My teacher claims my essay was too ambiguous and general..

Hi

Recently, my teacher has criticized my essay for being too ambiguous and general.
How can i be specific in my writing ?

You can give examples supporting your statements. It is actually hard to give an efficient answer to this, since we havent seen any of your essays. I recommend you to post an essay here and see what others think about it.

Yes, by not providing an example, you've asked a question that is too general to be answered adequately!

There are, however, a few general rules. In describing events, scenes or people, provide sensory (sight, sound, touch, smell, taste) details. In talking about facts, avoid terms like "many" or "some" in favor of actual numbers or proportions. Make sure that your assertions are specific. Instead of saying "orange juice is good for you," say "orange juice is high in antioxidants, which protect the body against cancer." And, as Orlando said, give examples to support your arguments or illustrate your ideas.

Essentially you need to ground every statement about an abstract concept in your writing with one or more concrete examples. Most essays are about some sort of abstract concept, but abstract concepts don't conjure up mental images that hold the reader's interest. So, you need to demonstrate your points with details that do call up vivid images that the reader can easily picture and understand.

Why don't you post one of your essays here for more feedback?

Thanks for your suggestions ! Will try to post an essay asap... =>

If I am writing an argumentative essay, how can ensure that my points are delivered across to my readers?

Again, the question is too general, unless you want me to summarize your composition textbook chapter on argumentation. A better idea: Read that chapter yourself and then post a sample essay for critique. Or, choose a topic and some arguments and then ask for advice on putting those particular points across to a reader.

As you write your argumentative piece, try to make sure that your logic is as clear as possible. Identify any and all premises you might be working from, and be sure to address any objections to them. Make certain too that you have identified your key terms well enough to avoid any disagreements over word use with your readers.