Master the art of developing arguments

For anyone undertaking the daunting task of attempting the essay paper in the UPSC exam, the fact that a cogent, insightful, cohesive and coherent text has to be produced, that reads more like a thoughtful conversation than a textbook, the task is not only cognitively demanding but aesthetically challenging.

Unlike casual conversation, these essays require you to assemble your thoughts into a coherent structure: an introduction that hooks, a body that builds, and a conclusion that resonates. A paragraph needs to be augmented and supported with data, facts, anecdotes, experiences or  personal notes, and gently lead the reader to your intended conclusions. Developing effective arguments in the UPSC essay paper is as much about structure and evidence as it is about empathy and perspective.

Clarity of thought is where it begins- stemming from a lucid comprehension of  the topic and its many dimensions. While one may garner topic sentences or arguments to support, negotiate, present and examine the case. It is imperative that we brainstorm main ideas and arguments and its developments before diving headlong into writing the topic.

Begin with an impactful introduction

To lend authenticity and connect with the reader at the outset, it is crucial to set the tone by writing a compelling introduction, an arresting thought, a quote, a provocative statement or even a relevant statistic. The follow up mandates building and stacking, or layering your arguments in successive paragraphs. Here’s where the real work begins!

Building Blocks

It is best to adopt a multi-dimensional approach and examine the topic from varied lens—social, economic, political, technological, and ethical.  A central idea in each paragraph will make for smooth readability. This ensures writing with depth and covers the topic holistically. Then follow the stages of stating your stance clearly, so, support the argument with evidence such as historical references, government reports to lend gravitas and credibility to your text. Use real-world scenarios, well-known case studies, and contemporary events, to ground your essay in actuality. For instance, in an essay on Climate change one can reference the worst climate-induced disasters in its history in Pakistan, in or the recent monsoon pattern shifts. Such examples make the abstract tangible. Case studies—whether about a district’s digital transformation or a landmark Supreme Court case—offer not only evidence but also narrative flavour, making your argument relatable, memorable and readable.

Ensure that you also present the other side of the picture and gently refute them to chisel a wholesome reading feed. Cohesive devices such as ‘however’, ‘nevertheless’, ‘what’s more, ‘additionally’ and such like, can be used to carve a logical flow and build up to transition into what’s to follow. Discourse markers are a great way to show movement in the text organically.

That balancing act

Just as life isn’t black and white, the conclusion in the essay needn’t be so. Delving into and peeling the theme’s many layers, then becomes mandatory and not only perfunctory. This ensures an engaging read that sustains the interest and also displays one’s power of reflective thought. The conclusion doesn’t only present a synopsis but also presents a kernel of your arguments, reiterates your stand, notes main aspects to form a forceful defence and very often suggests a way forward. Some candidates like to echo a phrase or idea from their introduction, bringing the essay full circle So, you could use techniques such as echoing back to the beginning thought to gather the strands and themes mentioned earlier. Else you could finish with either a rhetorical question or a call to action to leave on a thinker’s note. End with optimism, practicality, or a call to action, leaving the examiner with a lasting impression of your clarity and depth of thought.

Lastly- No substitute for practice

Helps to retain simplicity in language by skirting jargon and ornamental language. Keeping it lively and sparkling by practising writing succinctly on varied topics is an everyday act, till it becomes second skin. Ask for feedback and revise. What matters is not how fancy your words are but how clearly your arguments emerge from them. Over time, your arguments will become not just logical but also robust and convincing.