GENERAL NUMBERED COMMENTS ON ESSAY ASSIGNMENTS
1. Reformat your paper. The margins, fonts, or spacing are inappropriate for a scholarly submission.
2. This is an unnecessary preamble.
3. Address the topic directly without making such introductory statements that are either too general, and/or may
be difficult to validate.
4. Learn and apply MLA style.
5. You should cite a reference for your source of information.
6. You appear to be missing the point of the assignment.
6a. You have not followed the instructions provided.
7. Your writing contains too many poorly constructed sentences, spelling mistakes, and/or flaws in grammar,
which affects the meaning that you wish to convey.
8. Carefully proofread your paper for typographical errors and spelling mistakes. Even one is too many. More
than one suggests haste/carelessness not only in the writing, but in the thinking.
9. This quotation is either too long, or inappropriate. Less of it could have been quoted, or it could have been
paraphrased (i.e., put in your own words).
10. You are presenting unnecessary factual information in excessive detail here.
11. You need to demonstrate this opinion or piece of information by saying more, and/or with references to
authoritative sources.
12. There is an interesting and possibly valuable idea here, but it is poorly conveyed and/or more needs to be said
to develop it.
13. This does not sound like your own thinking and writing. It may be suspected of being plagiarized.
14. You have not made adequate use of the readings or other material necessary for this assignment.
15. There is not enough critical thinking or analysis here. You are mainly conveying information or personal
opinions.
16. Exercise more objectivity and distance. This subjectivity is inappropriate or unnecessary here.
17. There is a conceptual or factual error here.
18. Put foreign words in italics.
19. Put the titles of books and artworks in italics.
20. Is this the best or most appropriate word? Choose your words carefully and thoughtfully.
21. Use gender inclusive language.
22. Avoid such personal comments and editorializing.
22a. Avoid using slang/colloquial expression in formal written work.
23. Avoid contractions, such as ‘don’t’ or ‘won’t’ in formal prose. Say ‘do not,’ or ‘will not’ instead.
24. This is an unnecessary conclusion.
24a. These concluding remarks are gross generalizations or needlessly sentimental. They weaken your
submission.