Merchants of Doubt - Sample Essay

Merchants of Doubt - Sample EssayMerchants of Doubt samples are generally used to teach students writing skills and examine the characteristics of a writer that can lead to poor editing. The sample essay is a short, ready-made essay. When students review the sample they should be able to notice significant differences between the intended essay and the one they have just read.In many cases, the sample is poorly written. Students should note the use of only one name, an excessive use of adjectives, excessive use of synonyms, and an overuse of the copula 'is.' Some writers attempt to construct paragraphs that appear natural, but, when they are copied to a computer, they end up looking more like sloppy drafting than a true essay. One will be able to tell this from the beginning. Students should ask themselves whether they find the grammar as smooth as paper, if they can tell where the writer spent too much time on a particular point or if the point is interesting enough to be worth thei r attention.The use of a new person to introduce a subject is probably the most likely problem. Students will often find this phrase in the 'purpose' section of the text. They may also find that the intent to be 'your purpose,' which is included at the end of the sample is unnecessary. Those who work with the sample will notice the used words are never used in the intended manner.The phrase 'a great internet company' is another example of copy that should raise some eyebrows. Using the word 'great' throughout the entire essay, the writer is attempting to convey a sense of importance, when they really mean inferior. Sometimes, instead of trying to be 'Great' a writer should consider what it would mean to write a review for the Great New England Company. By not being too salesy, the writer would not sound as though they were trying to 'sell' to the reader.Incorrect use of the proper names of people is common. It is not uncommon for a writer to use names that should be common nouns. Th e omission of the first name, 'Jim,' is particularly disturbing and has been the subject of complaint. The use of an improper noun as the first name, especially the first initial, is fairly common in other contexts, such as finding a bag of coins.The sample is full of grammatical errors. The lack of punctuation will be disconcerting for many students. The use of capital letters to do a variety of things from 'to open' to 'to bring' is very common. Capitalizing is designed to make the point that one is more important than the other, something a writer is constantly reminded of in writing samples. One should remember that this practice is common in marketing, not in essays.Grammar is never easy to perfect, but the usage of grammar and punctuation errors will be seen by the reader, as will the use of incorrect word choice throughout the essay. The use of hyphens and dashes is also quite common in the sample. It is never appropriate to use these in an academic writing assignment.Student s can take their own online course that is focused on writing samples. They can also learn from reviews and examples to ensure that they choose the best writing resources available.