essay answer writing practice

100 Writing Practice Lessons & Exercises

by Joe Bunting | 50 comments

Want to become a better writer? Perhaps you want to write novels, or maybe you just want to get better grades in your essay writing assignments , or maybe you'd like to start a popular blog .

If you want to write better, you need practice. But what does a writing practice actually look like? In this post, I'm going to give you everything you need to kick off your writing practice and become a better writer faster.

What Is Writing Practice?

Writing practice is a method of becoming a better writer that usually involves reading lessons about the writing process, using writing prompts, doing creative writing exercises , or finishing writing pieces, like essays, short stories , novels , or books . The best writing practice is deliberate, timed, and involves feedback.

How Do You Practice Writing?

This was the question I had when I first started The Write Practice in 2011. I knew how to practice a sport and how to practice playing an instrument. But for some reason, even after studying it in college, I wasn't sure how to practice writing.

I set out to create the best writing practice I could. The Write Practice is the result.

I found that the best writing practice has three aspects:

Deliberate . Writing whatever you feel like may be cathartic, but it's not an effective way to become a better writer or build your writing skills. You'll get better faster by practicing a specific technique or aspect of the writing process each time you sit down to write.

This is why we have a new lesson about the writing process each day on The Write Practice, followed by a practice prompt at the end so you can put what you learned to use immediately.

Timed . It's no secret writers struggle with focus. There are just too many interesting distractions—Facebook, email, Kim Kardashian's Instagram feed (just kidding about that last one, sort of)—and writing is just too hard sometimes.

Setting a timer, even for just fifteen minutes, is an easy and effective way to stay focused on what's important.

This is why in our writing practice prompt at the end of each post we have a time limit, usually with a link to an online tool egg timer , so you can focus on deliberate practice without getting distracted.

Feedback . Getting feedback is one of the requirements to deliberately practice writing or any other craft. Feedback can look like listening to the reactions of your readers or asking for constructive criticism from editors and other writers.

This is why we ask you to post your writing practice after each lesson, so that you can get feedback from other writers in The Write Practice community. It's also why we set up The Write Practice Pro community , to provide critique groups for writers to get feedback on each finished piece of writing.

Our 100+ Best Creative Writing Practice Exercises and Lessons

Now that you know how we practice writing at The Write Practice, here are our best writing practice lessons to jumpstart your writing skills with some daily writing exercises, for beginner writers to even the most expert writers:

All-Time, Top 10 Writing Lessons and Exercises

These ten posts are our most viewed articles to boost your writing practice:

1. What is Plot? The 6 Elements of Plot and How to Use Them . Great stories use similar elements in wildly different ways to build page-turning stories. Click here to read what they are and learn how to start using them !

2. Top 100 Short Story Ideas . Here are over a hundred writing prompts in a variety of genres. If you need ideas for your next story, check this out!

3. How To Use Neither, Nor, Or, and Nor Correctly . Even good writers struggle figuring out when to use neither/nor and either/or. In this post, our copy-queen Liz Bureman settles the confusion once and for all. Click to continue to the writing exercise

4. Ten Secrets To Write Better Stories . How does Pixar manage to create such great stories, year after year? And how do you write a good story? In this post, I distill everything I've learned about how to write a good story into ten tips. Click to continue to the writing exercise

5. 35 Questions To Ask Your Characters From Marcel Proust . To get to know my characters better, I use a list of questions known as the Proust Questionnaire, made famous by French author, Marcel Proust. Click to continue to the writing exercise

6. How a Scene List Can Change Your Novel-Writing Life . Creating a scene list changed my novel-writing life, and doing the same will change yours too. Includes examples of the scene lists from famous authors. Click to continue to the writing exercise

7. Why You Need to be Using the Oxford Comma . Most people I've met have no idea what the Oxford comma is, but it's probably something that you have used frequently in your writing. Click to continue to the writing exercise

8. Six Surprising Ways to Write Better Interview Questions.  The interview is the most-used tool in a journalist's bag. But that doesn't mean novelists, bloggers, and even students can't and don't interview people. Here's how to conduct a great interview. Click to continue to the writing exercise

9. Why You Should Try Writing in Second Person . You've probably used first person and third person point-of-view already. But what about second person? This post explains three reasons why you should try writing from this point-of-view. Click to continue to the writing exercise

10. The Secret to Show, Don't Tell . You've heard the classic writing rule, “Show. Don't Tell.” Every writing blog ever has talked about it, and for good reason. Showing, for some reason, is really difficult. Click to continue to the writing exercise.

12 Exercises and Lessons To Become a Better Writer

How do you become a better writer? These posts share our best advice:

• Want to Be a Better Writer? Cut These 7 Words
• What I Mean When I Say I Am A Writer
• How to Become a Writer: 3 Simple Steps
• 72% of Writers Struggle With THIS
• 7 Lies About Becoming a Writer That You Probably Believe
• 10 Questions to Find Your Unique Writing Voice
• The Best Writing Book I’ve Ever Read
• The Best Way to Become a Better Writer
• The Creative Writer’s Toolkit: 6 Tools You Can’t Write Without
• Should You Write More or Write Better: Quantity vs Quality
• How to Become a Better Writer in One, Simple Step
• 11 Writing Tips That Will Change Your Life

6 Lessons and Exercises from Great Writers

If you want to be a writer, learn from the great writers who have gone before you:

• 23 Essential Quotes from Ernest Hemingway About Writing
• 29 Quotes that Explain How to Become a Better Writer
• 10 Lessons Dr. Seuss Can Teach Writers
• 10 Writing Tips from Ursula Le Guin
• Once Upon a Time: Pixar Prompt
• All the Pretty Words: Writing In the Style of Cormac McCarthy

12 Genre and Format Specific Writing Lessons and Exercises

Here are our best writing lessons for specific types of writing, including essays, screenplays, memoir, short stories, children's books, and humor writing:

• Writing an Essay? Here Are 10 Effective Tips
• How To Write a Screenplay: The 5 Step Process
• How to Write a Great Memoir: a Complete Guide
• How to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish
• How to Write a Thriller Novel
• How to Write a Children's Book
• How to Write a Love Story
• How to Write a Coming of Age Story or Book
• How to Write an Adventure Book
• 5 Key Elements for Successful Short Stories
• 4 Tips to Write a Novel That Will Be Adapted Into a Movie
• Humor Writing for People Who Aren’t Funny

14 Characterization Lessons and Exercises

Good characters are the foundation of good fiction. Here are our best lessons to create better characters:

• Character Development: How to Create Characters Audiences Will Love
• Writing Villains: 9 Evil Examples of the Villain Archetype
• How NOT to Introduce a New Character
• The Strongest Form of Characterization
• The Most Important Character Archetype
• How Do You Build A Strong Character In Your Writing?
• 75+ Antihero Examples and How to Use Them
• How to Explore Your Characters’ Motivations
• 8 Tips for Naming Characters
• The Protagonist: How to Center Your Story
• Heroes vs. Anti-Heroes: Which Is Right For Your Story?
• The Weakest Form of Characterization
• How to Write With an Accent
• How To Create a Character Sketch Using Scrivener

15 Grammar Lessons and Exercises

I talk to so many writers, some of whom are published authors, who struggle with grammar. Here are our best writing lessons on grammar:

• Is It Okay To End A Sentence With A Preposition?
• Contractions List: When To Use and When To Avoid
• Good vs. Well
• Connotation vs. Denotation
• Per Se vs. Per Say
• When You SHOULD Use Passive Voice
• When Do You Use “Quotation Marks”
• Polysyndeton and Asyndeton: Definition and Examples
• The Case Against Twilight
• Affect Versus Effect
• Stop Saying “Literally”
• What Is a Comma Splice? And Why Do Editors Hate Them?
• Intra vs. Inter: Why No One Plays Intermural Sports
• Alright and Alot: Words That Are Not Words
• The Poor, Misunderstood Semicolon

4 Journalism Lessons and Exercises

Want to be a journalist? Or even use techniques from journalism to improve your novel, essay, or screenplay? Here are our best writing lessons on journalism:

• Six Ways to Ask Better Questions In Interviews
• How Should You Interview Someone? Over Email? In Person?
• What If They Don’t Want to Talk to You?
• Eleven Habits of a Highly Effective Interviewers

16 Plot and Structure Lessons and Exercises

Want to write a good story? Our top plot and structure lessons will help:

• The Ten Types of Story and How to Master Them
• Points of a Story: 6 Plot Points Every Story Needs
• How to Shape a Story: The 6 Arcs
• 7 Keys To Write the Perfect First Line of a Novel
• The Secret to Creating Conflict
• 4 Tips to Avoid Having Your Short Story Rejected by a Literary Magazine
• 7 Steps to Creating Suspense
• 5 Elements of Storytelling
• 3 Important Rules for Writing Endings
• A Writer’s Cheatsheet to Plot and Structure
• Overcoming the Monster
• How to Satisfy Your Reader With a Great Ending
• Pow! Boom! Ka-Pow! 5 Tips to Write Fight Scenes
• The Dramatic Question and Suspense in Fiction
• How to Write a Memorable Beginning and Ending
• How to Write the Perfect First Page

6 Lessons and Exercises to Beat Writer's Block

Writer's block is real, and it can completely derail your writing. Here are six lessons to get writing again:

• How To Write Whether You Feel Like it Or Not
• This Fun Creative Writing Exercise Will Change Your Life
• When You Should Be Writing But Can't…
• What to do When Your Word Count is Too Low
• 7 Tricks to Write More with Less Willpower
• When You Don’t Know What to Write, Write About Your Insecurities

7 Literary Technique Lessons and Exercises

These writing and storytelling techniques will teach you a few tricks of the trade you may not have discovered before:

• 3 Tips to “Show, Don’t Tell” Emotions and Moods
• 3 Reasons to Write Stream of Consciousness Narrative
• 16 Observations About Real Dialogue
• Intertextuality As A Literary Device
• Why You Should Use Symbolism In Your Writing
• 6 Ways to Evoke Emotion in Poetry and Prose
• 3 Tips To Write Modern Allegorical Novels
• Symbol vs. Motif: What’s the Difference

3 Inspirational Writing Lessons and Exercises

Need some inspiration? Here are three of our most inspiring posts:

• Why We Write: Four Reasons
• You Must Remember Every Scar
• 17 Reasons to Write Something NOW

3 Publishing Blogging Lessons and Exercises

If you want to get published, these three lessons will help:

• The Secret to Writing On Your Blog Every Day
• How to Publish Your Book and Sell Your First 1,000 Copies
• How to Get Published in Literary Magazines

11 Writing Prompts

Need inspiration or just a kick in the pants to write. Try one of our top writing prompts :

• Grandfathers [writing prompt]
• Out of Place [writing prompt]
• Sleepless [writing prompt]
• Longing [writing prompt]
• Write About Yourself [writing prompt]
• 3 Reasons You Should Write Ghost Stories
• Road Trip [writing prompt]
• Morning [writing prompt]
• The Beach [writing prompt]
• Fall [writing prompt]
• How to Use Six-Word Stories As Writing Prompts

Is It Time To Begin Your Writing Practice?

It's clear that if you want to become a writer, you need to practice writing. We've created a proven process to practice your writing at The Write Practice, but even if you don't join our community, I hope you'll start practicing in some way today.

Personally, I waited  far  too long to start practicing and it set my writing back years.

How about you? Do you think practicing writing is important?  Let me know in the comments section .

Choose one of the writing practice posts above. Then, read the lesson and participate in the writing exercise, posting your work in the Pro Practice Workshop . And if you post, please give feedback to your fellow writers who also posted their practices.

Have fun and happy practicing!

Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

Want best-seller coaching? Book Joe here.

50 Comments

You have THE BEST content for writing on this blog!!

Thank you, Kristen. This made my morning. 🙂

Thanks Mitch. 🙂

I can’t remember when I started following this website. I have to look in my notebooks because that’s where I did these practices. I didn’t have access to a computer when I did them, so I wrote them out, setting the time limit. But even when I do get to a computer, I have my reservations about putting my practices on the page. even though it’s practice, I want them to be the best, almost perfect. But I know it won’t be. I’ve gotten feedback before that says so. It still gets to me that I didn’t put something together that not everyone liked. I need to get over it. After all, that is what these practices are about: to learn and improve on our craft.

I don’t know either, George, but it’s been several years. Perfectionism is something so many of us face, and it’s made worse when you don’t have a critique community as warm and encouraging as ours is. I hope you and everyone here are always willing to try something new, even if it comes out a little messed up, because you know we’ll support you and try to make you better.

What a great share! Thanks so much!

You’re so welcome, Elizabeth. Thank you for commenting.

when I ran writing classes I wrote. when I am “a member of writing classes” the teacher/leader/facilitator is NOT MY AUDIENCE and so I don’t write as well/as much. I don’t get the feedback I need from fellow students because most of them have never run their own writing projects/workshops. So many people expect you to write their story for them. I’ve actually got quite a few stories of me own. I have finally decided I like owning them. 😉

It sounds like you need a new critique group, Patience! Hope you can find a place where you get the feedback you need.

Wow! Terrific round-up of resources. 🙂

Thanks Stephanie. 🙂

Practice is necessary, period. It doesn’t matter what you want to learn. If you want to improve, practice is vital.

It’s odd. I’ve known and applied that principle for years on a variety of things. Painting. Drawing. Blogging. Gardening. Laundry.

But never writing.

Like you, I had the notion that just writing every day was all it took to improve. Why not the same level of dedication to writing?

Perhaps it’s time to change that!

I can relate, Carrie. It’s easy to confuse the craft of writing with journaling, thinking that you can just write whatever you feel like and you’ll get better, write something worth reading. The truth is that writing interesting things to read is a skill, but the good news is that you can get better at it with practice. Thanks for practicing with us! 🙂

I love these suggestions , and have set Writing Practice as my homepage so the first 15 minutes of my day is spent writing, whether its a practice or exercise here or another that is sprinkled through out this site, Thank you for all you do everyone here at The Write Practice

This is great Debra. I want to write the first 15 minutes of my day too!

I agree with Joe, Do it. Could be your to do list… ( that could lead to something else story wse later)

I love that, Debra. Such a good way to start your day.

Thanks Joe!

The best! Thank you so much for this.

You’re very welcome!

I simply LOVE all the tips and suggestions given on this blog. They are super helpful!

THANK you. We love sharing them with you. 🙂

Hi! You forgot the link to How to Write a Story a Week: A Day-by-Day Guide.

Thanks a lot for your work! This post is amazing.

It’s a great post Thiago. Definitely one of our most shared. Thanks for mentioning it! BTW here’s the link:

https://thewritepractice.com/a-story-a-week/

Wow!! There are so many exercises…. I just love it..! I am gonna really enjoy it..!

Awesome! Thank you for reading and practicing with us. 🙂

I only read halfway , My tootie is jumping all over me, and typing this is a struggle when a 3yr old wants his Toy Story movie on Youtube in this computer. Thank you for this article, will come back later to finish reading.

I know the feeling! Good luck!

Can’t wait to get stuck in with this! 🙂

Very helpful! Thank you!

I’ve just bookmarked this page. Thanks for this wonderful list.

This is awesome! So many helpful tips. I will be coming back to this often. Thanks for posting this!

Wow, so many goodies! Thank you for always providing such amazing content!!

I have enjoyed all these articles. Thank you for the help an inspiration to get my writing on its way. My creativity is boosting with confidence. Tootle loo.

Amazing contents for beginners like me Joe. I am highly inspired by your commitment. Thank you.

Hey, thanks!

Although I have only read half of thisc article, the practice exercises are excellent. Some of them are exactly what a beginning writer like myself needs. I am committing to at least try ALL of them. Thanks Joe!!

very helpful! thank you..

Amazing articles! Thanks so much for sharing!

My god this article made me love this site . You know it’s kinda hard for a beginner writer, who don’t know where to start and fixing goals, even samll ones give us a direction . A place to go , an aim for our creativity so thanks you , this community and this site. Love you all . At your pens ! 😉

Wow. This is great. I find all your posts informative, but this one is the best for me to use as a guide to get my self starting to write….Thank you.

I’m an old lady who wants to publish one more book before I die — have published several, all non-fiction, and done two under contract to a major publisher (reference books). So help me, the BIGGEST problem I have all along, is keeping track of the damned paper work and research that goes into a book!!! Yet I never ever see articles on something as simple as “How to file” — Oh I know, there’s wonderful software these days so probably I will never find a way to get paper organized — everybody will use software and do it on the computer. I’m too old for that — just one look at the learning curve for software, even putting the damned stuff into computer files is even MORE frustrating than paper!! Oh well, somehow I managed in the past to get books published, I may be able to do it one more time.

you enjoy writing more than anything else and you do indeed care to help others write. I love writing but translation from Arabic into English and English into Arabic is taking all of my time from the early hours of the morning till the evening. I will soon get all of your books in order to read them as soon as possible. One thing I am sure of. You know what you are doing very well. Hamzah

Excellent! Many useful tips. Many thanks!

Liz and Joe, I have only looked at a few exercises. Already, I am convinced that your site is one of the best sites out there. Thank your for sharing your wisdom.

Wow, these are the best lessons and exercises for writing. Actually i’m participating in a compitition this wendsday. so, i’m quite nervous and exited. this helped me a lot

Magnificent post ever I have read. This article will help me a lot to write a right way. Thank you.

i need your help to improve to become a better writer please. i think i usually commit moist of these errors and i don;t pay attention to many advices too.

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English Essay Writing Practice

Do you need essay writing practice before a major English test? If you teach ESL classes, do you need materials to help your students practice basic essay writing skills? 

Keep reading for an overview of things to consider in English essay writing practice (and in order to get high scores on essays for classes and writing tests.) Below that are inexpensive packets of essay practice materials for individual or classroom use.

Key Points for English Essay Writing

When writing an essay for a class assignment or for a major test like the IELTS essay writing or TOEFL Writing Tests, it’s important to understand the essay prompt—the instructions on what to write about.  

Pay attention to exactly what the essay prompt asks for. Be sure to give your own ideas and opinions when asked for them. (Just restating the ideas or arguments of other writers is less likely to be interesting, besides being obvious to the essay examiners if they requested your views.) 

Be especially careful about using someone’s exact words. If you use someone else’s words without giving them credit, it’s plagiarism, which is a very serious offense in English writing. 

The only time not to express your own opinion is when you are specifically asked to paraphrase (restate) or summarize other people’s ideas or when asked to objectively (i.e. without personal bias or opinion) present or analyze data.

Although it is important to understand the exact meaning of the words in the essay prompt (a main purpose of the essay practice packets below), it is not necessary to use those words yourself. 

Write your essay with English words you feel comfortable using. It is NOT a good idea to try to impress examiners with fancy vocabulary you do not understand completely!

There are certain rules you need to learn for organizing essays in English. (See the packets below, or Essay Organization .)

However, most of the requirements for writing good essays are the same as for any formal writing in English. 

• Be careful that your subjects agree with your verbs. (Use singular verbs for singular subjects and plurals for plurals: Jim thinks, but he and Judy think.)
• Watch your spelling, capitalization (first word of each sentence, proper names like England and English, etc.), and punctuation.
• Write in complete, active sentences. (Avoid passives: “ 1984 was written by George Orwell.” Better: “George Orwell wrote 1984 .”) 
• Vary your words and sentence structure. Use strong verbs and less adverbs. (“She whispered a name, and then ordered, 'Do it now!'" is much stronger than “She said a name softly, then said loudly. 'Do it now!'”) 
• Write clear transitions between ideas and paragraphs.
• Do not use contractions. (You may notice that I use them a lot in EnglishHints. That’s because I’m writing conversational English. I don’t want a formal tone. Academic writing, on the other hand, usually requires formality.)

Pay special attention to your introduction. Make sure it clearly states your main point or argument and is as interesting as you can make it.

English Essay Writing Practice on Your Own

You can get essay writing practice by yourself using the guidelines above.

Also check Writing Test Vocabulary to be sure you understand the exact meanings of words commonly used in essay instructions (prompts), so you can give your examiners what they are looking for. It can make a real difference in your score!

If you would like a more detailed, step-by-step approach to essay writing practice, study this inexpensive pdf of English essay writing explanations, examples, and practice exercises.

It includes the information and pages mentioned above and much more:

• Introduction: Why you need to understand English essay organization and essay prompt vocabulary- page 3 
• How Many Prompt Words Do You Already Know?- 4 
• Answers to the pre-check- 5 
• Sharing Ideas: Talking vs. Writing (This introduces words often used in essay prompts)- 6 
• Comparing Apples & Peaches- 7 
• Essay Organization- 8 
• Types of Transitions- 9 
• Practice Transitions with a Comparative Essay- 10 
• Try Writing an Essay (Use the Essay Planning form to think about each part.)- 11 
• 3-page Revision and Proofreading Checklist (Use this to check your work when you write an essay.)- 12-14 
• Practice with Proofreading: sample essay on Unintended Consequences- 15-16 
• Crossword- 17 
• Vocabulary Quiz- 18-19 
• Transitions Practice (Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Learning) Answers- 20 
• Corrected (proofread) essay on the bomb with essay parts and transition words marked and a short example of a summary- 21-22 
• Crossword Answers- 23 
• Vocabulary Quiz Answers- 24 
• Credits & link to more practice- 25 

This packet is quite similar to the classroom pdf packet below, except without the lesson plans or Scientific Method vocabulary section and with a little more explanation of some ideas.

Click the button below to buy it now for $6.00. 

You will need Adobe or another pdf reader to download these pdfs. If you do not have Adobe Reader you can download it, free, here .

Pay securely using any major credit card or Paypal.

Please contact me if you have any problems or questions. I f you are not happy with any worksheet, contact me for a full refund (or a credit plus 10% on another packet if you prefer.)

If you find the worksheet helpful, please take a moment to share that information with others   and let me know . (You can contact me here .)

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Basics of Essay Writing (for Classrooms)

Help your English learners master the vocabulary of writing test prompts and the basics of English essay writing.

Basics of Essay Writing includes six lessons demonstrating and practicing essential academic vocabulary and essay writing skills.

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Daily UPSC Mains Practice Question Writing

UPSC exam necessitates a lot of serious study and devotion. Every applicant who understands the UPSC’s trends and expectations, works diligently toward achieving a rank under suitable supervision has a chance to succeed.

This year’s Mains – 2023 questions in GS, Essay, and even Optional papers  need in-depth examination of trending topics as well as certain key static topics that may or may not be in the news.

Analytical skills can only be enhanced by regularly thinking and writing. Regular writing, in particular, is essential for improving your analytical abilities. Writing answers after reading other people’s answers or reading a synopsis will get you nowhere.

You must adhere to the standards outlined in the preceding article. You can get knowledge but not wisdom by consulting a summary.

Legacy IAS team will frame as many questions as feasible on each and every component of the GS syllabi as part of this initiative. This will allow you to take continuous notes and write answers until your UPSC Mains Exam 2024-2025.

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How to Write a Great Answer in the UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam: ClearIAS Guidelines

Last updated on October 13, 2023 by Alex Andrews George

What is the difference between a good answer and a great answer?

If you ask me, I would say it lies in the structure and logical continuity of the answer.

To be frank, well-structured to-the-point answers are rare.

In this post, ClearIAS presents important guidelines on how to write a great answer.

Also read: How to Start Practicing Answer Writing for UPSC CSE Mains Exam?

Table of Contents

Find what are you really supposed to answer

Let us first go through the question given below.

This is a question asked in UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam 2019 in General Studies Paper 2.

“Parliament’s power to amend the constitution is limited power and it cannot be enlarged into absolute power”. In light of this statement explain whether parliament under article 368 of the constitution can destroy the Basic structure of the constitution by expanding its amending power? (UPSC CSE 2019 Question, answer in 250 words, 15 marks)

In the above question, you are supposed to explain whether parliament can destroy the basic structure of the Constitution.

This should be the prime focus when you write an answer to this question.

Did you get this core requirement correct?

To find the core part of the question correctly, do the following process.

Find Keywords in the Question

Consider the same question again, with certain words written in bold.

“ Parliament’s power to amend the constitution is limited power and it cannot be enlarged into absolute power”. In light of this statement explain whether parliament under article 368 of the constitution can destroy the Basic structure of the constitution by expanding its amending power? (UPSC CSE 2019 Question, answer in 250 words, 15 marks)

We call those words mentioned in bold letters are keywords.

In the above question, the keywords are – (1) Parliaments power to amend the constitution (2) Article 368 of the Constitution (3) Basic structure of the Constitution.

When you write your answer, ensure that you touch all the main keywords in the question.

Answer according to the Question Directive

Go through the same question again. Was there any question directive?

In the above question, the question directive is ‘explain’.

‘Explain’, ‘Elucidate’, ‘Discuss’, ‘Analyse, ‘Critically Analyse’, ‘Elaborate’ etc are all question directives with a different meaning. You should answer according to the question directive.

We shall explain the minute differences in each of these directives in another post.

Also read: ClearIAS Restarts UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice (AWP)

Structure your answers with the correct logical flow

Make sure your answer contains a well-planned introduction, body, and conclusion.

There are marks for each part.

Impressive introductions and conclusions play a great role in boosting your marks.

However, what matters most is the content present in the body of your answer.

Introduction of the answer: State your thesis

A thesis is a statement that is put forward to be proved. Your introduction should put forward the unproven ‘thesis’, which will be your opinion in most cases. This thesis should be proved and substantiated by quoting facts and examples in the body.

Note: Introduction is not the summary of your answer, but rather the thesis.

Body of the answer: Justify your thesis

Present your arguments logically in the body of your answer.

Touch all dimensions possible – social, political, economic – and give different examples to substantiate your view.

If the question is something related to India, don’t just present from the point of view of the Central government. As you know, India is a federal country . You may think from the perspective of states and even bring factors affecting local self-governing bodies. That’s how you can bring different dimensions to the answer.

Conclusion of the answer: Prove your thesis

In the conclusion part you should state that after analysing ‘this’ ‘this’ and ‘this’, your thesis is proved.

The conclusion should be logically derived from the introduction and body of the answer. If your thesis is positive, your conclusion should also be positive in nature. If your thesis is negative, your conclusion should also be negative.

That is, if you presented a negative outlook in the introduction and body, then don’t deviate abruptly from the same and provide a positive futuristic standpoint in the conclusion – just to impress the examiner.

You are supposed to prove your thesis, not contradict it at the end.

You should also not forget to

Apart from the above-discussed points, there are some other vital tips to boost your marks. This includes sticking to the mentioned word limit in the question, providing examples, lucid explanations, critical thinking, creativity, original ideas etc.

(1) Provide value addition

UPSC CSE is a low-scoring exam with tough evaluation standards. The highest marks secured by toppers in GS is only around 45% (450 marks out of 1000). In that background, we have developed a marking scheme, which we use for ClearIAS AWP as well.

• 0-19% –  Not satisfactory.
• 20%-29% – Below average answer.
• 30%-39% – Average answer.
• 40%-49% – Above Average Answer.
• 50%-59% – Excellent Answer.
• 60% and above – Exceptional Answer.

Looking at the above marking scheme, you can understand that if you get 3.5 marks for a 10 mark question, that is an average score. However, if you get 1 mark extra (ie 4.5 marks for a 10 mark question), your answer is above average!

If there are 20 questions, and if you manage to get 1 mark more for each question, you would get 20 marks extra! Overall this would make a huge difference. This would help your final rank to go up at least by 300, considering that there will be 10-15 candidates per each mark.

Now the question is how to provide the correct value addition for each answer to get that 1 extra mark? How to make your answer stand out? How to make your answer special?

A few tips:

• Quote Supreme Court Judgments: In General Studies Paper 2, bring the viewpoints of the honourable Supreme Court of India to supplement your answer on crucial issues. We have compiled important judgments for UPSC aspirants into a handy book, which is already a best seller. Get the book ‘ Important Judgments that Transformed India ‘.
• Quote provisions from relevant Acts:  For all papers (General Studies Paper 1 to Paper IV), add value to your answers by quoting provisions from relevant Acts. For example, when a question is asked about Disaster Managment, mention provisions from the Disaster Managment Act. If a question is asked about Fiscal Responsibility, quote provisions of the FRBM Act. The book ‘ Important Acts that transformed India ‘ can save a lot of your time in this respect.
• Connect the static part of your answer with relevant current issues: Make your answer interesting by linking it with items in news. Use recent examples.
• Use Important Data from the Economic Survey – Get Economic Survey Summary by ClearIAS . Use the facts and statistics to substantiate your answer.
• Quote the latest Budget – Get India Budget summary by ClearIAS .
• Mention relevant schemes or programs from the India Yearbook
• Quote NITI Aayog Reports
• Quote ARC Reports
• Quote Sarkaria Commission and Punchi Commission Reports
• Keep 5 notebooks – one for the essay paper, and four each for the General Studies Papers. Note down the value-adding points you come across during your preparation time in the respective notebooks. Practice this and believe me, the points you add to these notebooks will make your answer special in the exam hall.

(2) Stick to the word limit

Sticking to the word limit will help you score better. Some questions may have the word-limit set at 150, some others may have it at 250. Carefully check the word limit before starting answering.

As you won’t get time to check the word limit for every answer in the exam hall, make sure you try this while doing Answer Writing Practice (AWP) .

A general thumb rule which can be helpful in the exam hall is that – if the question has a 150-word limit, then the answer should be written within 1 and a half A4 pages. If it’s 250, then write the answer not going beyond 2.5 A4 pages.

Precise answers will not only help you fetch better marks but also save a lot of time.

(3) Address add parts of the question

Not all questions are focused on a single topic. There may be questions that may be divided into 2-3 parts. While answering such questions, make sure you address each of these subparts.

(4) Give examples to substantiate your answer

Without examples, your answer will be so dry.

Your need interesting examples to justify your arguments.

If possible, use an example to substantiate each of your main points/arguments.

(5) Use simple language (and may use points to explain)

Use small and simple sentences. Avoid jargon and flowery language.

You can use ‘points’ inside the body part of your answer – if you feel that will make the answer stand out.

If you prefer a paragraph way of writing, break your contents into small paragraphs whenever possible.

(6) Bring Creative Thinking and Critical Thinking into the Answer

Even if automation replaces everything that human beings do currently, it cannot replace creative and critical thinking. This is what UPSC looks for in future candidates. No wonder, the Commission sets most of the questions with the popular directive – “Critically Analyse”.

If the question demands creative or critical thinking, your answers should be in that direction.

If you are asked to critically analyse, be sure that you present both sides – for and against – in the answer.

(7) Express your opinion; Bring original ideas

UPSC asks many questions seeking your opinion or viewpoint. Consider the below question asked in UPSC CSE Mains 2019.

“Do you think the Constitution of India does not accept the principle of strict separation of powers rather it is based on the principle of ‘checks and balance’? Explain.” (10 Marks)

In this question, UPSC had directly asked your opinion. Don’t run away without giving your opinion.

In these questions, rather than adding the quotes of experts, mention your opinion and substantiate it well. UPSC will appreciate candidates with fresh ideas and original thinking.

How to write a great answer: Concluding remarks

• You need to write a well-structured answer to score high marks in the UPSC Civil Services Exam .
• By being well-structured, it means having a logical connection between the introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Make sure you understand what is really asked in the UPSC question before starting to answer it. This can be understood by carefully observing the keywords and directives.
• State your thesis clearly in the introduction.
• Give examples to substantiate your view of the body part. Cover multiple dimensions – social, political, economic etc in the body of the answer.
• End your answer by unequivocally that your thesis is proved based on the discussed arguments/facts/examples.
• If you maintain the flow and logical continuity throughout your answer, you will definitely get high marks in UPSC Mains. All the best!

Do you need proper training on how to write a high scoring answer in UPSC CSE Mains?

If you are looking for online training on how to write a high scoring answer in UPSC CSE Mains, you are at the right place.

ClearIAS program for UPSC CSE Mains has two components.

• ClearIAS UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice (AWP – Practise of 1 question daily with personalised feedback)
• ClearIAS UPSC Mains Test Series (Exams simulating actual UPSC Mains for Essay, GS1, GS2, GS3 and GS4)

At this moment, we offer both programs for aspirants who register in  ClearIAS Online Classroom Program Ultimate Batch . You can find more details here .

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About Alex Andrews George

Alex Andrews George is a mentor, author, and social entrepreneur. Alex is the founder of ClearIAS and one of the expert Civil Service Exam Trainers in India.

He is the author of many best-seller books like 'Important Judgments that transformed India' and 'Important Acts that transformed India'.

A trusted mentor and pioneer in online training , Alex's guidance, strategies, study-materials, and mock-exams have helped many aspirants to become IAS, IPS, and IFS officers.

Reader Interactions

May 23, 2020 at 10:26 pm

Any model question and answer paper give me please

May 23, 2020 at 10:35 pm

We will be publishing model answers on the website soon. Until then, you can refer the guidance and personalised feedback we gave to answers written by participants in ClearIAS Answer Writing Practice. Link – AWP

May 24, 2020 at 2:21 am

Give some model answers too

May 24, 2020 at 3:34 pm

Thank you for the suggestion. We will be providing that.

May 24, 2020 at 7:52 am

May 24, 2020 at 3:33 pm

You are welcome 🙂

May 24, 2020 at 2:44 pm

Sir can you plz share the answer writing strategy for optional paper as well. Like if i have opted for anthropology as an optional…what should be my answer writing strategy for that.

May 24, 2020 at 3:32 pm

The above write-up is general in nature. That means following the ClearIAS guidelines mentioned above will help you in the optional papers as well.

May 24, 2020 at 3:00 pm

A separate “Answer writing telegram group ” would help aspirants. Thank you

May 24, 2020 at 3:30 pm

Hi Aryan…Thank you for the suggestion. We can do that at a later stage.

November 3, 2020 at 9:41 pm

Sir! Please sprovide some model answer of privious years question which is asked in UPSC exam… I will wait this!!

March 8, 2021 at 8:37 am

‘Explain’, ‘Elucidate’, ‘Discuss’, ‘Analyse, ‘Critically Analyse’, ‘Elaborate’ etc are all question directives with a different meaning. You should answer according to the question directive.

We shall explain the minute differences in each of these directives in another post’ …. Sir please share that link…

August 17, 2023 at 8:48 pm

She never criticise BJP for any issue in the country. She especially mentions that no matter whichever the political party: either Congress or BJP, Government of India needs to be accountable for every matter. Means she doesn’t want to defame BJP at any cost! That is right wing party and she supports RIGHT WING ideology. But being an independent content writer for the public, she can’t clearly promote ideologies of right wing political party. But she had supported each and evey bill passed by the BJP (bcz all those bills are either in favour of Hindus or in favour of Hindu Girls!)

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Q.1 What are the challenges and barriers to emotional intelligence in administration and governance? How can they be overcome by creating a positive and supportive organizational culture and climate? (10 M, 150 Words) Additional

Q.2 प्रशासन और शासन में भावनात्मक बुद्धिमत्ता की चुनौतियाँ और बाधाएँ क्या हैं एक सकारात्मक और सहायक संगठनात्मक संस्कृति और परिवेश बनाकर किस प्रकार उनका समाधान किया जा सकता है (10 अंक, 150 शब्द), q.3 examine the evolution, impact, and challenges of the free antiretroviral therapy (art) initiative in india’s fight against hiv/aids. suggest ways to overcome the remaining challenges to achieve the set goals by 2025. (15 m, 250 words), q.4 एचआईवी/एड्स के खिलाफ भारत की लड़ाई में फ्री एंटीरेट्रोवाइरल थेरेपी (एआरटी) पहल के विकास, प्रभाव और चुनौतियों का परीक्षण कीजिए । 2025 तक निर्धारित लक्ष्यों को प्राप्त करने के लिए शेष चुनौतियों के निराकरण सम्बन्धी उपाय का सुझाव दीजिये । (15 अंक, 250 शब्द), q.5 analyse the geopolitical significance of katchatheevu island in the india-sri lanka maritime relationship. discuss the challenges it poses to bilateral relations of india- sri lanka. (15 m, 250 words), q.6 भारत-श्रीलंका समुद्री संबंधों में कच्चाथीवू द्वीप के भू-राजनीतिक महत्व का विश्लेषण कीजिए । भारत-श्रीलंका के द्विपक्षीय संबंधों के समक्ष उत्पन्न चुनौतियों पर चर्चा कीजिए । (15 अंक, 250 शब्द), q.7 how do ocean currents influence the worldwide distribution of marine resources (10 m, 150 words) additional, q.8 महासागरीय धाराएँ समुद्री संसाधनों के विश्वव्यापी वितरण को किस प्रकार प्रभावित करती हैं (10 अंक, 150 शब्द) अतिरिक्त.

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Q.9 [Weekly Essay] “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.”- Confucious [1200 Words]

Q.10 [साप्ताहिक निबंध] "हमारे पास दो जीवन हैं, और दूसरा तब शुरू होता है जब हमें एहसास होता है कि हमारे पास केवल एक ही है।"- कन्फ्यूशियस (1200 शब्द).

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Mains answer writing strategy for upsc cse.

• Categories Mains
• Published 14th Dec, 2023

Getting into the IAS or Civil service is a dream seen by millions but living the same dream is privilege of few. Why? Is it that tough to crack the exam? W hat does it takes to qualify or get into “LBSNAA”- the lifetime romance of tryst with destiny!

The Civil Service Exam is conducted in three phases: Prelims, Mains (Subjective) and Interview. But the most daunting phase or stage comes next- The Main Examination!!

Why it’s most challenging stage?

Aspirants generally prepare according to the syllabus of both pre and mains but it has been noticed after talking to many qualified or candidates who could not clear the exam despite having all the required clarity over concept and practice is that, the lack of proper skill for Answer Writing in main examination.

We all prepare our subjects with due diligence. We practice a lot through test series and mocks and keep writing answers. But why still most of the aspirant fails to deliver what is being expected by UPSC? Why despite so much of practice we still face shortcomings and challenges to score god marks in Main examination?

The answer for the same lies in the fact that most of us do the answer writing practice because people say that it is must! Seniors suggest some coaching’s for test series and we tend to get into the herd. This herd mentality hurts the most when you are not able to clear the Main stage. You question yourself and your capabilities.   However there is no need to question yourself but your strategy and efforts you put into practice.

Situation On a normal mains day examination:

General Studies- All papers of GS I, II, III and IV is conducted within two days i.e. two papers each day respectively.

Optional- Though with a gap of 3 days but two papers of 500 marks is also conducted on the same day.

Now, for an aspirant just imagine his/her situation and mental framework. It challenges one core to give ones best performance of life in a situation like this. An aspirant prepares for whole year for this day. What multiplied the challenge is the nature of papers of GS. All GS papers have almost all subjects and topics which one has read during preparation days. Of the 20 questions, each having different nature and demand coupled with different directives like discuss, analyze, elaborate or evaluate.

Besides the performance pressure the candidates also faces the situation of uncertainty w.r.t his ability to express himself on the answer sheet . It doesn’t matter how well you covered each topic of syllabus, you will not succeed unless you write answers according to the demand, nature and directive of the question. Your whole year, time, resources and self is at risk when you are writing the answers. This is true even for the optional because as per candidates, the marks in your optional decide your selection and in particular your rank or cadre in the final list. That’s why the main examination is called the most challenging stage of IAS examination.

Challenges in answer writing

As one can feel the pressure and challenges discussed above during mains examination, it is prudent to discuss some of the daunting challenges an aspirant faces while writing an answer.

While we do lot of practice through tests and get into practice of what to write but we tend to ignore the most important part of HOW to Write? Here comes the importance of Answer Writing SKILL. This deals systematically with how to write in a graduated manner through focusing on core pillars of CLARITY< EXPRESSION< DEPTH<STRUCTURE

Importance of Skills in Answer Writing

In UPSC main examination you are supposed to write 20 answers (in one GS paper) of different marks and nature and demand. Further as mentioned by UPSC in its syllabus, there shall be proper clarity in your answers, answer shall be precise and expressed effectively in a structured manner. Time and Word limit further makes the situation complex by limiting the scope for any adventure and 11 th hour intervention. Thus one need to have a proper plan and structure ready with him before getting into the process.

Even as an administrator you are not supposed to be knowing all but you are supposed to have that X factor in you through which you will be able to give a reasoned and logical answer to each and every question been asked. Further this X factor is enhanced if you have the requisite skills for answer writing. This skill will help you to not only complete the paper on time but there will also be a sense of completion w.r.t. quality of answers.

CLARITY< EXPRESSION< DEPTH<STRUCTURE-

Clarity, simply put denotes one clarity over demand and nature of question. It also involves the understanding of the key directives for basing the answer. It shall have the clarity over dimensions which has to be there in your answers (multiple dimensions).

Expressions mean how you express or communicate your ideas, points (ingredient of answer) or content. Articulation and presentation are an important aspect of Expression. Based on your personal experiences, all will agree that once they start to write an answer, they either face difficulty in putting the thoughts together or communicating the same way as they feel. Expression are important because it’s not you but it’s your answer sheet which is presenting your views, thoughts in front of examiner. Similarly the paper of Essay evaluate the personality of an individual.

Depth- In UPSC mains answers, depth refers to the thorough exploration and detailed analysis of a given topic. It's not merely about presenting information but delving into the intricacies, nuances, and underlying factors. It shows a deep understanding of the subject matter. It goes beyond surface-level knowledge and indicates a comprehensive grasp of the topic.

Deeper analysis involves critical thinking. It requires you to go beyond the obvious and critically evaluate various aspects, which is a key competency the UPSC seeks in candidates.

STRUCTURE- in the UPSC mains examination, the importance of structure in your answers cannot be overstated. A well-structured answer not only enhances readability but also helps in presenting your thoughts coherently. Examiners go through a large number of scripts. If your answer is well-organized, it becomes easier for the examiner to navigate through your points. This can contribute to a more favourable impression.

It demonstrates that you have a comprehensive understanding of the topic. Structure helps in maintaining a logical flow of information. Each paragraph or section should naturally lead to the next, creating a coherent and well-connected narrative.

Understanding the void and difficulties of Aspirants, GS Score, an IAS preparation institution came up with the new program called “SAMARTH” with the sole focus of inculcating the ANSWER WRTING SKILLS and enhancing the potential of aspirants thus fulfilling their dreams of being an assets to nation.

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Grow For It

2024 NC 4-H Beekeeping Essay

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Calling all creative writers who love honey bees! Enrolled North Carolina 4-H youth are invited to research and write an essay for the state 4-H Beekeeping Essay contest.

The 2024 essay topic is, “Varietal Honeys.” For this essay, a 4-H student should answer these questions: What makes a varietal honey? What are some unique varietals? How are some of the valuable varietals confirmed to be authentic (e.g., Manuka honey UMF and MGO)? What are some culturally or economically important varietals and why are they important?

All essays are due by Monday, April 22nd, 2024  and should be submitted here. Read more about this program or contact NC 4-H Entomology Specialist, Liz Driscoll at [email protected] | (919) 886-3424.

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[MISSION 2024] Insights SECURE : Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice: 1 April 2024

Click on EACH question to post/upload you answers.

How to Follow Secure Initiative?

How to self-evaluate your answer , mission – 2023: yearlong timetable, join ipm 4.0 to get an assured review of 2 secure answers everyday, general studies – 1.

Topic: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc;

1. What are the primary factors contributing to the escalation in severe cyclonic storm occurrences in India, and how can effective mitigation and adaptation strategies be implemented to address this growing challenge? Discuss. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: Live Mint , Insights on India

Why the question: A “sudden” storm wreaked havoc in parts of Jalpaiguri district in northern West Bengal on Sunday, claiming four lives. Over 100 others have reportedly been injured in the storm. Key Demand of the question: To mention about causes behind severe cyclonic storms and measures needed to mitigate and adapt to it. Directive word:  Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments. Structure of the answer: Introduction: Start by giving context. Body: In the first part of the body, start by mentioning the various causes of severe cyclonic storm – climate change, ocean warming, changes in atmospheric circulation patterns, urbanization, deforestation, poor infrastructure, and natural climate variability etc. Next, mention ways to mitigate and adapt – reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing coastal resilience through better infrastructure and land use planning, restoring natural barriers like mangroves and wetlands, improving disaster preparedness and response mechanisms, Conclusion: Write a way forward.

General Studies – 2

Topic: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

2.  Separation of powers and judicial review are integral components of a democracy, providing essential mechanisms to prevent tyranny, protect individual rights, and uphold the rule of law. Discuss. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Easy

Reference: Indian Express , Insights on India ,  Insights on India

Why the question: As the Chief Justice of India pointed out recently, access to the Supreme Court is available to all, no matter how big or small. Key Demand of the question: To write about the importance of separation of power and judicial review. Directive word:  Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments. Structure of the answer: Introduction: Begin the answer by defining separation of power. Body: First, write about the separation of power and its importance – prevent the concentration of power in any one branch of government, each branch has its own distinct powers and responsibilities, ensuring a system of checks and balances etc. Next, write about judicial review and its importance – part of basic structure of the constitution, empowers the judiciary to review the actions of the executive and legislative branches, trike down laws or executive actions that are found to be unconstitutional etc. Cite examples to substantiate. Conclusion: Conclude by summarising.

Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

3. By adopting a comprehensive approach that addresses both the medical and socio-economic dimensions of HIV/AIDS, India can make further progress in reducing HIV incidence and improving the quality of life for those affected by the virus. Analyse. (250 words)

Reference: The Hindu

Why the question : April 1, marks a very important day in the history of response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in India. Twenty years ago, on April 1, 2004, the Indian government had launched Free Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), for Persons living with HIV (PLHIV), a decision which has proven one of the successful and a key intervention in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Key Demand of the question: To explain the reasons why India has been able to achieve positive results in the fight against AIDS and also highlight the challenges that we are yet to overcome. Directive word:  Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary. Structure of the answer: Introduction:  Begin by stating the progress India has achieved in its fight against AIDS. Body: First, give a brief account of the steps taken by the government in fight against AIDS – NACP, role of NACO, the HIV and AIDS Bill which prohibits discrimination amongst others etc. Next, mention about the unending stigma faced by AIDS survivors in housing, employment, own family etc. Next, mention the various inequalities faced gender inequalities, discrimination against the high-risk groups, inequalities invoice, income inequality and work on to provide social protection to the infected and affected population.  Conclusion: Conclude by writing a way forward to end stigma against AIDS and address the inequalities.

General Studies – 3

Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

4. Project Tiger has put the species on an assured course of recovery from the brink of extinction, apart from conserving the floral and faunal genetic diversity in our ecosystem. Examine. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Tough

Reference: Insights on India

Why the question: The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 3 and mentioned as part of Mission-2024 Secure timetable. Key Demand of the question: To write about the achievements of project tiger in India. Directive word:  Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications. Structure of the answer: Introduction:  Start by explaining the aims and objectives behind the launch of project tiger. Body: First, write about the crisis in tiger population before the launch of Project Tiger. Mention the steps that were introduced as part of tiger conservation efforts. Next, evaluate in success in achieving improvements in tiger numbers. Also, mention the various how it also conserved the local flora and fauna of ecosystems. Conclusion: Conclude by stressing on the need to keep up the conservation efforts.

5. Wildlife sanctuaries and national parks are confronted with a grave threat as they experience habitat loss and fragmentation due to various developmental projects and encroachment activities. Analyse. (250 words)

Why the question: The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 3 and mentioned as part of Mission-2024 Secure timetable. Key Demand of the question: To write about the threats faced by the wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in India. Directive word:  Analyse – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary. Structure of the answer: Introduction:  Begin by mentioning that The Union Government has established a country-wide protected area network for protection of these species and their habitats of threatened flora and fauna under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Body: First, write about the threats to wildlife sanctuaries and national parks from habitat loss. Substantiate with examples. For e.g: Clearance of partis of Valley of flowers for Chardham road project. Next, write the reasons for decline in key species – due to over-collection to supply domestic and foreign medicinal markets, over exploitation, forest degradation etc. Conclusion: Conclude by writing a way forward.

General Studies – 4

Topic: Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and nonpartisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections.

6. Integrity isn’t fidelity to your beliefs. It’s fidelity to seeking the truth. Comment. (150 words)

Why the question: The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4. Directive Word: Comment- here we must express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon. Structure of the answer: Introduction:  Begin by giving a definition of Integrity. Body: Write about the various dimensions of Integrity and mention how it is important to uphold the value for the purpose of the value in itself as promoting truth and not as an aspect of one’s belief with few examples. Conclusion: Summarise by highlighting the aspects stressed in body of the answer and conclude Integrity as a core aspect of truth.

Topic: Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-human actions;

7. Write a short note on deontological ethics. (150 words)

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Reference: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by Lexicon Publications.

Why the question: The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4, Key Demand of the question: To write about deontological ethics in detail. Structure of the answer: Introduction: Begin by defining deontology. Body: Explain that Deontology is duty ethics, so it compares a person’s actions against some duty or imperative. Discuss the rationale behind it. Write about the significance of the deontological ethics and with suitable illustrations explain it. Write about its critique.  Conclusion: Completed by summarising their importance.

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