How to Write an Impressive Essay
How to write an impressive essay
Over the past couple of years, various b-schools have included 'essay-writing' in their post-entrance exam selection process.
Different IIMs have different names for the Essay (writing skills) task.
(IIM Bangalore calls it 'Note'; IIM Indore, IIM Lucknow and IIM Kashipur call it 'Written Ability Test'; IIM Trichy calls it 'Written Analysis Test'; IIM Raipur, IIM Rohtak, IIM Udaipur and IIM Ranchi call it 'Written Analysis'; IIM Calcutta calls it 'Writing Ability Test'; and IIM Kozhikode calls it 'Writing Task').
For the sake of the students' understanding and convenience, we have simply referred to it as 'Essay' throughout the GWPI Briefcase.
You could be presented with essay tasks to be carried out in periods ranging from 10 to 30 minutes. As such, the number of words in a typical essay could be in the range of 300-700 words (one side to two sides of an A4 sheet).
This note is designed to provide you with essential inputs on writing an effective essay. It deals with how to: (a) generate relevant content, (b) come up with the right structure, and (c) write effectively.
Remember the basic elements of communication that have relevance here, namely, clarity of thought, empathy, and effective expression. Also keep in mind that a step-by-step method, with a check list, would ensure efficient use of time spent on an essay.
We would suggest steps, and a check list, such as represented by the acronym CODER.
C - Collect ideas
O – Organise them
D – Develop them
E – Express them
R – Review
C – Collect ideas
Content – the topic itself – What are the key words? What is it about? What information does one have? How does one gather further information? What ideas or views does one have (or what views does one develop) on the basis of this information?
You would recall the ‘approaches’ we’ve suggested for idea-generation in GDs - such as the Key Word Approach (KWA), Viewpoint of Affected Parties (VAP), and
Over the past couple of years, various b-schools have included 'essay-writing' in their post-entrance exam selection process.
Different IIMs have different names for the Essay (writing skills) task.
(IIM Bangalore calls it 'Note'; IIM Indore, IIM Lucknow and IIM Kashipur call it 'Written Ability Test'; IIM Trichy calls it 'Written Analysis Test'; IIM Raipur, IIM Rohtak, IIM Udaipur and IIM Ranchi call it 'Written Analysis'; IIM Calcutta calls it 'Writing Ability Test'; and IIM Kozhikode calls it 'Writing Task').
For the sake of the students' understanding and convenience, we have simply referred to it as 'Essay' throughout the GWPI Briefcase.
You could be presented with essay tasks to be carried out in periods ranging from 10 to 30 minutes. As such, the number of words in a typical essay could be in the range of 300-700 words (one side to two sides of an A4 sheet).
This note is designed to provide you with essential inputs on writing an effective essay. It deals with how to: (a) generate relevant content, (b) come up with the right structure, and (c) write effectively.
Remember the basic elements of communication that have relevance here, namely, clarity of thought, empathy, and effective expression. Also keep in mind that a step-by-step method, with a check list, would ensure efficient use of time spent on an essay.
We would suggest steps, and a check list, such as represented by the acronym CODER.
C - Collect ideas
O – Organise them
D – Develop them
E – Express them
R – Review
C – Collect ideas
Content – the topic itself – What are the key words? What is it about? What information does one have? How does one gather further information? What ideas or views does one have (or what views does one develop) on the basis of this information?
You would recall the ‘approaches’ we’ve suggested for idea-generation in GDs - such as the Key Word Approach (KWA), Viewpoint of Affected Parties (VAP), and