Preparation for Essay Paper
Essay paper had been the most neglected paper in one’s exam preparation schedule. It is considered a bit less important and casual attitude makes one to land up with casual marks in this paper.
Average marks scored in this paper linger around 80-90. But it is advisable to score above under and close to 120 to secure a position in IAS.
Let me bring you its importance— with little preparation one can have quantum jump in their final total. Do take it as one question of 200 marks.
Writing an essay is both an art as well as science. Bit of practice can bring wonders. As a science it would require one to focus on certain guidelines that are to be taken care of and as an art one has to practice it repeatedly to develop it cumulatively.
Rationale of Essay Paper—
- It reflects one’s thoughts about a particular subject; approach that one carries and his/hers analytical ability.
- It is the paper to highlight one’s ability of horizontal, vertical and lateral thinking.
- One can display his/her ability to come out with out of box solutions for complex problems that our society faces.
- It is a paper to display comprehending capabilities and communication skills. As an IAS officer one has to interact with people and this is the nodal point that differentiates various officers among themselves.
Type of topics asked in UPSC essay paper are Reflective essays. They are mostly current oriented with national and international relevance. These topics demand one to opine and justify how he/she has arrived to such conclusion.
What makes as IAS different from others is his/her capabilities to find solutions despite many roadblocks and bottlenecks.
Demands of UPSC—(Quoting Employment News)
Candidates will be expected to—
- Keep close to the subject of essay.
- To arrange their ideas in orderly fashion.
- Write concisely.
- Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.
Basic Groundwork—
- It is not required from one to write represent more of facts rather it is the analysis that matters the most. As a crude ratio distribution b/w analysis: facts it is to be kept close to 80:20. Analysis supported by facts is always more palatable.
- One can refer to essay books available in market. But in my experience I never found them to be very useful. But even then if someone wants to one can refer to spectrum’s essay book or TMGH publication book on essays.
- In my view there is no need for civil service aspirants to do any special groundwork provided they are reading their national daily on regular basis.
- I would recommend students to read “The Periscope” page of The Hindu newspaper,Yojana, Kurukshetra.
- Editorial page of Pratiyogita Darpan is awesome to read.
Penning down an Essay –
- Choosing a topic- it is better to choose a topic on rationale grounds rather than emotional grounds. Choose a topic with following points in your mind like knowledge about the topic, various dimensions that one can elicit and at last personal liking.
- “Don’t go for a topic by calculating that most of students would write on this topic and hence examiner will be less interested to award more marks”.
- One should not waste more than 10 min. in any case on deciding which topic to write on.
- Making Basic framework before writing any essay is the most accepted practice followed by almost every aspirant. This allows one to fulfill UPSC condition no.2.
- I would recommend Basic frame working to be done according to the Horizontal and Vertical module of thinking. It would fulfill UPSC condition no.4.
- Rechecking again and pruning down unwanted or extra points would help one to fulfill condition 3 & 4 of UPSC.
- Arranging in logical fashion is required for UPSC condition no.2.
- It is better to write with sub headings as it would reveal examiner basic structure of your essay- condition 2 & 4 of UPSC.
- Do take your time for basic framework formation in UPSC examination hall. One must spare at least 40 min. for this. (I took 50min).
- Under no circumstance this is to be done for 60min. AS one has to manage 1500 words and that too in good handwriting. (Every one of us knows that beauty does matter)
- Once you are done with writing underline key words or ideas.
- Before going for final showdown practice at least 5-6 essays at home. I am sure one would learn a lot.
Certain points are to be taken care of while writing an essay–
1. Most simple language
2. Sentence of not more than 2.5 line
3. Organized flow
4. Interesting stories to connect
5. Lucid language
6. 1200- 1500 words are sufficient or averagely 10-12 pages.
7. Subtitles at least 1 per page.
8. Paragraph not more than 20 lines. And last line of paragraph should be in continuation with next one.
“Like using similar words but with different angle or view point to the one discussed earlier or a new idea but connected to the earlier one.”
9. No extreme views follow middle path; solution to the problem must be there.
10. Unique introduction and conclusion.
Do’s while writing an essay—
1. Be pro democracy
2. Be pro poor
3. Be pro minority
4. Be pro environment
5. Be pro women
6. Be pro child
7. Be pro human rights
8. Suggestions have to be pragmatic and implementable. Don’t dream of India beyond 30-40 years.
Days are gone when there used to be 6 topics in UPSC essay paper but now trend is changing in both number of topics (reduced to 4 only) and type of topics (all being of current relevance). This gives every candidate level playing field and minimizes the so called element of subjectivity in this paper.
Always remember it is you and you only in that examination hall. It is better to develop skills of writing an essay rather than reproducing someone else essay.
Essay is the reflection of one’s personality and that’s why it is better to reflect your own personality than anyone else.
IAS is a job where public image matters. Therefore it is advisable to develop your own image by practicing rather than to become someone else alter ego.
Meticulous practice and sincere efforts are key to success in this exam.
Wishing you all Good luck.
DR. Shaleen
rank-81
CSE-2011
