Essay Writing for Civil Service Exams

The essay is an area, which most students forget. It may not be possible to concentrate on essay writing due to lack of time. It’s fine. Even then you can be attentive ‘not’ to lose marks by making simple avoidable mistakes.

To talk about the essay,

First choose a topic you know. There may be proverbs or phrases you aren't clear about. In that case avoid those topics. The examiner may not be amused if you bluff an entire paper (essay paper only one question is to be answered!).

Another thing is to cover all aspects on a subject. The issue should be seen from all angles, before you reach a conclusion. Eg: In an essay on Sustainable development – the social, political, environmental view of the subject can be discussed.

It won’t be possible to start writing the essay straight away. You can create a good plan for essay before writing the actual essay. The upsc answer sheet is a big bundle with enough pages. You can do the rough work of the essay on the pages towards back.

Our idea is to create the essay which means we gotta make a Intro, body, and conclusion. That doesn’t mean that we will put “Introduction” or “Body” in writing when we start.  Take some time and make the Intro interesting. The examiner is seeing tonnes of paper, and he has to feel –“this is cool” or “hmm..OK”

There are many ways in which you can begin an essay. The way you can start essay depends on the topics. Eg:Through a small story with two people – one who enjoys its fruits and another who has been hit hard by the same. This works in topics like Eg: Globalization, Public-Private-Partnership etc. Thus the two views would be put in a subtle manner.The beginning must be attractive, well written and mistake free. Else the reader (examiner) will lose interest. 

After the intro comes the body part. The body must go into the subject – analyse the aspect from various angles.

Eg Essay on sustainable development there may be social, political, environmental views.

Social – how the uncontrolled destruction can lead to disaster. Here the touching story of uttarakand  or any flood can be written to highlight the issue

Political – how the international players are discussing the issue,what steps have been taken etc.

Environmental- how destruction of species, or monoculture can affect balance of nature

Each angle of thought can be made into paragraphs, thus the reader can watch how our thought on the subject unfolds.

I have always used  diagrams in essays, but i don't think its a common practice. 

In the conclusion part, you can bring your take on the subject. This conclusion should be in sync with your body. It would be bad if you preached nuclear energy to be an evil in the body of essay in full force and then ends with praise for the same.