1. Common Errors Seen in Essays
The following information is intended to help you write a better rough draft. In writing a better rough draft, hopefully you will create a well-written final draft. By creating a well-written final draft, in theory you will earn a respectable grade. Earning a better grade allows your parents and me the opportunity to be proud of you. If we are proud of you, one of us may buy you a new car!

2. Common Errors Seen in Essays
Yeah, right!
The chances that writing a great essay will get you a new car are slim, but you should STILL pay attention to this power point.
After all, (whether you’re willing to admit it or not) you would rather do well on the final product than horribly!

3. Common Errors Seen in Essays
All of your sentences should have a subject and a verb. In other words each sentence should be a complete thought.
Your sentences should also vary … meaning you should have a variety of sentences structures.
Your DGP notes include examples
of simple, compound, and
complex sentences.

4. Common Errors Seen in Essays
If all of your sentences were simple sentences that would be BORING!
This story had a setting.
Imagery was used a lot.
Its mood was dark.
THESE ARE ALL SIMPLE SENTENCES AND A “SNORE FEST!”

5. Common Errors Seen in Essays
A Compound Sentence looks like this:
The author heightened suspense by leaving the cause of the accident unknown, so the point of view was quite limited.
A Complex Sentence looks like this:
The main character was forced to exercise self-control, which began to emerge as a central theme throughout the story.

6. Common Errors Seen in Essays
Be careful with subordinating conjunctions like because.
I like cheeseburgers. Because they
taste good to me. (NO!)
I like cheeseburgers because they taste
good to me. (YES!)
Because they taste good to me, I like cheeseburgers. (YES!)

7. Common Errors Seen in Essays
More about because……
There is NEVER a comma before the word because.
Trust me. I KNOW what I’m
talking about!

8. Common Errors Seen in Essays
In a formal essay (and this WILL BE a
formal essay) you should not have the
following:
Contractions---do not write didn’t; instead write did not
(2) Abbreviations---do not write TV; instead write television (don’t use “&” either, for example)
(3) Mnemonics---letters like IDK in place of I don’t know

9. Common Errors Seen in Essays
Also…..
(3) Spell out numbers less than 100
(4) The final copy should be written in blue
or black ink (No pencil will be accepted)
(5) Skip lines
(6) Do not write on the back of
your paper

10. Common Errors Seen in Essays
And just so you know…..
A lot is TWO words!!!
If you write alot it will be considered a
spelling error, and I will take off two points!

11. Common Errors Seen in Essays
Be mindful of “splitting up” or hyphenating
words at the end of the line.
If you don’t want to be guilty of this common error, simply avoid it all together.
If you must though, make sure you break
the word up at its complete syllable.
Examples: dig-ging; read-ing

12. Common Errors Seen in Essays
Here are a few more rules…..
Never break up a one-syllable word.
Never hyphenate a word that already has a hyphen.
Never split a proper noun (any noun starting with a capital letter).
Never leave one or two letters on either line.
Never put the first or last letter of a word at the end or beginning of a line.
Never start the new line with two-letter suffixes.

13. Common Errors Seen in Essays
Again, to be on the safe
side simply avoid
splitting up your words
all together!

14. Common Errors Seen in Essays
Keep in mind that your teacher has
assigned you this essay; therefore, there
are a few things you should NEVER
write in your essays!
Are you paying
attention??

15. Common Errors Seen in Essays
For example:
In this essay I am going to explain…..
In the following paragraph I will….
These are the reasons why…
Now you know about….
I hope you enjoyed reading my essay….

16. Common Errors Seen in Essays
As you prepare to write the rough draft of
your body paragraphs, you will need to
include transitional words or phrases.
Transitional words or phrases help your
writing “flow” better. They assist the
writer in going from one thought to
another, one idea to next, or even one
paragraph to the following one.

17. Common Errors Seen in Essays
You MUST have TWO transitional words
or phrases per body paragraph. You are
being given a very limited list of transitions.
You must choose from this list only.
Why?? You lack experience with these
types or words/phrases; therefore, I see
students using them incorrectly in their
writing all the time!

18. Common Errors Seen in Essays
Transitional words or phrases from which
you should choose:
First
Second
Third
Next
For example
For instance
Finally
In conclusion

19. Common Errors Seen in Essays
Make sure the transitional words or phrases are placed correctly. Do not just plug them in anywhere to fulfill the requirement.
Again, you must use TWO transitions per body paragraph.
Additionally, use a transitional word or phrase only once. Soooo, after you have written “third”, do not use it again.

20. Common Errors Seen in Essays
I have graded NUMEROUS essays,
and the same problems tend to
come up every year.
APPLY the information you have been
exposed to today in order to produce
a better essay.