What it looks like
An example from Philosophy.
Nozick (1974) argues that most of us would refuse to plug into a machine that could give us any experiences we wanted, so pleasure cannot be all that matters. Critics reply that this reflects status quo bias: when people are told they are already in such a machine, many choose to stay.
Nozick (1974) argues that most of us would refuse to plug into a machine that could give us any experiences we wanted, so pleasure cannot be all that matters. Critics reply that this reflects status quo bias: when people are told they are already in such a machine, many choose to stay. But this reply goes less far than it seems. If our reluctance is bias, Nozick loses his evidence against hedonism — yet the hedonist gains no evidence for it. So the experience machine does not refute hedonism; at most, it shows that our intuitions cannot settle the question.
Why markers write it
Most UK marking criteria reserve the top band for independent thinking. An essay that reports a debate accurately shows good understanding, but the marker has read that summary many times; what they can’t find elsewhere is your judgement on it. Originality usually means reaching your own conclusion from the evidence, not inventing a new theory.
How to fix it in your next essay
- 1Take a side in every debateAfter setting out two views, say which you find more convincing, and add a reason of your own.
- 2Test a claim against a new caseApply a theory to an example your reading doesn’t mention. Where it fits or fails is your contribution.
- 3Connect sources that don’t cite each otherLinking two debates, or two disciplines, is one of the most reliable ways to say something new.
Phrases that help
How much it costs
In most UK marking schemes, originality or independent thought is one of the main things that separates a First (70+) from a strong 2:1, so this comment often appears on essays that are already doing well.
Typical wording — every university words its bands a little differently. Your module’s criteria have the exact version.
Other ways markers say it
- “Needs more of your own voice”
- “Little independent thought”
- “Where is your view?”
- “Relies too heavily on sources”
- “Needs more independent argument”
Often written alongside
Common questions
- Isn’t my opinion irrelevant in an essay?
- Unsupported opinion is. A judgement you reason your way to from the evidence is exactly what markers are looking for.
- How can I be original if I’m new to the subject?
- Markers don’t expect new research. A clear judgement between sources, or a theory applied to a fresh example, counts.