Scribd
Upload
3 views3 pages

UPSC_Mains_Answer_Templates_and_Guide

This guide provides templates for answering over 70 common UPSC Mains question types, emphasizing structured thinking and clarity. It outlines various approaches such as evaluating, critically examining, discussing, and analyzing topics, along with specific thought processes for each type. The document aims to enhance critical thinking and effective communication in answer writing.

Uploaded by

King Srinivas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
3 views3 pages

UPSC_Mains_Answer_Templates_and_Guide

This guide provides templates for answering over 70 common UPSC Mains question types, emphasizing structured thinking and clarity. It outlines various approaches such as evaluating, critically examining, discussing, and analyzing topics, along with specific thought processes for each type. The document aims to enhance critical thinking and effective communication in answer writing.

Uploaded by

King Srinivas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

UPSC Mains Answer Writing Templates & How to Think

This guide helps you understand 70+ common UPSC Mains question types and how to approach them with

proper structure, clarity, and critical thinking.

Evaluate
What it means: You need to assess both the positive and negative aspects of an issue. Use data, examples,
and a judgment at the end.
How to think: Think about strengths, weaknesses, evidence, and end with your conclusion.

Critically Evaluate
What it means: Go deeper than evaluate. You must look at pros and cons, then give a balanced final
judgment.
How to think: Be critical not negative and balanced. Use multiple perspectives.

Examine
What it means: Break down the topic into its components and explain each part clearly.
How to think: Think: What is it made of? Where did it come from? What are its impacts?

Critically Examine
What it means: Dissect the topic and assess its implications, limitations, and effectiveness.
How to think: Think about why it's important and how well it works. Give evidence for both sides.

Discuss
What it means: Give a fair and detailed account of all relevant aspects of the topic.
How to think: Cover different viewpoints and lead the reader through a clear discussion.

Analyze
What it means: Break the issue into parts and show the relationship between them.
How to think: Think: Causes Effects Interconnections.

Comment
What it means: State your opinion backed by reasoning and evidence.
How to think: Think critically and reflectively, and explain why you think so.

Elaborate
What it means: Add more detail and depth to explain an idea.
How to think: Start from a basic point and expand with examples or evidence.
Enumerate
What it means: List out points or aspects related to the topic, often in a structured way.
How to think: No deep analysis needed; focus on clarity and completeness.

Justify
What it means: Give valid reasons to support a decision, policy or action.
How to think: Think: Why is this right or appropriate? Use logic and examples.

Substantiate
What it means: Support a claim or viewpoint using facts, data or examples.
How to think: Use evidence to back your statement. Be logical and factual.

Compare
What it means: Highlight similarities between two or more elements.
How to think: Think about both in equal depth in structure, effects, or outcomes.

Contrast
What it means: Highlight differences between two or more elements.
How to think: Show how and why they differ in cause, purpose, or result.

Compare and Contrast


What it means: Cover both similarities and differences together.
How to think: Structure: Similarities Differences Conclusion.

Do you agree?
What it means: Present both sides briefly but focus on your side with reasoning.
How to think: Be assertive. Clarify your position with facts and logic.

To what extent do you agree?


What it means: You can partially agree. Show the scope and limits of agreement.
How to think: Balance is key. Define boundaries of your support.

Assess
What it means: Weigh the importance, value or impact of an issue.
How to think: Think: How effective or significant is it?

Explain
What it means: Make something clear or easy to understand.
How to think: Define, give context, and provide a simple example or case.
Define
What it means: Give the precise meaning of a term or concept.
How to think: Be concise and exact. Use definitions accepted in UPSC/academia.

Correlate
What it means: Show how two things are related or influence each other.
How to think: Think: How X affects Y and vice versa. Use data/examples.

You might also like