ESSAY BASICS

Sai Kumar Swamy Click to edit Master subtitle style PGPM, IIM Bangalore

10/9/12

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
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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
C
Collect Ideas

O
Organize them

D
Develop them

E
Express them

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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

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 10/9/12

with?

D Develop them
Explain and Elaborate the ideas developed

in the previous step intended for?

What sort of readership is the Essay 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
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What piece of supporting explanation

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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Sample Topics
Worsening female to male ratio in India You would not like to be prime minister of

India because.

CAT should go online Financial viability of IPL Old film music: remixes vs creativity Variety is the spice of life Conquering Himalayas Media circus on Breaking news is because

audience wants it

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Q & A

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