Essay: A toolkit for good writing

Success in the UPSC essay paper depends not just on knowledge but on how effectively you communicate your ideas. Of all the aspects of writing, there are three key ones that demand urgent attention: cohesion, coherence, and word choice. These can help morph an average essay into a high-scoring one.

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Cohesion: Creating Logical Flow

Cohesion is the way sentences and paragraphs connect to each other, making sure that the essay reads smoothly and ideas appear logically in the text. Here are some quick pointers:

- Use transition words and phrases (moreover, nevertheless, what’s more, additionally, to name a few) to link sentences and paragraphs.

- For easy readability and referencing, repeat key terms or use pronouns to hark back to earlier ideas, maintaining continuity.

- Sequencing your points logically can be achieved either chronologically, from general to specific, or from cause to effect. This will add to the unity of thought.

For instance, if one is writing about women’s empowerment, instead of abruptly shifting from education to economic participation, use connecting phrases such as shown here:

“Education plays a prime role in empowering women.  Additionally, access to education directly impacts their participation in the workforce.  Societies that make educational investments for girls consequently experience faster economic growth.

Here, transition words like ‘additionally’ and ‘consequently’ help the reader glide smoothly from one idea to the next, creating a cohesive narration.

To add to these points, one can also say that it is a good idea to read the paragraph aloud after writing it. If it feels choppy, add transition words or pronouns to link ideas to rework the frame. For example, instead of “Women face discrimination. The workforce participation is low,” you could write, “Women face discrimination, which in turn leads to lower workforce participation.”

Coherence: Structuring for Clarity

Coherence may also be referred to as consonance of ideas, as here, we focus on structure, clarity of thought, and logic in the essay. A coherent essay presents ideas in a logical way, making it easy for the reader to grasp the argument in its entirety.

Here are some points that could help:

• Begin each paragraph with a sentence that highlights the main idea.
• Arrange paragraphs so that each one builds on the previous, developing the arguments step by step.
• Avoid clubbing unrelated ideas or going back and forth between these; ensure each paragraph relates to your central theme.

If your essay topic is ‘Technology and Society,’ a coherent structure might appear to be thus:

1. Introduction: Define the relation between technology and society.
2. Paragraph 1: Discuss positive influence (improved technology, travel, etc.).
3. Paragraph 2: Address challenges (e.g., disruptions in the job market, harmful impact on the environment).
4. Paragraph 3: Write down your solutions.
5. Conclusion: Summarise and write a forward-looking statement.

We notice here that each paragraph logically follows the previous one, and all are tied to the central theme. It is worth mentioning here that after outlining the essay, do check if each paragraph answers the question and connects to your main argument. If a paragraph seems out of place, move it or revise its topic sentence for better logical organisation.

Word-wise

The thought behind using a pool of impactful lexis in the essay would mean not only accuracy but also a range of impactful and precise vocabulary to convey the chain of thought.

It is a greater flexibility of the lexis to convey accurate thought that one needs to focus on rather than using convoluted and ill-fitting jargon, as that could be counterintuitive. Here are some more tips on choice of words:

• Avoid repetition by using synonyms (major, significant, historic instead of frequently saying ‘important’).
• Use subject-specific vocabulary where appropriate.

(‘equitable distribution,’ ‘demographic dividend’ )

• Write idioms, proverbs, or quotes judiciously to add flavour, but make sure they are contextually aware.
• Be precise—choose words that convey exact meaning, and avoid vague terms like ‘nice,’ ‘things,’ and ‘stuff.’

So, instead of saying, ‘Education is significant for women. It helps them do better things.” You could say, ‘Education is instrumental in empowering women, enabling them to participate meaningfully in economic and social spheres.’

A high-scoring UPSC essay is not just a compendium of facts—it is well thought out, articulated , cohesive, logical, and a balanced idea in text. With coherence, you present a clear, unified structure. Through effective use of lexical resources, you demonstrate both depth and precision.