This document provides guidance on common errors to avoid in essay writing and recommendations for improving essay structure and style. It lists don'ts such as changing information from the text, re-telling plots, underlining titles, and changing verb tenses. It also lists dos such as accounting for inferences, using hedging language, connecting paragraphs to the thesis, and editing for spelling and grammar. Tips are provided on grammar, vocabulary, pronoun and adjective usage.

1. Common errors in essay writing

2. DON’TS DO NOT CHANGE OR INVENT INFORMATION FROM THE TEXT The speaker seems to be old , around 70, since….. NO RE-TELLING Just refer to the instances you need to answer your question DO NOT USE THE WORD “DURING” TO REFER TO THE PLOT, IT RELATED TO TIME. “ along” or “ throughout” the story….. DO NOT UNDERLINE OR SUBMIT A TITLE TO THE PRARAGRAPHS Academic essays do not allow this format

3. DON’TS CONT DO NOT MOVE AWAY FROM THE TOPIC YOU HAVE TO DEVELOP. Mention the feelings, quote showing the imagery used, and explain what the quotation means ,or how it can be interpreted DO NOT CHANGE THE TENSE OF THE VERB. Stick to the simple present in the correct form DO NOT PROVIDE DEFINITIONS OF DEVICE Just apply them in the analysis.

4. Don’ts cont Avoid the use of contractions (isn’t- or informal forms: ain’t- ‘cause. The style has to be formal Avoid the use of words devoided of meaning- she forgets some things…..Just tell….

5. Dos Account for your inferences, or deductions : always explain hoe you came to think like that Use hedges: tentative language: adverbs: possibly, likely, probably… Verbs: maybe, seem, appears…. Modal verbs:might, could, would…. Connect each paragraph with the thesis of your essay Reflect over the message of the poem/text

6. Dos Open a new paragraph when changing the topic of discussion After you write the essay, edit it, that is, check spelling and grammar mistakes

7. In spelling and grammar Deal with, Dealt 1-the teacher dealt with the student’s indiscipline effectively 2- We dealt with this book Last year “ Actual” “actually” : it’s a false cognate, that is, similar spelling to the Spanish word but different meaning. It means: in fact, really, as in: They are not English, actually, the are Irish.

8. REFER TO SOMETHING ABOUT The poet refers to her poem about death DESPITE + NOUN He kept working despite his illness Use of pronouns : never use a pronoun unless you have mentioned the noun before Use of demonstratives: This girl- these girls

9. Transitive verbs are followed by a noun or noun phrase Intransitive verbs are NOT e.g. The man appears The accident took place Y esterday occurred /happened The girls disappeared Adjectives modify nouns, they can not be used to repace them Exception : the rich, the handicapped, the French— “ The important” is ungrammatical

10. Children .plural/Child . Singular Begin- begin+n+ing Do not write ”It is shown how….”, but “ The poem shows/ the author shows how….” MURDER VS MURDERER