Common Errors in Research Essay Writing
Common Errors in Research Essay Writing
Common Errors in Research Essay Writing
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<strong>in</strong>structors will accept paraphrased research.<br />
• Us<strong>in</strong>g too many quotes<br />
o Only use quotes when a summary will corrupt or lessen the idea.<br />
o Use quotes for authority, eloquence, and control.<br />
o How many quotes? Only 1 – 2 per page and try to keep them short.<br />
o The rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>formation should be summarized or paraphrased.<br />
• Plagiariz<strong>in</strong>g and other forms of academic dishonesty<br />
o All <strong>in</strong>formation you got from your sources except common knowledge <strong>in</strong> the field must be<br />
credited – <strong>in</strong> text and on your reference page.<br />
o This means that you should have 4 – 5 <strong>in</strong> text citations per paragraph.<br />
o Don’t rely on only one source per paragraph.<br />
o If you can f<strong>in</strong>d it on the Internet, so can your <strong>in</strong>structor!<br />
o The work must be your own and must be the first time it’s submitted for grad<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
• Skipp<strong>in</strong>g the revis<strong>in</strong>g process<br />
o If the idea doesn’t fit, take it out.<br />
o If you have a hole <strong>in</strong> your ideas, fill it.<br />
• Not check<strong>in</strong>g your documentation<br />
o Follow the APA manual – down to spac<strong>in</strong>g, periods, brackets, ...the works!<br />
• Skipp<strong>in</strong>g the edit<strong>in</strong>g process<br />
o Look for and fix your common grammar and mechanics errors. Use your grammar checker, but<br />
make your own decisions.<br />
o Run the spell checker - - this is a no-bra<strong>in</strong>er! Double-check for homonyms which the spell<br />
checker won’t locate as errors.<br />
o Make sure your f<strong>in</strong>al version is a clean copy.<br />
• Not back<strong>in</strong>g up your documents<br />
o We all learn this one sooner or later – failure to back up your documents <strong>in</strong> more than one place<br />
can mean you may lose all evidence of your work.<br />
• Not ask<strong>in</strong>g for advice<br />
o Ask a friend with strong writ<strong>in</strong>g skills for feedback on your draft, but don’t expect friends or<br />
family to take responsibility for edit<strong>in</strong>g your work.<br />
o Make an appo<strong>in</strong>tment with a writ<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>structor <strong>in</strong> Learn<strong>in</strong>g Services for some advice dur<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
organizational or draft phases of your work.<br />
Adapted from Lethbridge College Learn<strong>in</strong>g Cafe