Essay writing tips for XAT

Personality Development Programme (PDP)

 

What is looked for?

•          Subject knowledge

•          Clarity of thought

•          Flow of ideas

•          Examples

•          Facts

•          Correct usage of grammar

•          Correct usage of words

•          A neat hand-writing

 

How should you write?

•          Always write in paragraphs

•          It’s not a natural but learned skill

•          Different paragraphs express different ideas that contribute to the main idea

•          A paragraph should ideally contain :

      (i)            Topic Sentence: it is the 1st sentence expressing the main idea of the paragraph- Say what you are going to say

    (ii)            Supporting Sentences: they expand the main idea expressed in the topic sentence- Say it

   (iii)            Concluding Sentence: rounding off what has been said or a logical conclusion of the idea in the topic sentence- Say it again!!!

 

How should you write?

•          Follow a flow of paragraphs

•          Always let the first paragraph be an introduction to the subject matter

•          Expansion/ support/ refutation of the idea must follow in subsequent paragraphs

•          The last paragraph must have a conclusion of the main idea

•          There could be two forms of writing- Deductive and Inductive

•          You should have good knowledge of the topic to write about

•          Read the directions carefully

•          Recognize action words- discuss, evaluate, argue, comment etc.

•          Focus on the issue rather than peripheries

•          Choose words with precise meanings; avoid ambiguity

•          Do not use Jargon

•          Do not use Slang

•          Do not use Cliché

•          Do not use Abbreviations

•          Do not use Quotations without acknowledgments

•          Make tentative statements; avoid definitive statements- it leaves a scope for further discussion

 

How to prepare?

•          Regular reading of:-

      (i)            Newspaper editorials

    (ii)            News papers

   (iii)            News websites

  (iv)            Non-fiction

•          Discussions with friends and family

•          Informational thinking

 

Topics XAT from past essays

•          Gender Imbalance would lead to Third World War- XAT 2008

•          Economic growth without environmental damage – a mirage or a reality. –XAT 2007

•          ‘India has one of the largest pools of talented manpower, but few innovations and patented products.’ –XAT 2006

•          More than one billion Indians: A gigantic problem or a sea of opportunities –XAT 2005

•          Asked at the age of 83, as to which of his project would he choose as his master piece, Frank Lloyd Wright, the architect answered, “The next one” –XAT 2004

•          To give real service, one needs to add something that cannot be bought or measured, like sincerity and integrity. –XAT 2003

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