Substance-writing implies a condensed reproduction of the original passage. Substance
is the rewriting in the candidate’s own words of an original passage which will
be brief, clear, and accurate summary containing only its main points or
essential ideas.
Step
by step guide for writing substance:
Your substance should be approximately one third of the
original text. In case of poetry it should be around 50-60 words.
Substance should be generally written in a single paragraph.
Read and re-read the given text carefully for several times. Don’t
get confused if you can’t understand any words and phrases exactly well. Instead
try to make out the sense.
Try hard to understand the central idea or the key note of
the passage. In case of poetry try to grasp the inner thought.
A substance is essentially the restatement of author’s view,
idea, feeling etc. Hence it should be in third person.
Underline the relevant portions (important sentences/ phrases/
words/ ideas) with your pencil.
Just before writing, Chalk out a rough draft of the substance
you are to write on the left page of the script.
Leave out the examples. If the examples represent certain
ideas, take only the ideas.
Omit the ornamental expressions, figures of speech,
unnecessary or superfluous details, illustrations, repetitions.
Try to transform those into simple and straightforward ones.
Avoid the explanatory sentences or parts of those.
Transform the circumlocutions into simple expressions.
Leave out the direct speeches. Should those be at all
necessary, transform those into indirect ones.
All the major ideas or points of the original passage must be
included.
The substance should be simple as well as abstract.
Be coherent, and maintain the logical chain of the ideas.
Be careful to the grammatical errors while you are writing
sentences.
Try to write your answer in your own language as far as
possible.
Don’t poke into your personal view or criticism.
On the right page of the script write down final answer
clearly.
Yes, Done!
Critical
Note or Comment of Prose Passage:
Ø The passage belongs to the genre of descriptive (describe something – objects, person, place, experience,
emotion, situation, etc.) / narrative
essay (one might think of it as telling a story. These essays are often
anecdotal, experiential, and personal) / reflective
essay (that captures author’s personal experience and thought)
Ø The author’s approach is
subjective (based on author’s own opinion, perspective, belief, desire, feeling
etc.) / objective (deals with deed, events, arguments etc.)
Ø From the thematic point of view
the author wants to highlight on ______ (write the central idea or theme of the
passage within 4-5 lines as per your
observation or analysis)
Ø Try
to mark out what type of a discourse the given passage is—philosophical,
scientific, literary, reflective, realistic, satirical, humorous, journalistic,
historical, critical, didactic, religious, autobiographical etc.
Ø State uses of imageries/ symbols/ allusions/ historical
references/ simile and metaphor or any other rhetorical devices – analyze those
in brief if necessary.
Ø The style of the passage is lucid or simple and direct
without any jerk. The passage is free from ambiguity. (if the passage is
complex mention the bombastic words used)
Ø Write whether the passage is argumentative (i.e. convince
audience about the solidity of his view) or analytical (i.e. objective picture
or information).
Ø Mention if any catchy or proverbial line is used.
Ø The tone of the piece is serious or grave one.
Critical
Comment or Critical Note for Poetry:
1.
Nature of the poem:
A.
Romantic Poem: i)
strangeness added to beauty (familiar will be described as unfamiliar) ii)
return to the past (childhood) iii) flowery description of Nature iv) about the
poetic process v) free flow of imagination.
B.
Classical Poem: i)
well-structured ii) criticism of life iii) sharply pointed subjectivity
C.
Pantheist Poem: i)
elaborate description of Nature ii) the subjective relationship between the
poet and Nature iii) Nature as a living sentiment
D.
Topical Poem: i)
about the present day world ii) contemporary subjectivity
E.
Poems of Doubt: i)
the poems of crisis ii) problems / dilemma/ doubt
F.
Modern Poem: i)
contemporary references ii) images with contemporary relevant iii) modern day
style iv) choice of words v) modern symbols
“The
poem understudy belongs to the________”
2.
If the piece is a
poem, try to mark out what type of poem it is—that is, whether it is a symbolic
poem or allegorical poem or philosophical poem etc.
3.
State whether the
poem is subjective or objective by nature
4.
Mention imageries,
symbols and allusions used in the poem, if possible explain those.
5.
Bring out any
rhetoric or figures of speech or ornamental expressions used in the poem.
6.
Clarify the style of
the poem. Whether the lexicon (choice or selection of words) is lucid/ complex/
long phrase / free flow .
7.
Types of stanza or stanza pattern:
i)
Spenserian Stanza:
Iambic penta-metre and iambic hexa-metre line
ii)
Terza Rima: Three
lines stanza
iii)
Sonnet stanza: Octave
and sestet
iv)
Free Verse: does not
follow a strict rhyme or metre
8.
Rhyme:
i)
Petrarchan or Regular
Sonnet: Octace- abba, abba Sestet- cdc,
dcd or cde, cde
ii)
Shakespearean or
Elizabethan Sonnet: Three quatrains – abab,
cdcd, efef and couplet – gg
iii)
Any other rhyme
scheme
9.
Rhythm:
i)
Swift Rhythm ii)
Pause Rhythm iii) Slow Rhythm
10.
Anaphoric and Cataphoric References: Anaphoric- some images which refer to the front, Cataphoric – some images which refer to the
back.
11.
Punctuation Description: If there is any uncommon property of punctuation.
12.
Poetic License: It’s
a kind of right assumed by poets to alter or invert standard syntax or
depart from common diction or
pronunciation to comply with the metrical or tonal requirements of their
writing.
13.
Tone: serious or
grave
Sample 1- Poetry Passage:
Fire and Ice
By Robert Frost
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
Draft:
The world will end in fire - or in ice - I’ve tasted of desire -
I hold
with those who favor fire - I know enough of hate - for
destruction ice is also great and would suffice.
Substance:
The
speaker weighs up two different scenarios for the apocalypse of the world –
fire or ice. Both the components
are compared with self-destructing human emotions: hatred and desire. The
speaker goes for fire. He determines that either opinion would achieve its
purpose sufficiently well.
Sample 2- Prose Passage:
Success in life depends largely on good health. Keep
your body fit, and by cleanliness, fresh air, regular habits and suitable recreations, make yourself strong to play the
game, and to do it in every sense of the word. Avoid anything that will sap
your strength. Smoking in your youth stunts the body and clouds the brain.
Be temperate in all things, and beware of drinking.
It is the deadly enemy of health and efficiency.
Above all, remember that your character is a priceless
possession. Therefore, keep it untarnished. Be truthful
in all things, courteous and considerate to everybody, fair to your rivals, kind and helpful to all who are weak and
suffering, and do not be afraid to have the courage to stand up for what is
good, pure and noble. Avoid gambling in every form; it is mean game, trying
to get something for nothing, and at other people’s expense.
Make provision for hard times. In your leisure hours avoid
mere idling. Fill each hours with interesting hobbies, good books,
and with companionships and associations calculated to exercise an influence for good. To
a long extent you will be known by the company you keep.
Draft:
Success in life depends largely on good health. Keep your body
fit by cleanliness, fresh air, regular habits and suitable recreations. – Smoking
clouds the brain - beware of drinking - character is a priceless possession - Be
truthful, courteous, and considerate to everybody. - avoid mere idling - Fill
each hours with interesting hobbies, good books, companionships.
Substance:
Good health is the key to success. One should keep it by harboring
superior habits and befitting recreations and by avoiding smoking and drinking.
Character can be kept stainless by remaining upright, kind and helpful to
everybody. One should not be idle. He rather makes the best of his leisure by
reading good books, exercising his hobbies and keeping good companies.
Note: Moreover
“Practice makes perfect”, that’s all I can suggest to you, buddies.
Don’t
forget to drop your priceless comments!
~~~~~*~~~~~
