QUALITIES OF A GOOD ESSAY FOR CSS EXAM||Outline ||Introduction||Body

QUALITIES OF A GOOD ESSAY  Essay being the reflection of writer’s whims, caprices, idiosyncrasies and rationality, it is difficult to bind...

QUALITIES OF A GOOD ESSAY 
Essay being the reflection of writer’s whims, caprices, idiosyncrasies and rationality, it is difficult to bind it in a few formed qualities. As the subject-matter includes “Anything from the Day of Judgment to a pair of scissors“as Lynd puts it, the qualities are likely to be different form essay to essay. All the essays, however, possess some common qualities.

Qualities of a Good Essay

Structure
 Essay is an organic whole but not unshaped lump. It is divided into paragraphs of different length.

Unity

 Essay is like a building which is, no doubt, made of individual bricks but each brick is not called “a building“. It is the unity of design which goes to make the building. Similarly every sentence, each paragraph and essay as a whole should have unity. The systematic development of thought is the key-note of a

Good essay

 Digression and unnecessary padding will defeat the very purpose of an essay.
Coherence
The ideas in the essay should not hang loose like gossamer but should be stitched together in a logical sequence. Ideas in the essay are interlinked like the links of chain. Disjointed ideas will mar the beauty of the essay. The hotch-potch of ill-digested ideas creates anarchy in the essay.

Balance

 A proper proportion should be maintained between the various parts of the essay. If the trivial points are unduly stretched and important points unduly economized, the essay will have ill-balance which is a disqualification. The main theme should always be kept in mind. Suppose the essay has to be written in about 1,000 words, the best division of paragraphs and points would be to put approximately:
(i) 100 words in the introduction.

(ii) 100 words in different paragraphs numbering 8, and
(iii) About 100 words in the conclusion.
Choice of Subject
 Choose the topic with which you are thoroughly, acquainted. Some students select unfamiliar subject, thinking that the attempt may bring them more marks but it is simply wishful thinking. A man who is the master of the topic with which you have got only nodding acquaintance, will secure definitely higher marks than you. Understand the subject thoroughly before you start writing. Wrong start will mean wrong

Essay. 

Making an Outline of your Essay.

A haphazard approach would mean confusion, repetition and various other flaws in the essay. An outline is like the blueprint of a building. If the essay is not planned well, the execution will also be Defective.

The Introduction.

Every essay needs an introduction. Introduction is the face of the essay. It should, therefore, be striking fascinating and must at once arrest the attention of the reader. Various essayists have started their essays in different ways. The modern tendency is to take a direct plunge into the subject-matter. The hackneyed method was to start the essay with a definition or quotation. The start may also depend on the particular subject-matter. Even a quotation may be most fit if the subject of the essay can conveniently accommodate it.

The Body.

It is the most important portion of the essay. Here only one is likely to be led astray. The middle of the essay contains the main discussion on the subject matter and as such attempts should be made to avoid non-essential material.

The Conclusion

Conclusion flows naturally out of the essay. No hard and fast rules can be prescribed. The end should neither be dramatic nor abrupt but natural. It is the last impression on the reader or the examiner. Be very careful that last impression is not bad. No indication like,

(i) It is the time, the essay should end;
(ii) In conclusion, I may add; .
(iii)   God, solve the problems;
(iv) Lack of time did not allow me to write more, Etc.
Should be given
If introduction is the face, middle the body, conclusion constitutes the legs of the essay. If a beautiful face and symmetrical body are supported on lean legs, the whole structure
Will lose its charm

Essay is an organic whole; hence the beginning, the middle and the end are to be knit together.

Style
 Dean Alford says in this connection:

"Be simple, be unaffected, and be honest in your speaking and writing. Never use a long word where a short one will do. Call a spade a spade and not a well known oblong instrument of manual husbandry; let home be home, and not a residence; a place a place and not a locality and so
 Simplicity is the soul of good English".
Thomas Wilson is of the opinion:
"Among all other lessons this should first be learned that we never affected any strange ink-horn terms, but to speak as is commonly received, neither seeking to be overfine, nor yet living over careless, using our speech as most men do, and ordering our wits as the fewest have Done ". Hence avoid:

In exact Phraseology--(illogical or incongruous expressions as): 

(i) He heard a shriek.
(ii) It was an, old woman being strangled by the burglars.
(iii) A shriek cannot be an old woman.
The sentence should be written as: “He heard a shriek. It was made by an old woman being strangled by the burglars.

2. Tautology

--(different words expressing the same idea).

Example When Liaqat Ali was murdered, there was universal

Mourning by everyone
(Use either "universal" or "everyone.")

3. Redundancy

(The Use of more words than are required)
Example: (1')
 Unless and until you speak out, I shall not leave you.

(Use either "unless" or "until").
(ii) Let us mutually help each other. (Omit either”mutually" or "each other").

4. Repetition-

Repetition has got a very monotonous effect on the reader. Repetition when badly used, instead of musical effect, produces granting noise.

Example: "I was of the opinion that women must assert their rights. I am of the opinion that they must do it even now. I shall be of the opinion that the women must do it in future Also,The best attempt would be: "I was of the opinion that women must assert their rights. I still say so and will say in future also."

5. Verbosity

--(use of many words where a few should suffice).
Example: "The two friends took a pledge that they would stand by
Each other in adversity and help each other in all odds of life." ‘ . Better written in the following way:
“The two friends pledged to help each other in adversity."

6. Periphrasis

--(A round about statement).
Exam le: . 13"She came out of the sacred edifice and when asked he answer in thewhether the beadsman was inside gave t negative."
Rewrite: "She came out of the church and when asked the beadsman was inside, replied he was not. "

7. Pedantry-(Saying simple things in a learned language). 

Example: . "Under unfavourable climatic conditions, the aeroplane could not take off. "
Better write: . "In bad weather the aeroplane could not take off.

8. Archaic Words-(old words and phrases). 

Example: "Methinks that the spouse of my neighbour had left for Karachi."
Better write: "I think that the wife of my neighbour had left for Karachi."

9. Foreign Words-When equivalent English word is available, do not use the foreign words. 

Example: "Sottovoce I had a teteatete with a literature."
Prefer:
".In a low voice, I had intimate conversation with a literary man. "

10. Technical Terms-(terms used in particular professions law, medicine, science, etc.). 

Example:
The land he mortgaged was lying camouuflaged and more could see the alkaline covering.“
(Avoid frequent use of such words as given in italics)

11. Vulgar-ism (A phrase or word in common use but not used by the genteel) 

Example: "That gent’s kid is in bad biz".
Better use: "That gentleman’s child is in bad business."

12. Colloquialism~-(used in conversation but not in writing). Example: "He failed in Math. In Metric Exam." Write: "He failed in Mathematics in the Matriculation Examination." 

13. Slang--should be avoided in writing. It is not at all approved by the good stylists. 

Example:
"If you mug up the material, you may get through the examination."

Write: "If you get the material by heart, you may get through the examination. "

14. Hackneyed Expressions-(worn-out, old expressions). Avoid the use of: 

(i) To kill two birds with one stone. (ii) To burn the midnight oil (iii) Rome was not built in a day, etc.

15. Abbreviations-Essay is the test of your spelling. Do not use abbreviations. 

Example: The Govt. Of Pakistan has provided loud-speakers at the Rly-Stations.

(Writes”Government,“Railway Stations" as full words).
16. Bad Spelling and Punctuation-Nobody tolerates a spelling mistake.