I. Pre-Writing & Planning:
* Understanding the prompt/question: Misinterpreting the essay question or failing to identify key terms and instructions is a major source of poor performance. A lack of clarity leads to irrelevant content and missed opportunities to demonstrate understanding.
* Research and information gathering: Insufficient research or reliance on unreliable sources results in weak arguments and a lack of supporting evidence. Poor organization of research materials also hampers the writing process.
* Planning and outlining: Lack of a clear plan or outline leads to disorganized essays with rambling arguments and weak transitions. A strong outline provides structure and coherence.
* Thesis statement development: A weak or unclear thesis statement fails to guide the essay and leaves the reader unsure of the writer's argument. A strong thesis statement is concise, specific, and arguable.
II. Writing Process:
* Argumentation and reasoning: Weak arguments, logical fallacies, and lack of supporting evidence significantly impact the essay's persuasiveness and credibility. Using strong evidence and logical reasoning is crucial.
* Structure and organization: Poor paragraphing, weak transitions, and lack of coherence make the essay difficult to follow and understand. A logical flow of ideas is essential.
* Style and clarity: Poor sentence structure, grammatical errors, unclear language, and inappropriate tone negatively affect readability and comprehension. Clarity and conciseness are paramount.
* Use of evidence: Insufficient or inappropriate evidence weakens the argument. Evidence should be relevant, credible, and properly cited.
* Time management: Rushing through the writing process often leads to errors, omissions, and a lack of polish. Effective time management is crucial.
III. Post-Writing & Revision:
* Proofreading and editing: Failing to proofread and edit carefully results in grammatical errors, typos, and inconsistencies that detract from the essay's quality.
* Revision for clarity and coherence: Revising the essay after writing allows for improvements in argumentation, structure, and clarity. This step is often overlooked but is crucial for a polished final product.
IV. External Factors:
* Stress and anxiety: High levels of stress and anxiety can impair cognitive function and negatively affect writing performance.
* Lack of sleep and fatigue: Insufficient sleep and fatigue reduce concentration and impair cognitive abilities, impacting the quality of writing.
* Access to resources: Lack of access to libraries, reliable internet, or other resources can hinder research and writing.
* Time constraints: Unrealistic deadlines can lead to rushed and poorly written essays.
Addressing these factors through careful planning, effective writing strategies, and thorough revision can significantly improve essay writing performance.