what is the purpose of an essay? Essay is generally a logically well structured view of an individual examining all the relevant issues including arguments for and against the topic, suitably supported by facts, figures, information and anecdotes for a reader to have a better understanding and appreciation about the same. the presentation which is self-explanatory, comprehensive yet concise, composite yet unambiguous, informative yet logical. Essay writing constitutes an important component of the competitive examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission [UPSC] and many other agencies including state services commissions. Essay as a common subject for all the appearing candidates aims at testing the systematic thinking and analytical aptitude of the individual.
what is the purpose of an essay? The Essay writing and the Purpose Behind
Essay is generally a logically well
structured view of an individual examining all the relevant issues including
arguments for and against the topic, suitably supported by facts, figures,
information and anecdotes for a reader to have a better understanding and
appreciation about the same. the presentation which is self-explanatory,
comprehensive yet concise, composite yet unambiguous, informative yet logical.
Essay writing constitutes an
important component of the competitive examinations conducted by the Union
Public Service Commission [UPSC] and many other agencies including state
services commissions. Essay as a common subject for all the appearing
candidates aims at testing the systematic thinking and analytical aptitude of
the individual. It is not just a piece of writing packed with information and
facts with run of the mill views.
The essay in the UPSC mains
examination now comprises two parts: the first relating to an abstract topic
the other relating to a topic of current affairs or any topic which has either
been in the news or has been facing the nation, society, the international
community or the larger human society in recent times. So, as a candidate who
wishes to make a mark, one should always keenly follow the events and incidents
through the year and the related emerging debates, discussions and discourses
which engage the attention of the country or international society as a result
thereof.
How to Prepare Yourself
The art of essay writing, like most good things or
qualities, does not come overnight. One should start preparing for the same
well in advance as a serious student desirous of securing better marks in
essay, it is advisable to start well in time as a mugged or memorised essay
won't make your essay different from others. Reading well written good essays,
as also given in the book, though definitely give you a direction as to what
and how to write.
How to Prepare Yourself
The art of essay writing, like most good things or
qualities, does not come overnight. One should start preparing for the same
well in advance. As a serious student desirous of securing better marks in
essay it is advisable to start well in time as a mugged or memorised essay
won't make your essay different from others. Reading well-written good essays,
as also given in this book, though definitely give you a direction as to what
and how to write.
So, you should first try to
cultivate the habit of ' reading actively' rather than passively, something
that most of us don't do. While reading anything, particularly an opinion or
view or thought, you should not accept the same as given or presented. You
should keep thinking and ruminating over the topic when reading, while also
questioning the particular view to have a better understanding of the same.
Every reading should lead you into serious thinking and you should try to form
your own definitive views about the same. This also rids you from the need to
memorise an essay.
As a keen candidate, you should
always cultivate the habit of reading good opinion article, magazines or
journals as you might find related to the syllabus or as you might deem
relevant for the forthcoming examination. While reading newspaper, please make
it a point to religiously read the editorials and lead articles as given in the
editorial page of the newspaper. You can decide to read one or two newspapers
everyday apart from good journals and magazines as might be relevant for the
purpose including 'Seminar', 'Yojana' and 'Kurukshetra'.
You can also think of following and
watching good chat shows on TV on various important issues. While reading
anything, if you ever come across some interesting facts, information,
quotation or views, try to make a note in a 'Cue-Sheet' or your Note-Book. You
can also think of making a 'Scrap Book' of such snipped articles or write-ups
duly underlined for the facts or views as you may find important. This helps
you in quickly flipping through and brushing up on the same just before the
examination.
So, Make it a practice to read all
the good essays, articles and writings on some general and expected topics as
also given in this book and prepare for the same through nothings of quotes,
information, facts, government initiatives, etc. You can also think of having a
repository of having good opening and closing lines and quotations as also
given at the end of this book. Regular writing practice is another must that
you should religiously start doing right away as writing skills do not come in
a day.
Last but not least, there are some
essays in this book which are marked with double asterisks. You must read them
as there are some basic issues, arguments, common scenarios and background
material which you can use in most of the essays. So, do read these essays
again and again.
Which Topic to Choice
Once the question paper is in front of you and as you see
the options before you, you should always select the one you understand the
best and not because you think writing an essay on this topic shall fetch you
more marks. As the essay is more about your views than the facts, Your selection
should be predicated on your better understanding of the topic at hand but most
importantly your own well formed views. I have always believed that no essay is
asked If the same is somehow not related with the incidents or events in recent
times.
So, While writing an essay, always
find a way to relate your assertions to some incident or event in recent times
thereby making it relevant and interesting for the examiner to see through your
perspicacity and observing capacity. If you are comfortable with all the given
topics, go for one which is seemingly difficult, unorthodox or non-mundane
instead of a very popular topic as then there shall be fewer chances of
comparisons with similar essays of other candidates including repetition of
arguments. Think for at least 15 minutes and try to recollect all the
information, facts and arguments you may put forward before actually starting
to write your essay.
Make a Framework before You Start
Once you have decided on a topic in consonance with your
comfort for views and facts/information at your command, don't forget to make a
basic outline, framework or what they all a 'Mind Map' before you start
writing. After you have chosen the topic you shall be attempting, close your
eyes and think of all the important facts, information, arguments, views,
cause-effect or cost-benefit analysis, examples, maxims, proverbs or quotations
as might be relevant for the purpose for the next 15 minutes.
Jot them all down quickly in a
separate rough sheet and make a logical structure of the essay you are going to
write. While abstract topics can have more and more quotations, proverbs or
anecdotes as might be relevant for the purpose, topical, serious or current
affairs topics should have more information and facts as might be relevant for
the purpose. However, a good analysis with well-argues views is a must for both
types of essays.
Your introduction should be
informed and interesting, to be following by the well-structured balanced
arguments and views. As they say, you don't get a second chance to make the
first impression, so you should ensure that your introduction or opening lines
are interesting and powerful enough to retain the interest and attention of the
examiner through your entire essay. After all, well begun is half done.
You can also think of following a
'Past-Present-Future' matrix for your essays, e.g., your introduction can refer
to the past, then the major body can discuss the present situation and finally
you can talk about the future direction. Your essay must touch different
dimensions of the topic at hand by talking about its political, societal,
ecological, cultural, ethical, technological, economical and other such aspects
to better cover all the relevant points.
Writing the Essay
once you have made a suitable framework or outline for your
essay, start writing with a well-knit introduction which should be interesting
yet relevant. The opening paragraph should give a glimpse of the main arguments
to come through in the next paragraphs of your essay. your opening lines and
sentences are very important as you would also see when glimpsing through the
essays in this book.
Each paragraph should be logically
connected to the previous or next paragraphs as also the basic demand of the
topic you have chosen. You should always stay relevant while you write. The
facts, information, views or arguments should accordingly be presented. beating
about the bush by deviating from the topic may cost you your marks.
As it is an essay, not a debate,
you should be careful to present a balanced view without appearing to be overly
personal and passionate. However, the same should be guided by the dominant
national or international opinion and values. In case of a conflict between
national or international opinion a la India's nuclear option, you should
present a balanced view with a tilt in favour of the dominant national opinion.
Similarly, for an essay on issues like corruption, your arguments should
definitely be loaded against corruption with various arguments about its
ill-effects as that is what is in consonance with the dominant societal values.
So, your essay should point out
about the limitations, potential and possibilities, solutions and suggestions,
future directions, positive and negative consequences, cost-benefit analysis,
cause-effect scrutiny, recommendations, dominant expert or societal opinion,
general societal discourse, new paradigms and developments. your each argument
should be duly and suitably illustrated and elaborated. Your arguments could
also be grouped or clubbed with suitable sub-headings or sub-titles. If they
are more in numbers like those for or against arguments. You can think of an
alphabetical or numerical arrangement of the same.
Your each individual paragraph should focus on a single idea
which supports your central thesis. Each paragraph should begin with relevant
sentences; each assertion should be supported with evidence and should be
expounded in the most lucid way. Opinions and arguments with strong
self-explanatory sentences should reflect the candidates solid and clear
understanding of the topic at hand.
All said and done, the basic arguments and views in your
essays should be so structured as to be supporting the dominant societal values
and norms in a liberal democratic society unless you think you have better
views or arguments contradicting the dominant societal views and values,
something which would be and ought to be more suitable and relevant in the
interest of the human life or our society, nation or comity of nations. The
main body of the essay must develop, support and explain the main ideas or
thesis stated in the introduction which tells the examiner or reader about the
broader thrust to be followed through the essay. Always be careful not ot
deviate from the topic at hand.
Conclusion
Like your introduction, your conclusion has to be equally
forceful, it should be lucid enough for the examiner to understand your own
views or opinion on the topic. your conclusion should follow naturally as you
build your arguments through the course of your writing. All the preceding
lines and paragraphs should therefore be marshalled in such a way to logically
take you to the basic thrust of your own views on the topic which should come out
clearly in the concluding paragraphs. While writing an essay, always conclude
the same on a positive note with suitable practicable solutions, suggestions
and future directions being given.
Instead of facts or information,
your conclusion should clearly reflect your own views and understanding of the
topic in clearer terms, duly supported by or laced with a relevant quotation or
a proverb if you can think of one. However, your conclusion must end on a
positive note while relevantly relating the same to the extant broad national
or international views or discourse. And, yes, don't forget to just re-read and
revisit your essay again after you have written it all for finding out and
correcting any mistake, grammatical error, linguistic slip-ups or inconsistency
in thought to quickly correct the same before you finally submit your answer
sheet.
Certain Things to Remember while Writing an Essay
·
Never come out with sweeping and vague
generalisations, e.g., never say all politicians are crooked or all policemen are
corrupt or all Muslims are fundamentalists or all Hindus are rabid.
·
Use of colloquial and slangs should be carefully
avoided.
·
Always relate the essay to your context; socio,
cultural, economic or present national and international scenario.
·
Your essay is about finding out your own
understanding and views on the topic. Do structure your essay in such a way to
give a clear picture of your own personal views.
·
If the essay topic is about some concept, thesis
or theory, don't forget to elucidate the same before proceeding further .
·
Avoid unnecessary use of difficult or bombastic
words or jargons unless warranted by the context. If you are using any
technical words, immediately explain the same through simpler words or
definitions.
·
All the acronyms or short forms should be duly
expanded in parenthesis or bracket.
·
Don't use irrelevant facts or opinions just
because you like it. All such information, facts or views should be logically
related to bring out the basic thrust and demand of the topic.
·
Long sentences should be avoided. They should be
duly broken into suitably readable sentence for retaining examiner's attention
and interest. Phrases like 'Moreover', 'however', 'notwithstanding', 'besides',
'again', 'nevertheless' and 'in addition to' could be used for bringing about
an organic connection with the arguments in your essay.
·
Don't deviate from the stipulated word limit
given. Try to structure your essay in such a way to be able to adhere to the
word limit as might be specified. This also enables you to stay within the
given time limit. If you have more time, use the same in thinking and
organising your thoughts before setting about writing.
·
Be careful while selecting the topic for writing
your essay from among the options give. Read all the topics again and again and
then zero in on the topic about which you have the best understanding.
·
Don't use a figure or fact if you are not sure
of.
·
Controversial views or opinions should be duly
garbed to dissociate yourself from the same. You can write controversial views
by referring them to 'critics think', 'observers believe', 'experts opine',
'many supporters point out', etc.
·
Don't get very personal and passionate while
expressing your views. And always appear neutral while referring to a
controversial views, opinion or facts.
·
Never use name of a political party, a
politician, religion or anything negatively, e.g., don't say 'the BJP did this'
or 'the Congress did that' or Suresh Kalmadi did this or Arvind Kejriwal did
that. Find out neutral expressions like 'many political parties' or 'some
political parties' or 'our political class'.
·
It is not advisable to criticise the government.
After all, if government has taken a decision or made a policy, they as
popularly elected government must have done the decision or made a policy, they
as popularly elected government must have done the same after due deliberations
and discussions. So, just come out with balanced views for and against the
topic to come out with a suitable conclusion. This is to avoid attracting the
biased evaluation of the examiner who may have his/her own ideology, prejudices
and preferences.
·
Avoid the pitfall of cluttering your essays with
too many quotes or facts. This only shows you have no arguments or views of
your own.
·
Stick to the point. Don't unnecessarily keep
elaborating and expanding your arguments or points unnecessarily. Don't write
more than warranted to remain within the prescribed word limit.
·
Don't forget to underline the main arguments as
and where warranted to attract examiner's attention. Though a school/college
time writing style, it always works.
·
Explain through suitable national/international
examples or case studies whatever you are trying to explain. Don't forget to
mention government initiatives, policies and plans wherever possible.
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