I assign papers in my upper-level classes for two reasons. First, the research and writing process helps the concepts taught in lectures sink in. Second, the development of thinking and writing skills is one of the most important ways you can profit from a college education. So I have listed here some of the writing mistakes I have seen students make, in the hope that you will avoid them as you write your own papers.
Content is obviously the most important aspect of a paper.
Some students seem to have the idea that a paper is a cobbled-together collection of facts about the topic. Please, take the time to make an outline before you write. Divide your paper into sections corresponding to the outline headings. This makes your discussion easier to follow. Basic spelling errors.