How To Write Answer

Here are my two cents on how to approach exams in general, and some tips and tricks to help you write and score well.

FORMATTING AND PRESENTING YOUR ANSWERS

1. Do not use a scale and a pencil/pen to draw margins; that is passé, and immature. Just fold the left and right side of the answer script. This serves the purpose of having margins and does not make the script look untidy or childish.
2. Always begin a new answer on a fresh page.
3. Read the question carefully and convert it into arelevant heading: For example, if the question (let’s assume that this question has the serial number 2 in the question paper) is,
   ‘Thomas Hobbes is widely regarded as the father of modern Individualism, even though the fruit of his theory is political absolutism.’ Critically evaluate the above statement.A good answer begins first in an apt heading itself. The heading should be relevant and extracted from the question itself. So, a relevant heading could be:2. POLITICAL ABSOLUTISM IN HOBBES IS BASED ON HIS INDIVIDUALISM: EVALUATION  Preferably, the heading should not be longer than one line, and for the sake of presentation, it should be written in bold with a pen (no sketch pens or fancy writing instruments please!) and underlined with a free with the same pen. When you begin answering the question, simply write the serial number of the question on the left side margin, as illustrated above (this means, don’t write Q or A before the serial number of the question).
4. Right under the heading, always leave a line, and begin with a paragraph.
   To change paragraphs in an effective way, mentally divide the line vertically into four equal parts, leave the first part, and then begin writing. That much space clearly signals that you have begun a new para. Make sure that there are at least 2 paragraphs, if not more, in a page. When changing paras, it’s best to leave a line.

GETTING THE CONTENT RIGHT

1. Begin with a Relevant Introduction: A good introduction is not a biographical sketch of the philosopher in question or an extended discussion of the historical background but rather something thataddresses the question straightaway in the beginning. Of course, you can use both, interesting aspects from the biography and historical background, but the trick is to do it sparingly (unless the question itself is about the historical context or the peculiar life-history of a specific thinker) and in a way that does not take away the focus from the question asked.
   For example if the question is: Write a critical evaluation of  Plato’s ideal state as described in the Republic, any good/relevant introduction will delve into the most significant aspects of the ideal state straightaway and give a brief summary of the entire answer in a couple of paragraphs. Points from the biography of Plato and the historical context of the republic are drawn as and when they are relevant to the point being made in the introduction. Keeping in mind the above pointers, let me try to demonstrate what a relevant introduction may read like:

Plato’s ‘ideal state’ is the centerpiece of his most applauded political dialogue, the Republic. Plato—himself from an aristocratic family– who was a bitter critic of democracy, especially in the wake of how Socrates was condemned to death by popular vote, in sketching the contours of his ideal state was effectively responding to the most pressing political vices of corruption and factionalism in the polis of his times. The ideal state or the Kallipolis, sometimes dubbed as utopian, is a magnificent achievement of Plato’s thought, his crowning jewel. Complete with an attendant metaphysics of transcendental forms that sustains the absolute goodness and perfection of the ideal state philosophically; an enabling and expansive theory of education that underwrites the principle of division of labour in practice; and, communism of wives and property that serves as system of checks and balances in the polis, Plato is able to rationally build an aesthetically unsurpassed edifice of state that is geared for one purpose alone—the institution of justice in society. Where brute reason fades, the mysticism of eternal souls, reminiscence and the superlative ‘idea of good’ takes over. In a phrase, Plato’s ideal state is nothing but the coming into flesh and blood of the Socratic dictum “virtue is knowledge”.

2. Sub-headings: If the answer is already neatly organized in your head before you start writing it (it means you are well prepared, or maybe you are lucky because what you studied hurriedly in the morning is there in the question paper!), then give sub-headings. Don’t have too many sub-headings though; the rule of thumb is that in a good descriptive answer, there will not be more than five sub-headings. Write and arrange your points in the scale of decreasing importance. This means that the most important point must come first and then the next important point and then the next in that order.
3. Structuring an Unstructured Answer: Experience tells us that most of us are neither so well-prepared nor so lucky to have all answers sorted in our head. Evenif you can’t recollect everything before you begin writing, write in a certain flow and hope that you will cover most of the substantial things in the question in the process of writing. To organize an answer like this, you should follow certain basic things:Make sure that each paragraph contains only one coherent idea or theme. Once the entire answer has taken shape, give a short sub-heading, or a phrase or two on the left hand side of the margin so as to capture the essence of the entire para. This technique is not only aesthetically pleasing but also works wonders in giving a structure to the entire answer, even though there was no structure in the beginning! By merely turning the page and looking at the left side subheadings and phrases the examiner can quickly make out the whole substance of the answer. Whatever you do to please the examiner and make her job easier will fetch you more marks.
4. Quotations: It’s always advisable to use a relevant quotation or two in the answer. However, the effort goes to waste if the examiner does not read it. Remember, the onus is on the student to make sure that her presentation is such that the examiner is forced to read it.
   Always use double inverted commas (“…”) when quoting and give a left indent from where the quote begins. This draws the eye of the examiner to the part of the script where the relevant quote has been used.
5. On Dealing with the Unknown: If you are forced toattempt a question that you barely know about, the trick is to keep repeating or reiterating the question in every paragraph after writing a general description of whatever little you know. For example if the question is evaluate the role of Locke as a quintessential liberal and you only have a bare idea of his thought, then your best bet is to describe what you know about Locke and reiterate the fact that he was a liberal thinker in every paragraph.
6. The Conclusion: The conclusion is usually the most neglected part of the answer for the students. There are many ways to write a conclusion but the simplest way is read the question again and respond to it directly. In most cases, the conclusion is bound to be a summary of the main body of the answer spruced up with unequivocal assertions that deal with the question. Sometimes, the conclusion can also include one specific—maybe the most important point of the answer, or criticism—theme and the most crucial argument is presented as the direct answer to the question posed in the paper. The conclusion does give some scope for creativity and personal opinion, but unless you are very sure of what you are saying, it’s best to avoid giving your own interpretation. Let us refer to the above question about Plato’s Ideal state and I’ll attempt writing a conclusion to illustrate what I mean:

Plato’s Kallipolis, as described above in the answer, arguably has been one of the most contentious themes in the annals of western philosophy. Beginning with Aristotle, there have been numerous critics of Plato who have castigated him for putting together an unworkable and utopian political order that that feeds on censorship, exploitation and possibly, as Popper says, paves the way for totalitarianism. While some of this criticism has merit, most of it, I believe is misdirected and unfair. The truth is that when we place Plato in his context and evaluate him with greater sympathy, we cannot escape his sincerity in dealing with the abiding political problem of his age—instability and corruption bred by the “happy versatility” (Pericles) of democracy which Plato militantly disagreed with and understood as ignorance. The truth is that Plato made a huge effort to contain politics in a teleology of perfection, and when the dust of history and cultural specificities settle, what remains of enduring value in Plato’s thought—and also the reason why he still tantalizes the modern mind, even after 24 centuries—is his insistence that ‘happiness’ and leading a ‘good life’ should be the fruit of political activity, which in itself must be based on ‘knowledge’.

WHILE WRITING

1. Stay on Track: Keep reading the question every 5 minutes. This ensures that you will stray too far from what is being asked, stay focused and preserve the relevance of the answer.
2. Time management: Divide your time evenly for all questions. It’s all right to spend 10 minutes more on the first question but it’s best to ration time carefully for the remaining questions.
   To avoid suffering from a writer’s block while attempting the paper, keep practicing writing answers. Now, that is difficult because usually the preparation never ends and therefore the time when you can practice writing answer also never comes. In such a case, here is another trick or shortcut that helps: just before the night of the exam, look at the past papers and spend five minutes thinking or reflecting about every question and frame the answer in your head. If you do that exercise for 8 to 10 questions, trust me, the problem of having a writer’s block is largely solved even if the questions you thought about the night before are different from the ones you have in the paper.
3. Maintaining a Flow: Although difficult to do without some talent and practice, the ideal thing is that one para must flow into the other. There must be no sudden breaks or jumps in the narrative. Remember, any answer is like one long story and hencecoherence, lucidity, clarity are important. Well, it comes with hard work, comprehensive understanding and some flair for language but even if you can’t do everything at such short notice, still a beginning can be made by being conscious of these requirements!

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Writing an exam is an art. Preparation and hard work are one substantial part of it, but only one part. That needs to be understood. The answer script is many ways is a reflection of our essential character. A nicely organized answer script, with properly presented answers in a lucid and pleasing language goes a long way in ensuring that we get good marks. My advice to students is that they must take pride in themselves, and thus in every extension of their personality. Writing exams is also, in a manner of speaking extending oneself. So take pride in excellence and in its quest.