PREFACEBefore you lies the book “Descriptive Writing”, the basis of which

are the essentials of the descriptive writing paper of variouscompetitive examinations like SBI PO, IBPS PO, Syndicate Bank PO,Canara Bank PO, SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, SSC MTS, etc. It has beenwritten to cater to the needs of students who want to become a dabhand at writing a Letter, Essay, and Precis in any competitive exam.The objective of this book is to equip the students with the expertise tomake the cut in the descriptive writing test against such a toilsomecompetition.

This book provides a framework for learning the key concepts ofwriting essays on current as well as the most expected topics, formaland informal letters, and precis. To describe and explain the conceptsof descriptive writing, this book uses tips, step by step guidelines,latest format and writing aids, solved examples of essays, letter andprecis, and set of exercises based on them all. This framework allowsthe aspirants to conquer excellent writing skills into a larger context.

The content has been prepared under the tactical guidance of thescintillating minds and combined efforts of Gopal Anand, Swati Gupta, andSakshi Singh, who have utilized their experience to prepare the study materialincorporated into the book.

Some features associated with this book are:Format and useful writing tips for Letter, Essay and Précis.Incorporates all popular and expected topics for Essay Writing.Solved examples of different types of formal and informal lettersasked in competitive exams.Practice Exercise on Essay, Letter and Precis Writing.Expected Essay/ Letter Writing Topics Based on Current Affairs.

We would like to thank our experienced faculties, subject-matterexperts and the expertise of Adda247 without whose cooperation itwouldn’t have been possible to come up with such a meticulous studymaterial for Descriptive Writing. We hope that our readers appreciatethe strenuous efforts that we put into this book. Any remarks orsuggestions for further refinements are wholeheartedly welcome.

Team Adda247

CONTENTSCHAPTER-1

ESSAY WRITING TIPS

Essay Writing Practice Exercise ...................................... 10-72

1. Right to Freedom of Expression ............................................................... 102. Cultural Diversity in India ........................................................................ 113. Start Up India ................................................................................................. 124. Causes of violence in the world ............................................................... 145. Safety of Women ........................................................................................... 156. Naxalism in India ......................................................................................... 167. Schemes by Government of India ............................................................ 188. Corruption in India ...................................................................................... 199. Digital India ................................................................................................... 2010. Godmen- A Threat to Indian Society ....................................................... 2111. India’s Poor Ranking in Environmental

Performance Index 2018 .............................................................................. 2312. Disaster Management in India .................................................................. 2413. Urbanization and Smart Cities in India ................................................. 2514. Space Programmes of India ....................................................................... 2715. Role of Media in India ................................................................................. 2816. Security threats in India-Terrorism ......................................................... 2917. Unemployment in India ............................................................................. 3118. Caste Based Reservation in India ............................................................. 3219. Climate Catastrophe .................................................................................... 3320. Demonetisation ............................................................................................. 3421. Electronic Voting Machines ....................................................................... 3522. Farmers’ Suicide in India ............................................................................ 3623. GIFT CITY ....................................................................................................... 3724. Global Warming ........................................................................................... 3925. Globalisation ................................................................................................. 3926. Indo-Pak Relations ....................................................................................... 4027. Intolerance ...................................................................................................... 41

28. Ransomware Attacks ................................................................................... 4229. Sexual Harassment ....................................................................................... 4430. Bullet Trains ................................................................................................... 4531. Can India go Cashless ................................................................................. 4632. Can Loan Waivers Benefit Farmers ......................................................... 4633. Challenges after Implementation of GST .............................................. 4734. Cooperative and Competitive Federalism ........................................... 4835. Corporal Punishment .................................................................................. 4936. Cryptocurrency: Is it safe? .......................................................................... 4937. Digital Banking’s Adverse Effect on Banking Industry ..................... 5038. Doklam Issue .................................................................................................. 5139. Gender Equality and Sustainable Development .................................. 5240. NEET: Boon or Bane ..................................................................................... 5241. Prompt Corrective Action .......................................................................... 5342. Right to Privacy ............................................................................................. 5443. Rohingyas ....................................................................................................... 5544. Rural Urban Divide ...................................................................................... 5545. Triple Talaq .................................................................................................... 5646. World War III ................................................................................................. 5747. Smog in Delhi ................................................................................................ 5748. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan .............................................................................. 5949. Femal Foeticide : Root Causes, Practices and Prevention ................. 6250. Saubhagya Scheme ....................................................................................... 6351. Benefit of Computer Based Test for Prestigious Exam ....................... 6552. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao .............................................................................. 6653. Overpopulation : Causes, Impact and Prevention ............................... 6854. 7th Pay Commission .................................................................................... 6955. Should Government Consider Privatising Public Sector Banks ? ............... 82Essay Writing Exercise ........................................................................................... 73

Important Points on Some Banking Related Topics ... 74-82

Employee Retention .............................................................................................. 74FDI in India .............................................................................................................. 76Merger of Banks in India ..................................................................................... 77Insurance Penetration ............................................................................................ 79Financial Inclusion in India .................................................................................80

CHAPTER-2

LETTER WRITING TIPSWhat is a Formal Letter? ....................................................................................... 84Useful Formal Letter Writing Aids .................................................................... 90What is an Informal Letter? .................................................................................. 92Useful Informal Letter Writing Aids ................................................................. 95

Formal Letter Writing ..................................................... 97-116Letter to Editor ......................................................................................................... 97Complaint Letter ...................................................................................................102Grievance Redressal Letter .................................................................................107Formal Invitation ..................................................................................................109Letter to Manager ..................................................................................................111Enquiry Letter ........................................................................................................113Formal Request Letter .........................................................................................114Practice Exercise ....................................................................................................116

Informal Letter Writing ................................................ 117-129Personal Letter/ Expression of Concern ........................................................117Condolence Letter .................................................................................................124Informal Invitation ...............................................................................................124Letter of Congratulations ...................................................................................126Thank You Letter/ Gratitude Expression .......................................................127Informal Request ...................................................................................................128Practice Exercise ....................................................................................................129

CHAPTER-3

PRÉCIS WRITING TIPS

Writing Process ............................................................... 131-153Tips for Précis Writing .........................................................................................1321. Expanding Tax Base & GDP ............................................................................1322. Intense Heat Waves and Summers ...............................................................1343. How India must respond to a Low HDI rank ...........................................1374. India’s Steps Towards a Nuclear Power Nation .......................................1395. Capitalism ...........................................................................................................1416. Schism ..................................................................................................................144

7. Rivers ...................................................................................................................1468. Black Money .......................................................................................................1479. The Right to Free, Compulsory Education ................................................14910. Class X Board exams ......................................................................................151

Précis Writing Exercise ................................................. 154-160

CHAPTER-4

PREVIOUS YEARS' ESSAY WRITING QUESTIONS

SBI PO 2016 ..................................................................................... 161BOB PO 2016 ................................................................................... 164SSC CGL TIER-III 2016 .................................................................. 165SBI PO 2017 ..................................................................................... 166NICL AO 2017 ................................................................................. 167IBPS PO 2017 .................................................................................. 168BOB PO 2017 ................................................................................... 170SYNDICATE BANK PO 2018 ........................................................ 171

CHAPTER-5

PREVIOUS YEARS' LETTER WRITING QUESTIONS

SBI PO 2016 ..................................................................................... 174BOB PO 2016 ................................................................................... 177SSC CGL TIER-III 2016 .................................................................. 179SBI PO 2017 ..................................................................................... 180NICL AO 2017 ................................................................................. 183IBPS PO 2017 .................................................................................. 184BOB PO 2017 ................................................................................... 187Syndicate Bank PO 2018 ................................................................ 188

ANNEXURE

HOW TO WRITE EFFECTIVELY ? ........................................ 192-194PHRASAL VERBS ................................................................... 195-215VOCABULARY ........................................................................ 216-265

1. Right to Freedom of Expression

Right to freedom of expression and freedom of opinion areamong the most fundamental rights in a democratic republic.The prerequisite for a political system to run in a democraticway is to provide its citizens with a power to form their opinionon certain issues and express their views unhindered, unfetteredby the fear of retribution. It allows people of the country to free-ly engage in the social, cultural, as well as political affairs. InIndia, this right, the right to freedom of expression is protectedunder the Article 19 (1) (a) and is fundamental to our democra-cy. However, Article 19 (2) imposes certain reasonable restric-tions on all the fundamental rights constituting that of freedomof speech and expression.

This right is available solely for the citizens of India, not forthe citizens of any other country. The restrictions imposed withrespect to this fundamental right are in the interest of sover-eignty and integrity of India, protection of the republic, coop-erative relationships with foreign states, public order, deco-rum and morality and contempt of court, defamation and stim-ulation of an offense. The people of India declare their solemnresolve to secure to all the citizens, liberty of thought and ex-pression in the Preamble to the Constitution of India.

At the same time, a law punishing statements made withthe deliberate intention to hurt the cultural, religious or senti-mental feelings of any class of people is necessary because itimposes a restriction on the right of free speech in the interestof public order. For the speech or expression that has the ten-dency to lead to a breach of the peace or create public disor-der, there must be a sound and proper nexus or link betweenthe restrictions and the attainment of public order.

Freedom of expression is a basic requirement that shouldbe fulfilled by every civil society. But, in this age of moderniza-tion, this right is just not limited to expressing one’s viewsthrough words but it also includes circulating one’s views inwriting or through audiovisual instrumentalities, through ad-vertisements and through any other communication channel.It incorporates the right to information, and freedom of thepress as well. Freedom of speech and expression is like a but-tress to a democratic government and should be regarded asthe first condition of liberty.

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2. Cultural Diversity in India

India is a populous country and its large population en-hances the cultural identity of the country across the differentgeographical lines. The country accounts for a large popula-tion of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains and variousother religions and this marks the existence of the diversity ofIndian Culture. The different languages spoken in the countryincluding Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu among manyothers add a feather in the cap in the country’s heritage. Peo-ple of different religions begin the day with morning hymns,and these rich values are inculcated into the children since theirchildhood. Morning prayers and moral education are a signif-icant part of the education system in India. Despite the diverseculture, people here are not discriminated by caste, color orcreed but by their values and this is what makes India a uniquecountry to live in.

Culture is further displayed in various forms of art, partic-ularly, music, dance, poetry, theater, and painting. Along withart, different festivals that the citizens of India celebrate withso much of enthusiasm exhibiting color, rituals, and prayersdefinite to cultural heritage. Many countries across the worldhave diverse cultures but what makes India novel are the dif-ferent kinds of clothing, different cuisines, festivals, languages.

If North India has chole bhature, tandoori chicken, rajma cha-wal, kadhi chawal, dhokla, daal baati churma and biryani torelish, South India is not behind in the race. From masala dosa,rava uttpam, rasam, sambar-lemon rice to toran, appam, meen;the South Indian cuisine has a great variety to offer. Differenttraditions in the different parts of India underline the culturalinfluences that still exist in spite of the modernization by whichthe Indian traditions are considered to be fading away.

This cultural diversity marks the uniqueness and enrichesa country’s history and social setups with creativity in art andarchitectural aspects arising from such diversity. Sometimes, italso poses a challenge where these distinctions create languagebarriers and enhance social segregation or non-acceptanceamong people due to the variability of individuals. Indians,despite so many diversities, are still united, still have that senseof brotherhood, and are proud of their culture and traditions.Through various international film festivals or through beautypageants, India never stays back from demonstrating its cul-ture on the international platform too. The compliance, flexi-bility, and changes with time make Indian culture fashionableand acceptable too.

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