What is an Essay?

An essay is a piece of academic writing that generally consists of 1500 to 5000 words. This is an

intellectual exploration of a topic to find different arguments and evidences to develop the

writer's perspective, opinion or stance. The word essay originally means an attempt or a try at

some topic, but technically it usually means a comprehensive piece of writing on a specific topic,

The purpose and given time of an essay determines its length and for students of CSS and PMS its

length is 2500-3000 words or 20-25 paragraphs or 250-300 sentences. Every essay has four major

portions which include outline, introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion. Your examiner

marks your essay, makes comments not only about what you have said (content and arguments)

but also the way you have written or organized all this in your essay (grammar, expression,

structure). Your examiner will grade your essay too, so that you can see where you stand in relation

to whatever standards apply to your examination. However, one should not see essay writing is

simply compilation of some information on some given topics without any coherence and logic

but there should be logical connection among ideas, sentences and paragraphs. In addition to the

above, an essay consists of four major parts:

A. An outline 5%

B. The introduction 10%

C. The main body 75%

D. The conclusion 10%

The introduction and the conclusion (unusual paragraphs), although very important and key

parts of the essay, often provide a complete summary of the essay relatively in short and brief

writing. The bulk of an essay, both in form and substance, is contained in the main body which
usually consists of 18-20 usual paragraphs. The introduction is intended to lead the reader into the

topic and clarify what the essay will specifically deal with. It usually consists of one paragraph, but

this depends on the length of the essay and the amount of background information the context

requires. The introduction will contain a key sentence at the end in form of thesis statement - if

necessary more than one sentence - which ideally appears at the end of the introduction. Then

start the usual/body paragraphs which deal with the major ideas that support the thesis

statement and this is always in form of description or stance. Each main idea/argument is

presented in a separate paragraph and developed with supporting ideas in the form of definitions,

explanations and connection with the topic of the essay. This is always illustrated with examples,

quotations, facts and data where appropriate or necessary. The conclusion brings the reader back

to the purpose of the essay and draws all the points together before making a final comment on

the basis of previous discussion/argument. The ultimate purpose of an essay is to show a

progression from a general level-in the introduction- down to the specific-the statement

and body-and back up to the general level again: conclusion. The purpose of a CSS/PMS essay

is to provide written evidence of your ability to give your opinion on a topic, weigh arguments,

organize your thoughts, express these thoughts in a logical, coherent, critical and correct

grammatical manner and finally reach at the conclusion. In short an essay is an opinion of the

writer in 20-22 paragraphs. Furthermore a good and an attractive essay must have following five

components which the examiner of the essay always examines while assessing the essay.

However; it is a fact that even many talented students could not pass essay due to faulty structure.

All the five components have equal weight and hence Include;

A. Structure

B. Content

C. Expression
D. Grammar

E. Arguments

Types of Essays: An essay is a piece of writing that methodically analyses and evaluates a topic, a
question or an issue. Fundamentally, an essay is designed to get your academic opinion on a particular
matter. Many students get confused about the word opinion in essay writing, and think that essay
writing should just stick to report the facts and forget about opinion altogether.

However, there are major differences between an academic opinion, based on strong evidences, and a
personal opinion, based on emotion and feeling without concrete evidence and logic, and it is important
to comprehend these when you are putting together an essay. Writing a good and comprehensive essay
is not about simply surveying and re-telling existing ideas. Instead, a good essay takes into account
various opinions and points of view and puts forward an argument that reflects the writer's informed
opinion and stance. Furthermore; there are many kinds of essays which differ from one another on the
basis of formation of outline, selection of words, presentation of facts, organization of arguments,
composition of paragraphs, forms of tenses and description or narration of ideas and events. Writing
different types of essays effectively has become critical and key requirement to get good marks in essay
writing. Students must remember that every type of essay has its own requirements and their different
approaches can be obviously seen in structure. There are over a dozen types of essays, so it is easy to
get confused. However, essentially there are four major types of essays which are included in CSS. These
include;

1. Factual or Social: The essay that describes socio-economic issues is called factual or social essay. The
purpose of such essay is to explain a topic in a logical and straightforward manner. Without bells and
whistles, such essays present a fair and balanced analysis of the topic based on facts mostly in the form
of causes, impacts and solutions. Furthermore; the key requirement in such essays is to convince the
reader to accept the writer's point of view or recommendation in simple but flawless language. The
writer builds a case using facts, examples, expert opinions, and sound reasoning to get good marks. The
writer should present all sides - primary and secondary statements - of the argument in order to
facilitate the examiner but must be able to communicate clearly and without equivocation why certain
causes, consequences and solutions are more critical. Its ideal length is 2500-3000 words and it always
gets only passing marks. Some of its examples are;

1. Global Warming:Its Causes and Consequences (2018)

2. Energy Crisis: Causes and Consequences (2012)

2. Descriptive: The descriptive essay provides details about how something looks, feels, tastes, smells,
makes one feel, or sounds and this essay paints a picture with words. In CSS/PMS such essay often
requires comprehensive description and analysis of some concept, personal event, organization and
movement. Analysis does not mean telling the story. Many students fall into the trap of telling the
reader what is happening in the text instead of analyzing it. The topic you have chosen to analyze is
divided in primary and secondary statements. After stating the problem, elaborate and present your
argument. Its ideal length is 2000-2200 words and mostly such essays get good marks.

1. Pakistanis Rich in Resources but Poor in Management (2010)

2. World as a Global Village: Learning to Live Together (2016)

3. Argumentative/Persuasive/Literary: This is the type of essay where you prove that your

opinion, stance, theory or hypothesis about a topic or an issue is correct or more truthful than that

of others. This requires a writer to defend a position on a topic using evidence/arguments from

personal experience, literature, political science, theology, history, psychology and sociology to

support his or her stance/viewpoint. The writer usually uses several different arguments to prove

his/her point and you may not quote more than one example from one source. In short, it is very

similar to the persuasive essay, but the difference is that you are arguing for your opinion as

opposed to others, rather than directly trying to persuade someone to adopt your point of view.

The argumentative essay should be based on pros and cons and you have to support one side with

solid evidence and examples. Furthermore; it also involves subjectivity of the readers/examiners

and thus enables them to award highest as well as lowest marks for the same essay. Some of its

examples are;

1. Is colonial mentality impeding Pakistan's progress?

2. Are modern wars not holy wars?

3. Great nations win without fighting.

4. Narrative: A narrative essay is a description of some past events, and personality in which the

writers share their personal experience. Writing a narrative essay provides the examiner an
opportunity to get to know and understand you better. During the process of writing a narrative

essay, you will learn ways to articulate personal experiences to inform and entertain others.

Narrative essays provide human interest, spark our curiosity and draw us close to the storyteller.

However, narrative essays never appear in any type of competitive exams like CSS/PMS.

Actually in simple words, the essay has two major types and they are totally different from each

other on the basis of formation of outline, composition of introduction, construction of body

paragraphs, organization of conclusion, selection of words, presentation of facts, organization of

arguments, forms of tenses and description or narration of ideas and events. These are;

Descriptive: The type of the essay that always describes concepts, ideas, events, social evil etc. in

the forms of primary and secondary statements.

Argumentative: The type of the essay that requires your stance in the form of yes or no. In short

the argumentative essay is a specific type of writing in which a student chooses a topic (often a
controversial topic), researches it extensively, and then uses the evidence gathered in the research

process to establish his/her opinion or position on the topic In an essay designed to persuade

others to share that opinion.

This table will further elaborate and help the students to understand different kinds of essays;

Key Argumentative/ Descriptive/

Differences Literary/ Expository Factual/Social

in the form of question

Prove with your

Requirement stance of yes or no.

Diversified, as every

argument should be
Nature of topic Steterment/Quatation Statement /Issue/Fact

Describe in the forms

of universal, primary

and secondary headings.

Knowledge taken from different Average

el subject/field.

Failure Maximum Average

Length Short (1500-1800) Average(2000+)

Highest Average

Knowledge with

Extra-ordinary

Language

Minimum Knowledge

Criteria of checking with good Language

Components ofan Essay

Writing an essay Is complex and daunting process for many students, but this Is pretty straj ht.

forward and simple. Many students get confused about the key elements which are required jp ,

good essay and how a teacher marks an essay. An essay Is not treated as a whole but thisis divideq

insome basic components and examiners give equal marks to all componentsand these are;

1. Structure 20

2. Content 20

3. Expression 20

4. Grammar 20

5. Argument 20

However; most of students do not know all this and they put their maximum effort on content

without knowing expression, grammar and structure (number of sentences and ideas) of 3

paragraph and even structure of a sentence.

1.Structure

The process of organizing and putting sentences and paragraphs together is known as structure

of the essay. Itis an overall arrangement of sentences and paragraphs in the essay. Butitis noticed

that most of the CSS/PMS students’ essays are frequently organized either by repetition or by

illogical pattern. A good argument proceeds in a logical way, but also develops the implications of

athesis more deeply asthe essay progresses. The reader should understand how each new section
-outline, introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion-starts and extends the arguments,

Students must remember that every section of the structure has its own format and

requirements.

In simple words this is away/plan in which different parts of an essay are combined together. It has

three parts:

1. Outline 5%

2. Unusual paragraph (introduction and conclusion) 20%

3 Usual paragraph (all body paragraphs) 75%

It can be mapped in the following way.

Outline

An outline is simply a framework for presenting the central, main and supporting Ideas for a particular
topic. Outlines help you develop a logical, coherent structure for your essay, making it easier to translate
your ideas into words and sentences. Once your outline is complete, you will have a clear picture of how
you want your essay to develop. An outline always provides a complete picture of your essay and the
same is followed in your essay as well. Every paragraph is reflected in your outline. It is the outline which
decides the future of your essay. It has been reported in FPSC examiners' report, “Students make
lengthy outlines with very little relevant material. Rarely, outlines are quite relevant and extensive, but
they are not well organized and have not been followed in essay."

Types of Outline: We have two types of outline that is Topic Outline and Sentence Outline.

A Topic Outline consists of headings - Universal, Primary and Secondary - and every heading has been
further described in the form of points and arguments which should consist of short phrases. These
phrases provide the central/main idea for the topic sentence of a paragraph. This type of outline is often
recommended by FPSC examiners. A Sentence Outline summarizes each idea in a complete sentence
that may become the topic sentence for a paragraph in the essay.

An ideal outline must have following features;

1. It must provide a comprehensive image and every argument/paragraph should be reflected in outline

2. Your outline should be very comprehensive that may provide the overview of your whole discussion.

In order to make this comprehensive in Descriptive Essay, this is always divided in Universal, Primary and
Secondary headings.

a. Universal Heading: The heading which has been repeated in every essay and an essay has two such
headings - Introduction and conclusion

b. Primary Heading: This is portion/heading of your essay which has been asked by your examiner that
can never be compromised by you. For example if the essay topic is “Global Warming: Its Causes and
Consequences’, your Primary headings are causes and consequences which can never be missed;
however, the solutions can be left as it has not been asked by the examiner.

c. Secondary Heading: This is the portion of the essay which has not been asked by the examiner
categorically, but if you add and that seems relevant you will get more marks as this always makes an
essay more comprehensive. For example if the essay topic is “Global Warming: Its Causes and
Consequences’, your primary headings are. causes and consequences but the addition of solutions
makes the essay more comprehensive and it would help the students to meet the required length that is
2500-3000 words.
However, you must remember that structure of the outline of an Argumentative Essay is slightly
different from the Descriptive Essay. This has following components;

a. Universal Heading: The heading which has been repeated in every essay and an essay has two such
headings - Introduction and Conclusion.

b. Your Stance: This is the portion/heading of your essay which proves your stance/point of view. You
add all of your arguments In the favour of the topic under this heading.

c. Opponents' Stance: This portion gives you the overview of your opponents’ stance or counter
arguments and your response to them. These are the objections that your opponents would raise
against your arguments, and have to be addressed in order for your essay to be truly persuasive.
Responding to your opponents arguments and pointing out why they are invalid is as important as
presenting your own because this will strengthen your arguments and this in simple words is also known
as antithesis of counter arguments.

Use the key words of your essay in headings as this will force you to remain relevant to the topic of your
essay.

Every heading must be self-explanatory.

Capitalize every key word of the heading except prepositions, articles, helping verbs, pronouns and
conjunctions.

Illustrate the headings with points in the form of phrases.

Every point can be divided into sub points in order to explain the content of the paragraph; however,
separate paragraphs are not required for sub points.

Sentences are not allowed except interrogatives. However, sentences can be used in Argumentative
Essays.

It should be flawless and you cannot afford a single mistake in your outline.

You must work on its presentation and always use markers and pointers- only of blue and black

Color to make this more attractive.

Outline of a Descriptive Essay

 Topic: Global Warming: Its Causes and Consequences

Introduction (Universal Heading)

1. Emergence of Industrial Revolution

2. What is global warming?

3. Thesis Statement

Causes of Global Warming (Primary/Essential Heading)

1. Concentration of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide

2. Excessive use of insecticide, lubricants and fertilizers
3. Nuclear radiation
4. Deforestation
5. Burning of fossils fuel
6. Chlorofluoro carbon and depletion of ozone layer
7. Population explosion

Threats due to Global Warming (Primary Heading)

1. Severe floods
2. Melting of polar ice, glaciers and ice-sheets of Green Land
3. Rising of sea level
4. Catastrophic rains
5. Severe hurricanes
6. Frequent natural disaster
7. Disasters ‘impact on marine life
8. Encroachment of coastal areas
9. Ozone depletion
10. Disappearance of species
11. Mass migration of people
12. Loss of economy
13. Loss of biodiversity
14. Increase in range of diseases
15. Decline in agricultural production

Measurements to Counter Global Warming (Secondary Heading)

1. Plantation on mass level

2. Use of renewable energy
3. Energy conservation
 4. Reduction of greenhouse gases
5. Saline resistant crops
6. Forest planning
7. Technology transfer

Conclusion (Universal Heading)

Outline for an Argumentative Essay

Topic: Is Gender Equality a Myth?

Introduction (Universal Heading)

1. Evolution of civic life

2. What does gender equality mean?
3. Thesis statement

Gender Equality is a Myth (Your Stance)

1. Male dominance in society manifests the reality of gender inequality

2. Cultural attachment
3. Orthodox religious practices
4. Conservative social norms
5. Economic dependence of women
6. Limited political participation by women
7. Limited job opportunities all over the world
8. Plato called women, “property of state”
9. Frailty thy name is woman

How Gender Equality is a Fact (Opponents Stance)

1. Women equality in the West

2. Article 25(2) of Constitution of Pakistan 1973 ensures equality
3. Biological equality of men and women

Conclusion (Universal Heading)

 Topic: Has Democracy Failed to Deliver in Pakistan?

Introduction (Universal Heading)

1. Evolution of different forms of governance

2. Democracy andits key objectives

Failure of Democracy to Deliver in Pakistan (Your Stance)

1. Extreme poverty confirms the failure of democracy;

i. 27% of total population lives below poverty.

ii. 48% citizens do nothaveaccess to clean water,

2. Absence of transparency and accountability manifests the reality of democracy in Pakistan.

. Freedom of speech can never be denied in real democratic states: kidnapping and torture

on civil society activists.

4. Riseininflation

5. Prevalence of genderinequality shows the worth of democracy.

6. Restoration of democratic government has failed to build confidence of foreign direct

investors: decrease in FDI.

. Failure to ensure national integration:insurgency in Balochistan and FATA.

. Failure to provide basic necessities of life;

a. Food

b. Shelter

c. Education

w
oN

Areas Where Democracy Remains Successful (Opponent Stance)

1. Political parties introduce devolution of power to ensure provision of basic necessities:

18thamendment.

2. NFCaward 2010:a step by democratic government toward national integration: division of

resources on diverse formula

3. Freedom of press: emergence of social media and private channels.

Conclusion (Universal Heading)