Optional - Political Science (S-2) Handout by Mr.
Iqbal Singh
ANSWER WRITING TIPS
Important Aspects of a good longer answer (15-20 marks):
➢ Create 2 or 3 main segments/sub-parts/sub headings as per the wording of the
question.
➢ Continuity & linkage between sub-parts is important
➢ Self-Evident Plan: Ensure good flow and progression (both while you’re writing and
also when the examiner is reading). Give a clear idea of your thought process, even
by a cursory flip-through at the sub headings, the examiner must get a bird’s eye view
clarity about your movement throughout the answer
➢ Address the Specific Requirements of the Question: to show the examiner that you
understand the question and are catering to its specific and precise demands.
➢ Answer ‘the question’ and not ‘a topic’. This means that you just can’t blindly write
whatever you know on the broad topic, instead address what has been precisely asked
in the question (requirement of the question).
➢ Try to identify key words and soul of the question and devote maximum attention
there (core contents of the question).
➢ Sense of Proportion: to do due justice to all sub-parts, not writing lop-sided answer
(some common errors)
➢ Too much/repetitive discussion on one sub-part/dimension makes the answer lop-
sided/imbalanced.
➢ Inadequate intro/conclusion leads to abrupt start or end; leave a good but concise ‘first
impression’ & ‘parting-impact’
➢ Excessive intro/conclusion harms the core analysis
➢ Balance/Quality in Expression: Must reproduce key jargons, crucial
quotes/observations by top scholars and experts & weighty sentences that capture
the crux of the issue that’s being discussed
➢ Rest of the answer should be in your own simple but forceful expression
VAJIRAM & RAVI 1
➢ Visual Appeal: Requires neat handwriting, spaced-out/uncluttered presentation,
diagrams/flow-chart (wherever possible), segment headings, suitable underlining
(without overdoing it!)
➢ Your script must 1st be appealing enough to read
➢ Then; You must make him read your strongest arguments; (you don’t want to
take the risk that the evaluator may miss/skip/ignore your strong parts)
➢ Always think out-of-the-box and a simple rule is “what can I write in this answer
which is relevant here but is from some other topic; which others won’t find as
obvious part of this answer (as they’ll vomit just directly related, crammed up points
on this topic).
➢ Demonstrate your practical awareness/ application capabilities (via giving real time
examples)
Important Aspects of a good short answer (10 marks):
➢ Engaging with the key words given in the Question is crucial. You have to quickly
come to the key words at first opportunity without beating around the bush. Try to
address the precise requirement of the question.
➢ If possible, start by defining key words and its context. E.g. for the question: What are
the core assumptions of idealism as an approach to study international relations?
straightaway start the answer with:
Liberals were termed as idealist and utopians by British historian E. H. Carr. He claimed
that idealist like Woodrow Wilson are guilty for overlooking the true nature of power
politics in IR.
Following are the core assumptions of idealism (liberalism in IR)…………..
➢ Merging conciseness with thoroughness: An additional requirement in a short
answer Question is to develop an ability of conveying a lot, in a thoughtfully
framed sentence, because you’re operating under tighter word limits here.
However, please notice that the sentence that you create is not ambiguous or
unwieldy. Sometimes we write sentences with lots of conjunctions and end up making
it confusing or meaningless. Don’t do that.
VAJIRAM & RAVI 2
The specific requirement of the question is often indicated indirectly by the directing words
in the question e.g. Discuss, Elucidate, Explain, Comment, Examine/Do U agree; Critically
Examine; Elaborate; Substantiate etc. (these are called Question Tag or Prompt & each tag
can alter the required composition of your answer, even to the same statement). Although the
wordings of the questions are most crucial but the general guidelines in this regard are as
under:
➢ Elucidate/Explain: You have to agree with the statement and just simplify/explain it
elaborately.
➢ Elaborate/ Substantiate: You have to agree with the statement and further
support/argue/ illustrate as to how it holds true by giving examples. The idea is to
highlight the applicability of the concept given in the question.
➢ Discuss: Discuss the viewpoints (of scholars/ practitioners/ experts) on the given
concepts and theories contained in the question. You may leave the matter in a state of
debate or you may offer a concluding observation emerging from the discussion.
➢ Comment/Examine/Do you agree: You have to go one step further as compared to
“discuss”. Both sides of arguments are required and Now, your own
opinion/comments/views are crucial i.e. if u agree with the statement-why (with
examples) and if don’t then why not (again with examples). Or how do you feel in the
light of the various views examined.
➢ Critically Examine/Critically Evaluate: Mainly the critical viewpoint must be
reproduced. Highlight all critical views on the given concept/theory/issue and what
are your conclusions from such an examination.
VAJIRAM & RAVI 3