Whether your essay is meant to prove a point or simply provide information, a clear, concise piece is essential. Your essay is ineffective if the reader can't understand what you are trying to say. With this in mind, revise your essay for things like run-on sentences and wordiness. In other words, it should'n't take you more than one or two sentences to make a point or fact. This is especially important for your thesis. In a expository essay, your thesis presents the argument and provides the foundation for your paper. State the thesis in no more than two sentences.
Your essay's presentation reflects your writing ability. Poor grammar, spelling and punctuation not only look bad, but they also affect your essay's credibility. Remember, you're trying to teach your reader something. If your essay is full of broken sentences, poor spelling and lack of punctuation, for example, it will be difficult for your audience to take it seriously.
Proper citations are critical, especially at the college level. Even borrowing three or four words from a source can be considered plagiarism. Depending on the penalty, you could fail the essay, fail the course or even be expelled from your academic institution. Carefully revise your sources and essay to include quotations and citations when necessary.
A major mistake within an essay is using weak sources. Ideally, you should assess the credibility of your sources before you begin writing. Double-check them before you submit your work. Check your bibliography or works cited page, too. List all of your sources. Format this section in accordance with your particular style's guidelines, such as Modern Language Association, or MLA, or Associated Press, or AP. Although it may seem inconsequential, improperly formatting your essay's sources shows you don't understand the basics of your writing style. In turn, this can reduce your overall grade.
A well-organized essay guides a reader. If your paragraphs jump from one theme or fact to an unrelated theme or fact, your information or argument becomes lost in the confusion. If you notice this, rearrange your essay so each paragraph is dedicated to the appropriate information.