Strategy for Essay

HOW TO FETCH GOOD MARKS IN ESSAY PAPER

In New Pattern of IAS MAINS exam, the marks allotted for this paper has been increased from 200 to 250.Every Candidate has  to attempt Two essay ,one from each section.Essay has to be written in about 1000 words.Each essay carry equal 125 marks .

The focus of UPSC is on basic understanding of issues relevant for governance and their clear and crisp presentation in limited time.Although every paper marks are important but good marks in ESSAY always help to achieve high rank.Many student do not care for this part or take casual approach that results in very poor marks.even if you have done well in exam,poor essay marks may shatters your dream to appear in interview.

A typical essay UPSC asks candidates to write in the civil services Mains exam year after year is an expository or analytical one. Unlike literary essay which tend to be descriptive and narrative requiring candidate to explore his literary skills, expository essays demand reasoning and logic well argued with the help of relevant evidences and examples.

There are certain steps to follow while attempting an essay in the civil services exam in order to get good marks.

• Choosing a right topic is the crucial part in Essay paper. First, read all the questions carefully. Instantly you will like a certain topic – tick it. Then prioritize other topics. See which one you think is easy to handle.
• Underline or circle a key word in each topic. Think over them for a few minutes.
• You will be given easy and difficult topics to choose from. Easy topics are chosen by the most and help in getting decent marks. Difficult topic is chosen by very few – they either get lowest or highest mark in it.
• If you want to play safe, choose the easiest one. In case you have prior experience of writing and comprehending complex topics, go for the difficult one. Usually, difficult topics are difficult to interpret correctly. They will be either vague or appear abstract. If you are familiar with such topics and correctly understand them, then go for them. Otherwise settle down for the easy topic. You would be ensured decent marks.

Planning before writing

• Once you have chosen a topic, next step involves planning and brainstorming. Reread the question many times. Think over each word in it. You will observe that ideas start flooding from all directions. Write them down on a rough space.While thinking on the topic, don’t think about the examiner. Sometimes one tends to impress the examiner with big ideas. Avoid it.
• Let your impulse work. Let natural thoughts flow out on to the paper.Think all the possibilities that throw up and try to connect each with the topic. Whatever you write down, it must be related to the topic you have chosen.Most topics demand a balanced approach. Even if it is your express opinion, you should be objective and try to portray other aspects too. While brainstorming, think of such other possibilities too.
• Balancing doesn’t mean giving 50-50 share to both the views. It just means being objective and the tone should be subdued. Do this brainstorming on the first page itself. Write down all points legibly.
• Sometimes, a good examiner might be just impressed by your meticulous planning and be generous while awarding marks.Try to include examples, meaning of any jargon you might want to use in essay, or comments on particular argument of a person (if it’s an example in the essay) and evidences in support of your argument. Interlink each point you have jotted down.
• Prioritize and rearrange them by giving ranks. Eliminate irrelevant points. Again make sure that everything you have jotted down is relevant to The Topic. Use the number one point in the first paragraph after introduction.Now the raw material for your essay is ready. The blueprint is ready.

Some Pointer

• An officer’s trait is to remain ‘anonymous’, ‘faceless’ and neutral- meaning your essay should look like it has been written by a graduate.
•  Donot pick up the subject where your idea or thought content is very low
  If you don’t know the exact answer and you just beat around the bushes and write the garbage stuff to fill up the pages, while this tactic does work in the school and college exams but don’t try it in the ias mains exam essay paper.
  
•  Give a balanced answer With out getting into hero-worship or mud slinging
   Do not over criticizing Govenrment in the essay
• Do not get personal, Don’t go naming individual politicians – 
• everything has to be written in its place
  1. Introduction
  2. Background / History related
  3. Main concept / theory / what the subject is about
  4. Current scenario related to it.
  5. Good sides
  6. Negative sides / obstacles
  7. Suggested reforms
  8. Conclusion

Analysis of Essay paper(2015 IAS mains)

This time UPSC orientation is more Philosophical than last year.Except two direct essay ,they tried to provide level playing field to all aspirants.Effort of UPSC to provide level playing field to all and reducing the narrow view of preparation continued.Although good preparation and writing practice help to write better organised essay.So those who prepared well will be at advantage,but focus is on your creativity,broad thinking,ability to link the knowledge of various field in just those three hours.

                                          SECTION A

                                             SECTION B