Thread by @Insights_ias

The #UPSC Mains Exam is the most important stage & can be the determining factor that influences the final outcome.
One of the easiest but oft-ignored methods to ensure a high overall score is to work hard at the Essay.

What are the mistakes to avoid in an Essay?
Thread 2 🧵:

•LACKING CLARITY:

In the introduction, you must state your thesis- your opinion regarding the topic/issue.

Thus, do not show ambivalence in the essay or deviate from your stand that you have emphatically taken in the beginning.

Do not contradict yourself or your ideas.

•ARTIFICIAL/ILLOGICAL LINKAGES:

Eg: Para 1: The problem of malnourishment can be solved by implementing the recommendations of X committee.

•Para 2: Additionally, man has made giant strides towards setting up a colony on Mars.

✅Ensure a smooth & logical flow throughout.

• USING FLOWERY LANGUAGE:
Eg:As the sun rose over the horizon,the crimson-golden hues created a magnificent & picturesque scene.The warmth radiating from the rising sun enveloped her in a warm embrace, soothing her broken & tattered soul.
✅Use simple language & make your point

•USING JARGON which is hard to comprehend & may require specialised knowledge

✅Use simple language
•Avoid bringing complicated vocabulary or terms from your specialised area of study which may be incomprehensible to most.
•Your essay shouldn’t be full of recondite content.

USING LONG SENTENCES:

•Use short sentences.
•Be brief & precise
•One shouldn’t lost track of what one is reading due to long & tortuous sentences.

Making gross GENERALISATIONS/Using EXTREME WORDS

•”We are ALL like this.”
•”This will ALWAYS be a problem!”
•”They will NEVER overcome this.”
•”We should ONLY follow this approach.”

REPITITION of Ideas, examples, sentences!

•Do not use such tactics to lengthen your Essay, the examiner will see through them.

USING HYPOTHETICAL STORIES:

• Eg:The population of town X decided that if everyone had chosen option A, then the outcome would’ve been B. Based on this, we can conclude that choosing option A is the best way forward.

✅Use real-world examples, it makes a more persuasive case.

Spelling & Grammatical errors

• While you don’t have to be a prolific writer, please proof-read the writing once to rectify any spelling/grammatical errors.
• Wrong grammar can distort the meaning of the sentence
•Eg: confusion between your & you’re ; it’s & its; tenses, etc

Using ‘you’ & ‘your’:

• May be perceived as disrespectful
• Do not address the reader personally
-Eg: ❌”Would you choose to follow this path at this stage?” Is not an appropriate sentence

✅Instead, “Would we choose to follow this path at this stage?”

Using Passive Voice:

•Eg: The scheme was implemented by the authorities in C State.

•✅Instead use Active Voice:
- it’s more effective, direct(ACTIVE) & hence more persuasive!
-Eg: The authorities implemented Y scheme in C state & the outcomes were as desired.

POOR HAND-WRITING:

•You are not expected to have beautiful handwriting like this:

•Instead, just write neatly, legibly & ensure that you make the examiner’s life easier & they won’t be left frustrated trying to decipher your writing as if it’s from an ancient age which is yet to be deciphered.

Note:We will be back with thread 3 next week!

Want to know more about mistakes to avoid while writing an essay & how to bring in dimensions?
Watch session 1 of our FREE ESSAY & ETHICS workshop conducted by @vinaygb Sir here:

Read thread 1 here:

https://twitter.com/insights_ias/status/1551047864578899969?s=21&t=y6u1BZK20WY9zinsBk9onA

https://twitter.com/Insights_ias/status/1551047864578899969