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Essay Strategy
In one way or the other your fate with UPSC is decided by the most unpredictable component
of the syllabus i.e. the ESSAY. Ask your seniors, your peers or even your teachers and no one
can come up with a concrete strategy to prepare for essays. It is ironical that despite being the
most exible component of the UPSC syllabus, it is the essay that spoils your chances. Why?
The answer to this question is a mystery. So, if anyone tells you that he/ she knows the right
way to write an essay and by right we mean the benchmark set by UPSC, be sure that the
person has got a long way to go before he/ she can truly understand UPSC. We say this
because of a reason. We have seen aspirants with excellent writing skills scoring 70% in essay
in their rst attempt while barely managing 35% in their next attempt! It is the other way round
also with a number of aspirants.
Now, here we are! After accepting the unpredictable nature of essay evaluation by UPSC, how
can we be sure about any strategy? We cant and in fact we arent. But then, we must try until
we touch the right chords. Here we give you a strategy to write essays in the most structured,
01 Term Paper Writing
smooth and satisfactory way possible. We dont guarantee success if you follow our strategy
02 IAS Exam Eligibility
but we can assure you that after going through the subsequent paragraphs of this write up,
you will have a lot to work upon and improve. If you keep in mind the following points, you can
de nitely better your prospects in essay.
So, what is an essay? Or rather why this paper on essays in UPSC? The answer is an essay
gives you an opportunity to put forward your thoughts in a manner that is not impeded by word
limit and time (in the sense that you are given enough words and time to express your
knowledge and views). It is asked to check the depth and breadth of your knowledge. And
when we say knowledge, it doesnt mean our conventional understanding of the same. The
topics are unknown to us before the exam and we are expected to apply all that we have learnt
to produce a logical and intelligent account of what is being asked. That is why, one cant
prepare for essays in the conventional sense.
Now coming to the strategy part, we must say at the outset that you must not treat essay as
any other paper of UPSC. In fact, it is the most innovative way to check your level of
preparedness of the entire syllabus of UPSC. If you perceive it in this sense, your tendency to
limit your imagination by the ctitious boundaries of so called essay paper will vanish and you
will be able to think more freely and more innovatively. Shed all your previous notions
regarding this paper and start afresh.
The key to writing a satisfactory above average essay is multi-dimensionality. Depth matters
but in UPSC breadth is far more important. Keep this fact in mind and approach the essay in a
manner that all your wisdom is re ected in the interconnected dots in your essay. Now, what
do we mean by this? It simply means the representation of all the dimensions that are related
closely to the topic being asked. In doing so, most aspirants keep throwing unnecessary points
and that can annoy the examiner. The best thing to do in such a scenario is to write all your
thoughts in pointers at the space provided for rough work.
Now, this step is very important. What tools do we have to think about as many dimensions as
possible? The answer lies in the syllabus. Luckily, the syllabus of UPSC is so exhaustive and
detailed that almost everything under the sun is there in the syllabus. After you are done with
your own thoughts and written all the possible points, think about the syllabus now. For this, a
prerequisite is that you must have learnt the syllabus by heart. Having said so, let us now
understand as to how you can use the syllabus to create points for your essay.
Suppose you have been asked an essay on Gandhian principles and its relevance in
contemporary India. Now, by linking this essay with various components of the syllabus, you
can create a number of good points for your essay. We provide you with some examples:
01
Paper I:
Term Paper Writing
Women issues: Gandhis idea on emancipation and empowerment of women and its
applicability in modern India.
Society: Numerous examples of Gandhian views on the importance of charity, role of family,
social capital, social norms, cinema etc.
Globalization: Gandhian message of self reliance and its synthesis with the idea of global
commons/ was Gandhi against globalization?
Paper II:
SHGs: Gandhian conception of the idea; the concept of village gramodyog etc
International relations: Gandhian ideals of co-existence, non- violence, non- proliferation etc
applied to the current foreign policy paradigm; satyagaraha and non- violence as tools to
pursue foreign policy goals.
Paper III:
Inclusive growth: Gandhis talisman and its remarkable resonance with the very idea of
inclusive growth
Agriculture and animal rearing: Gandhis ideas on organic cultivation, supplementary income
through animal rearing etc.
Paper IV:
01 Term Paper Writing
At this point of time, it is important to mention about current events. Try to relate the topic with
the current events. It will add to the personality of your essay. For example in this case,
following examples can be included:
Struggle for democracy in various parts of the world: Gandhis thoughts on democracy
Now there are some other tools that are always handy in helping you make your essay multi-
dimensional. Have a look and think how they can be used in different scenarios:
Having shown you the importance of knowing the syllabus by heart and keeping oneself
updated with the current events, we move forward to the next important phase of essay
writing i.e. the structure.
There is no universally accepted format for writing an essay. However, there is a general
understanding about how one should approach an essay. Of course, one has to start with an
introduction. Introduction can start with a quote, an anecdote or a simple paragraph.
Irrespective of the approach, the introduction must give an idea to the reader as to what ensue
in the subsequent paras. Introduction should be crisp and interesting. Dont use cliched
sentences in the introduction.
In the next few paragraphs, you are supposed to touch upon the core areas of the essay.
Here, the points in the back of your answer sheet will come handy. Prioritize the points in a
manner that the essay follows a logical ow of ideas and related points are covered in the
same or back to back paras. For example, in the example given above, you cant start with the
Gandhian views and its applicability regarding local governance, then hop on to the role of
non- violence in international relations and then come back to tolerance towards various
civilizations. Similarly, you cant club the ideas of self dependent villages and communal
harmony in the same paragraph. At the outset itself, you must have in mind the ow of your
essay.
01 Term Paper Writing
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It is important to note that not all your jotted points need nd a mention in the essay. You can
trim the points and in fact eliminate the irrelevant ones to make your essay crisp and close to
the central argument.
It is also important that you read the topic after all your paragraphs so that you dont deviate
from the central theme.
All the paragraphs must have their own personality. There should be no loose ends. The
paragraphs in themselves have to have logical conclusion and if that is not possible, at least
the key to the next paragraph. Randomness and unpredictability are the last two things that
your essay needs.
Coming on to the conclusion part of the essay, it must be understood that you are not
supposed to force yourself in producing an intelligent conclusion. Many a times it is better to
let some question remain answered. It is not because it should be so, but because it is not
possible to have a satisfactory answer always! Just make sure that your conclusion is
balanced and there is some amount of optimism in your views. Dont predict doomsday in the
essay even if you are the most depressed person in this world. UPSC wants to recruit happy
and optimistic people. Mind it!
Now the question comes about language. What sort of language should one use- simple or
ornamental, straight or owery? The answer is write the way you have always written your
essays. The bottom line is you have to impress the examiner in whichever way possible. If we
suggest you to use simple language and you are actually good in writing impressive English,
the chances are you will spoil your attempt in trying to become what you are de nitely not. It is
not possible to change ones writing style so quickly. Instead one should try to make his/ her
style of writing fetch better marks in the essay.
Is it not that a bride wearing all the ornaments and makeup looks stunning but at the same time
a lady with a beautiful eye but with no makeup or jewelry looks equally beautiful? The same
holds true for language. Believe in your own style and remain con dent.
However, we nd it prudent to caution you about being super uous. This can be fatal. Dont
beat around the bush. Your sentences must convey what you have in mind and their length
should be commensurate with the message. Dont use too long a sentence. Be crisp and to the
point.
As far as essay is concerned, DO NOT write in points. Once in a blue moon, candidates might
have scored good marks by following this approach but that is an exception and not the rule.
Respect UPSC and dont do anything foolish.
Use quotes selectively and wisely. Not using a quote is way better than using it wrongly. You
01
can prepare a list of quotes that can be used in the essays asked by UPSC.
Term Paper Writing
We at IASbaba will keep on posting challenging topics for essays. We expect you to attempt
them in strict exam conditions.
Share your inputs regarding the strategy and if any of the seniors reading this, kindly share
your thoughts & strategy to help future aspirants
Happy writing
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KillErSeAlS
20 days ago
The above write up on Essay is quiet elaborative and helpful. In writing Essay or answers of
Gs papers the most important thing is a tidy structure and coherence. By whole heartly
learning the syllabus & applying the same while writing one can greatly enhance its
performance.
Well write up
Reply
rohit
a month ago
very nice
Reply
baljit singh
7 months ago
Er Pravin Hanpude
8 months ago
nk
8 months ago
brilliant suggestions!
Reply
Hi guys, I this test series is really brilliant...they give ample time to clarify doubts and give
Hi guys, I this test series is really brilliant...they give ample time to clarify doubts and give
brilliant suggestions https://punditview.wordpres...
Reply
imran
10 months ago
Dhanyabad GURU ji
Reply
Bond
10 months ago
Felicity
a year ago
Swagatika
a year ago
amit
a year ago
Comprehensive strategy to deal with essays. Thanks for sharing with us.
Reply
Captain America
a year ago
Nice work baba.. Going to start my preparation for CSE 2017 under your guidance. Hope to
see my name in the nal list.
1 Reply
Dead_Man
a year ago
Alok Tiwari
a year ago
Vivek Singh
01 Term Paper Writing a year ago
https://propaperwritings.co...
1 Reply
The Leiter
a year ago
sejjul vinzuda
a year ago
Upsc said 2-3 lines in notication about essay what they accept from us. So try to
understand that in between the line. If u can't understand it so how u prepare for it. Baba's
strategy will work but without base u can not build building.
Remember no one in the world can make u IAS only u yr self can make it. Books skills
strategy r need BT only with books skills u can not win upsc. U have to know how to use
this skill is important.
1 Reply
Gandhi
2 years ago
Hi Baba ji, @IASBABA
topic - Should women be allowed to ght Combat ?
pls suggest...if the way I have written Introduction is ok or not ?
TIA
View
Reply
Check out the essay section , few good essays are here :-
http://upsctree.com/
1 Reply
AvatarSullivan Loan waivers, specically, in AvatarAT145 when Quiz restart baba ji .....?
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