Essay writing
is a real challenge for many students. There are so many things to take into
account, not to mention that the topics are often too stressful and may seem
quite complex, especially if you’re writing an essay on technology.
It’s a common
mistake to think that technology essay is like any other essay. Yes, it shares
the same structure and rules to complete bibliography, but there are quite a
few things that are only characteristic of this type of essays. There are also
some other mistakes that students often make in technology essays, that cost
them that “A” they are craving for.
So, without
further ado, let’s take a look at some more pitfalls to avoid when writing a
technology essay.
1. You Have a Weak Thesis Statement
Imagine that
you’re having an interview for a new job. Of course, you will come up with the
best introduction for yourself to let everyone know how cool you are. Surely,
it’s a bit out there, but it’s pretty much how thesis statement for a
technology essay works as well.
When working
on an essay on technology, thesis statement represents, how well you know the
topic and the quality of the knowledge background you have to write the whole
essay on it. So, having a weak thesis statement will show just how vague your
knowledge of a certain technology-related topic is.
Here’s what
the specialists at the University of
Illinois recommend to write a strong thesis statement for a
technology essay:
- While the whole introduction can be from two
paragraphs to a page, the length of a thesis statement should not exceed two
sentences. It’s enough to put the whole idea together, even on a
technology-related subject;
- Don’t put the thesis statement in the middle of the
paragraph. It should be at the end of the introduction to lay emphasis on it;
- A thesis statement should be as clear as possible,
so no vague notions or ideas;
- Don’t start the thesis statement with “The point of
this paper is…” Instead, create a strong emphatic sentence and underlines this
point.
Pro tip: for
a clearer thesis statement, avoid including too many coordinating and
subordinating conjunctions just to put more information in these two sentences.
2. You Follow a Messy Structure
The structure
is the foundation and the skeleton of an essay. Breaking it means that your
essay automatically loses consistency and logical connection. However, this is
one of the most common mistakes when writing a technology essay. There are
often many points to be covered, and they often get mixed throughout the text.
So, a stream
of consciousness is not the case with the structure of a technology essay. But
following this structure is pretty much straightforward, and once you have it
figured out, you’ll be able to put all your research together. Here’s how
professors at UNSW Sydney
recommend following the essay structure:
Image credit: UNSW Sydney
Pro tip: technology
essays require a pretty straightforward structure with as little description as
possible, so try not to beat around the bush and go straight to the main idea
you want to describe.
3. Your Grammar and Punctuation Aren’t Flawless
Just like
following the structure is absolutely crucial, having spotless grammar and
punctuation is a must as well. When writing a technical essay, you may get
carried away by a variety of industry-specific notions and terms, and
completely forget about grammar and the overall readability of the text.
Many students get academic help to
have their technology essays edited and proofread in terms of grammar and
punctuation, and it’s a good choice. While you may have re-read your essay
thousands of times, you could still skip some parts and leave some mistakes.
Having someone proofread your technology, especially if it’s a professional,
will help you not only find grammatical or punctuation mistakes, but will also
help you make your essay more readable.
Pro tip: For
a quick grammar and punctuation check you can use online tools like Grammarly.
It also has a built-in thesaurus and checks the overall style of your essay to
estimate its readability.
4. Using Too Much Jargon vs Oversimplified Language
While you’re
writing an academic essay on technology, overcrowding it with too much jargon
and too many specific terms will complicate its readability. Moreover, some
professors become suspicious when they receive such essays. They consider is a
hind that the student might not have written it itself, or has a bad knowledge
of the topic.
But
oversimplified language is not an option too. Try to find the middle ground by
introducing specific notions and giving explanations supported by your
research. After all, academic essays are aimed at showing how well your
research skills are, so don’t overcomplicate your writing.
Pro tip: introducing
too much jargon in a technology essay is a common mistake, which is quite hard
to avoid. You can try using Hemingway App, which is an online tool that checks
overall readability of the text according to its style.
5. Your Facts Lack Backup
As it was
already said, students write academic essays to train and showcase their
research skills. So, you’re writing your technology essay primarily to show how
well you can support the facts with already existing data.
Usually, there
are plenty of resources for technology essays. However, the students often make
a mistake by referring to the resources that are not credible or are outdated.
Be careful when providing backup for the factual information in your essay.
Technology changes fast, and there’s plenty of research done every single year.
So make sure that you provide high-quality resources to back up facts in your
technology essay.
Pro tip: don’t
ignore filters when looking for resources online. You can set the browser to
give you only recent results, which is very helpful if you’re looking for
updated studies and research.
Wrapping Up
Technology essays are very specific and need your close attention. Make
sure to follow these tips to avoid the most common mistakes when writing your
technology essay, and you’ll get the “A” you deserve.
