Basic principles of Essay writing for Bschool Admissions in India

1. Essay Writing for Bschool
selection
Rahul Reddy
T.I.M.E. Kolkata Jan 2012

2. Introduction
• Key part of Bschool Selection
– 11 out of 13 IIMs
– Other Top Bschools
• Duration
– 10-20 min
• Critical for success as a Manager
– In a Bschool
– In your Management career

3. Evaluation parameters
• Quality of content
– Facts
– Interpretation or Analysis
– Conclusion/Opinion/Solution
• Quality of Logical arguments
– Support your Conclusion
• Coherence
• Clarity of Language
• Basic Spelling and Grammar

4. Process
• Think before you write
– 10 to 20% of the allotted time
– Plan for 3-4 key ideas
• Start with an end in mind
– Decide your conclusion first
– Plan how you will support the conclusion
• Are there two sides to a topic
– Cover both sides but conclude on one side

5. Essay Structure
• Introduce the Topic
– Give background, context
– Gives readers a clear idea of what essay is about
– Summary of the Essay/Conclusion
• Main Body
– Key arguments in support of your conclusion
– Explain each point with facts and examples
– May use different paragraphs

6. Essay Structure
• Conclusion
– Based on facts and arguments
– Use qualifiers to moderate conclusion
– End with a optimistic practical solution (if
applicable)
– Is the most important component

7. Some suggestions
• Quote/Proverb
• Keep it relevant
– Ignore peripheral ideas, understand the scope
• Use simple Sentences
• Get spellings and grammar write
• Don’t rush, finish in time

8. Sample Topics
• Social skills are more important for success
than academic knowledge
• Freedom of Expression has limits
• I do not want to do an MBA because
• Technology in education makes teachers
irrelevant
• Man is not old enough until regret has taken
the place of dreams

9. Example
Topic: India should spend more on Infrastructure
and Less on Subsidies
Key points
Infrastructure enables business and trade
growth
Infrastructure creates income generating assets
while subsidies are recurring expenditure
Subsidies are required to ensure access to basic
necessities for the poor and disadvantaged
Infrastructure creates jobs and and income

10. Example
Conclusion: Infrastructure is critical to Nation’s
growth and hence must be funded while
ensuring that only essentials are subsidized for
the genuinely needy citizens.