ENG2D Chen
Sample Essay on Summer Vacation: Teacher’s Answers
Since when has relaxing become so exhausting? Vacations are to suppose to be for spending time with
our families, friends, pets, or just for us. We get the chance to take a break from our everyday lives at
home, work, even school. Unfortunately, for some, taking a vacation becomes more work with less fun.
To assure getting the most relaxation from your vacation, you should make appropriate rules when
planning your vacation, so you too, can be relaxed during and after your vacation. To help, I have a few
rules that I like to follow every time.
My first rule is money. Always try to save money before taking a vacation. This gives you more options in
choosing where you can go for your vacation. If you are forced to take a vacation on a tight budget, do
not worry, you too can relax, and have fun! However, be sure you stick to the basics. Meaning, do not
cut into your budget for shopping or entertainment. I find that lots of good food and being comfortable
should be considered far more important than spending your money on other things.
My second rule is very important: if you are planning to take someone with you, choose wisely. Be sure
you put some thought into this because, you will spend a lot of time with this person, therefore; pick
someone you know very well and whom you get along with. Unfortunately, the wrong choice can ruin
your vacation. It may be a long time before you can take another.
Rule three is my last rule: Try and not plan too many activities. Being constantly on the go can become
very stressful and tiring. Remember that you can only fit so many activities into each day. Not only is this
tiring, but expensive too and over spending causes stress too. Just thinking about all the activities makes
me want to take a nap.
Remember taking a vacation is about trying to relieve stress not to create it. No matter what, be nice to
yourself, pamper yourself, and make the best out of your vacation. If you plan ahead with the money,
choose the right partners, and keep it simple, then the vacation should run smoothly without much
problem. Relax; after all, you deserve it.
ENG2D Chen
Essay on Summer Vacations: Cut up along Lines
I’ve always wanted to try a Shirley Temple on vacation.
Since when has relaxing become so exhausting?
We get the chance to take a break from our everyday lives at home, work, even school.
To help, I have a few rules that I like to follow every time.
Unfortunately, for some, taking a vacation becomes more work with less fun.
Vacations are to suppose to be for spending time with our families, friends, pets, or just for us.
To assure getting the most relaxation from your vacation, you should make appropriate rules when
planning your vacation, so you too, can be relaxed during and after your vacation.
Always try to save money before taking a vacation.
This gives you more options in choosing where you can go for your vacation.
If you are forced to take a vacation on a tight budget, do not worry, you too can relax, and have fun!
But if you don’t follow these rules, you might run into trouble.
However, be sure you stick to the basics.
My first rule is money.
Meaning, do not cut into your budget for shopping or entertainment.
I find that lots of good food and being comfortable should be considered far more important than
spending your money on other things.
Therefore; pick someone you know very well and whom you get along with.
Be sure you put some thought into this because, you will spend a lot of time with this person.
I once took my pet dog and it was awesome!
Unfortunately, the wrong choice can ruin your vacation.
ENG2D Chen
My second rule is very important: if you are planning to take someone with you, choose wisely.
It may be a long time before you can take another.
Remember that you can only fit so many activities into each day.
Rule three is my last rule: Try and not plan too many activities.
Hair rhymes with gloss.
Not only is this tiring, but expensive too and over spending causes stress too.
Just thinking about all the activities makes me want to take a nap.
Being constantly on the go can become very stressful and tiring.
If you plan ahead with the money, choose the right partners, and keep it simple, then the vacation
should run smoothly without much problem.
Remember taking a vacation is about trying to relieve stress not to create it.
Maybe taking a summer vacation in Alaska wouldn’t be a bad idea.
But then nobody would have any fun.
No matter what, be nice to yourself, pamper yourself, and make the best out of your vacation.
Relax; after all, you deserve it.
ENG2D Chen
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Most Common Mistakes in Student Essays
Fret not, for we've all been there. We've all gotten back essays with red
marks strewn across them. Everyone makes mistakes. Even professors.
Students, writers, and teachers all need a little reminder of what not to do.
So, here is a list of the top ten mistakes made in student essays. You may
relate to some, and not to others. Regardless, these are the most "popular"
errors and little ways to avoid them in your next paper.
1. No thesis
1. Explanation: As simple as it seems, most people often neglect the single most
important sentence in the entire essay. A thesis is your basic argument — your
"tag line." If you could sum up the debate in your essay in one sentence, this
would be it: the thesis.
2. Fix: While there are always exceptions to the rule, it is advisable to place your
thesis statement at the end of your introductory paragraph. It should consist of the
general argument and the ways (evidence you plan to use) to prove it.
No conclusion
0. Explanation: People sometimes stop writing an essay before it ends. A summary
(or denouement) is always required in essay writing.
1. Fix: Very simple. You do not need to add anything new (although you can) to this
paragraph. Just add an extra small paragraph to the end of your paper
summarizing what you have just said. Essentially your introductory paragraph
more complex.
No evidence
0. Explanation: The evidence in essays is with documentation, research, quotations.
An essay without evidence proves absolutely nothing and will become pure
opinion. Evidence makes fact. Think of yourself as a lawyer and bringing in
specific items to prove your point in a court of law.
1. Fix: Go to the library. Look on the internet. You must have at least one piece of
evidence (quotation, paraphrased idea) from a book, article, documented source,
for each idea you try to prove.
Misuse of commas
0. Explanation: People use commas in different ways. They are generally used in
series of nouns and to separate to clauses in a sentence. If this confuses you, then
seek out a grammar book or ask your professor/teacher for help.
1. Fix: Find a grammar book (we recommend STRUNK AND WHITE). Look
through your essay purely for commas. If you are looking at your text for nothing
more than commas, then you are sure to take out unnecessary commas and put in
necessary ones.
ENG2D Chen
Most Common Mistakes in Student Essays continued…
Plagiarism
0. Explanation: Plagiarism is when you take another person's writing, fact, text, and
use it as your own. Unfortunately, some students do this purposely, while others
accidentally fall into the trap.
1. Fix: Always, always, always cite your facts! Document any quotation and all facts
you use in your essays with either footnotes or internal documentation. Do not
make the mistake of forgetting to cite information that you have paraphrased.
Sometimes (with picky professors) this can be considered plagiarism, too.
Spelling errors/Typos
0. Explanation: This is pretty self-explanatory. Often, people leave spelling mistakes
in their essays (which can be typos, but not necessarily), and lose easy points.
1. Fix: Do not simply use your computer's spell-check feature, as it often overlooks
words. Do a read-through of your essay just for spelling.
Punctuation problems
0. Explanation: People also encounter punctuation problems often in essays, which
includes semi-colon, colon, period, misplaced participles, etc.
1. Fix: Read through your essay solely for punctuation. Make sure you end every
sentence with a period, exclamation mark, or question mark in the correct place.
Lack of transitional phrases
0. Explanation: When new paragraphs begin, they always need a transition, or a
sentence ending the previous idea and leading into the next.
1. Fix: Go through your essay and look at beginning of each paragraph. Read the
paragraphs as independent mini-essays. If they make sense alone, they probably
have a transition. If not, add just a simple sentence introducing the idea.
Lack of structure
0. Explanation: Essays, like buildings, need structure. They need a beginning,
middle, and an end. In the middle, they need substance.
1. Fix: Create an outline for your essay. Follow it!
Repetition
0. Explanation: When an essay discusses the same idea in every single paragraph, it
borders on boredom and repetition. The writer obviously has little to say (and
probably has done little work).
1. Fix: Make sure each paragraph has a different focus. Use your outline to guide
you.
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Paragraph Checklist
The Topic Sentence
o -First sentence of a paragraph
o -Very General Argument
o (Key words: Enumeration such as First of all, Secondly, Lastly…etc)
Supporting Sentences
o -Includes facts, backed by examples
o -Sometimes includes quotations
o -Connects to the Topic Sentence
The Concluding Sentence
o -Summarizes the information that has been presented.
o -Topic sentence in reverse.
o -Provides slight lead-in for another idea to come
o
(Key Words: In Conclusion, To summarize, Finally…etc)
ENG2D Chen
Exit Ticket
Name: ________________________________________
Class: _________________________________________
Date: _________________________________________
Something interesting I learned about Essay Writing today is…
Something that still makes me uncomfortable about essay writing is…