Writing allows you to witness your own ideas, thoughts and beliefs. What you write on paper will reveal to the reader how you argue, think, and support your point of view. As a result, essay writing is required for the majority of academic entrance and competitive examinations.
Aspirants have a paper equivalent to the General Studies paper which also has a 250-point paper in the Civil Services Exam. Despite its importance, aspirants rarely give essay papers the attention they deserve.
First-timers believe they will write an excellent or outstanding essay on the final exam, whereas experienced candidates believe that because they have already studied extensively for GS, writing a good essay will be adequate. This is a fatal error in judgement. Let’s read some pointers in the article.
How to Write a Philosophical Essay for UPSC?
The essay differs from GS in that marks will be given solely on the basis of the content in GS. Examiners will pay close attention to not only the content, but also the language, coherence, and organisation of your essay.
As a result, you must take special care to organise your thoughts properly and avoid common spelling and grammatical errors.
UPSC Preparation for Essay
Nonfiction reading aids in the development of a mature thought process. They will allow you to come across good art of argumentation, figures of speech, powerful unique and rhetoric content, among other things, in addition to imparting knowledge.
You can refer to specific issues of EPW/Yojana/Economic Survey, etc. for specific topics. For example, if you’re writing an essay about tribal issues or public health, you can look through specific issues of these magazines to get the most up-to-date statistics (malnutrition levels, MMR, IMR, and so on) as well as information about the drawbacks and benefits of government programmes in those areas.
Also Read: Essay on ‘Secularism in India’ for UPSC: Present Your UPSC Essay Topics in the Best Way
Essay Tips for UPSC Exam Preparation
The language used in the writing should be simple and straightforward, with as little jargon as possible. If you want to use complex definitional terms like “Constitutionalism”, government policies, etc., define them in a sentence before using them.
The examiner will also be able to understand exactly what you’re trying to say. Writing clearly is the equivalent of thinking clearly. And that is exactly what a reader is looking for.
Keep your sentences succinct and to the point. It’s difficult to read and understand because of the long, winding sentences. When you use conjunctions to add one clause after another, you end up with a bad sentence sprawl.
Vocabulary
It is not necessary to memorise complex words in order to write well. However, using a strong word or a clever phrase every now and then will give your article an edge.
Furthermore, believe that memorising a large number of words will not help them stick in your mind for very long. Reading English newspapers and nonfiction is the best way to expand your vocabulary.
If you come across a good turn of phrase or a word you don’t recognise while reading these, please jot it down in a book, look up its definition, and understand the context in which it was used. Long-term memory is aided by this. It also helps to have a dictionary or grammar app on your phone.
Avoid These Mistakes
Don’t put too much emphasis on a single point or dimension (such as the political or historical aspect) Your writing should be broad in scope and multi-dimensional in nature. We read a lot during the preparation process, so it’s understandable that we have strong feelings about certain topics. And, because writing allows you to write freely, it’s easy to get carried away with a topic like this.
But make sure you write what the question is, not what you think or feel. No, always stick to the topic’s main point. It’s a good suggestion to read the topic in the middle of your writing to make sure you’re not leaving track.
Also Read: Essay on ‘Poverty’ for UPSC: Improve UPSC Essay Topics Writing Skill with Ease
No Ranting
Avoid such questions if you are uncomfortable writing about abstract philosophical topics. Your topic selection has no bearing on your grades, so picking an unpopular topic just for the sake of it is a bad idea. Also, if the question contains a technical term, double-check that you understand it.
There will be no ranting. If there is a question about capitalism, do not rant or rail against it, even if you are a big fan of Karl Marx. You must present both the advantages and disadvantages of capitalism, and the writing must end on a balanced note.
Don’t spend an exaggerated amount of time on the initial writing and rush through the second. Both are worth the same quantity of points, so please dedicate the same amount of time to them.
How to Write a Good Introduction for an Essay?
The following is an example of an introduction:
a made-up story or event(in which you introduce a character or protagonist);
a quote; a true story; or a straightforward definition of the words in the question (not recommended in writing)
In GS, using a definitional approach to introduce your answers is a great way to get started. However, in writing, they are rather stale and devoid of any human element. We always believe that having a touch of warmth and humanity in your introduction is a good way to start your writing.
Introduction to Social Media Essay
In the same way, the introduction to the Social Media essay aimed to highlight the paradox of social media.
These anecdotes, true stories, and incidents can be found in abundance in our books and newspapers. So, as you come across them, jot them down and consider how you can incorporate them into your writing.
Also Read: Climate Change Essay: Step by Step Guide to Ace UPSC Writing Topic
How to Write the Body Content?
It’s like making a web out of a thread. Depending on the topic, you can select the best option from the list below.
Past, present, and future are all examples of temporal concepts.
Media, business, science and technology, politics, sports, religion, and administration, to name a few.
Family, Individual, Workplace, Community, Society, National, and Global Problem & Solution: Concept (historical evolution+status), Problems, Benefits, and Solutions
Social, administrative, political, economic, historical, environmental, scientific, security/defence, international, and legal standards are all applicable.
Arguments
Each para in the main body must contain an argument or an idea, as well as reasoning to support that argument. You can back it up with a real-life example, a legitimate committee, a statistic, or organisational report, and so on.
Statistics, expert opinions, examples, and constitutional provisions are all important, and they lend authority to your arguments.
Concluding an Essay
The conclusion should end on a positive, futuristic note. You must summarise the entire essay in three to four sentences, after which you must write your future vision.
The speeches of Prime Minister Modi can provide you with some useful terms. Reform-Perform-Transform, Building A New India, Sabka saath saath vikas, and other phrases can be useful. To conclude your essay, use lofty expressions, rhetoric, Sanskrit slokas, constitutional ideals, and quotes.
However, if you mentioned a fictional character in your introduction, it’s always a good idea to end your article with a reference to that character. It gives the writing a sense of completion.
Also Read: Uniform Civil Code in India: Suggestions, Challenges and Essay for UPSC Notes
Think Before You Write
You shouldn’t start writing right away after you’ve chosen your topic. It’s a good idea to pause for a moment and collect your thoughts. Make a list of the points you want to make in pencil. This is critical because only then will you be able to write your points in the correct order.
For example, if you’re writing about India’s relations with its neighbours, you should start with historical facts and events. Assume you begin writing the essay and realise only near the end that you have forgotten to include a critical historical detail; it would be too late to add it due to a space constraint. As a result, it is beneficial to write down your rough points first.
Important Pointers
#Don’t use slurs or insults. In your essay, never get too personal.
#Don’t hold extreme opinions. The Buddha’s middle path can assist you in this situation!
#Don’t just make a list of problems. Also, provide possible reforms/solutions.
#Don’t be too harsh on the government or administration.
#Your essay should not be provocative, even if the topic is. Create a picture that is well-balanced. You are not obligated to agree with the topic.
#Write utopian solutions sparingly.
#Remember, you’re a future officer, not a reporter!
Conclusion
Essay writing is a part of our daily preparation at UPSC Pathshala. There is a ‘Question Sheet’ for every 3-4 days of study that contains extremely difficult 3-4 subjective questions to attempt. Your mentor evaluates these on a regular basis. This continues throughout the entire year! In a year, you write about 350 responses. By that time, presenting your ideas in a logical manner has become second nature to you.
Hopefully, the preceding article was instructive and you now understand how to structure your essay. While essay writing takes time, reading the question carefully, comprehending it, and then revising it should be accomplished in a reasonable amount of time. These are some crucial steps that should be taken in the examination hall.
Also Read: Valuable Essay Writing Tips for UPSC that One Should Follow: Guide to Write a Perfect Essay
