Practical Essay-writing in English
Structurally speaking, an essay is a group of paragraphs where each para represents a factual thought related to the subject matter
By Mukesh Sharma
The students who have completed their schooling through Hindi medium, and have studied English as a subject to pass out 10th or 12th, often find the question on essay in competitive exams for government services rather challenging. Of course, at school level, the questions which are based on prescribed text books, can be answered by mugging up the answers – a common practice, but the question on essay in competitive exams is usually based on some proverbs/quotations or some socio-politico happenings; it needs general awareness; it needs the practical knowledge of English language related to human life, society, politics, religion and nature.
What is noteworthy, whenever one sits down to write something, his/her mind uses pre-conceived sentences available in mind collected, unconsciously, through academic pursuit and life-journey of years. However, if one writes down in second language and the needed sentences are not available in mind in that language, a quick mental translation process starts from first language (mother tongue) to second language. Since languages, usually, defy translation, one ends up with non-standardised sentences or fractured English e.g:
Wo apne baal khule rakhti hai (Hind sentence)
She keeps her hair loose (translated non-standardised sentence)
She wears her hair unkempt (Standardised English sentence)
Furthermore, as a computer stores the information in the form of tiny pixels, the mind stores it in the form of pictures. To a mind, a word is just a sound if not represented symbolically, and it gets dissipated in the unknown maze of memory lanes of mind. But a sentence represents an action and creates a mental picture. And the mind is picture retentive rather than sound. So, to write well one needs to feed the mind with the variety of readymade sentences related to different aspects of life as much as possible. It can be possible if one has good reading habit and is a voracious reader. It is simple as one learns to speak by repeatedly hearing sentences, one learn to write too by reading the written sentences. More one reads, more one learns to write – man begins to learn by imitation only. Only a well-read man can write well.
That is why with the poor vocabulary and poor feeding of English sentences, the students are not able to think in English – If one can think correctly, one can write accurately. Translation often upsets the apple-cart.
In this age of cut-throat competition and confusion, people want short cuts to success – there is rat race for success not for knowledge. No doubt, smartness is the need of the hours. So, even if one has not read many books, one can commit to memory at least some short-listed useful proverbs/quotable quotes. The use of right quote at the right place not only helps one to endorse his/her views with the thought of others but also passes himself/herself off as a learned person. Therefore, this blogger sincerely suggests his valued readers/students to read and cram the proverbs and quotations. Proverbs have been given in Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary also. Quotations of famous writers can be read from any good book on quotation. Student-writers must make their own collection of socially, politically etc. relevant quotations, and it can be collected from internet too.
Before practical writing is discussed at length, the students first must understand the characteristics of an essay. Oxford dictionary says: “an essay is a literary composition on any subject.” In other words, it is an exercise in expression of one’s own exclusive thoughts on some topic; it must reflect the unity, order, brevity, style, and a personal touch in the expression of thought. Further on the basis of style and subject matter, essays can be divided into five categories:
1. Narrative Essay – It seeks to narrate the subject matter e.g. story of Lakshmi Bai etc.
2. Expository Essay – It is an expression of exclusive thoughts on the subject matter e.g. on some social practice, religion, habit etc.
3. Reflective Essay – It is an expression of exclusive thoughts on the subject matter e.g. on some social practice, religion, habit, etc.
4. Imaginative Essay - consists of expression of imagination on the topic e.g. if I were a superman.
5. Descriptive Essay – consists of description of some event/happenings. It is commonly asked in the exams.
5. Descriptive Essay – consists of description of some event/happenings. It is commonly asked in the exams.
If one wishes to know how essays are written, one must read some renowned essayists of the yester- years such as Francis Becon (16th century) – known for his short and sententious essays; Joseph Addition (17thcentury) – known for his thought provoking average length essays; Thomas Babinghan Macaulay (19th century) - known for his long but quintessential and critical essays.
What is common in all types of essays is the exclusive thoughts of the author couched in paragraphs. Structurally speaking, an essay is a group of paragraphs, where each para represents a factual thought related to the subject-matter. Each para is headed by a factual statement/outline. On the basis of keywords, this statement/outline can further be expanded, elaborated, illuminated and exemplified that collectively give it a shape of a well-written para. Likewise, para after para may be developed to pen down a complete essay on any topic. Valued readers may take the clue from this blogger’s well acknowledged and acclaimed blog entitled ‘Of Paragraph-writing’. As discussed in the said blog, chunks and connectives play a crucial role in the development of the paras, the same is applicable to the development of paras in an essay. Here this blogger seeks to suggest a standardised format for the essay, particularly, for the students who feel that their English is not strong enough to think and write correctly and comfortably. This blogger sincerely believes that the valued readers would find this very helpful. Here are suggested common chunks and connectives for the development of paras.
Common chunks
- It is very much significant that . . .
- It throws light on the wholesome truth. . .
- But as a matter of fact
- It is maintained that
- But every coin has two sides
- It is generally believed that . . .
- It doesn’t mean that . . . .
- It is the received wisdom
- Truth can’t be created; it exists in nature, only a true truth seeker can discover it.
- Nothing is absolute in this world except God.
- It still holds water that
- A mound can’t be made without digging a hole
- It is very well acknowledged and acclaimed fact that
Common Connectives
- As a matter of fact
- It is believed that
- It is maintained that
- It is obvious that
- It is evident that
- It is contended that
- It is well said
- There is no doubt that
- Interestingly enough
- It is an irony
- Keeping in view
- There is no knowing what is next
- Needless to say
- Under the circumstances
- It can be concluded
- In other words
- It won’t be wrong to say that
Suggested format
Introductory Paragraph
Explain and elaborate the topic with the help of chunks and incorporate different keywords related to topic to spell out the scope of the essay. Numbers of keywords may be set as per the prescribed limit of words for essay as each key word has to be developed into a para.
Factual thought/outline- Para 1
- Use chunks and connectives to expand and explain on the basis of key words in outline
- Negative and positive aspects of the fact may be discussed to expand para
- Endorse it with the quotation/proverb of a renowned writers
- It may be illuminated with examples too
- Restrict it to 80-100 words
Factual thought/outline – Para 2
- Develop para on the same guideline as given in para 1
Concluding para
In the light of all the discussed factual thought, draw a conclusion using the chunks and connectives. It may be restricted to 30-50 words.
It is evident that with the help of this format students may write essay on any topic of any prescribed word limit.
Write two essay in 100-1200 words from each A & B (UPSC 2019 Mains)
A
1 Wisdom finds truth
OR
2 Best for an individual is not necessary best for the society
B
3 Biased media is a real threat to Indian society
OR
4 Neglect of or primary health care and education in India are the reasons for its backwardness.
SPECIMEN
Answer
Wisdom finds truth
The statement ‘Wisdom finds Truth’ is very much significant and sententious. It throws light on wholesome truth. It is a hard fact that born in the laboratory of the world, the wisdom reflects the ways of the world. No doubt, wisdom is an empirical knowledge; it is a consequential experience; it is a circumstantial credible evidence; it is a reality of life; it is timeless; it is a gift from one generation to another; the world without wisdom shall be like a time rudderless vessel in the ocean of time knowing nothing how to swim ashore. As sunshine leads to the sun, wisdom leads to truth.
N.B. (Nota bene): read carefully the abovementioned introductory para and note how the factual thoughts have been incorporated.
Para-1
It is a well acknowledged and acclaimed fact that the wisdom is an empirical knowledge. There are two types of knowledge – one acquired from books and another from the experience of life. The bookish knowledge is theoretical but the knowledge acquired from the experience of life is called practical or empirical knowledge. It is a proven knowledge that stands in good stead in difficult time of the life. If a curd is knowledge, wisdom is the churned out butter.
N.B. (Nota bene): Read carefully and note how the para has been developed with the help of chunks and key words. It can be expanded further, if need be.
Para-2
It won’t be wrong to say that the wisdom is a consequential experience. It is a fact that the wisdom is born out of the resultant experience. It is well said that even truth is not absolute; it changes with the circumstances. The sun rises is East is a truth on the earth. But sun rises and sets in space after every three hours. The earth has one moon but the Jupiter has eight moons. In other words, truth may change with the circumstances but wisdom remains unchanged in the circumstances. So it can be said that the wisdom is a consequential experience.
N.B. (Nota bene): Note how with the help of key words, in outline, a para has been developed.
Para-3
It is also contended that the wisdom is circumstantial credible evidence. Of course, it holds water under specific circumstances irrespective of age and time. It can’t be refuted. “Anger starts with foolishness and ends with repentance.”This quotation can’t be proved wrong. It is an axiomatic saying. There is wisdom in the statement. It is obvious that wisdom is a circumstantial evidence.
N.B. (Nota bene): Note how the para-2 has been developed on the basis of key words
Para-4
It is generally believed that wisdom is the reality of the life. “Nothing is absolute in this world except God” says Newton. Only God can create the truth. Man can simply make discoveries. Truth exists in nature; it remains hidden in nature; only a resolute truth seeker can discover it. All the scientists, philosophers or intellectuals make incessant efforts to winnow the wheat of the reality out of the visible chaff of truth. And thus refined truth is called wisdom. Wisdom is the true reality of the life.
Para-5
Wisdom is timeless. Of course, the truth may change with time and circumstances. For instance, Killing someone in self defense may not fall under the category of murder. So the truth may change. It depends on the circumstances. But wisdom doesn’t change either with the circumstances or time. Wisdom doesn’t let the inimical circumstances be developed. What seems imminent can be averted by the wisdom. Mahatama Buddha changed the heart of killer Angulimar by his wisdom. So, wisdom is timeless. It doesn’t change with time or circumstances. On the contrary, it has power to change the circumstances.
Para-6
Wisdom is a gift from one generation to another. To be on lighter side, even wisdom tooth is cut after many years of experience in matured age. And elders always taunt at the foolishness of a youngster by saying he/she has yet to cut the wisdom tooth. All the religious scriptures of all the religions are endowed with nothing but wisdom. All the saints and philosopher lay their hand on wisdom after years of experiment, experience and observations. Such wisdom when put out in books, it can easily be transferred from one generation to another. Armed with the wealth of wisdom, new generation further makes new discoveries and new observation, and a new knowledge is produced. As living being bear the living beings, wisdom begets the wisdom. Evidently enough, wisdom is a gift from one generation to another.
Para -7
The world without wisdom shall be like a rudderless vessel in the ocean of time knowing nothing how to swim ashore. In fact, life is governed by the wisdom. The knowledge is transferred by one generation to another. Based on that a new knowledge is produced. Thus produced knowledge furthers the progress of human civilization. The little knowledge of Wright Brothers in the flying of an air craft laid the foundation for the today’s jet and supersonic planes. Their discovery was the prototype of today’s high teach planes. Wisdom is an asset created by one generation and is used by the posterity. Without wisdom the world would be like a rudderless vessel not knowing how to swim ashore. Without light, one can’t see even with the healthy eyes.
Concluding Para
In the light of above mentioned factual thoughts, it can be convincingly concluded that truth is wisdom and wisdom is truth. As sunshine leads to sun, wisdom leads to truth. Wisdom finds truth.
******
Mind you, there is no hard and fast rule for writing. Each learned writer can create his/her own style and diction. Here this blogger doesn’t claim any high erudition. Take it just a suggestion. And this blogger sincerely believes that the students, particularly, from Hindi medium and from Hindi heartland- UP, Harayana, MP and Bihar, with poor English, would find this format very helpful and useful. it might be conducive to the fulfillment of their cherished dream.
Practice improves skill. Read and re-read your own written essay, you will be able to refine it. For practice, attempt at least 20 essays that will bring confidence in you and hone your writing skill.
