Common Essay Flaws

Ingy · September 04, 2015, 12:21:34 AM

Well I'm in my junior year of high school and I'm working on my essay writing

Most common mistake I see/do is "I believe" or "In my opinion"
It's hard to find other ways to replace these words
Anyone got anything that sounds better?

Also
I get trapped in a structure form and my first draft ends up looking like a repetitive cut and paste job
Any tips on how to get out of this?

What're other writing problems you guys see and how do you fix them?
I need everything I can get to improve my English grade

thanks babes

Verbatim · September 04, 2015, 12:24:07 AM

No one knows how to use commas.

cxfhvxgkcf-56:7 · September 04, 2015, 12:25:30 AM

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Verbatim · September 04, 2015, 12:25:45 AM

Quote from: ॐ Nuka on September 04, 2015, 12:24:15 AM

Protip: never write in the first person. Ever. Instant fail in college courses.

Well, that heavily depends on the course, as well as what you're writing.

Verbatim · September 04, 2015, 12:27:11 AM

...No shit.

cxfhvxgkcf-56:7 · September 04, 2015, 12:28:09 AM

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Verbatim · September 04, 2015, 12:28:50 AM

also

LOL OP IS ONLY A JUNIOR IN HS!?

that explains so much
there's hope for you yet, kid

cxfhvxgkcf-56:7 · September 04, 2015, 12:30:21 AM

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Verbatim · September 04, 2015, 12:30:54 AM

You could just break that down to "know how to follow basic instruction."

Ingy · September 04, 2015, 12:36:06 AM

Quote from: Verbatim on September 04, 2015, 12:28:50 AM

also

LOL OP IS ONLY A JUNIOR IN HS!?

that explains so much
there's hope for you yet, kid

Dude I can literally see your virginity so don't be talking like you got spunk, bub

Verbatim · September 04, 2015, 12:38:36 AM

Quote from: Ingloriouswho98 on September 04, 2015, 12:36:06 AM

Dude I can literally see your virginity so don't be talking like you got spunk, bub

you literally were a freshman when i was a senior

LOL

Doctor Doom · September 04, 2015, 12:39:15 AM

Quote from: Verbatim on September 04, 2015, 12:28:50 AM

also

LOL OP IS ONLY A JUNIOR IN HS!?

that explains so much
there's hope for you yet, kid

The 98 in his name was a giveaway. He's three years younger than us, so yeah, a junior in high school.

...And now I just realized it's been three damn years since I've been a junior in high school. Time flies.

Ushan · September 04, 2015, 12:43:53 AM

Quote from: ॐ Nuka on September 04, 2015, 12:24:15 AM

Protip: never write in the first person. Ever. Instant fail in college courses.

Can confirm.

Creative writing professor threw me out of class when I wrote in first person.

Ingy · September 04, 2015, 12:57:55 AM

Quote from: Verbatim on September 04, 2015, 12:38:36 AM

Quote from: Ingloriouswho98 on September 04, 2015, 12:36:06 AM
Dude I can literally see your virginity so don't be talking like you got spunk, bub
you literally were a freshman when i was a senior

LOL

Verby you haven't gotten much further in life than I have so don't use age as a measurement of success

Verbatim · September 04, 2015, 12:58:55 AM

Quote from: Ingloriouswho98 on September 04, 2015, 12:57:55 AM

Verby you haven't gotten much further in life than I have so don't use age as a measurement of success

who said i was doing that

LOL so insecure

🍁 Aria 🔮 · September 04, 2015, 01:02:55 AM

Quote from: ॐ Nuka on September 04, 2015, 12:24:15 AM

Protip: never write in the first person. Ever. Instant fail in college courses.

Unless you're writing a narrative, or otherwise told to.

"You" is a big no, though. Never use "you". It projects assumptions onto the audience, and it generally turns would-be readers away.

September 04, 2015, 01:05:58 AM

When I see essays from others?
Your and you're
Whose and who's
When one improperly uses "whom" or "who".

TB · September 04, 2015, 01:08:54 AM

Quote from: Verbatim on September 04, 2015, 12:28:50 AM

also

LOL OP IS ONLY A JUNIOR IN HS!?

that explains so much
there's hope for you yet, kid

He called him a kid! He called him a kid!

September 04, 2015, 01:09:28 AM

Quote from: ॐ Nuka on September 04, 2015, 12:29:11 AM

That's kind of my point. So basically don't write in the first person unless the professor gives you the green light to do so.

Anecdotes can sometimes involve personal experiences.

velox · September 04, 2015, 02:09:48 AM

I always found writing "scientifically" easier than my classmates seemed to do in high school, so I guess I'll do fine with that now in college.

Like, my classmates seemed to have the hardest time writing "it was done this way" instead of "we did it this way".

Zonda · September 04, 2015, 02:13:51 AM

Quote from: Ingloriouswho98 on September 04, 2015, 12:21:34 AM

Most common mistake I see/do is "I believe" or "In my opinion"
It's hard to find other ways to replace these words
Anyone got anything that sounds better?

"It can be argued..." "One could argue..." etc. Although in my final year of High School, the teacher occasionally allowed personal pronouns to be used in Essays.

Ingy · September 04, 2015, 06:41:38 AM

Quote from: Verbatim on September 04, 2015, 12:58:55 AM

Quote from: Ingloriouswho98 on September 04, 2015, 12:57:55 AM
Verby you haven't gotten much further in life than I have so don't use age as a measurement of success
who said i was doing that

LOL so insecure

Dude when did you turn into a total 12 year old?