To write about any simple thing or subject matter, we surely need an idea. If you don’t have an idea about what you want to write, how can you possibly write a full-fledged essay? The result is you will find yourself with two or three lines, but does that make an essay?
Idea – The Nightmare Of Writing!
But the biggest problem which GP essay candidates or any essay writing students face, is actually “how to acquire ideas“. The latter seems to be a daunting task since writing is not like other subjects where success depends upon assimilation of a certain number of facts, theories and the application of principles.
GP Essay Writing Or Essays Go A Step Ahead..
Essay writing transcends the requirement of other subjects by going a step further; it tests the total equipment of the student – his intelligence, his manners, his taste, his common sense, his personal experiences, his observation and his character. In fact, that’s the beauty of GP Essays. It makes you discover yourself and your abilities.
My GP (General Paper) classes have contributed a lot in discovering myself and some hidden skills. Of course, I was just like you, hating to write an essay. But a GP class, is completely different from our common English language class. Unless and until you grasp the true meaning of the purpose of a GP class, you will not really go in the right attitude and direction which contribute a lot to the future of how you will write.
Acquiring Ideas – 3 Steps Only!
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1) STEP 1 – Reading
Reading is the most essential means of gaining knowledge. You could argue that listening might be above reading to increase your awareness, you might be right to a lesser extent, why? Just think for a moment, does listening contribute to help you write good english and gain vocabulary? The answer is “no“. When you read you see how words are written and that’s crucial from a proper grammatical point of view.
Reading will help you in two fold:
- a) Increase your knowledge (to gain ideas)
- b) Increase your vocabulary (to convey your ideas with the right words)
Nowadays, reading opportunities has never been so easy and comfortable. The computer/Internet world allows you to read from anywhere and about anything you want. It’s like you are having the whole world’s library in your hand and in “one click”. So, make the most out of it my friend!
Now, you need to be selective in what you read. Spending hours and hours reading a lengthy gossip, for instance, is not desirable. Read quality stuff as opposed to quantity. Some points to note:
- i) Always have a good dictionary handy and each time to you stumble across a new word, look for its meaning and write it down. (I recommend the concise Oxford Dictionary)
- ii) Read about stuffs that pleases you, but provided you select quality material.
iii) Read a good newspaper from your locality and keep updated. (For example in Mauritius, I recommend ‘News On Sunday’ to all students)
- iv) Read to increase your awareness and vocabulary, don’t rush to read a lot of pages like it’s a race.
- v) Read with your soul. Put in effort, interest and will. Else you are wasting your time
2) STEP 2 – Observation
What I mean by observation and what you should understand is: observation means ‘to look carefully and diligently for the sole aim of discovering and noting anything that can help you in writing and gaining ideas‘. An active and intelligent mind is always on the lookout since there is something to be learned in everything, however simple it is! You should develop a creative mind. An artist always has this philosophy: “Beauty is found even in ugliness“. Same applies to your observation, you just need to view things at the right angle and with the right frame of mind.
3) STEP 3 – Ask Questions
The most stupid thing to do is to remain an ignorant. In classes, there are so many students who don’t ask questions, either they are shy or they are not interested at all. This is a big mistake. You are compromising the growth of your own knowledge.
Ask questions and challenge answers whenever you feel there is any bias or you have a better answer – that’s how you will progress!
Throughout history, people who have been most famous for their wisdom, have been those who asked questions and sought for answers in all its angle.
