where it usually goes wrong
the six that cost
the most marks
a thesis that argues
if nobody could disagree with it, it is a topic, not a thesis. the sentence has to be contestable.
structure
an outline is cheaper to fix than a draft. each paragraph should be summarisable in one clause.
evidence against analysis
quotes do not argue on their own. the sentences after the quote are where the marks are.
topic sentences and transitions
a reader should follow your argument from the first sentence of each paragraph alone.
citations
mla, apa and chicago differ in ways that cost easy marks. so does citing something you paraphrased.
editing against proofreading
structural problems first, sentences second, typos last. doing it in reverse wastes the work.
what to post
a photo of the problem, or a sentence about where you got stuck. set the deadline and attach anything that matters — the sheet, your working, the slides.
verified tutors send offers with a price, a rating and a completion rate, and you pick who helps you. if you are writing into the us system for the first time, the conventions are their own obstacle — see international students. the tutor works it with you, so the next one is yours. more questions.
