Essay 2023 Essay Paper 125 marks 1200 words Analyse
Q1
Thinking is like a game, it does not begin unless there is an opposite team.
हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें
चिंतन एक तरह का खेल है, यह तब तक प्रारम्भ नहीं होता, जब तक एक विरोधी पक्ष न हो ।
Directive word: Analyse
This question asks you to analyse. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.
See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.
How this answer will be evaluated
Approach
Analyse the metaphor of thinking as a game requiring an opposite team by unpacking its philosophical, psychological and social dimensions. Structure: introduction defining dialectical thinking → body exploring intellectual, emotional and creative oppositions → conclusion on constructive engagement with opposition in democratic discourse.
Key points expected
- Unpack the metaphor: 'opposite team' as dialectical opposition—contradiction, counter-argument, alternative perspective—not mere hostility
- Philosophical foundation: Hegelian dialectic, Indian Nyaya school's purvapaksha (opponent's position), Gadamer's fusion of horizons
- Psychological dimension: cognitive dissonance as driver of intellectual growth; confirmation bias as obstacle
- Social/political application: deliberative democracy, dissent as democratic virtue; Indian examples: Constituent Assembly debates, judicial dissent
- Creative domains: scientific method (falsification), artistic tension (rasa theory), innovation through constraint
- Synthesis: constructive opposition vs. destructive polarization; role of empathy and intellectual humility
Evaluation rubric
| Dimension | Weight | Max marks | Excellent | Average | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis clarity | 20% | 25 | Establishes a nuanced, contestable thesis that interprets 'opposite team' dialectically—not as enemy but as necessary interlocutor; thesis governs entire essay with clear argumentative thread | Thesis present but either too literal (sports analogy) or vague; some drift between paragraphs; opposition not clearly distinguished from conflict | No discernible thesis or thesis contradicts itself; treats 'game' as trivial amusement or 'opposite team' purely negatively |
| Multi-dimensional coverage | 20% | 25 | Seamlessly integrates epistemological (how we know), psychological (why we resist), social (democratic deliberation), and creative dimensions; Indian and Western philosophical traditions balanced | Covers 2-3 dimensions adequately but one dominates; philosophical depth uneven; either too abstract or too anecdotal | Single-dimensional treatment (only politics, or only personal reflection); no philosophical grounding; dimensions listed not integrated |
| Examples & evidence | 20% | 25 | Rich, specific examples: Ambedkar-Gandhi debates, Einstein-Bohr quantum debates, Tagore's 'The Home and the World', ISRO's failure-analysis culture; examples illuminate thesis precisely | Generic examples (Newton-apple, democracy-is-good) or overused UPSC staples; some relevance but not tightly argued; Indian examples superficial | No concrete examples or irrelevant ones; factual errors; examples merely listed not analysed; no Indian context |
| Language & flow | 20% | 25 | Sophisticated yet accessible prose; effective use of metaphor extension; seamless transitions between abstract and concrete; appropriate register for philosophical essay | Competent but occasionally clichéd ('need of the hour'); some abrupt shifts; mixed registers; occasional grammatical errors not impeding meaning | Verbose or telegraphic; repetitive; poor paragraphing; excessive jargon or colloquialism; errors impede comprehension |
| Conclusion & forward look | 20% | 25 | Synthesises argument into insight about contemporary India: echo chambers, majoritarianism, need for institutionalised dissent; ends with constructive vision, not platitude | Summary conclusion with generic call for 'open-mindedness'; forward look vague or unrealistic; misses contemporary relevance | No conclusion or abrupt ending; introduces new argument; purely sentimental closing; contradicts thesis |
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Evaluate my answer →More from Essay 2023 Essay Paper
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