Things To Consider Before Writing An Essay in The Exam!

A typical essay FPSC asks candidates to write in the civil services 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: It is the crucial part in Essay paper. First, read all the questions carefully.
Instantly you will like a certain topic – select 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.

Now, the form of the question should be carefully noted down. If it is in a question form such
as, “What do you think……?”, you must provide an answer and your opinion.

If the topic is just ‘Women In Parliament – Achievements and Prospects’, you will have a space
to explore the topic from many perspectives with relevant facts and conclusion can be
anything.
Also look for directives at the end of the questions and write essay accordingly.

Planning :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 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.
Writing an Essay : Write a good introduction. After the planning process you will clearly know
what your essay is all about. State the purpose of your essay in the introduction. It is called
stating the thesis. Let it be crisp and straight to the point. A good introduction clearly tells us
what to expect in the rest of the essay.

Look at the rough work again and again to keep yourself on the track: Now start answering
the essay after the introduction using the ranking you did while planning. Now you might get
fresh ideas. Incorporate them.
Make good use of connective and transition words in and between each paragraphs. This
makes your essay readable and gives a good flow. But use them only if the context demands.

A logical essay naturally leads to a conclusion:You should not repeat the content of the
introduction here. You should neither sum up your essay in conclusion. State what conclusion
you draw from all the arguments you wrote in the essay.

In the exam, you will get good three hours to write a thoughtful essay. Use 10-15 minutes to
Plan it well and rest of the time for execution. Write neatly, legibly and use many small
paragraphs.