What is the single biggest essay or term paper writing mistake—and how can I avoid it?

Answer 1

There are of course many mistakes that students make when writing essays or term papers. The single biggest mistake of all, however, is probably failing to articulate a clear thesis statement or argument (which usually belongs in the introduction).

A paper without a clear thesis statement is probably a paper that lacks focus and direction, written by someone who has not taken enough time to think through the assignment.

If you want to produce a quality essay, force yourself to formulate a clear thesis statement that you incorporate into your introduction. Let it sit for a while and then review it, putting yourself in the place of the reader. From the perspective of a reader—not your own perspective—ask yourself:

1. Does the thesis statement seem clear to you?
2. Does it give you a sense as to where the essay will be leading you?
3. Does the thesis argument interest you enough to make you want to read further?

Try reading the thesis statement out loud to someone you know who is willing to listen: your boyfriend, your girlfriend, your roommate, your mother. The simple act of reading the statement out loud will probably make you more aware of how it might be improved.

Only when your thesis statement has met the tests just described are you really ready to proceed with the final drafting of the paper.

Answer 2

Not having a clear thesis statement! I read a huge amount of papers that have no clear main argument, which can easily derail the entire paper.

Answer 3

The most common issue I see in essays is poor organization. Not only is this pitfall common, but it is also crippling to the overall quality of the work.

Without proper structure, even the most well-researched and thought out essays are disjointed and ineffective. Moreover, without a proper template for how they should structure an essay, many students get overwhelmed and may succumb to "Writers Block." It's not uncommon for a student to come to me - thinking they lack the right arguments or evidence - only to realize their structure is to blame.

That's why I start every writing session with a review of proper essay organization.