1. No Clear Thesis or Main Idea

• What it looks like: The paper feels aimless or confusing; you’re not sure what the student is trying to argue.
  
  

• What to do:
  
  

  • Ask: “What’s the main thing you want your reader to understand?”
    
    

  • Try: Have them summarize their point in one sentence out loud, and then help them shape that into a thesis.

2. Weak Organization or Flow

• What it looks like: Paragraphs feel out of order, ideas are hard to follow, or transitions are missing.
  
  

• What to do:
  
  

  • Ask them to talk through their paper aloud; this often reveals gaps or jumps.
    
    

  • Try outlining their current structure with them and rearranging the pieces. 

3. Over-Reliance on Summary

• What it looks like: The student just retells a story or article instead of analyzing it.
  
  

• What to do:
  
  

  • Ask: “Why is this point important? What do you think it shows?”
    
    

  • Show the difference between summary and analysis using a short example.

4. Grammar Errors Everywhere

• What it looks like: Run-on sentences, comma splices, inconsistent tense, etc.
  
  

• What to do:
  
  

  • Focus on patterns: don’t try to fix everything.
    
    

  • Teach one rule at a time, using their own writing as the example.

5. Lack of Confidence

• What it looks like: “I’m a bad writer,” “This probably makes no sense,” etc.
  
  

• What to do:
  
  

  • Genuinely compliment what’s working.
    
    

  • Normalize the struggle: “Everyone rewrites. That’s part of writing.”
    
    

  • Help them see their growth over time.

6. Vague or Repetitive Language

• What it looks like: Words like “things,” “stuff,” or the same sentence structure over and over.
  
  

• What to do:
  
  

  • Ask: “Can you be more specific here?” or “What exactly do you mean by this?”
    
    

  • Suggest synonyms or sentence variety to help.
    
    

7. Missing or Weak Introductions and Conclusions

• What it looks like: The essay starts abruptly or ends without wrapping things up.
  
  

• What to do:
  
  

  • For intros: Help them frame the “why” of their paper and ease the reader in.
    
    

  • For conclusions: Ask, “What do you want your reader to remember?”
    
    

8. Misunderstanding the Assignment

• What it looks like: The writing doesn’t match the prompt, or key parts are missing.
  
  

• What to do:
  
  

  • Read the prompt together.
    
    

  • Ask: “What do you think your professor is asking you to do?”
    
    

  • Help them create a mini checklist based on the assignment.