A lot of ESL students feel stuck when they write essays for school. Nearly 70 percent say writing these papers feels hard. Another 16 percent say it seems almost impossible. Grammar rules in English and the way essays are built often cause trouble. Sentences must follow strict order and ideas need clear steps. These writing challenges for students create real blocks in the road. A clear view of the problem helps open the way forward.
Essay Organization Problems and Solutions
Students learning English as a second language find it hard to write topic sentences that show the main point. They sometimes add facts or details but leave out the part that explains why it matters. The next problem? They place one paragraph after another without connecting the ideas. Research published in Education, Language and Sociology Research (2025) shows that ESL students may lose track of how ideas should fit together. These problems link directly to how to structure an essay and follow the right pattern for academic writing.
Youth tend to look for help when this happens. One option is EduBirdie. This is a site where students can ask writers to help with essay writing. They pick a reliable writer from EduBirdie base, give clear instructions and receive high-quality paper on time. That writer builds the work around student guidelines and sticks to academic rules. The site checks that each piece is original. It also protects the person's identity. This shows one way students try to sort out problems with structure.
There are also other help options like tutoring and proofreading. These services focus on making a clear plan and writing strong topic sentences. Solid links between points is one of the most important details in academic papers. Skilled peers and tutors can guide students through essay structure and help with clear thinking and better flow. So don't be afraid to ask for assistance.
Common Grammar Challenges for ESL Students
Learners face frequent issues with verb tense and matching subjects with verbs. They also struggle with articles and prepositions. The root causes lie in differences between English and the learner's native language systems. Some languages lack articles or distinct verb forms for person or number. English requires precise matching and form changes.
The result? Grammar mistakes like wrong verb forms or missing articles. Students may mix up past and present perfect or misplace prepositions. They also pick incorrect words due to limited vocabulary. These errors reflect real grammar in writing problems.
Verb Tense and Subject Verb Agreement
One popular mistake: the wrong verb tense or mismatch the verb with the subject. People write "He go to class" when they need to write "He goes to class." Some use the past simple in places that need the present perfect. Their first language might not separate tenses in the same way.
Tips
- 1. Use verb tables that list each form for every subject.
- 2. Always check if the subject is one or more than one.
- 3. Complete short drills that focus on tense and subject agreement.
- 4. Read simple English texts and notice how verbs change with time and subject.
Articles, Prepositions, and Word Choice
Using "a," "an," "the" trips up plenty of ESL writers. Prepositions like in, on, at often get chosen by translating patterns from another language. Vocabulary choices may feel limited or imprecise. These mistakes hurt clarity and weaken arguments.
Tips
- Learn rules for definite and indefinite articles.
- Make charts of prepositions and common collocations.
- Review use of articles with countable and uncountable nouns.
- Build flashcards of academic word collocations.
Academic Conventions and Structure
ESL students may feel unsure when they write the last sentence of their introduction. That part, the thesis, should show the big idea of the essay. Some write too casually, like texting a friend. Others use the wrong tone for school work. Many skip proper source credit, mixing up things like APA or MLA. In some papers, the parts float around with no clear order. There's no main idea, no proper arguments, no reply to the other side, and no clear finish.
These are major structure of essay troubles that show up again and again. Students need to learn how to write in a more formal way. They also must give credit when they borrow ideas. Essay writing is like building a sandwich. The bread holds the layers together, and each piece has its place.
Conclusion
ESL learners deal with real grammar and structure trouble in academic essay writing. They often use the wrong verb form or mix up verbs and subjects. Even students who learn fast struggle to keep ideas in order, use the right style, and show where they got their facts. Worry, low confidence, and lack of good examples make everything feel harder. Outside help like tutors or writing services can ease these ESL problems. With effort and steady help, students can grow stronger in academic writing even with English as a second language.
