Common Essay Errors
and how to fix them!
Development: thesis statement
 Your thesis statement should clearly 1) name one flaw
and 2) say whether or not Ulysses overcomes it.
 Weak example: Ulysses was so full of hubris
throughout his journey home, it caused him great
distress.
 Weak example: Throughout The Adventures of
Ulysses, Ulysses’s hubris goes down into less hubris.
 Good example: By examining Ulysses’s journey, it is
clear that he does overcome his hubris, proving that
people are not defined by their flaws.
Development:
all paragraphs prove thesis
 Each paragraph needs a clear, focused topic sentence
that relates to the thesis.
 If your thesis is about Ulysses’s hubris, then each
topic sentence must say something about hubris.
 Weak example: Ulysses begins to get into troubles
which cause him to display his self-centeredness.
 Self-centeredness is not precisely the same thing as hubris.
 Good example: Ulysses first reveals his hubris in “The
Cyclops’ Cave.”
 Simple, direct, precise: a good topic sentence helps build
an argument because it gives you direction.
Development: includes thorough analysis
to show how reasons support points
 Always return to the central idea: your thesis.
 Each paragraph should develop the thesis.
 Each paragraph should develop its topic sentence!
 If your topic sentence is about hubris, then do not write
about greed or lust or gluttony in that paragraph.
 Even if it is a great paragraph, if it does not relate to
the thesis, delete it!
Organization: introduction
 Remember to start the introduction with an engaging
hook.
 Weak example: The story of The Adventures of Ulysses
was a great story.
 Weak example: Ulysses has a long journey, but has he
really changed?
 Good example: “A proud man is always looking down
on things and people; of course, as long as you are
looking down, you cannot see something that is
above you” (Lewis). This quote applies to Ulysses
because he is always looking down on those that he
defeats.
Organization: introduction
 Remember to include the topic, author and book title in the
introduction.
 The topic is the broader focus of the prompt: in this case,
Ulysses’s flaws
 Good example: Ulysses shows many flaws throughout The
Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin, but his major flaw is
hubris.
Organization: introduction
 Do not retell the whole story, but supply enough
background information to give your thesis context.
 Good example: Ulysses has a rough journey trying to get
back to Ithaca, facing dangerous monsters and
unfriendly gods.
 End the introduction with a strong thesis statement.
 Good example: By examining Ulysses’s journey, it is
clear that he does overcome his hubris, proving that
people are not defined by their flaws.
Organization: good example of
a complete introduction
A proud man is always looking down on things and
people; of course, as long as you are looking down, you
cannot see something that is above you” (Lewis). This
quote applies to Ulysses because he always looks down
on those that he defeats. In The Adventures of Ulysses
by Bernard Evslin, Ulysses tries to get back to his home
in Ithaca. On his journey, he has many troubles and
demonstrates many flaws, especially hubris. By
examining Ulysses’s journey, it is clear that he does not
overcome his hubris, proving that people are defined
by their flaws.
Organization: body paragraphs
 Body paragraphs should begin with a topic sentence.
 All quotations in the body paragraph must relate to the
topic sentence.
 Use transitions between paragraphs to create coherence.
 Vary your transitions:
 time words: first, then, previously, afterward
 compare/contrast words: similarly, in the same way, also,
however, on the other hand, although
 logical relationships: in other words, for this reason, in fact
 repetition of key words/ideas
 synonyms for key words/ideas
IDEA
 Don’t forget the “I”: INTRODUCE the quote by giving it
context: who said it to whom? What was happening?
 Weak introduction to quote: Next, Ulysses shows that he
has hubris when he says, “Poor fool! Poor blinded,
drunken, gluttonous fool—if anyone else asks you, it is not
Nobody, but Ulysses who has done this to you!” (26).
 Better introduction to quote: Next, Ulysses shows that he
has hubris when he escapes from the Cyclops but cannot
resist mocking him. Ulysses calls back to him, saying,
“Poor fool! Poor blinded, drunken, gluttonous fool—if
anyone else asks you, it is not Nobody, but Ulysses who
has done this to you!” (26).
IDEA
 Avoid dropped quotes! Avoid overlong quotes!
 Dropped quote: Ulysses thought he could get food
from the island despite the monster. “There was a
loud rumbling sound; the cave darkened. Ulysses
whirled around. He saw the door had been closed”
(19).
 Better version: Ulysses thought he could get food
from the island despite the monster. He hears “a loud
rumbling sound” when he enters the monster’s cave
and then finds “the door had been closed,” (19) and
he is trapped.
IDEA
 Don’t forget the “D”: deliver the quotation correctly.
 Be sure to cite properly!
 Good example: Ulysses tells his crew, “’Perhaps we
can skirt the dangerous islands they spoke of’” (82).
IDEA
 Don’t forget the “E”: summarize/paraphrase the quote in
your own words.
 Weak example: Ulysses says, “Poor fool! Poor blinded,
drunken, gluttonous fool—if anyone else asks you, it is not
Nobody, but Ulysses who has done this to you!” (26). This
shows hubris.
 Good example: Ulysses says, “Poor fool! Poor blinded,
drunken, gluttonous fool—if anyone else asks you, it is not
Nobody, but Ulysses who has done this to you!” (26).
Ulysses mocks the Cyclops and tells him his real name.
This shows hubris.
IDEA
 Don’t forget the “A”: Try to include well-developed and
detailed analysis.
 Weak example: Ulysses says, “Poor fool! Poor blinded,
drunken, gluttonous fool—if anyone else asks you, it is not
Nobody, but Ulysses who has done this to you!” (26).
Ulysses mocks the Cyclops and tells him his real name. This
shows hubris.
 Better example: Ulysses says, “Poor fool! Poor blinded,
drunken, gluttonous fool—if anyone else asks you, it is not
Nobody, but Ulysses who has done this to you!” (26).
Ulysses mocks the Cyclops and tells him his real name. This
shows hubris. It was clever of Ulysses to hide his identity
because it would protect him from anyone seeking
revenge. By giving his real name, Ulysses acts like he is
invulnerable. He acts like he does not even have to fear
the gods. This is dangerous; this is hubris.
Conclusion: paragraph
 Each paragraph should end with a clincher: a strong statement
that wraps up the paragraph AND connects to the thesis.
 Weak example: (from essay on hubris) Ulysses thinks he is
clever enough to escape both Scylla and Charybdis, but he
forgets to factor in the oars. He tries to fight Scylla with his
sword, but he is unable to save his men. His mistake allows
Scylla to grab and eat six of his men. [but how is this hubris?]
 Better example: Ulysses thinks he is clever enough to escape
both Scylla and Charybdis, but he forgets to factor in the oars.
He tries to fight Scylla with his sword, but he is unable to save his
men. His mistake allows Scylla to grab and eat six of his men.
Somebody warns him that he could not escape both monsters,
but Ulysses’s hubris leads him to think he can. He thinks he is so
clever and so strong he can even defeat a prophecy. This is an
example of hubris. Ulysses is too proud of his abilities.
Conclusion: essay
 The final paragraph of the essay should
 summarize the main points
 end with a strongly worded thought that
connects to the thesis without parroting
it.
 The final paragraph of the essay should NOT
simply repeat your introduction!
Mechanics
 Sentence errors, verb tense errors, citation errors are
all products of failing to PROOFREAD. They are simple
to fix.
 Have a parent/sibling/friend help you proofread.
 Read your essay backwards!
 Start with the last sentence and read each one back to
the beginning.
 Sometimes this helps you spot mistakes.
 Read your essay aloud or have someone else read it
to you.
 Sometimes you hear the mistakes.
GOALS
 Now, review your essay, the rubric, and any teacher
comments.
 Highlight the weakest development, organization and
IDEA topic in your paper.
 Write these three topics at the bottom of the essay.
 For tomorrow’s essay, select ONE of these topics and
write it in the space on the bottom of the rubric. You
will be assessed on this skill.