THE TRAJECTORY OF ESSAY WRITING FOR I.A.S EXAM
- Saroj Kumar Samal
M.A(Gold-Medalist)
M.Phil(Sociology) & LL.B
Director, Saroj Samal’s
I.A.S, New Delhi
Email:
sarojksamal@gmail.com
Writing
a good essay is an art as well as a science. It is an art in the sense that it
needs creative imagination. It is a science in the sense that it should be
systematically and substantially planned, organized and focused.
The
art of writing a good essay is subjected to variation with respect to selection
of topics of essay. The science of essay demands that it has certain invariable
steps to be followed i.e introduction, body & conclusion.
An
essay is all about presentation of not only your own ideas but also the
presentation of ideas that you require with proof that would make someone
understand the topic.
The trajectory of
essay writing goes through three distinctive and successive stages
→ Introduction
→ Body
→ Conclusion
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In the introduction to an essay you
should write a short, concise summery of the main points to be addressed. You
should not go into details and repeat the same in the main body. Introduction
should be written in such a manner that it would induce inquisitiveness in the
evaluator. You may start with short sentences or you may start with quotation
of renowned authors or personality to make introduction captivating.
Body
of the essay should be designed as per the topic selected by you. For example
in case of argumentative essay body should constitute sufficient reasons for
the topic as well as reasons against the topic. Body of an essay consists of
synthesis of analysis as well as facts. If the body is flooded with facts
without proper analysis, it will not score well.
The
conclusion should restate the points that you made and finish by focusing upon
the ultimate point of essay. Conclusion should reflect an optimistic thought.
A good essay has
the following features
1. Focussed – The essay gets straight to
the point and utilizes clear argument. The writing should not deviate from the given topic.
2. Organised – The essay writer should
consider the structure and sequence in which it would be written
3. Supported – Good essays put the points
that can be substantiated by facts or statements within the text that is being analysed.
4. Lucid – Good essays are written by
using proper spelling, punctuation marks and grammar.
The
essay written by an IAS aspirant radiates his/her personality – Ideas,
analysis, assessment, values, attitude, aptitude, opinion, persuation,
conviction, perspective as well as written
communication ability.
Do’s
of Essay writing
→ Make the
introduction captivating
→ Maintain
coherence among paragraphs
→ Adoption of good
analysis
→ Clarity of
expression
→ Focusing on the
topic
→ Optimistic vision
→ Balanced approach
→ Proper conclusion
Dont’s
of Essay writing
→ Excessive
criticism should not be given
→ Pessimistic
approach should be avoided.
→ Abrupt conclusion
should be avoided
→ Anti
establishment orientation to be avoided
→ Too much facts
and example should be avoided
Let
me mention the frameworks of the essays asked by UPSC Main exam in 2013.
Sample Essays
UPSC – 2013
1. Be the change you want to see in others
(Gandhiji)
→ What do you mean by
change(change means any alteration, modification within a person or within a
society)
→ Change in one-self
→ Change in other
→ Gandhian approach of change
(Slow, Steady and continuous approach to change)
→ Gandhian theory of changing the
heart of enemy
→ Appealing to conscience or ethical
consciousness of enemy.
→ The Gap between precept and
practice.
→ How to bridge the gap between
two.
→ When our approach towards
others is changed, we experience internal transformation which helps us in
adjusting with other. In this way others can easily accept us.
→ Ultimately it leads towards
peaceful co-existence in the society.
2. Is colonial mentality hindering India’s
success?
→ What is colonial mentality
→ Colonial mentality is characterized by
superiority complex on part of one and looking down upon others
→ Colonial mentality is characterized by the
principle of divide and Rule.
→ It is characterized by the feeling of apathy,
neglect and diplomatic jesture.
→ It is characterised by misappropriation of public money for personal
gain
→ What do you mean by success. It
is an all embracing concept. It means reaching at the goal. In Indian context,
it is characterized by inclusive growth, promoting social justice,
participative democracy, and citizen sensitive approaches.
→ How during the colonial regime
India’s progress was hampered (Drain of resource to Britain, British policy of
making a conspiracy against India Muslims after sepoy mutiny, safety valve
approach of formation of Indian national congress, assurance to muslims for
providing official patronage after formation of I.N.C, a conspiratory policy to
divide the congress into moderate and extremists, communal electorate, separate
electorate, propagation of Bi-nation theory of Mohammad Ali Jinnah etc.)
→ How in post Independent India
there’s no colonialism but colonial mentality is prevailing. (Negative aspects
of Bureaucracy, populist approach of political parties and governments,
proliferation of vote bank politics and competitive politics, decentralization
of democracy along with decentralization of rampant corruption, gap between
formal rationality and substantial rationality, how formal rationality is
dominating every spheres of social life etc.)
→ How this mentality is hindering
success. a realistic assessment of it.
→ How to improve socio-political
situation in India
3. GDP along with GDH (Gross Domestic
Happiness) would be the right indices for judging the well being of a country.
→ What is GDP?
→ What is GDH?
→ GDH should be explained in
terms of social justice, inclusive growth, welfaristic measures, reducing the
gap between rich and poor.
→ What is social justice
→ What is inclusive growth
→ What is welfarism
→ How all these approaches have
been adopted by various countries all over the globe to reduce the gap between
the rich and poor
→How the state of India has
adopted this.
→ How we have achieved
spectacular success as well as conspicuous failure in this matter.
→ We have come a long distance in
this matter but we have to go a long distance.
4. Science and Technology is the panacea
for the growth and security of a nation
→ What is science (systematic
accumulation of Knowledge and systematic application of methods)
→ What is a nation (A socio
cultural entity)
→ What do you mean by security
(Security covers various areas like food, fuel, fodder, flora-fauna,
employment, environment, health, education, protecting the sovereignty of the
state)
→ Contribution of S&T for all
the above mentioned areas
→ Contribution of S&T for
increasing the productivity of agriculture and manufacturing process of
industry and service economy.
→ Contribution of
S&T for employment generation, poverty eradication, removal of irrational
thought of the people.
→ Role of S&T
in stopping cross border terrorism, infiltration
→ Role of S&T
for promoting regional parity and in this way stopping insurgency, Maoism,
Extremism, Radicalism
→ Ethical dimension
of S&T
→ Ethical aspect of
S&T and national security.
