ESSAY BASICS

Written Ability Test

WAT is more often than not a task on Essay
Writing
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

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

CODER Approach
C
Collect Ideas
O
Organize them
D
Develop them
E
Express them
R
Review the Essay
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

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 the
Essay?
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
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?
How long should the essay be?
E Express them
Essay are evaluated on
Content
Style
Structure of an Essay
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
Effective Expression requires
Logical Coherence
Flow
Effective language
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




Some Discourse Markers


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

Structuring or classifying To begin with......., First of all............, For one
thing.........., 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 of
this........., An appropriate illustration of this......., and so on.

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

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


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

Concluding In conclusion........., To sum up............, In short........, and so on.



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 in
2013.
All Politicians are same irrespective of party.

Sample Essay - 1
Topic


The true measure of national development
would be the reduction in economic
disparities, not the growth in national
incomes

Essay Key Issues
1. Define economic disparity
2. 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-
nots