Preparing for Essay Writing

Read a variety of topics

The range of subject matter has to be wide, right from economics, business and the economy to politics,
sociology, psychology and philosophy. The sources can comprise editorials, magazines of general and business
related issues, free resources/excerpts on the internet, international media and books by renowned authors,
thinkers and analysts.

“Nothing is taboo or boring. You must combine reading fiction with a lot of non-fiction. The beauty about non-
fiction is you can read independent chapters/articles /write-ups, unlike fiction where you may have to read the
novel in entirety as the unfolding plot have a connection with the earlier chapters,” says Jaya.

Rumination
After you read something, you must spend time developing a perspective on the same; look for contrarian views
on the same; learn more about key elements-chew the cud, so to speak. This helps you write effectively. “Mere
reading will not help you write,” cautions Jaya.

Practice
Writing regularly helps the brain ideate easily. It is as simple as that. “You will realize what you are good at,
where you flounder, what mistakes occur with respect to usage and this will not only make you confident for D
day but write effortlessly,” mentions Jaya.

The methodology for writing a good essay:

-- Read the topic carefully and determine what you have been asked to write: Are you expected to present the
pros and cons of a particular issue? Are you expected to present an analytical piece? Are you required to write
an argumentative essay or come up with different perspectives vis-a-vis an abstract topic?

Now reorganize thoughts into the three section format:

-- A terrific introduction: Employ a quote, (only if it is relevant) or a generic observation pertaining to the topic
at hand.
-- Supporting ideas: This effectively is the body of the essay that is generally fleshed out over two or three small
paragraphs. You can move from one paragraph to other by means of connectives such as 'Furthermore',
'Moreover' or 'To illustrate' etc. If you wish to present a deviation from the main line of thought or state an
exception, you can use words like ' however', 'but' etc.
-- Conclusion: Wrap up the text with a fitting finale, using connectives such as ' In conclusion', 'Hence' or
'Thus'. Otherwise, however well written the essay, it will hang and have an unfinished feel to it.

Important checklist
-- Cogency and coherence: The essay should have a smooth flow of thought and maintain relevance at all times.
Moving back and forth will have a stilted effect.
-- Sentence structure: The word choice and construction of sentences should be apt and concise. Certain
principles of grammar and usage must be adhered to.
-- Proofreading: Spelling and grammatical errors should be strictly avoided.