Why Bad Structure Equals Bad Essays
There has long been a heated discussion about the importance of a paper’s structure. Some say, as long as the content is unique, gripping, and meaningful, the structure is not crucial. Others, in turn, can’t emphasize enough the essence of a structure, telling that it is above all else indispensable. While the two sides have their point, it… Read More »
There has long been a heated discussion about the importance of a paper’s structure. Some say, as long as the content is unique, gripping, and meaningful, the structure is not crucial. Others, in turn, can’t emphasize enough the essence of a structure, telling that it is above all else indispensable. While the two sides have their point, it is the second one that is right; a good structure is a must.
Essay writing is an academic routine for students, for they deal with papers frequently. Aside from the topic and word count, such tasks always come along with the requirements and instructions. Moreover, they point out the necessary structure students must follow.
Some are against such rules, boycotting the task and refraining from doing them. But at the end of the day, they either approach essay writing themselves or buy college essays, no matter how opposed their stance is. Why? Essays play a pivotal role in the final grade. The lower the grade students receive, the lower the final mark for the course they could anticipate. So why do students abstain from following the structure, and why does it result in unsatisfactory grades? You can find the answers down below.
Reasons for ignoring the structure
Students ignore the structure for many reasons. They state that a structure hampers their flow of thoughts, making them cut down the ideas. That’s why they consciously avoid the structure to be able to express themselves. Of course, some students try to find common ground, meeting half of the requirements. Be that as it may, doing that is of little help, as it doesn’t improve the paper’s grade significantly.
Another principal reason for failing to meet the structure is simple carelessness. Many learners don’t consider checking the requirements before writing essays. Such ignorance ultimately leads to structureless papers.
Teachers have also contributed to students’ insufficient understanding of the importance of a structure. Many educators haven’t explained what makes a well-written essay, so many students still think that content only matters. Well, it’s not the only component.
Elements of a successful essay
While content is indisputably critical, several more elements determine the essay’s success.
First, it is imperative to meet the word count. The word limit intends to employ students’ decision-making abilities and decide what the most crucial information is.
Second, the format. With a few exceptions, academic essays must rely on outside data, like that retrieved from scholarly repositories, scientific journals, etc. Every reference must be adequately cited and fall into a specific formatting style. It helps the writer establish credibility and allows the reader to double-check the information.
The third aspect is originality. Essay writing requires thinking creatively and coming up with unique concepts. They also contribute to the paper’s score. Of course, developing one-of-a-kind ideas for each and every paper is unattainable, which is why it is usually replaced by authenticity. In a nutshell, students must always provide plagiarism-free papers, whether or not their papers are trailblazing.
Finally, and most importantly, the structure. Regardless of the paper type–be it a case study, coursework, or lab report–it must be well-structured. The structure carries numerous qualities, of which the most paramount are:
- Clarity: A structure makes the work neat and clean and rules out any ambiguity.
- Accuracy: It conveys the main message and eliminates any redundancy.
- Coherence: A well-structured essay is cohesive and easily readable.
- Friendliness: It doesn’t bewilder the reader.
- Respect: Through the structure, the writer shows respect to their audience.
- Skillfulness: It proves the writer’s competence and expertise.
Those who, for some reason, don’t adjust their papers to a widely accepted structure (an introduction, body, conclusion) lower the chances of receiving a high grade. Failing to meet the structure leads to other consequences. Below is the list explaining why wrong structure equals low-quality essays.
It makes the paper fuzzy
Making a paper good-looking is one of the dozens of purposes a structure has. Ignoring it results in the essay’s awkward appearance. When students don’t meet the structure–meaning they don’t divide their paper into paragraphs, avoid indenting them, and so on–they distance themselves from academia.
An author sounds unprofessional
Students don’t necessarily need to generate exclusive topics to crack their writing assignments. As was said, their papers are fine as long as they follow the format and the structure. Otherwise, it is only a matter of time until the audience starts questioning the writer’s credibility and expertise.
The work looks noneducational
A lack of structure signifies the work isn’t related to academia. Blocks of texts are prevalent in social media platforms. And whether they rest upon facts and have a point, a missing structure makes it a Facebook post, nothing more.
It shows disrespect and negligence
Every writer must analyze the audience and determine its interests. Once a student does it, they must put ideas on paper clearly so that the readers comprehend the information provided. Failing to build the essay according to the required structure creates the impression that the writer doesn’t respect the audience. It, of course, yields a lousy essay.
It prolongs the reading session
Even on basic levels, the lack of a structure has negative consequences. Specifically, papers that don’t follow any formal rules are tough to read. It is hardly possible not to get confused when reading a piece that doesn’t have vivid sections. An absent structure complicates and prolongs the reading session, forcing readers to take breaks, process information, and, most importantly, find where one idea ends and another begins.
