SHOPPING MALL FOR STUDENTS: University of Michigan essay "English 101"

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Use mature professional writing skills. Avoid contractions, slang, and “you.” If you have questions, talk to your English teacher.
Avoid funny fonts, big margins, large font size, etc... We were once in school too, and we know all the tricks of the trade for making things appear longer than they really are! Work with a standard font (such as Times) and a standard size (such as 12).
Explain any abbreviations. Sure, we know the obvious ones (NHS, anyone?), but talking about the B.O.B. award that you won for participating in the F.D.R. may not make sense to someone who doesn’t go to your high school.
If making an argument, back it up with consistent facts. Have an opinion about global warming? Affirmative action? Think that capital punishment is evil? Why? Your argument should be supported by facts, not the opinions of others.
Use spell-check and proofread your essay. Look at this slightly different (from actual essays) spelling of a, um, common word – that spell-check wouldn’t flag.
“My work as a Candy Striper has really influenced me to become a nurse”
vs.
“My work as a Candy Stripper has really influenced me to become a nurse”
Didn’t catch it? Here’s a hint – there’s an extra “p” in the second sentence...
Please have at least 2 people read your essay to check for major errors. Bonus if you use people who don’t have a massively vested interest in your college education.

Source:university website