I have an incompetent teacher who can't mark?

English teachers are probably the most incompetent people who are considered "professionals". I have had this problem time and time again, and unfortunately the only was you can get past this issue is to hand your work in to him many times for feedback. My essay's have surpassed lots of kids essays but at the end of the day, your playing by his rules, so just do what he says and make sure he check it each time you write an essay.