Common errors in structure and argument

A structure made of blocks of stone and vegetables

Take care to avoid the following errors in structure and argument

This guide highlights common errors in structure and argument, and gives you a short explanation of what you can do to avoid them. Expand the relevant sections below to get started.

1. Lack of structure or key information in the introduction

By the end of the introduction, your reader should know exactly what your assignment is about and how you are going to approach your topic. Everything that follows in the main body of the essay should be outlined in the introduction. Remember, clarity and predictability are key to good academic writing.

2. Lack of structure or key information in the conclusion

The conclusion is the perfect place for reminding the reader what you have just done and why you have done it. It is an opportunity to show how you have answered the question and 'proved' your own claim. Following the structures above will help ensure you include the necessary information.

3. No clear conclusion or evaluation to a paragraph

Without an evaluative summary sentence, the point of the paragraph will not be fully made and the reader will not be clear what you think. Even if you include support for your claims, you still need to tie up your analysis by making an explicit link between your topic sentence and the supporting sentences.

4. Lack of flow between sentences and paragraphs

Even if your content is excellent, you still need to use language to direct the reader through your argument. Remember the importance of transition words and phrases for letting the reader know what you are doing. Without these transitions, your essay will lack flow and seem 'clunky'.

5. Unsupported claims and questionable sources

Using the work of scholars from your field in your own assignment shows that you are able to make links between your own ideas and the work that has been done by others. This does not mean that you should not have your own ideas; rather, you should be able to show how your thoughts connect to (or expand upon) the knowledge of others. If you make statements and claims without situating them in your discipline, your argument will lack criticality. Similarly, you should make sure that your source material is reputable and peer reviewed – if the sources are questionable, your own argument becomes less valid.