SAMPLE ESSAY: TO CRITIQUE
As you read, focus on structure and evidence.
Does this essay succeed in proving its thesis? Does it convince or persuade you? Are all ideas well-supported?
When so-called “Grammar Nazis” say that bad grammar is the end of the world, they mean it. While grammar
may seem like an unnecessary chore to the modern learner, the lack of grammar can single-handedly block you from
college, future jobs, and everything that a job can buy: houses, cars, you name it. Specifically, the ability to edit and
proofread is the skill that will prevent or propel you into your future. Although it is not necessary to memorize every
grammatical term and rule, students who can’t edit well will not have acceptable test scores, will not succeed in
college or the work world, and will lose tens of thousands of dollars in his or her lifetime.
Being able to proofread is required to do well on standardized tests. Both the SAT and the ACT have English or
Writing sections that ask you to notice errors and fix them. According to my older brother, these tests are multiple
choice, but they are intentionally designed to trick you. It’s true that you don’t need to know every grammar rule.
These college admissions tests don’t ask you to define what a gerund is or find the simple subject in a sentence.
However, if you cannot APPLY basic grammar, then you won’t notice the errors, and you won’t know how to fix
them. Even math and science majors are expected to get a “passing” score in these grammar-heavy tests, so it
matters for everybody. Assuming you can even get into college, having bad grammar as an adult will be even worse.
Grammar is essential for all writing, no matter what path you take after high school. If you go to college,
points are taken off of essays that do not use good grammar. These grades can mean the difference between
passing and failing, even if you are not an English major. When you go into the work force, a bad typo on a resume
can prevent you from getting hired in the first place. CEO Kyle Wiens even says in an article, “I guarantee that even if
other companies aren’t issuing grammar tests, they pay attention to sloppy mistakes on resumes”(Wiens). In other
words, employers will notice even small errors and judge you based on them. Once you are hired, error-free writing
will be needed to keep your job over time, too. Author Douglas Rushkoff wrote, “Only the writer skilled in grammar
is entrusted with representing a company in a letter or an e-mail. Only the entrepreneur who can persuasively
express a new idea in writing can craft a business plan that will win the faith of partners and investors”(Rushkoff).
Essentially, he is saying that employees who can use grammar will not only do their jobs better, but will be more
likely to get promoted, earn their boss’ respect, and earn more money from customers. This means that in the long
term, knowing grammar won’t just make you a better employee; it will also help you become richer.
It’s logical to infer that the lack of grammar can prevent you from achieving success in life, and therefore you
will earn less money over time. Obviously, not getting into college alone can limit how much money you can make. If
your GPA, your degree type, your standardized test scores, or your portfolio suffer from grammar, you are further
limited in who will hire you. If you make mistakes on the job, you will not be trusted, promoted, or put in a position
to represent your company to others. Some people might say that many athletes, entrepreneurs, or famous people
can be rich and happy without grammar. However, this idea is flawed for two reasons. First, only a small percentage
of athletes go pro, and very few business ventures or new products actually take off. Second, the reason these
people worry less about grammar is because they hire people to proofread for them, and most people can’t afford
to do this. Therefore, the average American needs to learn enough grammar to do his or her own work.
Even if technology continues to fix our errors for us, it will still be important for all writers, students, and
employees to do their own editing, and that means learning grammar early and often. Proofreading matters to high
school and college students, job applicants, and current employees alike, especially those who want to get
promoted or make more money over time. Think you can get away without grammar? Go ahead and try. We can
have this conversation again in ten years, when I’m your boss.