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?