What is the proper structure for writing essays within the UPSC? Where do I begin and how do I create a structure that is good? Essay Writing For Upsc What I have learned from teachers and toppers.
There are a lot of websites with information on how to write the essay (read editorials daily etc.) I’m working on a post about how to write it within
The essay paper you will be given 4 essays to complete.
Only write one line. Limit of time – 3 hours. maximum marks=200.
For a two-marker question, UPSC specifically mentions that respond to it in 20 words. Therefore you’ll be required be writing an essay that is approximately 2000 words to earn 200 marks. Tip#1 Think for 30 to 45 minutes prior to starting your essay.
Use this example.
They wanted an essay about Gandhi I began writing it. I write about one hour of writing I realize that I did not to mention the Chamara’s Indigo Struggle when Gandhi got active in the Indian Freedom struggle for the first time! It’s not possible to include it. Since there’s no space on the first page.
But I could try to incorporate it into the end. For instance, if the Examiner isn’t able to find mention of Champaran on the first page Then he will get the impression that you didn’t remember that it was there. This means you get lower marks. Therefore, everything must be written in the correct order.
Don’t forget to write about in essay
- Democracy is superior to autocracy. (know that it’s democracy that allows you to criticize it) Therefore, you shouldn’t justify a certain solutions to India’s issues.
- Overly harsh criticism of the Govt. Administration (I refer to the frontline as well as The Hindu’s position)
- The negative side of the coin without proposing reforms it.
Provocative Essays
Sometimes, topics for essay are written in a manner that you’re required to accept with the entire essay. E.g.
Panchayati Raj is waste of tax payer’s funds. (yes it’s true it is, like NREGA however when writing an Essay it is important to keep an equilibrium)
People who are poor are the ones who are their own enemy.
In these cases, simply because he has given you a the statement does not mean you must perform in the same way throughout paper.DO DO NOT FORGET to show the opposite face of your mirror. It’s easier to criticize an unworkable thing than to correct it. (Remember this every time you write an the essay.)
Do not offer flimsy solutions to real-world issues. (Munna Bhai MBBS / Slum Dog Millionerd.)
Don’t be personal. Don’t mention individuals politicians and their accomplishments or scandals (Kalmadi Raja, Amar Singh, Kalmadi etc.)
(except in the essay about foreign policy (except in the foreign policy related essay, where you’re required to analyze the entire period from Nehru’s Panchsheel regime until Vajpayee’s Lahore Bus visit and current events.) Our Foreign Policy has evolved with each prime minister, so the names of their predecessors must be included.
Don’t write essays that say “Congress has done this and BJP did this.” This is the characteristic of the common man not of a future officer.
Provide a balanced response, avoiding no intention of embracing hero worship or mud-slinging If critiquing Government in the essay by itself would make you an IAS officer then each journalist from AajTak is an IAS officer.
The character of an officer is to be anonymous as well as ‘faceless’ and non-descript which means that your essay must appear as if it was written by an experienced graduate.
Similar applies for
- Religion / culture/ language-literature (in philosophical essays)
- States (in federalism, polity or Development)
I’m not suggesting that you change into a boring person who writes the essay without having a personal views or opinions or righteous anger. However, it is important not to become obsessed with certain subjects.
I’m making this statement because it is impossible to be certain of what be the political or ideological or religious/regional alignment of the person you are examining.
This advice is also applicable when working to Public Administration (optional area).
Quotes E.g. You quote Abraham Lincoln’s quote and then write that George Washington said it. Nothing will make you appear less foolish in the eyes of an judge than this..
Quote exactly as it was stated. Mao claimed that “Power is derived through the barrel of the gun” therefore you shouldn’t record it in a way that suggests
“barrel in the firearm is a source of the power”
or
“muzzle from the firearm carries the force”
It is mandatory to quote the quote exactly as it appears in the text. If you’re not certain, do not quote it. Tips #6: Padding and Deviating from the topic. In the event of a sloppy mistake, you’re expected to write 1200- 1500 words for a 250 mark essay.
Padding implies that you don’t know the precise answer , so you simply run around in circles and then write whatever you can to fill in the blanks This tactic can work for schools and college exams , do not try it on the essay.
Do not write more than a few proverbs, quotes or (invented) examples or case studies per page. The examiner will believe that you’ve got no ideas from your own, so you’re just filling the pages.
Don’t pick up the topic that your concept or content is poor. Ex. You came across “Do we require nuclear power” You begin with the way thermal power stations create pollution. Also, there is a massive demand and limited supply of electricity.
Nuclear power is inexpensive and There are also dangers like the Japanese Tsunami, for instance. After four pages you’ve exhausted your ideas and thoughts. are exhausted. You have nothing left to say. If you’re able to write 100 words on each page, you are aware that only 400 words will not give you any marks ! Now that you’re unable to scrape those pages to create a fresh essay on a the new subject, you’ve spent the time you spent on this.
You decide to go on with this nuke-power piece and write the same thing you presented in various ways, and then you’ll depart from the primary topic that nuke power is dangerous like we saw in Japan
Therefore, we should change to renewable energy sources such as Sun, Wind and Water and then write 4 pages of benefits of renewable energy, as when this is an essay about “the advantages of renewable energy” instead of nuclear power. You discuss the pros and cons of hydro-electricity, such as dams and displacement of the population.
Then you realize “omg displacement of the population is also an issue when making nuclear powerplants such as those in Maharashtra!” so you go back to the issue half page completed, but you’re not able to fill in enough pages.
So you begin discussing the land acquisition policy. You then begin writing the pro-cons..another half page of the topic. You think “oh you must have a discussion about the Indo-US nuclear deal” and you continue discussing how we’ve not agreed to the CTBT but N.S.G granted us clearance, and China-Pakistan was unable to stop it, so we’re an international power and we should have an permanent spot in the UNSC! This type of padding continues until the end of time.
You’ve completely fucked up the entire matter, you’ve completely diverted from the topic. The essay you wrote doesn’t have a flow of thought or flow or. Expertly trained examiners immediately examine this padding, and don’t award any marks. the expected score for this type of writing is lower than 50/200. This means that even with a decent score on every other paper your chance of getting an the interview is nearly zero. Your chances are now at risk. of choice of selection IAS of IAS, you’ve dug into your own grave. So, if you’re not a fan of IAS be careful when understanding the topic the first 30-40 minutes to do some thorough thought.
Also Check : Ethics book for upsc
Stick to the subject Similar applies when dealing with the 60 marker big question on GS as well as optional paper. (not thirty minutes thought but at least 5 to 7 minutes!)
