Essay Writing: Samples for Practice - Class 6 PDF Download

About Essay Writing

A composition on a particular subject consisting of more than one paragraph is an essay. The essay should deal with the main subject, and all parts of it should be clearly linked with that subject. There should be a logical sequence of thought. This requires a logical relationship between ideas, sentences and paragraphs. Unimportant information should not be included and space should be given to the important ideas.

Types of Essay

• Descriptive Essays: Descriptive Essays are those that consist of the description of some place or thing. The description should be both clear and pleasant. The writer of the description should set to work the manner of a painter. His ‘description must be founded upon close observation. Also an attempt should be made to reproduce the atmosphere in which object is seen.
• Narrative Essays: The subject matter of the Narrative Essay is the same as that of the narrative proper. It consists of the narration of some event, action or movement. The event may be imaginary or historical or a personal experience of the student or an account of the life of someone else. The candidate may be asked to write about the biographical sketch of a national leader, a journey or a voyage or an incident like a street quarrel or a bus accident.
• Reflective Essays: The aim of the reflective essay is to test whether the student has formed his opinion on such subjects as ‘Patriotism ‘Habits’, ‘Essentials of Character’, etc. He is to attempt topics of abstract as well as of social, political and domestic affairs. Current issues such as ‘Rising Prices’ are set to test the volume of information he has gathered. This particular type of essay is an essential test of planning and argument of the matter possessed by the student. The essay is to be a sincere self-expression of the candidate.

Essay Format

• Introduction: ‘The purpose of introduction is to stimulate generally an interest in the topic. The general importance of the topic is emphasised at the very outset, so as to sustain the interest of the reader all through the essay. As a rule, the introduction opens with the pointed short statement which shakes off the indifference of the reader. The opening sentence is usually short. It serves the purpose of an electric shock. If it is a serious statement, it should be readily acceptable. But it must be full of compelling force and vigour.
• History: After the introduction, the history and development of the topic should be taken up. In a short essay, a very brief critical survey or bird’s eye-view of the history of the topic may be given in the form of a few pithy remarks. In the case of longer essays, it is absolutely necessary to present a very succinct account of the topic. The attempted history of the topic should show that the candidate has up-to-date knowledge of things, and is in a position to draw his own conclusions.
• Body: It constitutes the main part or body of the essay. It should present facts, illustrations and thoughts and reflections of the writer in an orderly and coherent manner. The body should be divided into regular paragraphs, each dealing with one distinct aspect of the subject. The paragraphs should be interlinked with one another and should serve as different stages in the narrative description or the argument.
• Conclusion: The essay should be rounded off with a conclusion. The conclusion of an essay is as important as its introduction. Whereas the opening introduces the subject, the end leaves the final impression on the mind of the reader. It should, therefore, contain the finest, wittiest or most original thought that has occurred to the writer on the subject. There should be a finality and completeness about the end. The last sentence of the essay should have a rhythmic effect as to produce a strong feeling that the topic has finally come to a very satisfactory and natural end.

My grandmother is the person whose life exemplifies the benefits of patience and perseverance. Married at the age of 16, her life meandered through strange twists and turns. She went through the rigours of the unfriendly extended joint family. There were many occasions when she was at the end of her patience. But she counselled her own self and carried on.

During her times, life was tougher for women who dared to dream and pursue it. She loved music and wished to learn it was no less than walking on the tight rope to accommodate music classes in a breathlessly busy life. She handled the challenges patiently. She persevered on. Her happiness knew no bounds when she was invited to sing in a community function. Though her family didn’t support her, she accepted the invitation. Soon after that, she started working harder and got a chance to sing on the All India Radio.

She is an achiever for me. Her patience was rare. What I learned from her is that if we are patient at the most difficult times and persevere on, we are sure to achieve our goals. After all, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Child labour is done by any working child who is under the age specified by law. The word, “work” means full time commercial work to sustain self or add to the family income. Child labour is a hazard to a Child’s mental, physical, social, educational, emotional and spiritual development. Broadly any child who is employed in activities to feed self and family is being subjected to “child labour’.

It is obligatory for all countries to set a minimum age for employment according to the rules of ILO written in Convention 138(C.138). The stipulated age for employment should not be below the age for finishing compulsory schooling that is not below the age of 15. Developing countries are allowed to set the minimum age at 14 years in accordance with their socio- economic circumstances.

The issue of Child labour is a world phenomenon which is considered exploitative and inhuman. Child labour is widely prevalent in some form or the other, all over the world. The term is used for domestic work, factory work, agriculture, mining, quarrying, having own work or business’ like selling food etc, helping parent’s business and doing odd jobs. Children are regularly employed to guide tourists, sometimes doubling up as a marketing force to bring in business for shop owners and other business establishment. In some industries children are forced to do repetitive and tedious work like weaving carpets, assembling boxes, polishing shoes, cleaning and arranging shops goods. It is seen that children are found working more in the informal sectors compared to factories and commercial registered organizations. Little children are often seen selling in the streets or working as domestic servants within the high walls of homes – hidden away from the eyes of the outside world. The children are used for military purpose and child prostitution. The most appalling form of child labour is prostitution and modelling for child pornography. Some children are even sold to fiefs by their parents for money.

According to the statistics given by International Labour Organization there are about 218 million children between the age of 5 and 17 working all over the world. The figure excludes domestic labour. The fact that vulnerable children are being exploited and forced into work, which is not fit for their age, is a human rights concern now. India and other developed and developing countries are really plagued by the problem of child employment in organized and unorganized sectors.

Child labour is a human rights issue of immense sensitivity. Child labour is considered exploitative by the United Nations and International Labour Organization. The article 32 of the UN speaks about child labour as follows-“States parties recognize the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child’s education, or to be harmful to the child’s health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development.”

In India, Mizoram has the highest share of workers aged between 5 and 14 years in total population. Lakshwadeep has the lowest share of workers aged between 5 and 14 years in total population. The most inhuman and onerous form of child exploitation is the age old practice of bonded labour in India. In this, the child is sold to the loaner like a commodity for a certain period of time. His labour is treated like security or collateral security and cunning rich men procure them for small sums at exorbitant interest rates. The practice of bonded child labour is prevalent in many parts of rural India, but is very conspicuously in the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu. Here the bonded child is allowed to reside with his parents, if he presents himself for work at 8 a.m. every day. The practice of child bonded labour persists like a scourge to humanity in spite of many laws against it. These laws although stringent and providing for imprisonment and imposition of huge fines on those who are found guilty are literally non- functional in terms of implementation.

We celebrate children’s day every year on 14th November all over India. The first Prime Minister of free India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru was born on 14th November 1889 in Allahabad to a Brahmins family of Kashmir. His father Pandit Moti Lal Nehru was a lawyer.

The house named ‘Anand Bhawan’ by Moti Lal Nehru was given to the fighters for India’s independence and the building was renamed as “Swaraj Bhawan”.

Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru had a great love for children. He wanted to be amidst them, talk to them and play with them. The children also loved and respected him and called him “Chacha Nehru”. His birthday is celebrated by the people of India in a benefitting manner. That is called children’s day.

In 1916 Jawahar Lal Nehru married Kamala Kaul, daughter of a Kashmiri Brahmin, who not only became his wife, but also his devoted and faithful friend. During the independence movement he was arrested many times and in all he spent about 14 years in jail. He wrote famous books – Autobiography, Discovery of India and Letters from Father to his Daughter. Smt. Indira Gandhi was his daughter.

On children’s day early in the morning people began gathering at Shantivan, where Chacha Nehru was cremated, to pay homage to the great leader. The visitors including the President, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet Ministers and the higher officers. They place garlands on the samadhi.

The school children organise cultural programmes to celebrate the day. They sing national song and stage short dramas. So Chacha Nehru’s life ended on 27th May 1964 at the age of 74.

Everyone is aware of the fact that the ancient practice of yoga offers a multitude of benefits to modern-day students at almost every grade level. Yoga’s combination of breath and movement can help alleviate social and academic stress, clear the mind and soothe cramped bodies, which are jammed behind desks and hunched over computers.

One of yoga’s primary benefits for every human being is the alleviation of stress. Students may be young, but they aren’t immune to stress. Family pressure, financial fears, academic performance standards and peer groups can all take a toll on a student’s psyche and success in school. A study performed by Harvard Medical School researchers found that high-school students who participated in yoga instead of traditional physical education offerings for a semester, exhibited improvements in mood, anxiety, perceived stress and resilience.

Yoga offers time for the body and mind to relax from the rigor of learning. This may help students to be better at applying themselves when studying or learning in a classroom. Medical students who practiced yoga for just one month reported better sleep and improved concentration. Apart from reducing stress and relaxing the mind, yoga improves concentration of a person which is very helpful to students. It keeps mind healthy and helps to overcome depression. Not only this, yoga and meditation reduce behavioral problems also.

Needless to say that yoga has many benefits and students must make it a part of their regular life.

The uniqueness of Indian culture is its unity in diversity. India’s cultural legacy shows that despite all kinds of differences, there exists a strong chord of unity which binds all Indians together. It is the dynamism and resilience of our culture that has sustained it for centuries despite its myriad diversities and differences. One of the hallmarks of our culture is that irrespective of the area or region we live in we all feel culturally connected. It is largely on account of similarity in ethos shared by people across the country on different occasions. For instance, the celebration of Lohri and Baisakhi in Punjab, Bihu in Assam and Pongal in Tamil Nadu as harvesting festivals unites entire India with joyous feelings. Similar feelings are shared across the country when Makar Sankranti is celebrated on 14th January. Holi, Eid, Diwali, and Christmas are other major festivals which are celebrated all over India. We see that although names of festivals are different, ethos remains the same which acts as a latent unifying force.

It is this socio-cultural churning which has taken place in India since ancient times has resulted in what we popularly call as ‘Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb’, meaning a composite culture.

This cultural harmony has also been recognized by our Constitution. Article 51 A of the Constitution underscores its importance when it says that ‘it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to value and preserve the rich cultural heritage of our composite culture. The Article further mentions that it is one of the fundamental duties of the citizens “to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India, transcending religious, linguistic, and regional or sectional diversities, to renounce practices derogatory to women…”.They all are indicative of recognition and reiteration of unity in diversity by the state.

The essence of our culture is its amorphous and flexible elements which allowed people to freely mix up with each other. It also reflects in our behavior as Indians. Spiritualism, simplicity, filial obligations, harmony, benevolence, austerity, tolerance are some of the significant manifestations of our culture. Indian culture has also assimilated western ideas and concepts. Today it is substantially contributing to Indian life-style. Globalization is working as a catalyst in hastening this process.

Mahatma Gandhi in his weekly journal ‘Young India’ also emphasized that the essence of Indian culture is its unity in diversity. Indian culture cannot afford to be exclusivist. If it so happens, India would lose its identity. Unity in diversity is the very pivot of the feeling of Indianness.Thus, we see diversity in our traditions, customs, manners, habits, tastes, etc. But in spite of these diversities we all are Indians. It is this feeling of Indianness across the length and breadth of the country which has created unity in diversity in India.