There
are some common problems that most students face while writing college essays.
Students make errors in writing college admission essays all of the time. They should make sure
that the hard work they put in for writing essays does not go waste, instead earning the highest score possible. At the outset let us look at some
common errors which students commit while writing college essays and also the
ways to correct them.
1. Repetition: This is a common stylistic error found
in most college essays and also in college admission essays. Repetition is seen
as redundancy which makes the essay dull and readers lose interest immediately.
A college essay should not have the same structures being repeated. One
sentence should convey one clear meaning. Ambiguous sentences and abstract
constructions are to be avoided.
2. Use of Vague Words: An essay should not have vague words
like things or stuff. Students must use precise words while writing essays. Do
avoid words with more general meaning such as society, aspects, groups etc. Instead
use words with specific meaning in college essays. Do talk about what you are
referring to directly and do not use round about techniques.
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3. Excessive Use of “I”: In an admission essay the use of “I”
is necessary, but it should not be used in excess. It becomes repetitive to
read frequent occurrences of “I”. In college essays also the use of first
person pronoun beyond an extent makes the essay monotonous and boring for the
readers. The use of “I” should, therefore, be limited to a moderate level.
4. Use of too many Adjectives and Adverbs: Adjectives and adverbs are the
embellishments in an essay. But too many of them in a single essay would make
the essay difficult and hard to digest. Hence an appropriate use of adjectives
and adverbs is desirable in college essays.
5. Use of Weak Verbs: Verbs are bifurcated into strong and
weak verbs. Essays look wonderful when strong verbs are employed at the right
places. Strong verbs convey the action or state of being. Weak verbs appear
vague in essays. Therefore, to the maximum extent possible employ strong verbs
only in college essays. Strong verbs are often descriptive and indeed state the
action or state of being.
6. Use of Clichés: Clichés are phrases that are used
again and again. They should not be used in an essay. If employed, they most
often lose the point for which they are used. Use of clichés shows that the
writer is not creative enough to employ novel constructions. Therefore, it does
not serve any purpose in an essay.
An
essay should be interesting, informative and at the same time entertaining for
the readers. A paragraph should focus on one main point and each sentence
should convey one single meaning. Do not employ complex constructions
unnecessarily in an essay. Ambiguity and abstract usages do not enrich an
essay. Instead, the concept should be clearly mentioned to the readers. It is,
in fact, the responsibility of the writer to say what he has to say in an
intelligible manner.
