Writing & Grammar - StudyReady

Mechanics

Grammar rules students miss most

Rule	Example
Its vs. it's	`Its` = possessive ("the dog wagged its tail"). `It's` = "it is" ("it's raining")
Their / there / they're	`Their` = possessive, `there` = place, `they're` = "they are"
Subject-verb agreement	A singular subject takes a singular verb even if other words come between them: "The list of items is long."
Comma splice	Wrong: "I studied all night, I still failed." Fix with a period, semicolon, or conjunction: "I studied all night, but I still failed."
Who vs. whom	`Who` is a subject ("who called?"), `whom` is an object ("to whom it may concern")
Affect vs. effect	`Affect` is usually a verb ("this will affect me"), `effect` is usually a noun ("the effect was clear")
Parallel structure	Keep list items in the same grammatical form: "I like reading, writing, and to swim" → "I like reading, writing, and swimming."

Templates

Persuasive essay: Thesis stating your position → 2-3 body paragraphs each with a reason and evidence → a paragraph addressing the counterargument → conclusion restating your position.
Analytical essay: Thesis making a specific claim about the text or topic → body paragraphs each proving one part of the claim with evidence → conclusion connecting back to significance.
Narrative essay: A hook that drops the reader into a moment → rising action building tension → a turning point or realization → a reflection on what it meant.
Five-paragraph essay (default): Intro with thesis → three body paragraphs, one per supporting point → conclusion. A safe default structure for most timed writing.

Before You Submit

Read it out loud: Awkward sentences and missing words are far easier to catch by ear than by eye.
Check that every paragraph proves the thesis: If a paragraph doesn't clearly support your central argument, cut it or rewrite it so it does.
Cut filler words: Look for "very," "really," "in order to," and "the fact that" - almost all of them can be deleted without losing meaning.
Check your first and last sentence: These get read the most carefully - make sure the opening earns attention and the closing leaves an actual point, not just a summary.