Essay Basics 2013

7/29/2019 Essay Basics 2013

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ESSAY BASICS


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Written Ability Test

WAT is more often than not a task on EssayWriting

Duration

Anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes

Word Limit

300 750 words

1 or 2 sides of an A4 size paper

Topics Current Issues

Economics

Abstract


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Key to Effective Essay Writing

Basic Elements of Communication

Clarity of Thought

Empathy

Effective Expression

Elements on which Essays are graded

Effective Content

Structure Effective Expression


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CODER Approach

CCollect Ideas

OOrganize them

DDevelop them

EExpress them

RReview the Essay


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C Collect Ideas

How does one generate content? Topic itself

What are the key words?

What is it about?

Idea Generation techniques

KWA Key Word Approach

VAP Viewpoint of Affected Parties SPELT Socio-Political, Economic, Legal,

Technological


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O Organize them

Put random thoughts into coherent ideas

Think on these lines

What should be the purpose or theme of the Essay?

What would be an appropriate way to start theEssay?

What are the further ideas to continue with?

What would these ideas lead to?

What ideas would be the right ones to end with?

Make effective notes on the above Qs

This would help organize your thoughts in a

coherent manner


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D Develop them

Explain and Elaborate the ideas developed in the

previous step

What sort of readership is the Essay intended

for? What sort of information would hold their

attention?

What sort of examples would be relevant?

This should be carefully thought through Most students end up citing inappropriate/weak

examples

What piece of supporting explanation would

support the ideas developed?


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E Express them

Essay are evaluated on

Content Style

Structure of an Essay

Introduction

Body

Conclusion

Effective Expression requires

Logical Coherence Flow

Effective language


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R - Review

Spend the last few minutes reviewing the Essay

Check the flow and coherence

Ensure language is error free

Golden RULE 30% of the time for steps C, O & D

60% to E (Actual Writing)

10% to R


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Some Discourse Markers

Introduction of a viewpoint It is my opinion that...., My own view is......, As Isee it........, I believe......, and so on.

Structuring or classifying To begin with......., First of all............, For onething.........., and so on.

Adding Further......, Moreover..........., Likewise........., In addition.......,Besides,......, Equally,...., Another point to be......., Apart from this........., and

so on.

Giving examples For example,......, For instance,......, A good example ofthis........., An appropriate illustration of this......., and so on.

Generalising On the whole......, In general........., Broadly speaking........., Inmost cases.........., To a large extent........, and so on

Giving details, making things clear In fact....., This is clear from......., Thiscan be seen from......, Considering this in greater detail........, and so on.

Analysing a point What this means is........, In other words.........., Translatedinto real terms,......., and so on.

Concludin In conclusion........., To sum u ............, In short........, and so on.


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Sample Topics Worsening female to male ratio in India

You would not like to be prime minister of India

because.

The educational system is killing creativity in Indian

children.

Globalisation has failed to live up to its promises.

Media circus on Breaking news is because audience

wants it

Business: Ethics vs. Law

Obama will bring change, but only to USA.

Saffronisation of Indian text books.

It will not be a pragmatic budget but a populist one in2013.


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Sample Essay - 1


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Topic

The true measure of national development

would be the reduction in economic

disparities, not the growth in nationalincomes


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Essay Key Issues

1. Define economic disparity2. Why does it exist in India?

3. What is National Income?

4. How is it measured?

5. Why is National Income not an indicator of

development?

6. What else should be considered?

7. HDI, Literacy, Life Expectancy, Standard of

Living

8. Inclusive growth which encompasses the

marginalized sections of society

9. Eradication of property

10. Reducing the disparity between haves & have-

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Essay Basics 2013