Essay is a compulsory paper in Civil Service Examination carrying 200marks... It plays a prominent role in getting a rank... Marks obtained by candidates varies in a wide range of around 40-140... So in these years of low scoring game in UPSC, essay along with interview play vital role.. I would be focusing on essay here...
Lets discuss some of the important aspects of it...
1. Choosing the right choice of essay- Every year UPSC asks around 4/5 essays from which 1 has to be written... So choosing the right Essay is the most important thing... It should be chosen only on the basis of your knowlege and comfort level in that topic.. Devote some 5-10 mins in deciding which one to write... Some time one particular essay seems tempting from 1st look and we decide to write that without even reading the other ones... So read all the options and think about them for few seconds and then decide... There is a notion in civils preparation arena that it's not good to write the most attempted one as it fetches less marks... But I feel nothing lyk that happens, you'll be awarded marks only on the basis of your write up...
2. Brainstorming- This is very vital.. around 45 minutes should be given to this process... At the rear part of ur answer sheet jot down what ever point that is coming to your mind regarding that topic without bothering about the logical flow... Then make the structure of the essay... i.e.
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
Prepare an introduction, write it there itself... This is important, as one shouldn't experiment with words at the very beginning of the essay itself in the fair txt...
Then the body part... I usually follow the formula of writing both +ve and -ve aspect of any essay as most of the topics are opinion and explanatory in nature... Lets take the example of the essay that I wrote this year " Creation of smaller states and the consequent administrative, economic and developmantal implications " .... I, 1st wrote about the postive implications then the negative one and finally in the conclusion I integrated everything and wrote in the futuristic lines on which the Govt is thinking i.e. bringing 2nd SRC- which should consider various aspects and not only 1 single factor as it was done in 1st SRC i.e. language...
So rearrange ur points under +ve and -ve columns...
3. Writing the essay- around 2hrs should be devoted to this part... Elaborate the points that you have already written in the rear side of answer sheet. Make it a logical flow of idea. Even if you come across a vey good point while writing, that you haven't noted in the rough part but at the same time it is disturbing the flow of essay then avoid writing it. Because its not an issue if you miss 1 point but are writing 20-22 other points.
Always try to write in simple english.. Avoid cutting any word or sentence... Don't make your essay very short or very lengthy.. 1000 to 1200 words is ideal.
4. Quotes and anecdotes- These things fetch extra marks. Always try to quote Indian persons only, preferably the big trio-GNP( Gandhi, Nehru and Patel).. Gandhi ji is timeless and even relevant today.. Quoting Gandhi ji is always safe.. So prepare some quotes from internet...
5. Review/ Revision- after writing of essay, devote some 10-15 mins and read your own essay.. rectify any grammatical and spelling mistakes... UPSC has given 3 hrs to write a single essay.. So it'll expect it to be complete in all aspects... Do underline few points that u want examiner not to miss...
It's always advisable to write atleast one essay at home before you write in the examination hall.. Do write one essay and get it evaluated from teachers, friends and somebody who is not from the field of civil service preparation.. take the feed back and improve on that...
Books that are helpful:-
India after Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha
My Experiments with truth by MK Gandhi
Discovery of India By JL Nehru..
Buts these books should be read in free time.. I would request people writing this mains not to read these books now and concentrate on their optional preparation but those people who failed in PT this time or planning to write next PT can read these books...
All the Best...
Lets discuss some of the important aspects of it...
1. Choosing the right choice of essay- Every year UPSC asks around 4/5 essays from which 1 has to be written... So choosing the right Essay is the most important thing... It should be chosen only on the basis of your knowlege and comfort level in that topic.. Devote some 5-10 mins in deciding which one to write... Some time one particular essay seems tempting from 1st look and we decide to write that without even reading the other ones... So read all the options and think about them for few seconds and then decide... There is a notion in civils preparation arena that it's not good to write the most attempted one as it fetches less marks... But I feel nothing lyk that happens, you'll be awarded marks only on the basis of your write up...
2. Brainstorming- This is very vital.. around 45 minutes should be given to this process... At the rear part of ur answer sheet jot down what ever point that is coming to your mind regarding that topic without bothering about the logical flow... Then make the structure of the essay... i.e.
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
Prepare an introduction, write it there itself... This is important, as one shouldn't experiment with words at the very beginning of the essay itself in the fair txt...
Then the body part... I usually follow the formula of writing both +ve and -ve aspect of any essay as most of the topics are opinion and explanatory in nature... Lets take the example of the essay that I wrote this year " Creation of smaller states and the consequent administrative, economic and developmantal implications " .... I, 1st wrote about the postive implications then the negative one and finally in the conclusion I integrated everything and wrote in the futuristic lines on which the Govt is thinking i.e. bringing 2nd SRC- which should consider various aspects and not only 1 single factor as it was done in 1st SRC i.e. language...
So rearrange ur points under +ve and -ve columns...
3. Writing the essay- around 2hrs should be devoted to this part... Elaborate the points that you have already written in the rear side of answer sheet. Make it a logical flow of idea. Even if you come across a vey good point while writing, that you haven't noted in the rough part but at the same time it is disturbing the flow of essay then avoid writing it. Because its not an issue if you miss 1 point but are writing 20-22 other points.
Always try to write in simple english.. Avoid cutting any word or sentence... Don't make your essay very short or very lengthy.. 1000 to 1200 words is ideal.
4. Quotes and anecdotes- These things fetch extra marks. Always try to quote Indian persons only, preferably the big trio-GNP( Gandhi, Nehru and Patel).. Gandhi ji is timeless and even relevant today.. Quoting Gandhi ji is always safe.. So prepare some quotes from internet...
5. Review/ Revision- after writing of essay, devote some 10-15 mins and read your own essay.. rectify any grammatical and spelling mistakes... UPSC has given 3 hrs to write a single essay.. So it'll expect it to be complete in all aspects... Do underline few points that u want examiner not to miss...
It's always advisable to write atleast one essay at home before you write in the examination hall.. Do write one essay and get it evaluated from teachers, friends and somebody who is not from the field of civil service preparation.. take the feed back and improve on that...
Books that are helpful:-
India after Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha
My Experiments with truth by MK Gandhi
Discovery of India By JL Nehru..
Buts these books should be read in free time.. I would request people writing this mains not to read these books now and concentrate on their optional preparation but those people who failed in PT this time or planning to write next PT can read these books...
All the Best...
really helpful sir,thanks alot for this work.
ReplyDeletei am in my final year so is it worth doing if i start essay practice from now, i shall be appearing in 2013 ?
ReplyDeleteIt is not necessary to pratice now if u r just strating ur preparation.. better read newspaper, NCERTs and build your base
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