Page 33 - Perfect English Grammar: The Indispensable Guide to Excellent Writing and Speaking

■ This is also the opinion of Dr. Z, who believes
■ To illustrate

■ To put it briefly
■ To summarize

■ With this in mind

Good transitions are likely to suggest themselves during editing. See section 2.8,
Editing.

2.7 Common Essay Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t wait until the end to make your best point. Always lead with your best
arguments. Sometimes, mistakenly, writers have the urge to put their most

powerful arguments last, with the idea they are laying a foundation of small
arguments that will lead to a big, undeniable argument that will win over the

reader. This is sometimes a successful rhetorical technique, particularly in
speeches where audience members might be more invested in staying to hear

everything you’re going to say. With the written word, however, there’s too
much chance that if you don’t lead with your strongest arguments, a reader will

just skip everything else you’ve written. Get them at the start.

Your supporting paragraphs should be several sentences long, but don’t
worry about their exact length. Explain things until your point is well made.

Support your opinions with official data, research, and experts’ opinions,
which are more persuasive than your opinions alone. Sentences that begin with I

think or I feel need more than your thoughts and emotions to back them up.

Avoid repeating yourself in the body paragraphs. See section 17.20,
Wordiness.

Think twice about trying to be funny, unless you’ve been asked specifically
to write a humorous essay. Most attempts at humor fail.

2.8 Editing