1. Inconsistent tense
When writing about events in a novel, you must first make the decision whether to use the present or past tense. Generally speaking, either is acceptable, but once you make the choice, you need it be consistent.
--Incorrect
John decides to go to bed, but then he drank too much coffee and could not fall asleep. He watches television for half an hour, then he finally felt sleepy.
--Correct
John decided to go to bed, but then he drank too much coffee and could not fall asleep. He watched television for half an hour, then he finally felt sleepy.

2. Plot summaries instead of analysis
Although it is often necessary to recount some of the plot to make your point, your paper should not be solely a plot summary. I know what happens in the book, and I assume you do, too. After recounting the relevant part of the plot, make an analytical statement about that passage; show me you have thought about the book.
--Incorrect
Michiko placed the money she earned prostituting herself into the empty box which was meant for her husband’s ashes. She held the box tightly as a tear ran down her cheek.
--Correct
Michiko’s act of placing the money she earned prostituting herself in her late husband’s ash-box demonstrates how her recent corruption had replaced a previous life of happiness.

3. Quoting instead of paraphrasing
As a rule, you should only quote when either the original author said what he/she said so well that you could simply not say it better OR you are quoting a passage from fiction to convey the tone of the story. Quotations should be introduced by you; do not insert someone else’s words in you essay as if they are merely a continuation of your own words. See the handout on Plagiarism for examples of correct paraphrasing.

4. Incomplete sentences
Every complete thought needs a subject and a verb. This may seem straight forward, but you might be surprised at the number of incomplete sentences I read every semester, usually the writer begins constructing a complex sentences, and then forgets to finish it. Here are some examples, with names removed to protect the guilty.
--Incorrect
The modernization could not have happened if first of all the social changes and then the political consolidation from an imperial state to a democracy.
[Where’s the verb in the conditional clause?]
While the soldiers who actually assaulted the woman, never acknowledges [sic] their guilt. [The “while” means “although,” but there is not clause to finish the though]

5. Single spacing and indenting
When you quote something which is more than sentence long, the quote should be Single-Spaced and indented from the rest of the text. Also, in this no need for quotation marks around the quote. A foot note or similar citation, however, is necessary.

6. Contractions
Unless you are directly quoting another text, avoid using contractions such as don’t, won’t, can’t, isn’t, and its. Instead, use do not, will not, cannot, is not, etc.

7. Second Person
Avoid using the second person pronoun you. In its place use the pronoun one.
--Incorrect
If you don’t understand the meaning of book, you shouldn’t feel stupid. You won’t always see everything the author wants you to see.
--Correct
If one does not understand the meaning of the book, one should not feel stupid. One will not always see everything the author wants one to see.

8. Dangling Participles
You may have heard of them, but do you know what they are? A “dangling participle” is a participle [a nominal form of a verb, often in –ing form] that lacks clear connection with the word it modifies. In other words, your sentence seems to change subject midstream.
--Incorrect
Working at my desk, the sudden noise startled me. [Working lacks connection with noise.
--Correct
Working at my desk, I was startled by the sudden noise.

9. Spelling
Use a spell-checker if you are writing on a computer. Technology has made poor spelling inexcusable. “I didn’t know how to use the spell checker” or “I didn’t have time” are not valid excuses; it takes two or three key strokes and about 30 seconds.

10. Title
Your title should reflect the content of your paper. It does not need to be fancy. However, do not title your paper with the title of the work on which you are writing. For example, if you are writing on War and Pace, do not title your paper “War and Pace,” or something like that, but avoid stealing other authors’ titles.