How Not To Write An Essay

You're going to be required to write an essay for school, for scholarship applications, possibly a short essay in a job application. Here are some things you really don't want to do when you write that essay:

 

• Repeat a thought.
• Ramble
• Mention something off-topic.
• Get too personal.
• Turn it in late.

• Turn it in with stains or damage to the paper.
• Write it in any color but black.
• Type it using a fancy font that's pretty but really hard to read.

• Leave too many spaces between lines
• Don't leave any spaces between lines, ever.

• Lose the essay.
• Copy anyone else's essay.
• Run over it with your car.
• Run over it with your bike.
• Trust your friend to turn it in.
• Write it up quickly and send it in without checking it over first

• Don't follow the instructions: Was it supposed to be double-spaced? How many words was it supposed to be? What were you supposed to talk about?
• Doodle in the margins because it was boring and you were bored.
• Let the cat or dog walk over it and get holes in it. Why are you laying on the floor to write?

• Don't use spell check.
• Don't use commas.
• Since you don't know how to use quotes, never use them at all.
• Put inappropriate pictures or words in it.

Now you know what not to do. And, if in doubt, ask an advisor or a tutor for help!