| While writing comes naturally for some people most | | | | perspective is commonly seen in opinion or evaluation |
| everyone else has to make a conscious and | | | | papers, from the writer's point of view. |
| concentrated effort to get the appropriate words on | | | | Fragments and Run On Sentences |
| paper. It is not only the words, but also the | | | | Students commonly find themselves either with a |
| formatting, spelling and grammatical errors that often | | | | long winded sentence or one that is not a complete |
| plague the common student's essay. There are a | | | | idea. This is a very common problem among |
| number of reasons for this; however it can be easily | | | | professional writers. Generally, individuals will either |
| corrected with a little bit of time and effort. After all | | | | have trouble with one or the other, but in some |
| this essay could mean not receiving the acceptance | | | | cases both issues are a problem. Spell check will catch |
| letter desired or a failing grade. It is important to | | | | fragments and run on sentences for the writer to |
| ensure that anything from a letter to a full blown | | | | correct before turning the essay in. Run on |
| research paper is correct and reads well because it is | | | | sentences are easy to spot because they are two |
| a direct reflection on yourself. This article will cover | | | | independent sentences sandwiched together. They |
| the common errors of essay writing and a few tips | | | | can be corrected by simply adding punctuation, and |
| to help alleviate those issues. | | | | therefore separating the sentences. For fragment |
| Spelling - Not Only Spell Check | | | | sentences it is important to express a freestanding |
| Spell check is one of the most wonderful inventions | | | | idea in the sentence. Below are examples of both: |
| ever. It helps everyone, not only students with | | | | RUN ON: Logan loves to color he is a talented artist. |
| ensuring the words on their paper are spelled | | | | (This would sound better if it were broken down into |
| correctly. Over the years we have all learned to spell, | | | | two - it crams two complete thoughts together.) |
| but there are those specific words that give us | | | | Fragment: Such as dogs, cats and horses. (This |
| trouble each and every time. Many of us have | | | | sentence can not stand alone and make sense - |
| become dependent on the computer for alternate | | | | what about dogs, cats and horses? What the author |
| words, spelling and catching grammatical errors, but | | | | means is unclear.) |
| we also have to remember that the computer is not | | | | Not Proofreading |
| 100% error proof. By this point you fully realize that | | | | Proof reading is not all that fun and no one likes to |
| different words can have different meanings as well | | | | do it, but it is imperative for a well written essay. As |
| as alternate spellings. Though spell check is a very | | | | we pointed out earlier spell check does not catch |
| efficient tool there are items that it simply does not | | | | every type of error that can be found in typical |
| catch. This doesn't mean that spell check leaves | | | | writing. It only takes a few minutes to read over |
| words incorrectly spelled; it means that the word | | | | each and every sentence ensuring that they are |
| that you intended may not be the word that is | | | | complete thoughts, have the correct words and |
| included in the paper. For example words such as | | | | make sense. Proof reading increases grades by about |
| there and their are commonly mistaken in the | | | | 10 to 20 points every single time. Most professors |
| context of the sentence. The computer is logical, but | | | | and teachers claim that if the students would have |
| is not able to apply common sense to wording. | | | | reread or proofed the paper before turning it in, they |
| Improper Person | | | | would have received a much better great. In many |
| Almost every student has a problem with writing in | | | | cases those extra points could mean the difference |
| the wrong perspectives at some point or another. | | | | between passing and failing the entire class, or gaining |
| This is a very common problem and can be | | | | entrance into a school of choice. If possible having |
| addressed with a little bit of understanding. The two | | | | someone else read over the paper or proof it as well |
| most common perspectives of writing are the first | | | | can help, sometimes the author understands the |
| and third person. The second person perspective is | | | | concept, but the reader may not be able to |
| generally not required for most college, high school or | | | | understand. |
| other academic papers unless otherwise specified. In | | | | The best advice in writing a good essay is to slow |
| most cases the third person perspective is used | | | | down and follow the guidelines to ensure a quality |
| when it applies to everyone and not any one person | | | | paper. All of the steps must be followed or it is likely |
| specifically. First person refers to the author or the | | | | that the paper will have errors and will receive a poor |
| individual writing the paper. The first person | | | | grade. |