1. Common Composition Mistakes

2. PROMPT:
People should accept themselves for who they are. They should not compare themselves to others, and they should never try to change in any shape or form.

3. Sample Introductions:
Sample Introductions:
These are single paragraphs from essays written in response to the prompt. Remember, an essay includes multiple paragraphs.

4. I agree that people should accept themselves for who they are
I agree that people should accept themselves for who they are. They should not compare themselves to others, and should never try to change in any shape or form.

5. I agree that people should accept themselves for who they are
I agree that people should accept themselves for who they are. They should not compare themselves to others, and should never try to change in any shape or form.
Do not plagiarize the prompt.

6. In this paper, I will discuss the importance of accepting yourself for who you are. Also, I will cover why people should not compare themselves to others.

7. In this paper, I will discuss the importance of accepting yourself for who you are. Also, I will cover why people should not compare themselves to others.
Avoid the unnecessary use of first-person (“I,” “me,” “my,” etc.)

8. In this paper, I will discuss the importance of accepting yourself for who you are. Also, I will cover why people should not compare themselves to others.
Avoid the unnecessary use of first-person (“I,” “me,” “my,” etc.)
Do not narrate the process of writing.

9. In this paper, I will discuss the importance of accepting yourself for who you are. Also, I will cover why people should not compare themselves to others.
Avoid the unnecessary use of first-person (“I,” “me,” “my,” etc.)
Do not narrate the process of writing.
Use first person only to share a personal story.

10. In this paper, I will discuss the importance of accepting yourself for who you are. Also, I will cover why people should not compare themselves to others.
Avoid the unnecessary use of first-person (“I,” “me,” “my,” etc.)
Do not narrate the process of writing.
Use first person only to share a personal story.
Do not use second-person (“you,” “your,” “you’re,” etc.).

11. In this paper, I will discuss the importance of accepting yourself for who you are. Also, I will cover why people should not compare themselves to others.
Avoid the unnecessary use of first-person (“I,” “me,” “my,” etc.).
Do not narrate the process of writing.
Use first-person only to share a personal story.
Do not use second-person (“you,” “your,” “you’re,” etc.).
Substitute “people” or a more specific synonym.

12. To be a good counselor you have to be able to imagine yourself in your clients’ shoes.

13. To be a good counselor you have to be able to imagine yourself in your clients’ shoes.
Good counselors must have the ability to put themselves in their clients' shoes.

14. Before you begin an essay, you should spend some time brainstorming your ideas and developing your thesis.

15. Before you begin an essay, you should spend some time brainstorming your ideas and developing your thesis.
Before beginning an essay, spend some time brainstorming ideas and developing a thesis.

16. People should definitely accept themselves for who they are
People should definitely accept themselves for who they are. They shouldn’t ever try to change because they are perfect exactly the way they are. It doesn’t matter if they are tall, short, skinny, or heavy. Yes, chain-smokers should probably try to break their habit, and if someone is not good at math, they should probably study. But people should be happy with themselves and never change in any way whatsoever.

17. People should definitely accept themselves for who they are
People should definitely accept themselves for who they are. They shouldn’t ever try to change because they are perfect exactly the way they are. It doesn’t matter if they are tall, short, skinny, or heavy. Yes, chain-smokers should probably try to break their habit, and if someone is not good at math, they should probably study. But people should be happy with themselves and never change in any way whatsoever.
Don’t contradict yourself.

18. People should definitely accept themselves for who they are
People should definitely accept themselves for who they are. They shouldn’t ever try to change because they are perfect exactly the way they are. It doesn’t matter if they are tall, short, skinny, or heavy. Yes, chain-smokers should probably try to break their habit, and if someone is not good at math, they should probably study. But people should be happy with themselves and never change in any way whatsoever.
Don’t contradict yourself.
Assert an overall argument that is broad enough to encompass your overall views.

19. Positive Examples of Strong Introductions Written In-Class by Real Students

20. Self-confidence is something hard to achieve
Self-confidence is something hard to achieve. For the most part, television shows portray women to be valued only by their looks instead of their personalities or intelligence. At the same time, men are expected to be strong and not to have an emotional side. While many people strive to fit into these roles, they will not find true happiness. True happiness can be achieved only when individuals can be comfortable with themselves in spite of social pressures.

21. Self-confidence is something hard to achieve
Self-confidence is something hard to achieve. For the most part, television shows portray women to be valued only by their looks instead of their personalities or intelligence. At the same time, men are expected to be strong and not to have an emotional side. While many people strive to fit into these roles, they will not find true happiness. True happiness can be achieved only when individuals can be comfortable with themselves in spite of social pressures.
Contextualizes topic for the reader.

22. Self-confidence is something hard to achieve
Self-confidence is something hard to achieve. For the most part, television shows portray women to be valued only by their looks instead of their personalities or intelligence. At the same time, men are expected to be strong and not to have an emotional side. While many people strive to fit into these roles, they will not find true happiness. True happiness can be achieved only when individuals can be comfortable with themselves in spite of social pressures.
Contextualizes topic for the reader.
Transitions into overall argument.

23. Self-confidence is something hard to achieve
Self-confidence is something hard to achieve. For the most part, television shows portray women to be valued only by their looks instead of their personalities or intelligence. At the same time, men are expected to be strong and not to have an emotional side. While many people strive to fit into these roles, they will not find true happiness. True happiness can be achieved only when individuals can be comfortable with themselves in spite of social pressures.

24. I consider myself slightly overweight
I consider myself slightly overweight. I love eating foods that are not good for me, and while I know that cutting these foods out of my diet can help me improve my self-confidence, at the same time, I am still able to accept myself with a few extra pounds. Having self-confidence means having a realistic perception of your strengths and weaknesses, accepting that you are not perfect, but knowing where you can make changes and making those changes for the right reasons. While it is not healthy for people to constantly compare themselves to others, it is also not healthy for them to resist change because they may end up depriving themselves of opportunities for growth.

25. I consider myself slightly overweight
I consider myself slightly overweight. I love eating foods that are not good for me, and while I know that cutting these foods out of my diet can help me improve my self-confidence, at the same time, I am still able to accept myself with a few extra pounds. Having self-confidence means having a realistic perception of your strengths and weaknesses, accepting that you are not perfect, but knowing where you can make changes and making those changes for the right reasons. While it is not healthy for people to constantly compare themselves to others, it is also not healthy for them to resist change because they may end up depriving themselves of opportunities for growth.
Uses first-person appropriately.

26. I consider myself slightly overweight
I consider myself slightly overweight. I love eating foods that are not good for me, and while I know that cutting these foods out of my diet can help me improve my self-confidence, at the same time, I am still able to accept myself with a few extra pounds. Having self-confidence means having a realistic perception of your strengths and weaknesses, accepting that you are not perfect, but knowing where you can make changes and making those changes for the right reasons. While it is not healthy for people to constantly compare themselves to others, it is also not healthy for them to resist change because they may end up depriving themselves of opportunities for growth.
Uses first-person appropriately.
Contextualizes topic for the reader.

27. I consider myself slightly overweight
I consider myself slightly overweight. I love eating foods that are not good for me, and while I know that cutting these foods out of my diet can help me improve my self-confidence, at the same time, I am still able to accept myself with a few extra pounds. Having self-confidence means having a realistic perception of your strengths and weaknesses, accepting that you are not perfect, but knowing where you can make changes and making those changes for the right reasons. While it is not healthy for people to constantly compare themselves to others, it is also not healthy for them to resist change because they may end up depriving themselves of opportunities for growth.
Uses first-person appropriately.
Contextualizes topic for the reader.
Transitions into overall argument.

28. I consider myself slightly overweight
I consider myself slightly overweight. I love eating foods that are not good for me, and while I know that cutting these foods out of my diet can help me improve my self-confidence, at the same time, I am still able to accept myself with a few extra pounds. Having self-confidence means having a realistic perception of your strengths and weaknesses, accepting that you are not perfect, but knowing where you can make changes and making those changes for the right reasons. While it is not healthy for people to constantly compare themselves to others, it is also not healthy for them to resist change because they may end up depriving themselves of opportunities for growth.

29. Sample Body Paragraphs

30. As a parent, I try to teach my children not to feel pressured to conform to the expectations of society or their peers. At the same time, however, I also want them to be strong enough to recognize and overcome their weaknesses. When my daughter wanted to quit tennis because she wasn’t winning any games, I did not allow it. Just a month before, she begged me to let her take lessons. Had I allowed her to quit, not only would she not be the great tennis player she is today, but also, she would have learned to avoid everything that is difficult. She has self-confidence because she is confident that she can overcome any obstacle in her way, just like she learned to practice hard and succeed as an athlete.

31. Changing to fit in with others can also damage a person’s social life
Changing to fit in with others can also damage a person’s social life. For example, if people start hanging out with a new group of friends, they might feel pressured to change their appearance, behavior or interests just to be accepted. But changing just to make friends is counterproductive. These new “friends” are not really their friends because they do not actually like them for who they are, only for who they think they are. In addition, the people trying to fit in may end up losing the true friends they already had. Life is not a popularity contest. Changing to please other people will lead only to lonely isolation.

32. Sample Conclusions

33. Conclusions:
In conclusion, people need to stay the way they are. Nothing should change their mind about how they look or how this other person looks. For example, my uncle Bill is an alcoholic who smokes two packs a day, but that is just who he is. People need to accept that.

34. Conclusions:
In conclusion, people need to stay the way they are. Nothing should change their mind about how they look or how this other person looks. For example, my uncle Bill is an alcoholic who smokes two packs a day, but that is just who he is. People need to accept that.
Avoid phrases like “In conclusion” or “To conclude.”

35. Conclusions:
In conclusion, people need to stay the way they are. Nothing should change their mind about how they look or how this other person looks. For example, my uncle Bill is an alcoholic who smokes two packs a day, but that is just who he is. People need to accept that.
Avoid phrases like “In conclusion” or “To conclude.”
Do not introduce new information in your conclusion.

36. Conclusions:
The last reason why people should not change who they are is because they might someday return to their old habits and then they will be disappointed with their failure. If people lose weight and keep it off for years, they will be even more depressed if they gain it back than they would if they never lost the weight to begin with.

37. Conclusions:
The last reason why people should not change who they are is because they might someday return to their old habits and then they will be disappointed with their failure. If people lose weight and keep it off for years, they will be even more depressed if they gain it back than they would if they never lost the weight to begin with.
Do not simply develop your final reason.

38. Conclusions:
The last reason why people should not change who they are is because they might someday return to their old habits and then they will be disappointed with their failure. If people lose weight and keep it off for years, they will be even more depressed if they gain it back than they would if they never lost the weight to begin with.
Do not simply develop your final reason.
Reinforce your overall argument.

39. Introduction:
People should stay exactly as they are. There is no reason to change. If someone changes, that means that they do not accept themselves.
Conclusion:
Like I said, people should stay exactly as they are. There is no reason to change. If someone changes, that means that they do not accept themselves.

40. Introduction:
People should stay exactly as they are. There is no reason to change. If someone changes, that means that they do not accept themselves.
Conclusion:
Like I said, people should stay exactly as they are. There is no reason to change. If someone changes, that means that they do not accept themselves.
Do not simply restate your introduction.

41. Conclusions:
When people compare themselves to unrealistic ideals portrayed in the popular media, they are being dishonest with not only themselves but also the people they love. When people make healthy choices to become an improved version of themselves, they will not only be happier, healthier individuals but also better mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends and neighbors.

42. Conclusions:
When people compare themselves to unrealistic ideals portrayed in the popular media, they are being dishonest with not only themselves but also the people they love. When people make healthy choices to become an improved version of themselves, they will not only be happier, healthier individuals but also better mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends and neighbors.
Try to synthesize the ideas of your paper. Show how your points work together.