Academic Essays

Posted on September 22, 2025

5 Common Mistakes Kenyan University Students Make in Academic Essays (And How to Fix Them)

Writing essays is a big part of the university life in Kenya. Professors assign essays to help you think critically, learn how to argue, and show that you can do research — not just repeat facts. But many students make avoidable mistakes that reduce their grades and burn more time than necessary. Below are five common problems students encounter — and ways to fix them. Use these tips to improve your essays and make writing less stressful.

1. Weak Thesis Statement or No Clear Argument

What students often do wrong:

  • They write an essay without a clear thesis (main argument). Sometimes the statement is vague (“This essay will discuss
”) rather than stating what they believe.
  • The thesis doesn’t answer why or how, just what.
  • Sometimes they change direction midway — the essay starts one way, then drifts away from the original point.

Why this matters:
The thesis guides the whole essay. If it’s weak or unclear, readers (including your lecturer) don’t know what to expect. Your evidence and structure might wander, which makes your ideas seem disorganized.

How to fix it:

  • Be specific & arguable. A good thesis should make a claim that you can support with evidence. For example, instead of: “Corruption affects development in Kenya.” Use something like: “Corruption in Kenyan government contracting delays infrastructure growth and increases costs, which undermines public trust and economic development.”
  • Preview your reasons. If possible, hint at the main points you will use to support your thesis. That helps structure your essay.
  • Stick to the thesis. Before writing each paragraph, ask: Does this relate back to my thesis? If not, either remove it or revise it to connect better.

2. Poor Structure & Paragraph Organization

What students often do wrong:

  • Essays that jump between topics without logical flow.
  • Paragraphs that are too long or too short; or where multiple ideas are in one paragraph.
  • No clear introduction, body, conclusion; or weak transitions between sections.

Why this matters:
Good structure helps readers follow your thinking. If ideas are scrambled, the argument gets lost. Marks are often lost because the essay feels disjointed even when the content is good.

How to fix it:

  • Use a clear outline. Before writing, plan: introduction, main points (body), conclusion. Under each, list sub‐points or evidence.
  • Paragraph per idea. One paragraph = one main idea. Start with a topic sentence that shows what that paragraph will argue or explain. Then add evidence, examples, analysis.
  • Link your ideas. Use transitions (“however”, “moreover”, “on the other hand”, etc.) so the reader sees how paragraphs relate. E.g., after arguing one point, you might say: “Having considered X, we now turn to Y, which presents a contrasting perspective.”
  • Strong introduction and conclusion. The intro should introduce the topic, give background if needed, and present the thesis. The conclusion should restate the thesis (in new words), summarise main points, and possibly point to implications or suggestions.

3. Overreliance on Descriptive Writing / Lack of Critical Analysis

What students often do wrong:

  • Writing essays that mostly describe what other people say (summaries) rather than evaluating.
  • No discussion of strengths/weaknesses, causes/consequences, or alternatives.
  • Accepting sources at face value without questioning methodology or bias.

Why this matters:
Universities expect analysis: show you can think for yourself. Describing is useful, but without analysing, your essay has less depth and fewer marks.

How to fix it:

  • Ask “why”, “how”, and “so what?”: Why is this point true? How does it work? So what does it mean by comparison or consequences?
  • Compare viewpoints. Bring in different authors who disagree. Show the debate. Use this to strengthen your own argument.
  • Critique sources. Check who wrote it, when, under what circumstances. Are there biases? Is the data reliable? Does the source assume something you can challenge?
  • Include real examples. Use Kenyan or African case studies if possible. These help you illustrate abstract ideas and show awareness of local context.

4. Poor Use of Sources & Incorrect Referencing

What students often do wrong:

  • Using weak or non‐academic sources (blogs, Wikipedia as main evidence).
  • Plagiarism (even unintentionally): copying phrases without quotation or change.
  • Mixing up referencing styles or inconsistent citation format.
  • Forgetting in‐text citations, or incomplete bibliography.

Why this matters:
Academic integrity is serious. Using good sources improves your credibility and strengthens your argument. Professors penalize plagiarism heavily; inconsistent referencing looks careless.

How to fix it:

  • Choose good, academic sources. Use journal articles, books, government reports, reputable institutions. When using online sources, check author, publication date, whether peer-reviewed.
  • Take careful notes. When reading, note author, page number, date. If you copy an idea or quote, mark it so you don’t forget to cite later.
  • Use a consistent referencing style. Kenya universities often require Harvard, APA, or another. Pick one and stick with it. Be sure you know how to format both in‐text citation and bibliography.
  • Paraphrase correctly. Don’t just swap a few words. Understand the idea, then write it in your own words. If you use the exact wording, put quotation marks and cite.
  • Use tools or services. There are online tools and platforms that help with citations, paraphrasing, and researching trustworthy sources. For instance, when you need help polishing your citations or paraphrases, you could check a service like TrueLearn Online, which offers tools to improve academic paraphrasing, citation, and clarity (among others). See their services here: https://truelearn.online/services/ truelearn.online

5. Grammar, Style, and Language Issues

What students often do wrong:

  • Using casual or conversational language in academic essays.
  • Sentence fragments, run‐on sentences, comma splices, or confusing punctuation.
  • Spelling mistakes, incorrect word choice, misused idioms.
  • Repeating phrases or words too often; lack of variety in sentence structure.

Why this matters:
Even if your ideas are strong, poor grammar and style distract the reader and lower the impression of your work. They can lead to misunderstandings or loss of clarity.

How to fix it:

  • Read academic essays and sample papers. Note how sentences are built, how transitions work, what formal vocabulary looks like.
  • Draft and revise. Don’t expect your first version to be perfect. Set it aside, then read it again with fresh eyes. Check for coherence, flow, grammar, vocabulary.
  • Use grammar tools. Spell‐checkers, grammar checkers, or peer review can catch small mistakes. Also, some services (like TrueLearn Online) offer paraphrasing & clarity tools to help improve academic tone. truelearn.online
  • Vary sentence lengths. Mix short and longer sentences to avoid monotony. Use active voice where possible; passive voice is okay in some contexts but overusing it makes text dull.
  • Get feedback. Ask classmates, mentors, or writing centres to review your work. They often spot errors you don’t see.

Putting It All Together: A Mini Checklist Before You Submit

Here’s a quick checklist you can run through before handing in your essay:

ItemCheck
Do I have a clear, arguable thesis?☐
Does each paragraph connect to the thesis?☐
Are my paragraphs well‐organized, with topic sentences and transitions?☐
Have I gone beyond description and done critical analysis?☐
Are my sources reliable and properly cited?☐
Is my referencing style consistent (in‐text & bibliography)?☐
Is my language academic, grammar reasonably clean, sentences varied?☐
Did I proofread (spelling, punctuation, repetition)?☐

Why Improving These Things Matters

Getting better at these five areas doesn’t just mean higher grades. It means:

  • More confidence in writing: knowing you can structure an argument, use evidence, write clearly.
  • Better time management: when your essay plan is clear, you spend less time rewriting.
  • Stronger critical thinking skills: which are useful in every field—law, engineering, medicine, business, social sciences.
  • Better preparation for postgraduate work**, or other high‐stakes writing (reports, proposals, job applications).

Final Thoughts

Academic essay writing in Kenyan universities can feel tough, especially with large class sizes and heavy workloads. But many of the most common mistakes are surmountable with awareness and practice. Focus on (1) having a strong thesis, (2) organizing your ideas well, (3) analysing not just describing, (4) using and citing sources properly, and (5) polishing your language and style.

When you put these pieces together, your essays will not only score better — they’ll be more enjoyable to write and read. And if ever you need help with parts like paraphrasing for clarity, fixing citations, or polishing your writing, remember tools like TrueLearn Online offer services to assist you. (See what they offer: https://truelearn.online/services/ truelearn.online)