6 Major Weaknesses That Can Doom Your College Essay

You want to be successful when entering college, but you have to write an essay for an English class. You know what that means: you will have to write an essay. Not only that, but your English teacher will probably give you a grade on it, which will be based on your general writing skills, as well as your command of the language. Those are some major factors to consider when it comes to writing an essay.

You’ve written what you think is a great college essay. You’ve taken the time to research and write the essay. You’ve even spent time editing it. Maybe you’ve sent it to a professor or two with a note (preferably anonymous) about how good it is. But the whole time you’ve been writing you’ve been worrying about one thing: what if it ends up in the hands of a random classmate? What if they don’t like it? What if they think it’s stupid? What if they think it’s the greatest thing their teacher has ever seen? Worse, what if they read it, understand it, and copy it for their own essay?

Source: pexels.com What separates two of the best writer in your class? It is a minor writing issue that most students ignore. Some have the most brilliant ideas but still fail to get the top mark because of minor weaknesses. 123termpapers can ensure that you submit the most solid paper that will earn you a top grade. Most students have a general understanding of academic writing. However, there are minor issues that if addressed would turn every student into an academic writing powerhouse. Here are some of the weaknesses each student should address to improve on essay writing in college.

1. A Weak Topic

Source: unsplash.com The first encounter a reader has with your paper is through the topic. Readers will pick your paper over any other because of the promise captured in the topic. The topic, therefore, serves as the packaging that will capture the eye of a roaming reading. A captivating topic holds a lot of promise that any reader would want to know more about your paper. Once it has grabbed the attention of a reader, it must promise an interesting and entertaining academic engagement. For this reason, you must choose and craft your topic in such a way that it will capture the imagination of a reader, especially compelling him to open and read your paper. What then makes a strong topic?

• Relevance – a strong topic is relevant to your area of study and the current industry trends. Choose a topic that will address the present concerns in your area of study. A reader seeing your paper will identify a solution.
• Interesting – craft the topic in such a way that it promises several hours of interesting academic engagement. You achieve this with your choice of words, their order, and formatting. For instance, you may use questions, ellipsis, punctuation marks, and such other effects to raise suspicion on the subject of discussion.
• Strong – it is especially important to make time valuable for anyone seeing your paper. A strong essay topic is a promise that the ideas discussed are academically engaging and rewarding. Avoid obvious topics and suggestions of conclusions on your topic.
• Fresh – keep away from mundane topics. Present new information and perspectives to your readers. No reader will spend time on regurgitated topics and content.

Passion is a great guide when choosing a topic. It helps you to craft an insightful paper and will motivate your research to deliver the most compelling paper. Endeavor to capture the imagination and interest of your potential readers by giving your essay the best title imaginable.

2. Missing Instructions

Tutors use instructions as a checklist when grading your paper. You must adhere to every entry on the instructions provided. It is these instructions that standardize your work and reveal whether you have understood what your teacher taught in class. Instructions direct you on the route to follow when writing your paper. Failure to follow one entry on the instructions will result in a fundamentally different paper. An example is the formatting style to use. A paper formatted in APA is significantly different from one formatted in MLA. Such differences will cause your supervisor or the department to reject your paper. Instructions issued could be difficult to understand. Do not commence writing your paper until every instruction issued is clear. It amounts to starting a journey without knowing the route. You will end up at a different destination. Consult your tutor or supervisor in case any instruction is not clear. You may also request an essay example from online writing services. Samples available in the library or online databases will also help you to understand and execute writing instructions.

3. Poor Grammar

Source: newyorker.com Language is the medium you use to express your ideas. Poor grammar will mean that your ideas are not understood or are misrepresented. Your target should be to present the most grammatically polished essay during submission. Each academic level demands a better understanding of grammar. You must read more academic papers and write intensely to master language for academic purposes. Consult your tutor regularly to discuss any challenges you may be experiencing with grammar. Learn online or hire a coach to review your essays and recommend areas that need improvement.

4. Wrong Formatting

Formatting refers to the organization of your paper. It is a standardized way of presenting different sections so that other scholars and readers can follow through with your discussion. Instructions on formatting are provided at the beginning of your essay. You must adhere to these instructions to stand a chance of earning a top grade. How can you end up with the wrong formatting? Well, it begins when you do not understand the instructions in the first place. You take a different formatting route. In other cases, you might not be conversant with the formatting style recommended. Review these instructions and revise the formatting style indicated. By the time you begin writing your paper, you will be certain that you are taking the correct formatting route.

5. Failure to Edit

Source: unsplash.com Errors on your essay will instantly downgrade an essay that would have earned an A+. The errors could be typographical, poor choice of words, formatting, or missing punctuations, among others. Avoid these mistakes by completing your paper early to leave some time for editing. Hire an external editor or pass the paper through your peers and seniors for third-eye scrutiny.

6. Late Submission

The weakness might not be inside the essay but it will kill an excellent essay. Some departments deduct marks when you submit the paper after the deadline. Plan your time in such a way that you complete the paper way before the deadline. It leaves enough room for emergencies that may delay your submission. Minor elements in your essay will earn you the best grade. The secret is to review the instructions provided and adhere to them throughout your writing process. Hire an editor or use your peers to peruse through the paper before submission.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some writing weaknesses?

While the introduction to your college application essay is non-negotiable, there are other parts of your application you can tweak to make the process easier. One major weakness to look for is “lack of evidence” or “lack of evidence that seems relevant.” You want to make sure that the evidence you provide (essay, work experience, letters, etc.) supports your unique perspective and shows you are an exceptional student and person. When a student is tossed into the writing waters of college, they are thrown into the deep end—drowning in words and ideas. Without a strong foundation or a few keystrokes, it can be difficult to keep up. So what are some writing weaknesses that can doom your college essay?

How do you write your weaknesses in an essay?

Writing your weakness into an essay is hard. It is easy to highlight the strengths of your arguments. It is easy to see the strengths of the people you have written against and praise them. We are all so used to looking at other people’s strengths. It is easy to see what they have done well and praise them for it. We don’t like to see our own weaknesses. Yet, there is no other way to really understand a person’s strengths. And there is no better way to truly understand a person’s weaknesses than to write a good essay about it. The best college essay topics are the ones that fit your personal strengths. And, as a college student, you are probably very aware of your own strengths—and weaknesses. But you probably do not know the best way to communicate your strengths and weaknesses to a potential interviewer.

How do you introduce strengths and weaknesses in an essay?

Ever notice how some people don’t realize they have a weakness until you point it out? This is a common occurrence in college admissions essays, and the result is a missed opportunity to help the admissions committee understand your future. Your essay is one of the most important parts of your college application because it describes your strengths and future plans. Because of this, make sure you don’t miss any opportunities to discuss your strengths and weaknesses. The purpose of college essays is to demonstrate that you have the knowledge and skills to successfully complete your chosen course of study. However, the way you present those strengths and weaknesses can either be a boon or a burden. Follow the advice below to show off your strengths and weaknesses in the most appropriate way.

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