themes of css essay

English Essay (CSS 2024)

English Essay Syllabus for CSS 2024

Candidates will be required to write one or more Essay in English. A wide choice of topics will be given. Candidates are expected to reflect comprehensive and research based knowledge on a selected topic. Candidate’s articulation, expression and technical treatment of the style of English Essay writing will be examined.

English Essay: CSS Past Papers Analysis

• Hero-worship is the strongest where there is least regard for human freedom. (CSS 2000)
• Personal liberty is the paramount essential to human dignity and human happiness. (CSS 2000)
• Humanism. (CSS 2004)
• All humans are born equal in dignity and rights but they are in shackles everywhere. (CSS 2010)
• The War on terror has contributed to the growing abuse of human rights. (CSS 2015)
• In the fight against terrorism and corruption, it is imperative not to compromise human rights and civil liberties. (CSS 2018)
• Universal human equality is utopia. (CSS 2021)
• Human development and economic sustainability. (CSS 2022)

Environment

• Global Warming (CSS 2006)
• The future of mankind in a global warming perspective. (CSS 2007)
• Global Warming, fact or fiction? (CSS 2008)
• Government should eliminate subsidies and incentives for manufacturers and consumers of electric cars as they are costly and do not do enough to protect the environment. (CSS 2015)
• The threat of Global Warming and the ways to counter it. (CSS 2018)

Truth and Reason

• The search for truth. (CSS 2005)
• Truth in short supply (CSS 2006)
• Truth is a rare commodity despite the freedom by the print and electronic media. (CSS 2011)
• In this country reason does not apply to anything. (CSS 2011)
• Truth is lived not taught. (CSS 2019)
• Of all the needs a book has, the chief need is that it be readable. (CSS 2002)
• The pleasures of reading. (CSS 2011)

Morality/ Principles

• Art and Morality. (CSS 2002)
• There comes a time to put aside principles and do what is right. (CSS 2006)
• Moral depravity is the root cause of poverty. (CSS 2008)

I constructed my essay deriving my arguments from several discourses, i.e. (Politics, economics, society, philosophy, strategy, literature, science, religion, etc.). In my opinion, even an issue-based essay should be developed on creative lines. For that, candidates should also practice literary and abstract essays during the preparation phase. Furthermore, I never delved into the technicalities of the structure of essay. I believe writing comes naturally. Atif Ameer (PSP) 2nd in Pakistan, CSS 2018-19 (Essay Marks 52)

Global Issues & International Relations

• Moral standards in international relations. (CSS 2000)
• World scenario in 21st century and Pakistan’s role in it. (CSS 2002)
• The end of cheap oil. (CSS 2004)
• Globalization and electronic media. (CSS 2007)
• The world politics stands more derisive than it was ever before due to the specific imperialist designs. (CSS 2010)
• The time we live in is the winter of the world. (CSS 2011)
• Brexit means globalization is the rhetoric of the privileged, and capitalism will return ferociously as ever. (CSS 2017)
• Modernity is an unending project. (CSS 2017)
• China – Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its Socio-economic Implications for the Region and the World. (CSS 2018)
• Pakistan and the future of Kashmir cause. (CSS 2020)
• Global power dynamics and Pakistan’s foreign policy. (CSS 2020)
• Global trade and trade policies of China. (CSS 2022)
• Global politics and international relations. (CSS 2022)
• World food systems: the economics of agriculture. (CSS 2022)

Science and Technology

• Advancement in science and technology is the gateway to the economic prosperity of a country. (CSS 2000)
• The suffering soul in the Scientific Age. (CSS 2012)
• Modern day communication via social networks puts an end to true and sincere relationships. (CSS 2013)
• The introduction of new digital technologies has radically altered identities. (CSS 2015)
• Labor saving devices are more troublesome than they are worth. (CSS 2015)
• Expanding information technology: a curse or blessing. (CSS 2019)
• Is Pakistan ready for the digital revolution? (CSS 2020)
• Covid-19 — A wake up call for Pakistani researches. (CSS 2021)
• Human inventions move societies backward. (CSS 2021)
• On tolerance. (CSS 2001)
• Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change. (CSS 2003)
• Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. (CSS 2014)

For English essay, I used to make outlines and practice paragraph writing. The key strategy in attempting an essay is to write it in simple, logical, coherent and precise way. One should refrain from using long sentences, jargons and difficult expressions. Furthermore, in order to avoid incoherence and jumps between essay paragraphs and outline, I left first two sheets of answer sheet for final outline, which I only wrote, once I was done writing essay. Aamina Ihsan (PAS) 18th in Pakistan, CSS 2018-19 (Essay Marks 48)

• Power of Media in the Modern World. (CSS 2009)
• The emerging power of Social Media: Prospects and Problems. (CSS 2018)

War/ Peace/ Globalization

• Can we prevent the third world war? (CSS 2008)
• Great nations win without fighting. (CSS 2014)
• World as a global village: Learning to live together. (CSS 2016)
• Are modern wars not holy wars? (CSS 2017)
• Pros and cons of globalization. (CSS 2021)
• Intercultural communication is a panacea to avoid third world war. (CSS 2021)
• An analysis of the concept of globalization of markets. (CSS 2022)

Democracy/ Governance/ Administration / Crisis / Tourism

• Good governance and the role of the public servant. (CSS 2000)
• Devolution of power in Pakistan. (CSS 2001)
• The future of democracy in Pakistan. (CSS 2009)
• The food crisis: problems, challenges and opportunities for Pakistan. (CSS 2009)
• Pakistan is rich in natural resources but very poor in their management. (CSS 2010)
• Disaster management and government preparedness. (CSS 2011)
• Democracy is a culture rather than a process. (CSS 2012)
• In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence. (CSS 2015)
• Crisis of good governance in Pakistan: Need for reforms and institution building. (CSS 2016)
• Democracy in Pakistan: Hopes and Hurdles. (CSS 2018)
• Democracy and illiteracy do not move together. (CSS 2019)
• Promoting tourism in Pakistan: opportunities and challenges. (CSS 2020)
• Digital democracy: social media and political participation. (CSS 2022)

My essay followed a fixed trajectory: Introduction (Opening + Thesis Statement) – Context – Exposition – Authority – Analysis – Conclusion. This allowed me to present my arguments clearly and coherently. When you practice, read your essay and try to see it from an examiner’s perspective. If it is too text-intensive, boring, long and redundant, , or even the argument you made is not clear, you will not get good marks. Mohammad Murtaza (PAS), 3rd in Pakistan, CSS 2017 (Essay Marks 45)

• Education makes a people easy to lead, but difficult to drive, easy to govern, but impossible to enslave. (CSS 2000)
• Economic prosperity of a nation is directly proportional to the level of literacy in it. (CSS 2001)
• Higher Science Education in the developing countries. (CSS 2002)
• Education has for its object the formation of character. (CSS 2002)
• Need for serious planning in technical education in Pakistan. (CSS 2002)
• Reforms in Examination systems. (CSS 2005)
• The present system of Education must assume some of the responsibilities of our failure. (CSS 2007)
• Higher Education as an agent of change. (CSS 2008)
• Co-education; Merits and Demerits. (CSS 2009)
• English as the medium of Education in Pakistan. (CSS 2009)
• A critical analysis of Education system in Pakistan. (CSS 2012)
• There should be colleges and schools just for men/boys and some just for women/girls. (CSS 2013)
• Meaning and purpose of education. (CSS 2013)
• Privatizing higher education-generating knowledge or making more money for the opulent. (CSS 2014)
• Higher Education in Pakistan: Ills and Remedies. (CSS 2018)
• Classrooms decide the future of the nation. (CSS 2019)
• Women universities as agents of change. (CSS 2020)
• Meaning purposive education. (CSS 2021)

National Integration

• The barbarity of ethnic cleansing. (CSS 2000)
• National Integration. (CSS 2001)
• Water crisis and national unity. (CSS 2016)
• We never know the worth of water till the well is dry. (CSS 2000)
• Dilemma of the water and energy crisis in Pakistan. (CSS 2003)
• Do not waste water even if you were at a running stream. (CSS 2021)
• Energy Crisis in Pakistan: Causes and Consequences. (CSS 2012)

Bureaucracy

• Public office is a public trust. (CSS 2001)
• Bureaucracy doldrums. (CSS 2021)

The Essay paper for CSS 2017 was somewhat out of the box. Despite that, I had complete control on my nerves and great confidence in my writing skills. I chose the topic “Is colonial mentality impeding the progress of Pakistan?” I supported this stance. First, I brainstormed and then wrote an outline on a rough page. Then, I presented it on the answer sheet in an impressive way so as to facilitate the examiner. I wrote almost twenty arguments or paragraphs to prove my stance. The language I used was simple yet flawless. Syed Fazul Shah (PSP), 3rd in Balochistan, CSS 2017-18 (Essay Marks 44)

Poverty/ Progress

• Progressive alleviation of poverty in Pakistan – an overview. (CSS 2000)
• Strategies for the alleviation of poverty. (CSS 2005)
• Look to the east for holistic progress. (CSS 2014)
• Does foreign aid help to achieve economic stability? (CSS 2016)
• Advancement in science and technology is the gateway to prosperity of a country. (CSS 2000)
• Austerity as a solution to all our economic problems. (CSS 2002)
• Economic problems in Pakistan and how to meet them. (CSS 2002)
• Socio-Economic Challenges faced by Pakistan. (CSS 2005)
• Foreign Direct Investment in Pakistan. (CSS 2006)
• Promotion of tax culture in Pakistan: Perspective, prospects and challenges. (CSS 2016)
• Real development should transform people’s lives, not just economic statistics. (CSS 2018)
• New war fronts lie in economic zones. (CSS 2019)
• Pakistan’s informal economy: the way forward. (CSS 2020)
• IMF bailouts: roads to stability or recipes for disaster. (CSS 2020)
• Is there such a thing as ethical consumerism? (CSS 2022)

Justice/ Rule of Law

• Justice delayed is justice denied. (CSS 2001)
• Will “Rule of law” always remain an impracticable myth in our country? (CSS  2018)

The essay which I attempted was argumentative in nature. So, I tried my best to follow the structure of such essays. I introduced the topic by giving a brief overview of the points I would be discussing; presented some examples from history, contemporary world and Pakistan; highlighted some counter arguments against the mentioned examples and re-countered them to justify my point, and concluded the topic with summing up all the arguments and justifications I had given in the body of the essay. Nawab Sameer Hussain Laghari (PAS), 2nd in Sindh, CSS-2016-17 (Essay Marks 45)

• A little philosophy inclineth man’s mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth man’s minds about religion. (CSS 2002)
• Pluralistic vision of Islam. (CSS 2004)
• Islam versus the West. (CSS 2005)
• The image of Islam in the western world and responsibilities of the Muslim Ummah. (CSS 2007)
• Peace; the essential message of our religion. (CSS 2008)
• Materialism is the death of spirituality. (CSS 2008)
• Fair play and life, as it is lived, in the land of the pure. (CSS 2011)
• Let there be more light in the corridors of worship places. (CSS 2019)

United Nations

• The future of UNO: Hopes and Hurdles. (CSS 2009)
• The UNO has failed to measure up to the demands of its charter. (CSS 2010)
• The United Nations in the 21st Century: Obligations and Limitations. (CSS 2012)
• More and more international military engagements by the United Nations; is the world moving towards peace? (CSS 2017)

Women/ Gender

• Persecuted poor woman. (CSS 2005)
• The state of women rights in Pakistan. (CSS 2007)
• Status of Women in Islam. (CSS 2009)
• Why is there no status of the third gender in Pakistan? (CSS 2010)
• Can women be equal to men in Pakistan? (CSS 2010)
• Does Pakistan society regard women as the angel in the house or source of all evils? (CSS 2011)
• Social and Economic Securities for Women in Islam. (CSS 2012)
• Gender equality is a myth. (CSS 2013)
• Women sports persons are new ambassadors of the soft image of Pakistan. (CSS 2014)
• Gender equality is a myth! (CSS 2016)
• Frailty, thy name is woman. (CSS 2016)
• Feminism is not really a Third World issue. (CSS 2017)
• New Waves of feminism and our culture. (CSS 2019)
• Gender equality: a popular slogan. (CSS 2021)
• The controversial issues of feminism in contemporary women’s rights movements. (CSS 2022)

Accountability/ Corruption

• Without independent truth-finding commission , accountability is unachievable. (CSS 2010)
• Religion has done more harm than help to human relations in the world. (CSS 2010)

Essay is the most difficult thing in CSS, and, perhaps, rightly so. There are numerous ways to write it but the key is to understand the topic and giving sound arguments in grammatically correct English. Muhammad Murad (PSP), 7th in Pakistan, CSS 2017 (Essay Marks 60)

Nationalism/ Minorities

• Being a minority is a fate no one wants. Can nationalism be really inclusive? (CSS 2017)
• The purification of politics is an iridescent dream. (CSS 2000)
• Politics is perhaps the only profession for which no preparation is thought necessary. (CSS 2002)
• Personalization Of Pakistani Politics (CSS 2006)
• Politics is the art of the possible. (CSS 2007)
• Insanity in individuals is something rare but in groups, parties and nations it is the rule. (CSS 2011)
• The emerging power of Public Opinion. (CSS 2012)
• Not the economy but politics is the key to success. (CSS 2013)
• The creation of new provinces in Pakistan: Implications for an integrated country. (CSS 2016)
• Polarized politics: the issues and challenges of democracy in Pakistan. (CSS 2020)

Management/ Life/ Discipline / Ideology

• Sweet are the uses of adversity. (CSS 2000)
• “Turn not thy cheek in scorn towards folk nor walk with pertness in the land”. (Al-Quran) (CSS 2001)
• Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes. (CSS 2001)
• Self-conceit may lead to self destruction. (CSS 2001)
• Attitude of indifference. (CSS 2003)
• Young habits die-hard. (CSS 2003)
• Lots of folks confuse bad management with destiny. (CSS 2006)
• Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late. Benjamin Franklin (CSS 2006)
• A country is backward because it’s people are backward. (CSS 2007)
• Time management is the keynote of success. (CSS 2008)
• Lack of discipline – a national disaster. (CSS 2008)
• Dreams for the future rely on the work of today. (CSS 2008)
• Health is not a condition of matter, but of mind. (CSS 2009)
• Without good communication skills, life becomes impossible in the modern world. (CSS 2011)
• Obesity is the root cause of all diseases. (CSS 2012)
• Let me take care of today, tomorrow shall take care of itself. (CSS 2013)
• Country life is better than city life. (CSS 2013)
• The character of a nation can be judged by its symbolic narratives. (CSS 2014)
• Punctuality is the virtue of boredom. (CSS 2015)
• Luxury predecessors become the necessity of successors. (CSS 2015)
• When life throws you lemons, make lemonade. (CSS 2015)
• We have to learn to be our own best friends, because we fall too easily into the trap of being our own worst enemies. (CSS 2016)
• Is colonial mentality impeding Pakistan’s progress? (CSS 2016)
• Ideologies thrive on notions of resistance, yet change is a simulation. (CSS 2017)
• Life without controversy is no life. But why should one not choose the safe haven of conformism? (CSS 2017)
• Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears. (CSS 2018)
• Beware the barrenness of a busy life! (CSS 2018)

Structure and coherence make the key to success in the essay paper. I avoided verbosity and instead ensured I had understood the idea well. I also placed a lot of emphasis on the overall structure of the essay, making sure my paragraphs were coherent, sentences were well structured and the overall flow of the ideas was good. Muhammad Abrahim Shah (PAS) 3rd in Pakistan, CSS 2018-19 (Marks 61)

Nuclear Politics

• Nuclear weapons are ‘not only a great peril, but a great hope. (CSS 2006)
• The more developed a country, the more leathly it is armed. (CSS 2007)
• International crisis of Terrorism. (CSS 2002)
• Terrorism as a new threat to the contemporary world. (CSS 2007)
• Pakistan’s War on terror and its impact on our psyche and politic socio-economic fronts. (CSS 2009)
• How is terrorism and its perception shaped by the Mass Media? (CSS 2022)

Art/ Literature/ Poetry

• Every art is an imitation of nature. (CSS 2002)
• Art Critics and reviewers. (CSS 2003)
• Humour in Urdu Literature (CSS 2006)
• Poetry is the highest form of expression – the greatest proof is the Holy Quran. (CSS 2008)
• Literature is the best criticism of life. (CSS 2010)
• Literature as a great cultural artifact. (CSS 2014)
• Language is a fit data for research in humanities and social science. (CSS 2014)
• Can meaning be fixed? (CSS 2014)
• The place of Urdu in Pakistan and Supreme Court’s ruling on making Urdu the official language of the country. 2016
• Literature is a lonely planet of idealists. (CSS 2017)
• Art for peace. (CSS 2019)
• Do we really need literature in our lives? (CSS 2020)

Literary/ Philosophy

• It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds. (CSS 2001)
• Existentialism. (CSS 2003)
• Liberalism (CSS 2006)
• Brain, like hearts, go where they are appreciated. (CSS 2006, 2012)
• There is no great genius without a mixture of madness. (CSS 2009)
• Beggars can’t be choosers. (CSS 2012)
• If gold rusts what shall the iron do. (CSS 2013)
• Anticipation is often greater than realization. (CSS 2015)
• Sometimes we do not see what we see. (CSS 2019)
• I fall upon the thorns of life I bleed. (CSS 2021)
• Imagination is more important than knowledge. (CSS 2022)

Diversity/ Freedom

• Dialogue is the best course to combat terrorism. (CSS 2010)
• Free speech should have limitations. (CSS 2013)
• I disapprove of what you say, but I defend to death your right to say. (CSS 2015)
• I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it. (CSS 2020)

Essay is the very paper most aspirants fail. Reason? Lack of practice! Most aspirants know the reason but still they do not practice. If one cannot practice a long essay daily, one should write, at least, outline, introduction and conclusion daily, and practice a long essay once or twice a week. I did the same and when I sat to structure my essay, I did not face any problem in generating ideas and structuring them instantly. Bakhtiar Ismail (PAS), 1st in Balochistan, CSS 2017-18 (Essay Marks 66)

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A test of thinking, not rote learning

On February 1, the Federal Public Service Commission held the yearly country-wide examination of Central Superior Services (CSS) for the recruitment of officers (BPS-17). The first paper was English Essay, the topics of which invited attention.

The essay paper was meant for exploring the CSS candidates’ whole gamut of abilities and skills such as exploring an issue, analyzing it critically in a coordinated organized way, and reaching a plausible conclusion. Critical analysis is a guarantee of success. Conversely, descriptive or narrative essays are unlikely to let a candidate pass the paper.

The paper astounded not only CSS candidates but it also flabbergasted CSS coaching academies which had dispensed guesses and conducted mock tests to beguile the candidates. The paper discouraged the regurgitation of parroted knowledge that CSS candidates were holding to express. The paper presented a fair chance to the candidates who had cultivated original understanding, creative exploration and critical analysis.

The paper circumvented all guess-able topics such as globalization, economy, climate change, democracy, energy crisis, human rights, terrorism, and so on. In the paper, whereas the topics given were easy, the compulsion was that an essay had to be developed then and there in the examination hall. Only those candidates who had practised writing original essays, could perform. The paper also obliterated any room for bespoke essays– to the disappointment of essay gurus and pundits. As a throwback to the thinking essays of 2017, the paper decides the viability of a CSS candidate, whether he or she should carry on or lose heart.

The first essay topic was this: “Instruction in youth is like engraving in stone.” Many candidates, who had memorized multiple themes on education eagerly mistook the word “youth” for “childhood”, and considered it a veiled topic on “early education”. In fact, it was not. The essay topic means that, at a young age, the youth are most amenable. Their personality can be moulded to affect the trajectory of the rest of their lives. Youth is the age when second nature is built such as discipline, punctuality, attitude, and so on. The second nature, whether positive or negative, can be superimposed on the primary nature to portend the youth’s success or failure in life. Environment plays a crucial role in constructing second nature. To make the essay analytical, discussion could be drifted to the debate between nature (inherited) and nurture (environment). Sources of nurture could be family, school, religion, and social and political groups.

The paper also obliterated any room for bespoke essays– to the disappointment of essay gurus and pundits. As a throwback to the thinking essays of 2017, the paper decides the viability of a CSS candidate, whether he or she should carry on or lose heart.

The next stirring topic was this: “One who uses force is afraid of reasoning.” The topic means that any person who is incapable of reasoning tends to use force to get heard. That is, any person with the power of reasoning prefers (or needs) not to fight. Here, reasoning means a sound argument that weighs both sides (pros and cons) to express one’s stance. Generally, politicians are disinclined to waging a war compared to generals running a country: war is too serious a matter to be left to generals.

Even after a conflict, the warring parties have to sit on a table to give reasons for truce and the way forward. The forum such as the United Nations is destined for reasoning, and condemning the use of force. For reasoning, a refined and educated brain is required, whereas force personifies a beast, which may still be hiding inside man. Reasoning is an expression of modern age, whereas force is an expression of the primitive age. For analysis, a comparison can be drawn between two ages and areas.

The next interesting topic was this: “The fool speaks and the wise listen.” The topic means that wise people grow the habit of listening to garner more information and then ruminate on it. That is, by not listening patiently, the listener may miss new propitious ideas. Moreover, an avid listener is less prone to committing mistakes than a habitual chatterer does. For instance, Einstein was a known keen listener. Similar examples are required to be argumentative.

The next absorbing topic was this: “Both parents should assume equal responsibility for raising a child.” The topic means that both parents are shirking equal responsibility for raising a child. To qualify the statement, a CSS candidate had to mention causes, effects and the way forward.

The next topic was this: “A friend walks in when everyone else walks out.” The topic means that a friend in need is a friend indeed. This could be a descriptive essay.

The next fascinating topic was this: “Online learning is not only convenient but often more effective than traditional classroom instruction.” The topic means that traditional teaching is less convenient and effective in conveying the message of education. A CSS candidate had to take a position and give arguments.

The next captivating topic was this: “People have become overly dependent on technology.” The topic means that, not dependence, but over-dependence, on technology invites certain hitches. Interestingly, the use of technology is unavoidable in the modern age. However, owing to technology’s indispensability, one may get addicted to it. A CSS candidate had to mention reasons for dependence, ooze effects (both favourable and unfavourable), and give ways to avoid overly dependence.

The next motivating topic was this: “To encourage healthy eating, higher taxes should be imposed on soft drinks and junk food.” The topic means that soft drinks and junk food be discarded for their being unhealthy eating. One of the ways to do so is by imposing taxes, though other ways to achieve the same objective are also available. A comparison can be drawn. The bottom line is that junk food does not replace main food. A critical analysis can entail that junk food may be required to attain instant energy in short times, especially in an industrial city on a busy day. Junk food also meets the need of taste and aroma to feel aesthetic about life.

The next exciting topic was this: “Boys will be boys.” The topic means that boys would remain boisterous and even rumbustious owing to their hormonal constitution. An implied point could be how to construct harmony with girls, whether or not feminization of boys in their attitude and behavior (by tempering them down) is possible and feasible.

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CSS English Essay Paper 2024

• February 29, 2024
• CSS Past Papers 2024

Here, you will find the CSS English Essay Paper 2024. You can view or download this CSS English Essay Past Paper 2024 . The English Essay paper of CSS was held on 29-02-2024.

See the CSS English Essays and Topics here.

English Essay Paper for CSS 2024

1. Hope: the greatest driving force.

2. CPEC and “Indo-Middle East – Europe”, new war fronts.

3. The power of propaganda and Muslim World.

4. Phase out of fossil fuel and Arab Economics.

5. Pragmatism vs Passion in politics.

6. Brics and Pakistan: Prospects of Recovery.

7. Artificial Intelligence : The death of creativity.

8. Pathways to Pakistan’s prosperity.

9. Globalization and National Economics .

10. Political Polarization; Governance and Society.

View CSS English Paper 2024 here:

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• Sep 17, 2023

Mastering Essay Writing: Essential Types of Essays for CSS Aspirants

The Central Superior Services (CSS) examination in Pakistan is a rigorous test of knowledge and skills, and one of its most challenging components is the essay paper. Aspiring civil servants need to demonstrate their ability to express themselves coherently and persuasively on a range of topics. To help you prepare effectively, this guide will explore the different types of essays commonly encountered in the CSS examination, along with examples to illustrate each type.

1. Expository Essays

Expository essays require you to investigate an idea, evaluate evidence, and present a clear and concise explanation of a subject. Here's an example topic:

Topic : The Impact of CPEC on Pakistan's Economy

Example : "The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has emerged as a game-changer for Pakistan's economic landscape. Through an analysis of infrastructure development, trade prospects, and job creation, this essay will elucidate how CPEC has the potential to significantly boost Pakistan's economy."

2. Persuasive Essays

In persuasive essays, you must take a stance on an issue and use logical arguments, evidence, and rhetorical devices to convince your reader. Here's an example topic:

Topic : The Importance of Water Conservation in Pakistan

Example : "In a nation plagued by water scarcity and climate change, the need for water conservation has never been more urgent. By examining the current water crisis, its impacts on agriculture, and successful conservation practices worldwide, this essay aims to persuade readers of the necessity of immediate action."

3. Argumentative Essays

Argumentative essays are similar to persuasive essays but also require you to acknowledge opposing viewpoints and refute them. Here's an example topic:

Topic : Social Media's Influence on Pakistani Youth

Example : "While social media platforms provide unprecedented connectivity and opportunities for self-expression, it's crucial to acknowledge their potential negative effects. By addressing concerns about addiction, privacy, and misinformation, this essay will argue that a balanced approach to social media usage is necessary for the well-being of Pakistani youth."

4. Analytical Essays

Analytical essays require you to examine a topic in-depth, breaking it down into its components and offering insights. Here's an example topic:

Topic : The Political Landscape of Pakistan

Example : "To comprehend Pakistan's political dynamics, we must dissect the roles of major political parties, historical influences, and electoral systems. This essay will provide an analytical overview, shedding light on the complexities and challenges that shape the country's political landscape."

5. Descriptive Essays

Descriptive essays allow you to paint a vivid picture of a subject through sensory details and vivid language. Here's an example topic:

Topic : A Journey Through Hunza Valley

Example : "Hunza Valley, nestled in the heart of the Karakoram Range, captivates the soul with its majestic peaks, lush orchards, and serene lakes. This descriptive essay aims to transport you to this breathtaking destination, exploring its natural beauty and rich culture."

6. Narrative Essays

Narrative essays allow you to tell a personal story or anecdote while conveying a larger message or lesson. Here's an example topic:

Topic : My Experience Volunteering in a Rural Pakistani Village

Example : "Stepping into the remote village of Kotla, I embarked on a transformative journey of empathy and self-discovery. Through this narrative essay, I'll share my encounters with the resilient people of Kotla and the profound impact of my volunteer work."

Mastering the art of essay writing is a crucial skill for CSS aspirants in Pakistan. By understanding the different essay types and practicing your writing regularly, you can confidently approach the essay paper in the CSS examination. Remember that practice makes perfect, so keep honing your skills and exploring various essay topics to prepare effectively for this important exam component. Good luck with your CSS journey!

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CSS Essay Past Papers

Download css past papers for compulsory subject essay from 2000 to 2021 updated. | for more past papers please explore the past papers section..

Writing an essay is a crucial component of the C.S.S. Competitive Examination.

Syllabi for C.S.S. Competitive Examination 2016 & Onwards in its Scheme of CSS Competitive Examination provides the following instructions relating to the Essay Paper: “Candidates will be required to write one or more Essay in English. A wide choice of topics will be given.

Candidates are expected to reflect comprehensive and research-based knowledge on a selected topic. Candidate’s articulation, expression, and technical treatment of style of Essay writing is examined.”

Last few years performance of candidates in English Essay paper under CSS Competitive Examination has not been as satisfactory as in other papers. Some of the extracts from the examiners’ reports, highlighting the weaknesses and common mistakes in essay writing, are reproduced below for the general information and guidance of the candidates.

CSS Essay Paper 2000

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How to Collect notes for writing a great CSS essay?

‘Essay writing’ is one of the key papers which determines a candidate’s overall score in the CSS Exam. However, most of the candidates scores less in this paper due to less literary and scholarly writing skills. An essay paper has ten topics out of which candidates must choose one. The CSS Essay word limit ranges between 2500-3500 words on the topic.

Essentials of Essay Writing

Candidates need to ensure the following essentials for writing high scoring CSS Essay

• Structure of an essay
• Expressions of Ideas-Principles of a standard essay
• Outline of an essay
• Grammatical Accuracy and English proficiency with ample vocabulary

Structure of an Essay

The CSS essay exam is not just about jotting down points and writing random thought haphazardly. A standard essay constitutes majorly of three parts:

Introduction/Background The introductory part should compel and introduce the topic to the reader.

Body The candidate should use one paragraph to write about one aspect of the topic in body

Conclusion The last one or two paragraphs must summarize the whole essay highlighting the major aspects .

Collecting notes for CSS Essay Exam

Now that we have covered the essentials and structure of an essay but the question remains there that how to collect material for CSS essay? Following are some of the sources of material for CSS English Essays.

• Essays written by experts in famous newspapers and magazines. Understand and get an idea of how they frame the ‘Introduction’ and Conclusion Passage. Jot down the main points and make your CSS Essay notes out of it.
• To Collect CSS Essay notes candidates should consult official documents like Quarterly reports of SBP, Economic Survey of Pakistan, treaties and agreements.
• To attain high scoring CSS Essay , candidates should also gather notes from the reports of international agencies like WB, IMF, ADB, UN and USAID.
• For Islamic related essays candidates can read and make CSS Essay notes from Friday features in Dawn Newspaper.
• Current Affairs which is a bimonthly print magazine of culture, politics and arts. Each issue of the magazine has insightful analysis and reporting.

Books for high scoring CSS essay

Aspirants can also consult the following books of essays for CSS 2021

• High Scoring CSS Essays 2020 Edition
• How to write great essays by Lauren Starkey
• Better Writing Now by Francie D. Galko
• CSS English Essay Online Preparation Series
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Types of CSS ESSAYS By Mureed Hussain Jasra (CSP)

Table of Contents

Types of Essays:

An essay is a piece of writing that methodically analyses and evaluates a topic, a question or an issue. Fundamentally, an essay is designed to get your academic opinion on a particular matter. Many students get confused about the word opinion in essay writing, and think that essay writing should just stick to report the facts and forget about opinion altogether. However, there are major differences between an academic opinion, based on strong evidences, and a personal opinion, based on emotion and feeling without concrete evidence and logic, and it is important to comprehend these when you are putting together an essay. Writing a good and comprehensive essay is not about simply surveying and re-telling existing ideas. Instead, a good essay takes into account various opinions and points of view and puts forward an argument that reflects the writer’s informed opinion and stance. Furthermore; there are many kinds of essays which differ from one another on the basis of formation of outline, selection of words, presentation of facts, organization of arguments, composition of paragraphs, forms of tenses and description or narration of ideas and events. Writing different types of essays effectively has become critical and key requirement to get good marks in essay writing. Students must remember that every type of essay has its own requirements and their different approaches can be obviously seen in structure. There are over a dozen types of essays, so it is easy to get confused. However, essentially there are four major types of essays which are included in CSS. These include;

1. Factual or Social Essays:

The essay that describes socio-economic issues is called factual or social essay. The purpose of such essays is to explain a topic in a logical and straightforward manner. Without bells and whistles, such essays present a fair and balanced analysis of the topic based on facts mostly in the form of causes, impacts and solutions. Furthermore; the key requirement in such essays is to convince the reader to accept the writer’s point of view or recommendation in simple but flawless language. The writer builds a case using facts, examples, expert opinions, and sound reasoning to get good marks. The writer should present all sides – primary and secondary statements – of the argument in order to facilitate the examiner but must be able to communicate clearly and without equivocation why certain causes, consequences and solutions are more critical. Its ideal length is 2500-3000 words and it always gets only passing marks. Some of its examples are;

• Global Warming: Its Causes and Consequences (2018)
• Energy Crisis: Causes and Consequences (2012)

2. Descriptive Essays:

The descriptive essay provides details about how something looks, feels, tastes, smells, makes one feel, or sounds and this essay paints a picture with words. In CSS/PMS such essay often requires comprehensive description and analysis of some concept, personal event, organization and movement. Analysis does not mean telling the story. Many students fall into the trap of telling the reader what is happening in the text instead of analyzing it. The topic you have chosen to analyze is divided in primary and secondary statements. After stating the problem, elaborate and present your argument. Its ideal length is 2000-2200 words and mostly such essays get good marks.

• Pakistan is Rich in Resources but Poor in Management (2010)
• World as a Global Village: Learning to LiveTogether (2016)

3. Argumentative / Persuasive / Literary Essays:

This is the type of essay where you prove that your opinion, stance, theory or hypothesis about a topic or an issue is correct or more truthful than that of others. This requires a writer to defend a position on a topic using evidence/arguments from personal experience, literature, political science, theology, history, psychology and sociology to support his or her stance/viewpoint. The writer usually uses several different arguments to prove his/her point and you may not quote more than one example from one source. In short, it is very similar to the persuasive essay, but the difference is that you are arguing for your opinion as opposed to others, rather than directly trying to persuade someone to adopt your point of view. The argumentative essay should be based on pros and cons and you have to support one side with solid evidence and examples. Furthermore; it also involves subjectivity of the readers/examiners and thus enables them to award highest as well as lowest marks for the same essay. Some of its examples are;

• Is colonial mentality impeding Pakistan’s progress?
• Are modern wars not holy wars?
• Great nations win without fighting.

4. Narrative Essays:

Best book for CSS Essays WINNING ESSAYS for CSS PMS & other competitive exams by Mureed Hussain Jasra (CSP)

A narrative essay is a description of some past events, and personality in which the writers share their personal experience. Writing a narrative essay provides the examiner an opportunity to get to know and understand you better. During the process of writing a narrative essay, you will learn ways to articulate personal experiences to inform and entertain others. Narrative essays provide human interest, spark our curiosity and draw us close to the storyteller. However, narrative essays never appear in any type of competitive exams like CSS/PMS.

Actually in simple words, the essay has two major types and they are totally different from each other on the basis of formation of outline, composition of introduction, construction of body paragraphs, organization of conclusion, selection of words, presentation of facts, organization of arguments, , forms of tenses and description or narration of ideas and events. These are;

Descriptive Essays:

The type of the essay that always describes concepts, ideas, events, social evil etc. in the farms of primary and secondary statements.

Argumentative Essays:

The type of the essay that requires your stance in the form of yes or no. In short the argumentative essay is a specific type of writing in which a student chooses a topic (often a controversial topic), researches it extensively, and then uses the evidence gathered in the research process to establish his/her opinion or position on the topic in an essay designed to persuade others to share that opinion.

This table will further elaborate and help the students to understand different kinds of essays

About the author

Mureed Hussain Jasra (CSP)

Mr. Mureed Hussain Jasra boasts of a diverse professional background. Being a Civil Servant, he has served at important positions in the Federal Secretariat and autonomous bodies dealing with the important policy level matters. Prior to joining Civil Service of Pakistan, he served as a lecturer of English in the Federal Government of Pakistan and won accolades in academic circles and intelligentsia for his professional commitment and devotion to work. Mureed Hussain Jasra's current fame among the CSS aspirants owes to his stellar success as being the most towering CSS coaching teacher and mentor. Under his careful mentorship, many young men and women have won distinctions in the CSS/PMS competitive examinations and are now serving the nation in different capacities. He regards teaching as the singular driving passion of his life and has founded Civil Services Preparatory School for the young aspirants. Mr. Jasra is an avid reader of books and loves debate on history, culture, literature and governance. He is Masters in English Literature.

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Analyzing CSS Past Papers: A Smart Approach

100 Must-Read Essays and CSS Solved Past Papers Questions for CSS and PMS Aspirants

• December 3, 2022
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These 100 Must-Read Solved Pakistan Affairs and Current Affairs Questions and Essays will help aspirants of CSS and PMS Score High!

100 Must-Read Essays

Whether CSS or PMS, both examinations require aspirants to have a good command of presentation skills, as knowledge alone has never helped anyone qualify for them. It has been seen aspirants with heaps of information and relevant knowledge cannot make it through because they fail to present their perspectives on the papers fluently, coherently, and confidently. Unfortunately, none in Pakistan has ever produced relevant and quality solved past papers to help aspirants understand what and how to write to score high and qualify for the exams. As a result, nearly 90% of the aspirants fail their essay papers straight away. And almost 70% remain unable to cross 50 marks on their compulsory and optional papers. 

However, aspirants who learn to write their knowledge and ideas generally qualify for the examinations or score the highest marks. Students of Sir Syed Kazim Ali have been the glaring examples. They have been qualifying for their essay papers in a single go for years as they not only learn writing skills but also give this skill serious practice till their papers. Moreover, they are the only officers, qualifiers, and aspirants who have been writing  CSS Past Papers’ Essays  and  CSS Solved Past Papers  of compulsory and optional subjects on the Cssprepforum website, which is freely available for all. 

About CSS Solved Past Papers

Writing has undoubtedly been the base through which CSS and PMS examiners evaluate aspirants’ opinions and knowledge. The better the English writing and presentation skills, the higher the chances of succeeding in the examinations. Simply, writing skills have been the only vehicle an aspirant possesses to transfer his arguments, ideas, and viewpoints on a specific topic to his examiner. So, presenting your arguments coherently, fluently, and relevantly is, undoubtedly, the key to success in the CSS and PMS examinations in Pakistan. So, to help aspirants, who have constantly been asking for CSS past papers questions, Cssprepforum has decided to publish the  CSS-solved past papers and essays  attempted by Sir Syed Kazim Ali students who either qualified for the exams or scored the highest marks. 

No matter whether you are going to take the following CSS and PMS attempt or you have just planned to prepare for them, these CSS Solved Past Papers by qualifiers and highest scorers will definitely help you know the following:

• ✓ How to understand the topics
• ✓ How to break the topics down
• ✓ How to outline your arguments or ideas
• ✓ How to start a 20-Marks question to score high marks
• ✓ How to start an essay to qualify for the CSS and PMS
• ✓ How to write body paragraphs
• ✓ What is unity and coherence in writing
• ✓ How to connect sentences and paragraphs
• ✓ And much more

We are trying our best to publish all the past five years solved past papers questions by the top scorers, qualifiers, and Howfiv team, so you are advised to bookmark this article and keep visiting it daily. It will take us around a month to publish them all.

• CSS Solved Essays

The followings are the CSS and PMS past papers essays solved by Sir Syed Kazim Ali students, who either qualified for exams or scored the highest marks in the essay paper. They are uploaded to help CSS and PMS aspirants know how to develop an outline, write introductory paragraphs, and present their arguments. Click on any to continue reading.

CSS Solved English Precis & Composition

Important articles for css aspirants.

The following articles are must-read articles for all CSS and PMS aspirants who have decided to prepare themselves well for the examinations.

CSS Solved General Science & Ability Past Papers

Css solved pakistan affairs past papers.

Important Current Affairs Topics for CSS

CSS Solved International Relations Past Papers

Css solved political science past papers, css solved psychology past papers, css solved criminology past papers, css solved environmental science past papers, css solved gender studies past papers, css solved business administration past papers.

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English Essay CSS Past Papers

On this page, we have listed all CSS past papers of English essay from the year 2016 to 2021 in PDF format. To download the PDF just click on each year css essay past paper and it will be downloaded.

• Essay Past Paper 2016
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• Essay Past Paper 2020
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If you are the one who can not read properly from the PDF format of the past papers, Don’t worry because we have compiled a booklet in which you will get all CSS Solved Past Papers and with FREE delivery all over Pakistan.

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