Learnings

Making notes

• • Plan the structure 1st  
  • Explain the keywords and the possible meanings  
  • Write PESHTEL ……. 
  • Givr sequence to the points  
  • Some may requires thnking on the lines of What, When , Why, How, What to do , SO WHAT ? 
  • Do not go with a pre framed mindset, if you see a topic on which you have written essay before. Realise that the finer details of the topic are different and hence require different structure
    • Eg Environment and Economy have conccidant objectives and Poverty vs Environment  
    • It becomes more important, wspecially when you have prepared points for the broad topics beforehand  
    • Hence, explaining every word is Sine Qua Non 
  • Look for Innovative Examples, Facts, Data, Examples 
    • This is your strength. Don’t weaken it  
    • Every para should have one of these. If there isn’t club para or shorten it 
  • Read the language of the topic 
    • Think if there is one side or both sides to it  
    • Think if you have to focus more on the past, present or future
      • Eg Rise of Machines – FUTURE – because of the word rise  
    • Read if the topic asks to remain limited within a given boundary
      • Eg social media is no longer acting as a positive communication channel between family, friends and professtionals  
      • This essay required to focus more on these 3 and only after that elaborate  
  • Structure 
    • When you are not sure about the structure, make subheadings  
    • No need to do Acchai – burai – Acchai
      • Instead, start with acchai and complete it  
      • Eg social Media positive link between family, friends and professionals
        • Start with the positive part and explain it completely.  
        • Once done ,go to the negative part 
        • And then synthesise it  
      • Also, while moving from one side to the another , you can use
        • Positives are well established. But, they exist to What extent ? Excess is harmful  
    • If possible, try to cover the qualifier to the essay in the points itself
      • Eg Internet – Blessing or Curse in the long run  
    • Past – Present – Future
      • Can be to anything  
      • Even internet  
      • Alcohol  
      • But a standard format is write the history – then the positives and then the negatives – by pointint to what extent  
    • Link between para
      • No need to begin with similarly/ likewise 
      • Issue – Lengthens the paragraph as you have have to justify it in the end 
      • In a vertical Essay, where there are definite points
        • Use Additionally, Secondly, thirdly, Furthermore , Moreover  
      • Other ways
        • Beyond issue of A, there are issues of B 
        • A similar trend is seen in the field of…. 
        • Unfortunately, the issue has spread to many other domains 
      • End every Para with concluding link to the central theme or anythng that provides a sense of completeness  
    • When moving to a different SEGMENT 
      • Esp after body – Eg in Smart Police Essay , after having written all the points on Smart and then moving to who will bring the money  
      • EXPLICITLY, mark your movement  
      • Either via Sub Heading 
      • Or preferably, writing it in para only – Eg Another question that arise is Who will make us Smart ?   
• Intro 
  • Show your MATURITY in the Intro 
    • Start it in the tone of Tejasvi’s GS 2 
    • Best way is to start with an example that perfectly hits it and that too on both the sides  
    • Pick up the best example and insert it in the Intro preferably from History or Current Affairs  
  • No need to be extra Dramatic
    • Random examples like 2 brothers may not be the best intro – Instead could have been replaced by the actual internet foudations and how 2 sides
      • Also don’t start with the look at the world around us – Rise of Machines  
  • When you are widening the scope of the essay,
    • Begin with the most obvious point – INTRO – on the relevant point MUST
      • Like in the essay on women and sustainable development
        • Show the link with the environment first  
    • Then while going to other topics 
      • Explicitly say that this extends to other dimensions as well  
      • Eg in the essay of bravery and freedom  
      • Say that freedom today also extends to many other dimensions    
• Content Part 
  • Every para must have something specual 
    • A data, a fact, an example, a quote  
    • It may be Fake 😛 
      • Vinod Rai on Media – Quote it from books, autobiographies 
      • Rough figures – Advertisement is a lakh crore industry   
    • Look efor interesting examples   
  • Try and club related points 
    • Eg in essay on Role of Innovation on Economic growth – There was no need to expand the 4 industrial revolutions. Club them in 1 para. Then find other ways in which this was respobsible – Eg Innovation in Business process – Better customer interaction, expansion of demand, better finacnial products ; new sources of energy ;  others related which create environment for growth – Security, reducing red tapism, etc  
    • And then Move on to a different dimension  
    • Pay special attention to this for th epoints in the beginning , when there is a tendancy to be literally sound 
      • Eg Essay on Innovation  
      • Essay on Benefits of long Coastline  
    • Especially those dimensions that everyone will write on and where scope of innovations are limited
      • Eg Environmental dimension  
      • Also reduce Economi Dimension, where you may have a tendancy to over elaborate  

• Explain the keywords ( preferably in 1 line ) directly or indirectly  
• 2nd Para 
  • Evolution ( History ) 
  • Say, This ( the above example – est para 0 Eg ), makes greater senser when we consider the Evolution of X. For eg the essay on Man has become tool for tool – In the ancient and medieval era, man had imited requirements and used limited equipments. But, he was in control of what he did. But, slowly curiosity developed, needs rose and control mechanisms metamorphised to reach the Informatio Age. These led to development of all kinds of tools, or instuments of control,ranging from a small safety pin to a vast aeroplane.  

• Don’t repeat the points in 2 essays – Writing 1 less is better  

• Philosophical Essays – necessary ingredients 

• Explain the meaning of Keyword in the 1st / 2nd Para 
  • Who is an Enemy  
  • What are Marks and what are Scars  
  • What is Health and what is Sickness  
  • What is a change and what do we mean  
• Desired Format  

• Don’t start with an example unless it is very obvious . But start with the very explanation itself as written above 45 
• Or an Example that is DIRECTLY linked and not the expanded meaning  
• Instead of moving horizontally, Move reason to reason – and put the points within the reasons itself.
  • These points may be vertically aligned – Individual level, social level, national level and International level  
• Connect every paragraph with the central theme and bring completeness
  • Unlike a contextual essay where writing in small para nad more points and example is more important  

• History 
  • In Philosophical Essays, focus on History more  
  • But, make it short  
  • Best way is to include everything in a Para in a way like this for an essay on Human Marks create scars
    • History is filled with examples like these. Be it a game of Chaucer in Mahabhrata that ultimately led to the destruction of an entire clan, or the war between tribes that resulted due to raids of cattles. In the modern history, a stamp for European domination led to colonisation and a desire to expand boundaries led to the two world wars that damaged the basic foundations of humanity   
  • Readymade
    • Early Man , Ashoka, Gupta, Chola, Mughals, British, Freedom Struggle  
    • World – Renaissance, Revolutions – Industrial ,French, American, Colonisation,  Great Depression, WW, Cold War   
  • Mythology  
• Psychology 
  • Write about Behavioural changes  
  • Human Marks create scars – Impact of anger. In an attempt to win, ethics forgotten, impact on wife, children, 
• Philosophy 
  • Gandhi, Vivekananda, vasudhaiva Kutamakam , Advaita, Tagore  
  • Rawls, Hobbes, Lockes, Singer  
  • Confuscius  
  • Marx  
  • Chanakya – Real Politik  

• Objective Essays 
  • Schemes and solutions are must 
    • But, don’t write too many paraggraphs on it  
    • Write 1 Para for govt – Give commas to separate points  
    • 1 para for Society  
    • And if necessary, 1 for individual  
  • Write at least 1 case study – Say Suucessful examples from around the world should be incoroporated eg project jal sanchay of bihar ( water / environment essay)  
  • Write small paras
    • No need to have a completeness in every para  
  • Have a limited Philosophy   
  • But, even hear Exaplanation of the topic may be necessary
    • Environment and Ecology have CONCCIDANT objectives – Explain how conccidant – because that creates better structure and leads to more dimensions  

• Flow 
  • Use Simple Present and simple past tense.  
  • Use active rather than passive voice. Try and bring the subject at the forefront  
  • Use words and phrases like That is Why and Hence, instead of using Thus. Thus does not have a flow connected to it  
  • Answer in the Language that the question is asked
    • Eg – Rise of machines an opportunity. The topic requires focus on future. Hence, use the word CAN / May/ Will throughout the conversation. Hence, you would write Robots will be able to do our repitive works. And manpower could focus more on the innovation  
    • This also ensures that you do not deviate to other side, and an essay on opportunity does not become an essay on benefits  
  • SUGGESTION 
    • KEEP WRITING. Don’t stop between lines asn start thinking
      • It breaks the rhythm and increases the time taken 

• Conclusion 
  • Make it futuristic 
    • A change is underway. Some improvements like X, Y, Z have been seen. Assuming it is not a False Dawn, it can lead to numerous benefits like A, B,C . And this could cement our Superpower status  
    • Heaven on Earth  
  • Format 
    • Summarise 
    • Pre Conclusion  
      • Lines like – A lot of Ink has been spilled on the issue of women. Real success will be when this could convert into action  
    Conclusion
    • Think – So what ? What is the takeaway from this analysis ? 
    • Summarise
      • In 2-3 lines  
      • Issue  
      • 2 sides 
      • Then say about the need for balance  
      • Compare  – Say with a Bee need to take just the right amount of nectar – Atra Sarvatra Vajrayeta  
    • Steps required and Taken
      • Right about steps required
        • By common men as well – JFK quote  
      • Then some steps that has already been take 
    • Then a paragraph with beautiful English 
      • Quote  
      • Lines to show the importance of the issue
        • Citizen Centricity is the essence of a vibrant democracy  
        • Education is the foundation of human existence  
      • Give metaphors – See Meena’s 
        • One will also do  
        • Don’t use metaphors in the body, but in the pre-conclusion / conclusion  
      • Then write about how it can transform India – Lines like 21st century superpower 
      • Then we have less time – Time and tide /  You may delay  
      • Some steps have been taken but a lot more required  
      • And a quote or a line  
      • Preferably positive , linked to the topic  
      • And end on a note of that  
    • General Quotes 
      • GANDHI – The Future depends on what we do in the present  
      • The way forward lies in ESCHEWING BINARY solutions and EMBRACING a NUANCED, ITERATIVE approach