility versus opinionated bias. Refer to “I” minimally and write in third person whenever possible for a more authoritative voice. Objectively present multiple perspectives without advocating for one prematurely.
For example, avoid slogans, slang, contractions and other informal language unless citing quotes directly. Do not open with dramatic personal stories or opinions before laying out objective context. Write to educate and inform readers versus persuade with strong emotive language or declarations until conclusions solidly backed. Employing the proper academic style and detachment enhances credibility.
Lack of Proofreading
Proofreading is perhaps the most important yet often skipped part of the writing process. Reading your own work critically, room to make corrections. Even excellent writers produce initial drafts requiring improvement. Nothing undermines an essay like persistent spelling, typo or grammatical errors easily fixed with another pass. Time set aside for revision helps refine structure and polish arguments as well as catch mistakes. Share drafts with peers so multiple pairs of eyes can offer constructive feedback before final submission.
For example, typos like “teh” instead of “the” or grammatical errors such as subject-verb disagreement should be caught and corrected. Rereading with a critical perspective catches needless words, repetition, inconsistencies or areas needing clarification. Printing a draft and physically editing it can reveal errors more easily than staring at a screen. Self-editing requires discipline yet dramatically enhances written work through improvement and proofreading.
Avoiding These Pitfalls
Implementing a few key strategies can help students sidestep many common mistakes in essay writing discussed earlier:
Carefully follow all assignment guidelines, formatting requirements and citation styles accurately.
Select a focused research question or thesis challenging but achievable within the scope and space allowed.
Develop a detailed outline to provide structure and ensure logical flow between introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion.
Support all statements and analysis with concrete evidence, data, credible sourcing and illustrative examples.
Draft, revise and edit multiple times to refine ideas, organization, phrasing and catch errors – share drafts for feedback.
Budget adequate time for research, planning, drafting, review and proofreading to submit highest quality work.
Apply consistent academic style with formal, objective third-person voice, domain-specific vocabulary and correct grammar/mechan
Andrew Stroud