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 ESSAY WRITING for CAT
CONTENTS:

Page No.s

1. Overview 3

2. Essay writing and its standard form 5

3. Evaluation parameters and the areas/skills

being tested 8

4. Suggested steps for an effective essay;

idea-generation and idea-development 9

5. A comparison between 'presenting your viewpoint'

and 'examining viewpoints expressed' 12

6. Tips for preparation 13

7. Some Discourse Markers 15

8. Essay Samples with step-wise notes,

comments, and evaluation 16

9. Essay Samples with comments 26

10. Summary Writing 45

11. Sample prompts 50

 Overview
Over the past few years, various b-schools have included 'Essay
tasks' in their selection processes. Candidates could be presented
with essay tasks to be carried out in periods ranging from 10 to 30
minutes, and essays could therefore range from 200 to about 550
words (1 side to 2 sides of an A4 sheet).

It's no surprise that business schools would like you to demonstrate

effective writing skills.

Remember, while there are many reasons to have good writing skills,
the most important one is communication. Much that we may like to
think that most business communication is over the telephone, this
is not so. Reports and correspondence (including by e-mail, nowadays)
play a major role in business communications. Good writing must be
engaging, yet direct and to the point.

Without good writing skills the business world would be in anarchy

and chaos. While bad writing skills can lead to misinformation by way
of wrong or ambiguous messages, good writing skills can lead to a
much needed confidence boost, to both the individual and the
organisation.

If you want to have good writing skills, start by reading regularly.

When you do, you will learn to tell the difference between good
writing and bad writing. When you get down to writing, remember
simplicity of style and structure: subject, verb, and predicate.
Emulate Hemingway, who said that his ultimate goal in writing was
to create the perfect sentence.
Good writing skills are important in professional and personal lives.
Don’t let their absence be a thorn in your side. You can achieve
good writing skills if you set your mind to it.

Provided herewith are the essential inputs that would help you
handle this task comfortably, with specific focus on

™ essay writing and its standard form,

™ evaluation parameters and the areas/skills being tested,

™ suggested steps for an effective essay; idea-generation and

idea development,

™ a comparison between 'presenting your viewpoint' and 'examining

viewpoints expressed',

™ tips for preparation.

***********
 Essay writing and its standard form
An essay is a creative piece of work, an organized collection of
your thoughts on a particular topic. While the length or forms of
essays may vary, it is possible to distinguish several types of
works, such as narrative, descriptive, comparative, analytical,
critical, argumentative, rhetorical, and so on. Depending on the
type and purpose of essays, their structure may differ greatly -
yet it is possible to distinguish introduction, main body and
conclusion.

Some types of essays are:

Descriptive essays

The aim of a descriptive essay is to provide a clear picture of a

person, location, object, event, or debate. It will offer details that
will enable the reader to imagine the item described.

Narrative essays

The aim of a narrative essay is to describe a course of events from

an observer’s viewpoint, and may be written in first-person. Though
not always chronological, narrative essays do follow the development
of a person through a series of experiences and reflections. The
focus of the essay is often to identify more clearly the point of view
of the narrator, and to express common features of subjectivity.

Compare and contrast essays

The aim of a compare and contrast essay is to develop the

relationship between two or more things. Generally, the goal is to
show that superficial differences or similarities are inadequate,
and that closer examination reveals their latent, but significant,
relations or differences.
Persuasive essays

In a persuasive essay, the writer tries to persuade the reader to

accept an idea or agree with an opinion. The writer's purpose is to
convince the reader that her or his point of view is a reasonable
one. The persuasive essay should be written in a style that draws
and holds the reader's attention, and the writer's opinion should
be backed up by strong supporting details.

Argumentative essays

Argumentative essays are most often used to address serious

issues over which there are differing points of view. An argument
is a position combined with its supporting reasons. An
argumentative essay thus sets out a main claim and then provides
reasons for thinking that the claim is true.

An essay consists of three major parts:

™ the introduction

™ the main body

™ the conclusion

The introduction and the conclusion, although very important, are

often relatively short. The bulk of an essay, both in form and
substance, is contained in the main body.

The introduction is intended to lead the reader into the topic and
clarify what the essay will specifically deal with. It usually consists
of one paragraph, but this depends on the length of the essay and
the amount of background information the context requires. The
introduction will contain a key sentence (or, if necessary, more
than one).
The main body deals with the major ideas that support the
statement. Each main idea is presented in a separate paragraph
and developed with supporting ideas in the form of explanations or
definitions and illustrated with examples where appropriate or
necessary.

The conclusion brings the reader back to the purpose of the essay
and draws all the points together before making a final comment
on the result of the discussion/argument. Often, this final
comment will point towards some consequence the discussion may
have for the future or make some observation about what the
discussion has revealed on a general level.

In short, an essay will show a progression from a general level (in

the introduction) to the specific (the statement and body) and
then to confirmation (conclusion).

***********
 Evaluation parameters and
the areas/skills being tested
Remember that the basic elements of communication have
relevance here, namely, clarity of thought and effective
expression. In addition, the candidate is expected to display
proficiency in specific areas. The particular elements that an
evaluator would normally look for in an essay, are indicated below

I. Content: The writer must present information (namely the facts

and factual circumstances used in support of explanations,
reasons, and viewpoints) that is relevant and adequate to support
the viewpoints presented.

II. Ideas and their development: The writer must display

effective use of information, related circumstances and
understanding to present viewpoints and elaborate on them -
through coherence in reasoning, explanation, and presentation of
example.

III. Perspective: While the writer will present viewpoints, this

should be done in a considered, and not opinionated, manner. Pros
and cons, and all significant aspects of the issue, should be touched
upon.

IV. Structure & Organization: The writer must present a logical

flow of ideas in intro-body-conclusion form, paying attention to
paragraph structure and paragraph-flow.

V. Control over language: The writer should use effective

vocabulary (appropriate choice of words; variety in expression;
correct spelling) and effective grammar (correct and concise
sentence structure; appropriate punctuation).

***********
 Suggested steps for an effective essay;
idea-generation and idea-development
A step-by-step method, with a check list, would ensure efficient
use of time spent on an essay.

We would suggest steps, and a check list, such as detailed below

(and represented by the acronym CODER).
C - Collect ideas
O – Organise them
D – Develop them
E – Express them
R – Review

C – Collect Ideas
Content – the topic itself – What are the key words? What is it
about? What information does one have? How does one gather
further information? What ideas or views does one have (or what
views does one develop) on the basis of this information?

You will find (in the guidebook on GDs) that we've suggested
certain 'approaches' for idea-generation (such as the Key Word
approach, Viewpoint of Affected Parties approach, and SPELT
approach). These could be used when you are preparing an essay
too, to generate ideas on the basis of information that you have.
Remember to make quick, concise notes (just words and phrases)
as you brainstorm, to ensure that you recall your important ideas.

O – Organise them

Organisation of ideas - Put random thoughts and ideas into coherent

groups. What would be the purpose or theme of the essay? What
would be the appropriate ideas to start with (or to use for
introductory statements)? What are the further ideas that one could
continue with, and what would these ideas lead to? What ideas would
be the right ones to end with?
Effective notes and careful thought on these aspects would help
you put together properly organised content.
(On most occasions you would be provided with rough paper that
you could make your notes on. If not, use a pencil to make the notes
in the margins of your essay sheet, and erase the notes when
you've finished the essay.)

D – Develop them

Explanation and elaboration – What sort of readership is the essay

intended for (age, education, gender, knowledge of the topic,
attitude to the topic)? What sort of information would hold their
attention best? What sort of examples would they relate to?
What pieces of information, what sort of explanation, and/or what
examples, would support the ideas, the theme and the purpose?
How long should the essay be?

In an essay intended to be informative only – you should be careful

about the selection of content to ensure that it is significant and
relevant to the topic. Facts and examples used should be of
interest, but should not seem out of place.

In an essay intended to explain – you should have explanations that

are clear and concise.

In an essay intended to express an opinion – you should sequence

the ideas and viewpoints, with supporting information and
examples, in a manner that leads to the overall opinion that the
essay seeks to provide.

In an essay intended to analyse – you should present ideas and

information with respect to different aspects of the topic, so as
to point to the relative strengths (or weaknesses) of these
aspects. The essay should be one that brings out questions on the
topic and finds, or seeks to find, answers.
E - Express them

As mentioned earlier, a typical essay would start with an

introduction, using statements and information of general nature
that provide some background to the topic and point to the nature
of the specific ideas that follow. The body of the essay would
contain the specific ideas, presented in a clear and coherent
manner. Each broad idea or idea set would form a paragraph. The
flow, or sequence of paragraphs would lead to the conclusion which
would sum up the purpose of the presentation.

Effective expression requires logical coherence and flow (as

already discussed). It also requires effective use of language. You
must stay with sentence structure, vocabulary and idiom that you
are familiar with. Individual sentences should not include more
than one idea. This way, you have better control over grammatical
construction, punctuation, etc. This works even for a complex idea
set, where continuity and flow can be established through the use
of simple and appropriate connectives and sentence starters (also
called Discourse Markers – a few of which are provided further on
in this note).

R – Review

You must devote the last few minutes to reading through the essay
to satisfy yourself that there is logical flow and coherence, and
that the language is error free. Correction, replacement or
repositioning, if any, should be carried out in a manner that ensures
that the flow remains or is improved.

We would suggest that, of the steps outlined above, you devote

about 30% of the allotted time to steps C O and D, about 60% to
the actual writing, i.e. E, and about 10% to R.

***********
 A comparison between
(i) 'presenting your viewpoint' and
(ii) 'examining viewpoints expressed'
The essays that you are expected to write would fall, broadly, into
one or the other of the two categories described above.

I. When you are asked to consider an issue and present your

suggestions / views on it, your task is to analyse the
statement(s) presented, consider various perspectives and
develop your own position on the issue. You are expected to
recognise and deal with the complexities of the issue and
support your ideas with reasons and examples.

II. Sometimes you may be asked to examine suggestions /

viewpoints offered or expressed. In such a case, the task is
not to present your views on the topic, but to examine the
stated suggestions / viewpoints for their logical soundness
and for the strength / weakness of the evidence offered in
support. You are expected to identify and analyse the
elements of the suggestions / viewpoints offered and to
support your evaluation with reasons and examples.

***********
 Tips for preparation
If essay-writing isn't quite your cup of tea, you may be unsure of
how you should go about your preparation. It goes without saying
that you must prepare and practise. It's like swimming - reading
(or being told by someone) about what you should do isn't enough.
You have to get into a pool and try it!

Here are the steps we would suggest –

Start by reading some well-written articles and essays. Look at the

way they've been constructed, especially now that you have an idea of
what goes into a good essay. You don't have far to look – the articles
and essays that we have provided links to, on our website (Links to RC
passages on the Students' Home Page), are appropriate for such
practice. You could also look at the (serious) articles in news magazines.

Next, try rewriting. Once in a while, of the articles and essays that
you read, take one that you've understood well, read it again, put it
away, and try rewriting the content in your own words. This would help
you get familiar with writing as an activity. Since you are reproducing
ideas that you've read, you can concentrate on the aspects of written
English. This will help you gain confidence in your ability to write.

Then, get started on your own essays, using the methods that you've
gone through in this note. For the first few, do not worry about the
time you take. Gain practice and confidence in being able to write
effective essays of 400 to 600 words in length.

Thereafter, progress to trying essays in limited time. Try essays in

20 and 30 minutes. You should aim for (approximately) a 5-para essay
(300 to 400 words) in 20 minutes, and a 7-para essay (450 to 550
words) in 30 minutes. Once you're reasonably comfortable with these,
try writing essays in 10 minutes. You should aim for (approximately) a
3-para essay (150 to 200 words) in 10 minutes.

***********
 Some Discourse Markers:
Introduction of a viewpoint – It is my opinion that...., My own view
is......, As I see it........, I believe......, and so on.

Structuring or classifying – To begin with......., First of all............,

For one thing.........., and so on.

Adding – Further......, Moreover..........., Likewise........., In

addition......., Besides,......, Equally,...., Another point to be.......,
Apart from this........., and so on.

Giving examples – For example,......, For instance,......, A good

example of this........., An appropriate illustration of this......., and
so on.

Generalising – On the whole......, In general........., Broadly

speaking........., In most cases.........., To a large extent........, and so
on

Giving details, making things clear – In fact....., This is clear

from......., This can be seen from......, Considering this in greater
detail........, and so on.

Analysing a point – What this means is........, In other words..........,

Translated into real terms,......., and so on.

Concluding – In conclusion........., To sum up............, In short........, and

so on.

***********
 2 SAMPLES with step-wise notes,
comments, and evaluation
Have a look at the 2 samples provided below, to see what a step-
wise approach can result in.

Sample 1

A viewpoint that is gaining currency in recent years is - “the true

measure of national development would be the reduction in
economic disparities, not the growth in national income”. Present
your perspective on this issue.

Steps:

Collect ideas (Notes)

(use phrases and abbreviations, even shorthand if you know it, to save time !!)
™ Since diff devlpmt and eco levels poss, shall take Indian
context
™ only when both addressed we have devlpmt.
™ What's devlpmt?
™ What're eco disparities?
™ National income?
™ Connected – one shd lead to other
™ What priority?

Organise (Notes)

™ What're eco disparities? - intro

™ Since diff devlpmt and eco levels poss, shall take Indian
context – intro
™ National income? - para 2
™ What's devlpmt? - para 2
™ Connected – one shd lead toother – para 3
™ What priority? - para 4
™ only when both addressed we have devlpmt. - concl
Develop (Notes into draft)

™ What're eco disparities? - intro

Bound to exist because of variety of people, skills and activity
™ Since diff devlpmt and eco levels poss, shall take Indian
context – intro
Here disparities are actually yawning gaps. Rich and poor. Poor
lack basic necessities. Still a pressing and shameful problem.
™ National income? - para 2
Investments, assets, production, wealth.
™ What's devlpmt? - para 2
When all economic strata are developed
™ Connected – one shd lead to other – para 3
Increase in national wealth must percolate to lower levels. Poor
would than have less anxiety, would be more capable of
productive work.
™ What priority? - para 4
Natl income and poverty allev both needed - eg. HDI
™ only when both addressed we have devlpmt. - concl

Express (Essay)

The term 'economic disparity' would literally translate to the

differences in incomes and wealth between different economic
strata in society. In any economy therefore, disparities are bound
to exist, since levels of skills, contribution, ownership and wealth
do vary. This is as true of fully developed economies as it is of
developing and underdeveloped ones. In India, however, we use
the term very specifically, to point to the yawning gap that exists
between the rich and the poor. We acknowledge, with occasional
embarrassment, (and opposition parties with ostensible anguish),
the fact that, even 6 decades after independence, this gross
disparity still exists. To us, it is a reminder that we have not yet
been able to eradicate poverty – the state in which more than a
third of our population exists, without the minimum in food,
clothing, shelter and dignity.
There is no doubt that, as the economy develops, various economic
determiners will show increase at the national (or gross) levels –
investments, assets, production, incomes, and so on. This, in turn
will progress to growth in national wealth to a point where, as a
nation we are as well off or 'developed' as any other. However, it
must be remembered that a nation is but a sum of the different
strata of the society within it, just as a body is the sum of its
parts. Looked at in this manner, it can be understood that only
when all the parts have the minimum required development (or
'health'), that the whole can be considered developed or healthy.

At first sight, it would seem as if there's a difficult choice to be made

– that investing in economic growth would mean the inability to devote
national effort and finances towards lifting the poor out of their
morass. However, when we take a broader view, we understand that it
is through the first that the second objective can be achieved – while
the benefits of economic growth must first fuel further economic
growth and then be shared by all economic strata, the greater share
must find its way to those at the very bottom of the pyramid, the
economically disadvantaged, till we achieve the banishment of poverty.
This seems altruistic, and may be so. However, it makes good economic
sense too. Those lifted out of poverty would be freed from the need
to devote every moment to sheer existence and subsistence, and
would therefore be able to make positive contributions to social and
economic productivity, and therefore to economic growth.

Both objectives, economic growth and poverty alleviation are

therefore related and should be targeted together, for national
development.
Clearly, then, it is only when we have eradicated poverty, that we
should consider ourselves developed in the true sense. This is why
sociologists, and an increasing number of economists, are of the view
that true development is reflected not in cold economic indices such
as GDP, GNP or GNI, but in the HDI (Human Development Index)
which takes into account 3 critical 'human' parameters – life
expectancy (that reflects nutrition and health), literacy (that
reflects employability) and standard of living (that reflects dignity).

Review (last 2 paras reorganised)

Both objectives, economic growth and poverty alleviation are

therefore related and should be targeted together, for national
development. This is why sociologists, and an increasing number of
economists, are of the view that true development is reflected not
in cold economic indices such as GDP, GNP or GNI, but in the HDI
(Human Development Index) which takes into account 3 critical
'human' parameters – life expectancy (that reflects nutrition and
health), literacy (that reflects employability) and standard of
living (that reflects dignity).

Clearly, then, it is only when we have eradicated poverty, that we

should consider ourselves developed in the true sense.

(518 words)

Comments –

(Intro)

The essay has an effective introduction. The author has provided

background to the context by briefly explaining the term
'economic disparity' and what it means to us in the Indian context.
(Body)

This is followed by a para in which the aspects of national income

and national development are juxtaposed, leading to the viewpoint
that true development is inclusive of, and larger than, national
income or wealth alone.

The next para brings in the perception that some may have, that
effort can be made towards one only at the expense of the other
(and not towards both). The author then explains that effort
towards true development would help improve the lot of the
disadvantaged, enabling them to contribute towards national
productivity and thereby towards national income and wealth.

The penultimate para indicates the author's understanding, and

compares it to a similar view held by others.

(Concl)

The last para concludes by providing confirmation of the author's

view.

Evaluation –
I. Content (relevance and adequacy of info): Relevant but not
adequate to support all points made. The writer has used the
phrase “minimum required development”. A little elaboration
of what this comprises would have added value.

II. Ideas and their development (elaboration through reasoning,

explanation, example): All points adequately reasoned.

III. Perspective (pros and cons & different aspects): Pros and cons
mentioned, but inadequate analysis. Some elaboration, on the
manner in which the benefits of economic growth could be
applied to poverty alleviation, would have added value.
IV. Structure & Organization (logical flow in intro-body-
conclusion form, paragraphing): Well-organized; good flow;
appropriate structure

V. Control over language (grammar, punctuation, spelling,

appropriate usage) and vocabulary (choice of words; variety in
expression; spelling): vocab - varied; correct and appropriate,
grammar - correct and appropriate.

Overall: GOOD

Sample 2
“The educational system is killing creativity in Indian children.”
Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with this
statement.

Steps:

Collect ideas (Notes)

™ in some cases yes. Shouldn't happen
™ What constts education?
™ Objective of edn?
™ what shd children get?
™ people are diff, so edn shd be diff things for diff people.
™ our edn system at present. Features. Shortcomings.
™ what do children get?
™ What would help?

Organise (Notes)
™ What constts education? - intro
™ Objective of edn? - intro
™ people are diff, so edn shd be diff things for diff people. - para 2
™ what do children get? - para 3
our edn system at present. Features. Shortcomings. - para 3
™ in some cases yes. Shouldn't happen – para 4
™ what shd children get?- concl
™ What would help? - concl

Develop (Notes into draft)

™ Objective of edn? - intro

helps build proficiency, enables contribution, enhances human
devlp.
™ What constts education? - intro
knowledge sharing thro formal (institutions, curriculum) and
informal systems (family etc., experience)
™ people are diff, so edn shd be diff things for diff people. - para 2
indiv have diff skills abilities talents, edn should help enhance
these so can be utilised
™ what do children get? - para 3
only standard learning to provide 'employability'
™ our edn system at present. Features. Shortcomings. - para 3
™ in some cases yes. Shouldn't happen – para 4
™ what shd children get? - concl
confidence and pride in abilities
™ What would help? - concl
encourage inherent abilities

Express (Essay)

Education - the gathering of knowledge and understanding –

enables one to make meaningful contribution in spheres of human
activity and is crucial for development in humans, and humanity at
large. It is delivered and received through informal systems
(parental or other family instruction, knowledge sharing through
personal and situational relationships, and so on) and formal
systems (institutions of different types, planned curriculums,
organised testing methods and defined parameters of
proficiency). Though different, both have similar objectives – the
promotion of proficiency and capability in individuals.
Individuals differ from each other in what they inherently have and
what they develop – some are enduring in effort, some are skilled
with numbers and figures, some are comfortable with logic and
reason, some are creative (capable of original thought and work) in
one way or another. Since education adds to one's natural and
acquired faculties, the most meaningful systems would be those that
recognise inherent and basic capabilities in people and help them build
their own areas of proficiency and expertise, where they would be
most effective and valuable in their contribution to human activity.

However, this is where our educational systems (informal and

formal) lack. Life being difficult and competitive in countries like
ours, the only aim in the minds of most parents and educators is
that children gain comfortable occupation or employment as
adults.

While this is a justifiable concern, not much thought is given to

what 'comfortable' is. To most, it means only earning-potential and
security, and they seek to provide this by equipping children with
the kind of standard learning that bulk employers need – not
accounting for individual inclinations and strengths. As a result,
creativity gets sidelined and blunted, and (except for those whose
inclinations coincide with such learning) children end up doing what
the 'herd' does, doomed to the rat-race and a life of mediocrity.

It must be appreciated that, for many, 'comfortable' would also

include a sense of belonging, competence and achievement. This
can be gained only when children have the choice to follow their
creative inclinations with pride, and develop related proficiencies
in the confidence that contributions through these are valuable
too. Parents, society, and educators need to recognise this truth,
and systems need to incorporate such choices, so that inspiration,
energy and dynamism – the three traits that have brought
humankind this far – are not lost in the next generation.
Review (penultimate para divided into 2)

However, this is where our educational systems (informal and

formal) lack. Life being difficult and competitive in countries like
ours, the only aim in the minds of most parents and educators is
that children gain comfortable occupation or employment as
adults. While this is a justifiable concern, not much thought is
given to what 'comfortable' is. To most, it means only earning
potential and security, and they seek to provide this by equipping
children with the kind of standard learning that bulk employers
need – not accounting for individual inclinations and strengths.

As a result, creativity gets sidelined and blunted, and (except for

those whose inclinations coincide with such learning,) children end
up doing what the 'herd' does, doomed to the rat-race and a life
of mediocrity.

(400 words)

Comments –

(Intro)

The essay has an effective introduction. The author has provided

background to the context by briefly explaining the purpose of
education and how it is delivered.

(Body)

This is followed by a para in which the differences between

individuals are pointed at, and the thought that education should
take into account these differences.

The next para discusses the focus that educational systems

currently have.
The following para indicates the shortcomings that are the result

(Conclusion)

The last para concludes by providing the author's view of what

should be the focus of education and how the shortcomings can be
addressed.

Evaluation –

I. Content (relevance and adequacy of info): Relevant and enough

to support all points made.

II. Ideas and their development (elaboration - through reasoning,

explanation, example): All points adequately reasoned.

III. Perspective (pros and cons & different aspects): One-sided.

There has been no discussion of instances where creativity is
encouraged, even if these are only a few.

IV. Structure & Organization (logical flow in intro-body-

conclusion form; paragraphing): Well-organized; good flow;
appropriate structure

V. Control over language (grammar, punctuation, spelling,

appropriate usage) and vocabulary (choice of words; variety in
expression; spelling): vocab - varied; correct and appropriate;
grammar - correct and appropriate

Overall: GOOD

***********
 5 SAMPLES with comments
Sample 1

"The human mind will always be superior to machines because

machines are only tools of human minds." Present your perspective
on this issue.

While machines can do work much faster than the human mind can,
it is the human mind that has created machines. Machines merely
produce or do what we want them to do. From the stone age, when
man shaped stones as spears and knives to help him obtain his food
more easily, to the advanced technological age where machines are
a part and parcel of our daily lives, the main use for machines has
been to make work easier. Take the washing machine. It's an easy
way to wash clothes, it is less taxing and time-consuming. Like
every other machine it has helped reduce human labour, and has
proved an easier means of carrying out a physical task.

Today, we live in a world so full of machines, it is hard to imagine

what we would've done without them. Kitchen appliances like the
coffee maker and the refrigerator, gadgets like cell phones and
music players, vehicles for transport - are all examples of the use
of machines for various purposes in everyday life. They are also
proof of how acute the human mind really is. To be able to think of
another way of doing a job requires innovation and creativity. To
find an easier and less cumbersome way of doing it requires the
use of intellectual powers that only the human mind is capable of.

We ae so used to using machines everyday, that we don't spend

even a minute or two to think of how they work. If we were to
actually sit and analyze all the components of machines, how they
are put together, what they use to do our jobs, whether materials
or energy, we would enter a world full of knowledge
derived from various sources and sciences. The production of a
machine requires years of thought and work. It requires not just
a brainwave, but a vast amount of gathered knowledge that can
help that idea materialize. Consider, for instance, any machine that
we use now. The history behind the origins of that machine would
probably take one back to a time when somebody came up with an
idea. After this, a number of people would have tried to put things
together to make that idea practically possible. Then there is the
progress made towards refinement and further improvement.
There are always better versions of the same machine that we
come across, which have improved components or design that can
result in increase of the efficiency of the machine. All this clearly
implies that we humans are keen observers, and are always coming
up with new ways of utilising the materials around us.

To actually be able to put an idea into use, to be able to make a

material object from mere knowledge and creativity, is what makes
man superior to machines. Machines do the jobs that we want them
to do, and at a much faster rate than we can do them. But this in
no way makes them superior to us. For instance, calculators can
give us, in a minute, results that would have otherwise taken the
mind a day to perform. But the main purpose behind using a
calculator, in the first place, was to spend less time on tedious and,
probably, repetitive calculations, and to be able to use something
that could do the job faster, so that we could spend the rest of
our time more productively.

Machines make our jobs less tedious. They have made our lives
more comfortable. But they can never compare with the human
mind, because they are not capable of creativity and spontaneity,
feelings and emotions, which are what a human mind comprises of,
and which is how a mind can make things as wonderful and amazing
as machines.

(624 words)
Comments:

Fair enough, overall. Could add a few points in the body, though,
such as – areas and functions that machines cannot help with, such
as analysis, choices and decisions. This would then contribute to
the conclusion as well.

Sample 2

“The Indian space programme is an ambition misplaced”. Discuss

the extent to which you agree or disagree with this statement.

When Chandrayaan was successfully launched, and achieved its

first objectives without any hitch, our intelligentsia, our media,
and we, the people, lauded the ISRO, the government, and
everything connected with the programme, for an achievement
that we believed placed us on par, in terms of scientific and
technological capability, with anyone else on the planet.

Then came the news that some hitches had cropped up and that the
programme was being terminated prematurely. With this started the
brickbats – This was a disaster waiting to happen! Hadn't we realised
we were being too ambitious? Should we even have had ambitions in
this area? Weren't there more critical and pressing needs that the
efforts and funds should have been directed towards?
All doomsday theorists and others, who raise these and similar
questions must reflect and realise – our space programme didn't
commence with Chandrayaan, but far earlier, in the early 1960s.
Quietly and unobtrusively, in small steps, and through a series of
humble achievements, our space programme has brought about
many of the technological capabilities that we now take for
granted – in areas such as remote sensing, analysis of weather and
ocean currents, contour mapping, defence applications, and, of
greatest impact, in satellite communication. How easily we, in
India, have forgotten that the two things we love the most –
television and the cellphone – function because of the platforms
that our space programme has put in place!

What we need to consider is whether the space programme is

being pursued to the detriment of, or at the cost of, other national
priorities. When we consider our Plans, our budgets, and the
programmes that have been and are being implemented in various
areas, the answer is clear. None of our national priorities, whether
in the areas of social welfare, healthcare, education, agricultural
or industrial development, infrastructure, exports, defence and
national security, or any other, have in any way been compromised
in the pursuit of space technology.

There is no denying, then, that the space programme has brought

us much benefit, and the attempt to take it further is a justifiable
and praiseworthy ambition.

(350 words)

Comments:

Well written, but a little short. The body of the essay needs a little
more detail, such as - ISRO's success in being able to control costs,
in comparison with the more developed nations; spin-offs / gains in
areas of education, industry and business; etc.

Sample 3

"One should not blindly accept the trite remark “the spirit of
narration goes off in translation.” This is because there are many
distinguished authors who translate their own works. Some
translators are competent writers too. In fact, Shakespeare has
put it very succinctly when he said that a rose is a rose even if it
is called by another name."
Examine this viewpoint and indicate your impressions on how well-
reasoned it is.
Disagreeing with the author’s poorly reasoned argument - a rose when
identified by any other name tends to lose its worth. This can be best
illustrated in relation to Shakespeare’s works. Thomas Bowdler was an
English physician who published an expurgated edition of William
Shakespeare's work. This was done with the intention of making the
work more agreeable to the women and children of the 19th century.
Translation can be defined as an author’s interpretation, which may, in
the course of translation, inadvertently deflect from the original.
Bowdler’s abbreviated editions were the subject of some criticism and
ridicule. In this case even though his narration wasn’t about translating
it to another language, his abridged version did take the spirit away
from the original.
Translation is not an exact science; implying that irregularities are
bound to occur. No two languages are like, even though at times we
may come across languages that may sound alike. Indian languages
substantiate the importance of the above stated fact. For an
author to be adept at translation, he needs to know and understand
the source language and the target language. In the case of
translation of a work from English to Spanish; English is the source
language and Spanish is the target language.
In addition to being bilingual the author also needs to know the
usage of colloquial terms in both the languages. Even though Hindi
is the most commonly spoken language in India, the usage and the
dialect all over the country differs. Likewise, in the United States
of America where the national language is English, differences
persist. The usage of the term, “Hello everyone,” in the north of
America would be, “Hey y’all” in the Southern states.
To be able to ascertain the credibility of an author who is well
versed in more than two languages and translates his or her own
work, is quite difficult. Based on this foundation, the author’s
argument is inadequately reasoned, as he fails to demonstrate the
credibility of the writers who have effectively translated their
own works.

One of the flaws seen in translated texts is the inapt usage of the
source-language idiom. The Bible continues to be the most
translated book in the world. A famous mistranslation of the Bible
is the depicting of the Hebrew word 'keren' as "horn" in a context
where it actually means "beam of light". The word, in general, can
be used in various contexts with different meanings. As a result,
for centuries artists have depicted Moses the Law Giver with
horns growing out of his forehead; an example is Michaelangelo's
famous sculpture.

People who can speak two different languages fluently may not be
the best translators. Being knowledgeable in Hindi and English
doesn’t make me a competent translator in either of the two
languages. Another misconception is a widely held view that a
person is best suited for translations in his native languages. A
person from Japan, born and brought up in London may not be an
appropriate choice for a translator in his native language, as he
never experienced the culture of Japan.

What needs to be understood is that for a person to be a good

translator, he needs to be bicultural and not bilingual alone.
(536 words)
Comments:
The positive feature about this essay is that the language is good.
However, the objective of examining the viewpoint and its reasons
has not been served.
To start with, the viewpoint should have been restated, with its
limitations pointed out – the quote being contested is a
generalisation, while the viewpoint only looks at self-translations.
The analysis of reasons for the viewpoint should have been
presented – the extent to which they can be considered applicable,
where they fall short, what would have made up the shortcomings,
and the essay-writer's reasons for these observations. (The essay-
writer's own views should not be presented as views, as such, but as
points of comparison to bring out the applicability and shortcomings
of the viewpoint being examined.)

Sample 4

Some are of the view that, with the proliferation of TV channels,

we are seeing the beginning of the end for books. What is your
view on this, and why?

For most people, television has always been more captivating than
books. In today's world, there are a variety of channels already
available, and new ones coming up frequently. There is always
something to learn from watching TV. However, I believe, that,
even with all this progress, books cannot be replaced. Books have
many advantages that television does not.

Channels like 'Animal Planet' and 'Discovery' are definitely worth

watching, because they present very vivid descriptions of life that
are much easier to grasp than in a book. For example, it is a sight
to watch, on TV, a tiger running after, and catching its prey. It
may also be easier learning than reading an article about the same
process. On the other hand, a book teaches us more than just how
the prey is caught. When we don't actually watch the scene, we
imagine it in the best possible way, in a manner that seems best
and appropriate to us. This would help improve our powers of
imagination and teach us creativity.
I believe that a major advantage that books have over television is
that we learn more about emotions when we read, rather than watch.
When we watch a sitcom on television, we may not always understand
the emotions involved. However a book can always present a person's
emotions and feelings. An emotion cannot be described on TV, but it
can in a book. Thus, we learn to empathise with the author (or
character) because we may have been in the same situation,
experiencing the same feelings. Even if we haven't been in a similar
situation, the right words can always make us understand it. In this
manner, a book teaches us how to express ourselves, which is
something a movie or anything on TV can never really achieve.

Another advantage with books, I feel, is that people's viewpoints or

ideas are better expressed. An autobiography, for instance, can tell
us what the person believed in, his perceptions and understanding of
the things around him. The reader therefore understands and can
form his own opinions. This is something that is not as effective on
television.

Most of the channels on TV have a lot of commercial stuff of no

real value when it comes to learning something. Thus, most people
don't look at TV as a means of information, rather as one of
entertainment - a reprieve from the daily monotony of life. No
wonder it's called 'the idiot box'!! A book, on the other hand,
always has valuable information, no matter what it is about,
whether it’s a novel or a magazine. The descriptions and the words
used, can enthral a reader for hours!
The main difference between television and books is that when
watching something, people focus mainly on what's being shown,
while a book has nothing but writing to focus on. Since a person is
focusing only on the words written, his language improves. We
learn how to express ourselves clearly, only by reading. A show on
television could not teach us how to express fear or anger. The
more a person reads, the more he learns about how to express
himself, and thus he will improve in communication skills. He will be
able to explain his emotions to other people faster and more
efficiently.
Finally, I believe that television has come a long way, and is still
improving. Also, there is a lot that one can learn from watching the
right things on TV. However, this does not mean that books have
lost, or will lose, their value. Books can never be replaced or
disregarded, because words will always have power and meaning
that television can never deliver to its viewers.

(619 words)

Comments:
A fairly good essay, overall. The introduction could have included
a little more by way of background, such as the objectives of
mediums of one-way communication like books and television.

Sample 5

Is it utopian to expect ethics in business? Is this why business

environments need laws? What are your views on this?

When we consider society, we normally think of it as a composite

of human beings. In fact, the word has much larger meaning.
Society is a composite of 'persons' and here we mean not only
humans but all bodies that have presence in society, by virtue of
their functions.
Businesses serve society and, in doing so, interact with other persons.
Thus they are also a part of society and their interactive behaviour,
just like that of humans, is governed by entitlements and
responsibilities. When these entitlements and responsibilities are
recognised and understood by persons on their own and given effect
to, through voluntary behaviour, we say the persons are guided by
ethics. However, there are times when persons may not be guided by
ethics, or where, ethics notwithstanding, rights and duties are to be
determined. For such times, when entitlements and responsibilities
are to be laid down and enforced by authority, we have laws.

So, whether for individual humans, or for societal 'persons' in the

larger sense, ethics and laws are actually similar in objective - they
seek to bring about that proper application of rights and duties of
persons that would enable society to function smoothly.

This holds just as true in the world of business which, as discussed

earlier, is part of society. Therefore, when we consider 'Ethics vs.
Law' in the area of business we cannot mean that one opposes the
other but that, depending on circumstances and situations, one is
effective where the other is not (or that one is more effective than
the other.)

The application of ethics in business would mean that the parties in a

business relationship (whether the business itself, or customers,
associates, authorities, employees or owners - anyone who could be
called stakeholders) recognise and do what needs to be done to see
that others get their entitlements, that their rights are not
infringed, and that no harm or loss comes to them. This is what we
have in mind when we speak of 'fair' or 'honest' dealings - delivering
value for money whether in terms of price, quality, volume, time or
support and ensuring that financial commitments are met. As long as
those in business are guided by these principles, they are being ethical
and this leads to comfortable, secure and long-standing relationships
and goodwill. These, in turn, form the basis for holistic growth.
However, just as there is no utopia, the world of business cannot run
on voluntary behaviour alone. There are situations where the focus on
specific objectives, such as profit and monetary growth, often leads
persons to subjective perceptions of entitlements and responsibilities
and results in conflict of interest. This is where the various laws
(commercial, revenue, and civil laws) play their roles - laying down what
would cause one perception to gain preponderance or priority over
another, thus determining the rights and duties appropriate to such
situations. Right-thinking and ethical businesses recognise this need,
and their ethics therefore extend to proper compliance with such
laws. This is what earns them regard and reputation, also essential for
proper growth.

Then there are businesses and business situations where, sometimes,

no heed is paid to ethics, where persons seek to achieve objectives ‘at
any cost’ or ‘no matter what it takes’, and the laws (including,
sometimes, criminal laws) are necessitated to enforce appropriate
business behaviour so as to protect the rights of stakeholders.
We have looked at three broad areas that indicate the relevance
of ethics and law in business. However, it must be kept in mind that
the boundaries between these areas are neither sharp nor
immutable. Social behaviour is not the same all over the world or
at all times. In the case of humans, perceptions of what is ethical
and what is not may vary in some aspects, depending on culture,
traditions and social attitudes prevalent in different societies.
When it comes to businesses, this variance exists because of
political and economic ideologies and objectives that have either
gained social acceptance, or have been adopted through particular
systems of government or through policies that have been
implemented by government. For instance, what is considered
unethical practice in a socialist environment may not be considered
so in a capitalist framework. Similarly, business activities that may
not require regulation in a free market situation may need
regulation when they fall in the ambit of social responsibility or
social welfare activity.
It can be seen, then, that Ethics and Law are not contradictory,
either in meaning, or objective. They are both relevant to business,
and have value and application in different situations and
circumstances. It is clear, however, that business that is guided
by ethics is more likely to enjoy harmonious existence and growth
than business that is prodded by law. Businesses would do well,
therefore, to adopt ethical approaches on their own and willingly
accept the application of laws when in situations that present a
conflict of interest. Such behaviour would make them valuable and
well accepted components of the social fabric they are part of.

(835 words)

Comments:

A good essay.

Sample 6

Women Empoverment in India

Although it is an incontrovertible fact that women in India have
made considerable progress over the decades since independence,
it is disconcerting that a majority of women, particularly those in
rural India, are still lagging behind in various aspects and are not
being treated with the dignity that is due to them.

While the country is making rapid strides towards becoming one

of the most developed nations of the world, it is an appalling fact
that women are still being discriminated against, based on their
gender, in some parts of the country. Moribund practices like child
marriage, female foeticide etc are still being carried out
clandestinely despite the imposition of stringent laws to curb such
practices. Women still have to struggle against many handicaps and
social evils in the male-dominated society. Although India has
acclaimed the status of being the first Asian country to
accomplish its Mars mission in the maiden attempt , it is ironical
that it is ranked 29th among 146 countries across the globe on the
basis of Gender Inequality Index.
In order to achieve the status of a developed country, India needs
to transform its colossal women force into an effective human
resource and this can happen only through the empowerment of
women.

Women empowerment constitutes the empowerment of women

from the vicious grips of social, economic, political, caste and
gender-based discrimination. Women empowerment refers to the
creation of an environment for women where they can make
decisions for their personal benefits as well as for the larger good
of the society..Complete empowerment can be achieved only if
women are empowered socially, economically, legally and politically.

Women can be empowered socially when women enjoy the same

opportunities as men and they are not discriminated based on
their gender. Economic empowerment can be achieved when
reducing financial dependence on men and by making them a
significant part of the human resource pool by paying them wages
on par with men. Legal empowerment can be achieved if there is an
effective legal structure which supports women empowerment and
provides equal opportunities to men and women. Political
empowerment refers to the existence of a political system which
encourages the participation of women in the political decision
making process and in governance.

Real empowerment of women can be achieved only if women are

provided with the knowledge, skills and self-confidence necessary
to participate in the development process and they are made aware
of their rights which gives them the confidence necessary for
claiming their rights.

Swami Vivekananda once said there is no chance for the welfare

of the world unless the condition of women is improved. Hence we
need a conscious effort in the right direction in order to empower
women because, to quote Kofi Annan, “there is no tool for
development more effective than the empowerment of women”.
Comments:

(Intro)
the essay introduces the topic effectively. The author expresses
anguish that despite the rapid strides that India has been making
since independence, women have been lagging behind.

(Body)
The next 4 paragraphs expand on what has been mentioned in the
first paragraph by explaining the different types of discrimination
that women face, poignantly listing the huge odds that are stacked
against them right from the time they are conceived. They also
explain the advantages of empowering women while listing out some
of the types of empowerment.

(Conclusion)
The last paragraph gives an appropriate conclusion to the essay
by explaining how utterly important it is for us to improve the
condition of women and ends with thought-provoking quotes from
Swami Vivekananda and Kofi Annan.

(Overall)
The essay has been written well. The language is good, without
being bombastic. There is no hyperbole anywhere, nor are the
recommendations difficult to implement.

Sample 7

Social networking sites such as FaceBook etc are addcitive and

could be detrimental to society Modern technology has
revolutionized the way people, the world over, communicate and
interact with each other. The most important technological change
over the past twenty years has been the the use of the internet.
Social networking is the use of internet-based social media
programs to make connections with friends, family, business
associates etc. Some popular social networking sites include sites
such as Face Book, Twitter, Linked In etc
There are divergent opinions on the impact of social media on the
society. While some people perceive it to be a valuable tool in
developing one's personal and professional life, some consider it to
be an addiction which can tend to be harmful.

Coming to the positive effects of social networking sites, they

allow people to communicate with friends even though they could
be several miles apart. They allow people with common interests
and views to come together and post ideas and stories which could
be beneficial to others. These sites serve as a platform for people
to express their creative abilities and also to give vent to their
feelings on social and political issues which could be harmful to
society.

Social networking sites can serve as an effective tool for students

to discuss academic issues and topics and expose them to many
diverse views on various issues, besides helping them in enhancing
their technological skills.

Social networking, apart from being beneficial to students, can be

extremely beneficial to businesses as well. Social networking sites
can help in increasing brand recognition and loyalty. They help in
providing interaction between old and new customers.

Just as every technology has both positive and negative effects

on the users, social networking also has a darker side. People,
particularly the younger generation, are getting increasingly
addicted to social networking sites and are spending a lot of time
on these sites at the cost of neglecting their studies. Addiction to
social networking sites leaves them with little time to spend on
outdoor activities and physical exercises thus making them
susceptible to modern lifestyle diseases. Using social media can
make a person vulnerable to predators and cyber bullying which can
in turn result in profound psychological outcomes like depression,
anxiety and severe isolation. Social networking sites may also be
vulnerable to security attacks such as hacking. Further,
communicating through social media reduces face to face
interaction among people.
To conclude, social networking has both positive and negative
effects but it is an overstatement to say that social networking
sites are detrimental to society. Just as with everything else,
moderation is the key even in using social networking sites. If a
healthy balance is maintained in using social networking sites, they
can, in fact, be immensely beneficial to society.

Comments:

(Intro)
The topic of social networking has been introduced well through
the first paragraph.

(Body)
The second paragraph follows, explaining the widely divergent
views on social networking. The next 3 paragraphs elaborate on the
positives and negatives of social networking.

(Conclusion)
The last paragraph concludes the essay very well by saying that
like virtually everything else, social networking sites have both

positive and negative effects and that it is farfetched to say that

they are only harmful to society. The essay ends by suggesting
moderation in the usage of social networking.

(Overall)
The essay is a well-written one. There is no artificial flourish or
one-sided argument.

Sample 8

Without music life would be a mistake

Next to the world of God, the noble art of music is the greatest
treasure in the world.
 Martin Luther
Music is my religion
Music is my pain killer.
So what is music and why does everyone talk about it or rather
sing about it. Let us see a bookish and traditional definition: music
is an art form and cultural activity, whose medium is sound
organized in time. From this definition, we imagine a well-trained
artist performing on a stage to the accompaniment of musical
instruments. But music need not be captured in a bordered
segment. Music is everywhere. Early morning, when you sleepily
role on the bed, the chirping of the sparrows is music. You come
on to the terrace to enjoy the cool morning breeze, the soft tinkle
of the wind chime is music. Mother chants hymns to the hurried
accompaniment of the pooja bell- that is music. Your little sister
runs downstairs her silver anklets jingling – there is music here
too.

Music is all pervading; you cannot do without it and you cannot be

without it.
India is known for her cultural heritage with music as the
quintessential thread in a garland of flowers. We cannot imagine
Lord Krishna without his mellifluous flute. The negative shaded
Ravan of the Ramayana was an excellent Veena player. Even our

invaders were great patrons of music. The great Sangeet Samrat

Tansen was from the Akbar era. Shehnai was introduced in
Aurangazeb's darbar.

The later years saw the bifurcation of music into Carnatic and
Hindustani both vocal and instrumental. Veena, violin, mridangam
fit into the Carnatic mould while, sitar, santoor and sarod are part
of Hindustani. Flute fits into both and we have youngsters like
Mandolin Srinivas, Rajesh Vaidhya and Praveen Godkindi who have
modernized traditional music. Vocalists like M.S.Subbulakshmi,
Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer and Balamuralikrishna lighted up the
Carnatic sky while Bhimsen Joshi and Kishori Amonkar dazzled the
Hindustani world.
Indian films have made a jugalbandi of traditional and western
which is both peppy and pleasing. 100 years of cinema has evolved
music in various forms. It has also given us treasures like Lata
Mangeshkar, Mohd. Rafi and Mannadey and tremendously talented
lyricists and musicians.
As you know, music has no religion, caste or creed. The shehnai
maestro and Bharat Ratna, Ustad Bismillah Khan used to perform
daily in the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Even now we hear a recorded
version of the Ustad's shehnai on the Independence day. Our
beloved late President Dr A.P.J.Abdul Kalam was a veena exponent.
Dr John Higgins was an American who came to India to learn
classical music. Dr K.J.Jesudas is another example of an eminent
musician who performs in temples.

Music is a great detoxifying agent and a marvelous stress buster.

It refreshes the mind and relaxes the body. Music therapists and
psychologists are investigating the use of music in medicine to
help patients dealing with pain, depression and possibly even
Alzheimer's disease.

Life without music would be a very drab and boring affair. To make
it a little meaningful, a little colorful and a little cheerful we do
need music in any form. Without it life would definitely be a
mistake!!

Comments:

(Intro)
The essay introduces the topic nicely with very apt quotes followed
by an exhortation to the reader to realize that music is all-
pervading to a sensitive person.

(Body)
The next paragraphs build further on what is there in the first
paragraph by taking the reader through things like just how rich
our musical heritage is, the different types of music and the fact
that there is both great traditional and modern music.
(Conclusion)
The last paragraph concludes the essay very well by making the
appropriate point that music knows no barriers.

(Overall)
The essay is very well written in a fluid style. However the reader
of the essay might detect some deeply-held biases in the writer;
read the line "Even our invaders were great patrons of music". The
essay could also have spoken about music in the other parts of the
world, particularly the west.

***********
 SUMMARY WRITING
Simple steps to write a good Summary

I. READ:
Read the passage carefully. Determine its topic, theme, purpose,
tone and structure. This will help you to differentiate between
more important and less important points.

II. LABEL AND UNDERLINE:

Reread. This time, based on your understanding of the structure,
divide the passage into stages of thought. Try to follow the
author's division of the ideas. Give labels, preferably, on the given
paper itself, to each main idea. If necessary, underline key ideas
and terms.

™ ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY: Write one-sentence summaries

of each stage of thought. This can be done either in the margins
of the paper itself or on a separate sheet of paper if provided.

™ THESIS STATEMENT:
A thesis is a one-sentence summary of the entire passage. Now
write one. The thesis should express the central idea of the
passage and should be based on what you have understood so far.

™ FIRST DRAFT:
Write the first or the rough draft of your summary now. A
combination of the thesis statement and the one-sentence
summaries could be a good rough draft.

™ CHECK: Check your summary by comparing it with the original

passage. Make whatever adjustments necessary for accuracy and
completeness.
™ REVISE:
Revise your summary by inserting necessary words or
deleting(please keep in mind the neatness of appearance).
Remember, completeness, coherence, grammar and style are
paramount.

SAMPLE SUMMARY:

A good starting point to see differences in western and eastern

religions is their views on the creation of the universe. Hindus
believe in endless cycles of creation, preservation and destruction.
There is no absolute end to the world; neither is there a duality of
God and world. Westerners believe that God created the world and
at some point in the future He will bring about its destruction. He
is distinct from it, and rules it from above. Eastern thoughts on
God, stress that there is one true and absolute Self or God, where
all souls are destined to receive God's grace through experience,
according to their understanding and temperament - God is pure
love and consciousness. Western philosophy says that there is one
true God and one true religion. Those who accept it will enjoy God's
grace, and all others, unless they repent and come to this God, will
suffer eternally. Eastern religions explain that personal, inner and
often mystical experience of God is the crux of the philosophy,
where man can ultimately know God during earthly life. Thus, the
Hindu's search is one that leads further and further inward,
requiring intense introspection. A western view teaches that it is
presumptuous for man to seek personal knowledge of God.

Easterners view the proof of God's existence through direct

communion, and indirectly through enlightened gurus, the God-
realized men, and the revealed scriptures they bring forth.

Western religions teach that the proof of God's love and promise
for man is in the person of his prophets and in his unchanging and
unique revealed scripture. Another key difference is the concept
of Hell – Hindus do not believe in a physically located Hell as such.
Hell can be described as the cycle of samsara, which upon reaching
enlightenment, is seen to be unreal. God is love and is inextricably
one with the soul, guiding it through karma into dharma and finally
to liberation. Western religion believes that God consigns pure
souls to heaven and sinners to hell, a physical place where the body
burns without being consumed and one suffers knowing he will
never be with God. The Hindu religion believes that sin is only of
the mind, not of the soul, that the immaturity of the soul of a
person causes it to act in the karmic world and once matured, the
soul can and does realise God.

Eastern philosophy teaches man that he is free to choose his form

of worship, for all paths lead ultimately to God. In the Hindu
system, we see some sects using idols to focus on God and some
sects not using idol worship as a vehicle to reach God. The Rig-
Veda opens by saying that "Truth is one. Sages call it by many
names." Western views often take the other extreme by saying
that only one path leads to God, and that all others are false and
futile. This difference arises from the way one interprets religion
- a good example is the concept of evil. Eastern religions profess
that there is no evil. All is good and all is God. The equivalent of
evil in Sanatan Dharma is often termed avidya (ignorance). The
analogy often made to someone who is ignorant is that the mirror
is dusty, and one must cleanse himself through sacrifice in order
to clarify this mirror. This allows the individual to personify the
God that is already in him. Conversely, in the west there is belief
in a genuine evil in the world, a force that opposes God's will. This
evil is embodied in Satan and his demons, and can even be found in
man, who by his very nature has some inherent evil. Man's plight is
due to disobedience to God's will, to non-belief and non-acceptance
of His law.
The reason for man's suffering is then in his own hands; he must
change his ways to gain favour with God.

From a perspective of their individual origins, eastern religion is

cosmic, eternal, cyclical, transcending a human history, that is
fixed in linear time whereas the western religion is more linear,
beginning with a prophet or event. Sanatan Dharma has never
ceased to exist, nor will it ever, regardless of the presence of
humans. The stress is placed, in the eastern religion, on the
revelation of God's presence in the here and now, whereas, in the
western religion, on the past and on future rewards or
punishments. As per the eastern doctrines, there is a predominant
freedom to worship and to believe in a variety of ways. Alternative
paths are seen as God's divine will at work. Western doctrines tend
to be more simple, clear and rational where worship and belief are
formalized, exacting and required, and hence, are often typecast
as exclusive and dogmatic. As per the western religion, salvation
comes at the end of the world requiring little, if any, introspection.
Hindus see salvation as the goal of enlightenment and liberation to
be attainable in this lifetime, within the context of time, within
man himself.

Summary: The significant difference between Eastern and

Western religions (such as Hinduism and Christianity) is in their
views on the relationship between God, humanity, and existence.
While the Hindu belief is that the universe is eternal and will
continue in endless cycles, the Western one is that it exists only
till God destroys it. In another aspect, while Easterners believe
that God is within all, and can be reached by all through
introspection, Westerners believe that only one true religion
leads to God, who is otherwise unknowable. While Easterners
believe that God can be learnt of through introspection or with
the interpretations of other learned folk, Westerners believe that
knowledge of God can be derived only through the teachings of
their religion, which is the true interpretation of His word. Going
further, while Westerners consider that straying from God’s word
and path would lead to ‘hell’ and eternal damnation, Hindus consider
that wrongdoers can correct themselves and attain salvation
through the cycle of rebirth. Easterners believe that God can be
approached through any form of worship, and wrongdoing arises
only out of ignorance of His guidance, not out of evil intent.
Westerners, on the other hand, believe that theirs is the only
proper form of worship. They also believe that wrongdoers are evil
and influenced by Satan, and they will (and must) be punished by
God. Easterners believe that the universe (and, therefore,
existence) is eternal and cyclical. Therefore God can be realized,
within oneself, during one’s existence. For the Westerners,
however, the end of existence is certain and God can be realized
(in the future, at the end of existence) as a reward for those who
believe in Him and follow his word.

***********
 Sample prompts
Some of the essay topics given at the IIMs

™ Banning politicians with criminal records from contesting

elections is against their right.
™ Foreign direct investment will revitalize the education
system.
™ India versus Bharat : a divided nation.
™ How should women empower themselves?
™ Child artists are an exploited lot today.
™ Diversity is not an indicator of inclusiveness.
™ Recession is the mother of innovation.
™ Ethics in today's business is a contradiction.
™ Business houses should take greater social responsibility.
™ Are Gandhian values irrelevant for society today?
™ History proves that Anonymous means a woman.
™ Rest leads to rust.
™ What is the importance of Women in Mens' Life.
™ Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and
expecting different results.
™ Good art does not take sides.
™ India should develop fighter jets on its own and not buy
them from abroad.
™ Great men think alike, but the thinking of a group of great
men results in poor decisions.
™ Life is good when simple, not too simple.
™ Social injustice is a threat to the country.
™ Poverty and economic inequality in India.
™ How should India grow in the next 10 years?
™ Wisdom comes from experience, but often experience is a
result of lack of wisdom.
™ No culture lives, if it is exclusive.
™ A good traveller has no fixed plan nor an intention to arrive.
™ Inflation is as violent as a mugger, as frightening as an armed
robber and as deadly as a hit man.
™ America is practically owned by China.
™ Intuition is the source of all scientific knowledge.
™ One who aims at nothing usually hits big.
™ The bad news is that time flies... the good news is that you
are the pilot.
™ Taxes are already paid up in the sweat of the labour.
™ Glory is fleeting, obscurity is forever.
™ Democracy comes in the way of India's economic growth as
compared to China's.
™ India has a prominent place in global markets. In meeting
global standards is it necessary for public sector to be
privatized?
™ Liberalization brought about a rapid change in the economy.
True or false?
™ Should economic freedom be given in order to achieve
success and prosperity.
™ Should management degree be provided only after a person
has gained industrial exposure?
™ To fight AIDS, should we stop being coy about sex education?
™ A family owned business or a professionally run business,
what will give one more satisfaction?
™ Hunger Strikes for a cause are now becoming a source of
blackmail and coercion.
™ Depiction of violence in the media causes increased societal
tolerance for violence.
™ Fears of global warming are exaggerated and are hindering
progress.
™ As a society, we must adopt e-books over print books.
™ India is not a developed nation even after so many years. Is
India's democracy getting into its path of development? Do
we need to rule with an iron hand now?
™ Is India's population an asset or a liability?
™ Do you think paid internships should be made compulsory
for awarding management degree?
™ Internet is an elite organization in our country where few
people know how to make a phone call.
™ Mandatory Employment Quotas for women and the
underprivileged sections of the society do more harm than
good.
™ In times when technology changes from month to month, long
term business strategy will become a thing of the past.
Present your views.
™ India has always been a forgiving nation. Do you think the
country should become more aggressive?
™ Indigenous industry's importance in the economy.
™ The right to live and die is one's personal matter and the
society should not interfere with it.
™ Should Public Sector Units be privatized.
™ I would rather trust a woman's instinct than a man's reason.
™ The man who isn't willing to die for what he believes, doesn't
deserve to live.
™ All exact sciences are dominated by the idea of
approximation.
™ Advertising is legalized lying.
™ Keep your feet on the ground but keep your thoughts at lofty
heights.
™ Should railways be privatized for better efficiency.
™ Today's youth get everything too much, too easily and this is
detrimental to their future.
™ Indian curriculum has less emphasis on sports/fitness.
™ Art is the proper task of life.
™ A strong opposition party is required for a good governance.
™ Unlike in Bangladesh, NGOs in India are not doing their part
in the society.
™ Reading pure sciences is a waste of time.
™ Gender sensitivity courses should be taught to both male and
female members of the society.
™ Should Nehru's temples of learning remain elitist.
™ Education system in India is killing creativity in children.
™ Indian women should not take up their husbands' surname
after marriage.
™ Beauty pageants objectify women.
™ The Government is right in denying provision of surplus food
grains for free to people below poverty line.
™ Religion is the only way to attain Spirituality.
™ The motive is not Greed, but, success which is the major
reason behind the success of capitalism.
™ If life is a competition, and success is the final quest, then
victory is all that matters.
™ Positive discrimination is the price we are paying in the
present for the past.
™ Taboos and traditions are just cultural baggages.
™ All government institutions should be under the purview of
RTI.
™ Tradition is just another means of inconsistency and inequality.
™ Foreign Tourism in India is a threat to culture, wildlife and
monuments of India.
™ Politicians should have defined targets and an annual
evaluation should be made.
™ The enforcement of dress code in educational institutions is
overstated. This leads to the curbing of freedom and liberty.
™ Celebrations of Valentine's day is more of a marketing
gimmick than about genuine feelings.
™ Indian companies should hire foreign nationals from lesser
developed nations as part of social responsibility.
™ Of all the inventions and discoveries in the world, which one
would you have liked to invent or discover, and why?
™ Are advertisements targeting middle and high school kids
good or bad?
™ Advances in Modern Technology are making the teacher
irrelevant.
™ Corruption has to be tackled by government; individuals
cannot
do it.
™ Women homemakers should be given wages.
™ Coaching classes must be abolished to improve the quality of
higher education.
™ What are the defining qualities of an Indian?
™ There should be reservations based on socio-economic basis
for educational institutes.
™ Child-rearing techniques and their effects on personality of
an individual and also the overall public life in a country like
India.
™ Effects of women's working on their family life.
™ Maoists captured an official and government gave in to their
demands. What should be done
™ Environmental Activism - it is a Hindrance to industrialization
or not?
™ Giving Barack Obama the Nobel prize reduced the value of
the prize.
™ Women's reservation bill.

LATEST IMPORTANT ISSUES/TOPICS/AREAS TO BE STUDIED

A) INTERNATIONAL
™ World Hunger and Poverty.
™ War on Terror.
™ Trade, Economy, & Related Issues.
™ Third World Debt Undermines Development.
™ Sustainable Development.
™ Palestine and Israel.
™ Nuclear Weapons.
™ Natural Disasters.
™ Middle East.
™ Iraq Crisis.
™ International Criminal Court.
™ Human Rights Issues.
™ Human Population.
™ Health Issues.
™ Geopolitics.
™ Genetically Engineered Food.
™ G8: Too Much Power?
™ Free Trade and Globalization.
™ Foreign Policy — Projecting Power.
™ Food dumping in the form of aid maintains poverty.
™ Food and Agriculture Issues.
™ Fair Trade.
™ Environmental Issues.
™ Corporations.
™ Consumption and Consumerism.
™ Conflicts in Africa.
™ Climate Change and Global Warming.
™ Causes of Poverty.
™ Biodiversity.
™ Arms Trade—a major cause of suffering.
™ Arms Control

B) NATIONAL
™ Value of rupee
™ Role of RBI
™ SEBI
™ FDI
™ Railway budget
™ India at the Olympics
™ T20 World Cup.
™ Presidential elections
™ Indian Politics.

Some other prompts, for practice

™ Profit is the only business of business.

™ Democracy has hampered India’s progress.
™ India should be reorganized into smaller states.
™ Growth and integrity are poles apart.
™ Managerial skills learnt in the classroom can never match those
learnt from experience.
™ Government should reduce defence expenditure and spend more
on the social sector.
™ Religion is a private matter and should be no concern of the
state.
™ Are corrupt but efficient politicians better than honest but
inefficient politicians.
™ Can politics be de-linked from sports?
™ India makes nuclear bombs, but cannot make quake resistant
houses.
™ Subsidies for higher studies should be done away with.
™ Film-makers are indulging in cinematic licence in the name of
folk culture.
™ Is bureaucracy a hindrance to economic reforms in India?
™ To survive in the civilized world one needs to be something of a
hypocrite.
™ Consumer satisfaction should be achieved at any cost.
™ Engineering students are wasting their time in Management
Studies; they have another way to go.
™ What privacy do we have when security cameras abound?
™ If winning isn't everything, why do we keep the score?
™ Sport, in the developed world, is an Industry.
™ Good things always come from good thinking.
™ The true measure of national development would be the
reduction in economic disparities, not the growth in national
income.
™ To ensure that students do not grow up with a compartmentalised
view of life and living, at least half of what they are taught should
be through examples of the world around them.
™ The hype that accompanies the giving of awards in different
fields only serves to remind average performers of their
insignificance and irrelevance.
™ Knowing what the future of this planet is likely to be, no right-
thinking people should even consider having children.
™ While we see rapid advances being made in technology, we also see,
at the same time, erosion of social and cultural standards, the very
essence of humankind. We will soon end up married to our machines.
™ There is no such thing as useless knowledge; everything we know
can be applied to our benefit.
™ Artists and people in professions that demand creativity should
pay no heed to criticism and disapproval – this would only curb
their effectiveness.
™ Can, and should, we prevent the mobile telephone from becoming
the most critical piece of technology in our lives?
™ Increased awareness notwithstanding, there is no let-up in
domestic violence, even amongst the educated. It is obvious
that the pace and stress of modern life is more than we can
handle.
™ With the advances made in simulation technology, it is no longer
necessary, or justifiable, that we continue to use live animals
for any type of research.
™ Talking about or publicising one's acts of charity only
demonstrates a lack of altruism. True philanthropists are those
who prefer to stay anonymous.
™ Perhaps it is the sheer wealth on information available at our
finger tips that actually renders us indifferent to it.
™ The government should stop funding the IITs and the IIMs and,
instead, divert the funds to primary education.
Sample Topics

Social Networking is more important for attaining success, than

acquiring academic knowledge.

There must be a limit to freedom of expression.

Ships are safer in the harbour, but they are not meant for the
same.

CSR is just a marketing gimmick used by the Companies to attract

investors and the customers.

Is environmental activism a threat to the process of

Industrialization.

Foreign Tourism in India is a threat to our culture, Wildlife and

monuments.

Government has no business to be in business.

Children of politicians must not be allowed to enter into politics

RTI act is creating a new breed of activists, by providing more

causes to a rebel.

GOD is an object of convenience.

The woods are lovely dark and deep, but I have promises to keep.

I do not want to do MBA because...

Mera Bharat Mahaan

All happy families are alike, but unhappy ones are not.
Advancement in technology is making the teacher irrelevant.

Should the advertisements be targeting the school going kids.

Defining qualities of an Indian

Phone tapping by Government is an invasion of privacy

Mobile phones are destroying social life.

Traditions and rituals are meant to create inequality in society

Beauty pageants objectify women

Positive discrimination is like present paying for the acts of the

past

Man is not old enough until regret has taken the place of his dreams.

Since I have not seen any scientific proof and hence I do not
believe in existence of religious theories, life after death and the
concept of God.

What is the measure of success for a man: or for that matter for
a women.

The only thing that prevents me from learning is my formal

education.

Reality is an illusion, but a persistent one.

Technological progress is like an axe in the hands of a pathological

criminal.

We worship female deities, but the crimes against women

continues to rise, are we not hypocrites?
IT Industry hiring Civil and Mechanical Engineers is hurting Indian
Economy

There is no harm in lying as long as it doesn't hurt anyone.

Honesty has little room in today's politics.

Euthanasia is a basic right of every human.

Have the foreign MNC's pampered the Indian consumer.

Competition is the best leveller in the unequal world.

Industrialization is harming the ecological balance.

Democracy is meant for the educated

If India were to reap the benefits of its demographics, then it

must reduce the poverty.

Judicial machinery in India has failed.

Climate change,why to bother?

Villages are the pride of India.

Reforms are needed in the Indian medical system,why and how?

National games, a costly affair for a poor nation.

What can India learn from the Egyptian revolution?

Education bill: a step in the right direction?

Impact of social networking sites

Should the wages paid to workers,depend solely on the
profitability of that Industry.

Should India reduce investing into modernizing Indian armed

forces?

Should production of luxury cars be stopped?

Do movie-stars deserve such high remuneration.

Are Foreign MNCs helping India.

India's global image is guided by private enterprises.

India's equity market growth has reflected strong fundamental

gains.

M and A-A expensive way of corporate growth.

Privatization of sports in India will attract more talent.

India's productivity growth is indeed as rapid as compared to

other nations.

Will the recent decisions taken by the environment ministry lead

to sustainable development.

Food security policy act should guarantee food not only to those
who are below the poverty line, but also to those who are above it.

Wikileaks has brought more transparency in international

diplomacy.

Appreciation of the Rupee will harm the global competitiveness of

Indian ITEs.
Should there be 100% FDI allowed in India.

Has spirituality become a business today.

Media's role in exposing scams.

Paperless office:a dream or a reality in India.

Is free market a prerequisite for growth.

Should there be a retirement age for politicians.

Customer satisfaction must be achieved at any cost.

Management education is not necessary to become a successful

manager.

Business and ethics do not go hand in hand.

Who do we need more: entrepreneurs or managers?

Corruption is inevitable

CSR is a sham.

A good policy is one where it does not hit a man when he is down
and out.

Money is requisite for progress.

Man working with machine has resulted in man working like

machine.

I TABLETS will soon replace libraries.

Media sensationalizes the news.

National Affairs: (Covering Education, Defence & Security,
Population, Inflation, Divide in Society etc)

-- India should develop fighter jets on its own and not buy them
from abroad.
-- Allowing Foreign Universities in India is bad for the country.
-- Education and medicine are no longer noble professions, they
have become commercial
-- More than one billion Indians: A gigantic problem or a sea of
opportunities.
-- India has the largest pool of talented manpower, but very few
innovations and patented products.
-- Food Inflation is the result of Indian Government's
mismanagement and apathy.
-- What should government do to attract the youth to armed forces?
-- Government should not negotiate with terrorists for hostages
-- IIMs should make one year of social service compulsory for all
students
-- Failure of population control measures is a blessing in disguise
for India
-- Media has become a tool of propaganda for the rich and the
powerful
-- Discuss the steps that can be taken to improve food security in
India
-- To ensure better quality of urban life, India should restrict the
migration of people from rural to urban.
-- India versus Bharat: a divided nation
-- How should women empower themselves?
-- Child artists are an exploited lot today
-- Diversity is not an indicator of inclusiveness
-- Are Gandhian values irrelevant for society today?
-- Should Nehru's temples of learning remain elitist?
-- We should conserve and protect our rich monuments
-- Yoga ‐ A forgotten ancient notion or eastern repackaging?
Indian Economy and Business

-- Discuss the role of Public Private Partnership in India's

Economic Growth
-- The recent financial crisis highlights the perils of Capitalism
-- The Inherent vice of Capitalism is unequal sharing of blessings
and the inherent virtue of Socialism is equal sharing of misery
-- Inclusive Growth
-- Should Petroleum Subsidy go away?
-- Discuss the strategies to promote the tourism industry in India
-- Ethics in Business
-- Corporate Social Responsibility
-- Should government roll back the economic stimulus?
-- Is disinvestment in profit making PSU's advisable?
-- Our Governance and Political System share a deep mistrust for
Entrepreneurship
-- Foreign direct investment will revitalize the education system
-- Businesses should concentrate on making profits and not
address social and environmental issues
-- Economic growth without distributive justice can only lead to
violence
-- Discuss the impact of free trade on the economic development
of developing countries
-- Indian Economy in the Post WTO era
-- Indian economic development is not reaching the people who
need it most.
-- Recession is the mother of innovation.
-- Business houses should take greater social responsibility.
Politics

-- Voting should be made compulsory

-- Women's Reservation Bill
-- Banning politicians with criminal records from contesting
elections is against their right
-- Union Budget is a useless exercise and activities like recession
puts it off‐track
-- Should there be a minimum educational qualification for being an
M.P?
-- Breaking down larger Indian states into smaller units will lead
to better governance and development.

International

-- Does India have a role in Afghanistan? Discuss

-- India should follow the Chinese example of rapid imitation
rather than focusing on fundamental innovations
-- India will become a superpower in the near future

Abstract
-- Ships are safer in the harbour, but they are not meant for the
same
-- Asked at the age of 83, as to which of his project would he
choose as his masterpiece, Frank Lloyd Wright, the architect
answered, “The next one”
-- Great men think alike but group thinking results in poor
decisions

Sports
-- IPL is good for business but bad for cricket
-- Hosting Commonwealth Games and World Cup Hockey is waste
of money
-- Even with a billion population, India is lagging behind in sports
Environment

-- Economic growth without environmental damage – a mirage or a

reality
-- Global Warming is a fictitious devil created by scientists
-- Is climate change alert an exaggeration?
-- Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need but not
every man’s greed

Science and Technology

-- Is Nuclear Energy the best way forward for India's ever

growing energy demands?
-- (MOM) ‐ showcasing India's technological prowess or wasting
scarce resources?
-- Should we ban genetic engineering of plants and animals?

***********