Overview of Essays in UPSC Exam

The Essays section in the UPSC Mains Exam may seem daunting due to its length. You may be wondering how you can write 1000-1200 words in 3 hours, and how you can structure your arguments within that time span.

Overcoming these challenges involves diligent study of General Studies (GS) materials and consistent practice in essay writing. As you perfect your essay structure, you can start incorporating quotes and anecdotes to add depth and richness to your essays.

How to Use Anecdotes in UPSC Mains Essays

• Choose a topic with multiple dimensions. This allows for a more complex and interesting essay.
• Brainstorm keywords and ideas related to the topic. Note down any relevant quotes, data points, anecdotes, or references to movies, books, authors, philosophers, or leaders.
• Formulate questions that your essay will answer. This will help guide your writing and keep your essay focused and structured.
• Make sure to include an engaging introduction, a well-argued body, and a strong conclusion. Your introduction should include a hook (a catchy quote or data point), a thesis (a brief outline of your argument), and some background information.
• Use rhetorical questions to guide your reader and provide structure to your essay.
• Analyze your topic from different perspectives. Consider the impact on individuals, families, communities, society, the nation, and humanity as a whole.
• Conclude your essay with a suggestion, a summary of your argument, and a positive outlook. Try to use parallelism for a more effective conclusion.

For more exam resources, refer to the links given below: