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Every year thousands of candidates, from different backgrounds, apply for the prestigious CSS/PMS/PCS exams but only a few are fortunate enough to pass.The rest lose the race primarily because of failing the English Essay and composition paper. Henceforth, these two are the subjects, being the most tactical, from which every other CSS/PMS/PCS aspirant fears the most

In this article, we shall not only discuss the reasons why most of the candidates couldn’t make through these papers, but will likewise give answers to conquer the defects.

The most commonly mentioned flaws, according to the FPSC’s/BPSC’s examiner report are:

1. Wrong use of English; grammatical/spelling mistakes and flawed sentence structure.
2. Stereotypical information
3. Inadequate/irrelevant content
4. Poor understanding of the topic
5. Lack of academic writing skills
6. Not abiding by the essay/précis writing techniques

To state in a nutshell, the reasons (which the examiner defines distinctively) it is a candidate flawed expression, the inability of understanding and unawareness of the standards of formal writing that often takes him to the dungeon

The Question arises: Despite studying English throughout our 14 or 16 years of educational period (as per the eligibility rules) why the examiner finds a candidate’s English language skills so poor?

Probably because all these years, in our education system at all levels, English is treated as a “Subject” rather as a “Language”. Just like Newton’s Laws of Motion or the Pythagoras theorems, we by default tend to cramp the grammatical rules of the English Language. We sometimes, fail to understand the drastic outcome of the traditional method of rote learning that we have been exposed to since we have ventured into schools.

Obviously! The conversation here doesn’t plan to change the spoiled framework (not to get off the track) however to patch our methodology.

So the most important trick is to Treat English as a Language

In a class, you are taught the Dos and Don’ts of English. What’s next? PRACTICE!

We all started speaking our native language from a very young age. Do you ever think of how we did that? We heard our family members, started to utter few words, mispronounced at first but we never quit trying until it got perfect. Similar is the case with the local languages that we learn at any point in life.

The problem with the English language is that we are not exposed to native English speakers, but how about watching an international news channel and investigating how and where the correspondent uses the strategy or the standard you are instructed in the class.

Another most significant proposal that can fill in as a solution for all your language defects is to READ and afterward WRITE

“I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.”

– Robert Louis Stevenson

Sadly, it is our dilemma that, as technology advances, the culture of reading books is fading. Students rely on the brief handouts the lecturer provides or Google(ing) the summaries. In the wide ocean of knowledge that the internet provides; the thin line between the authentic and unauthentic content has blurred. Public libraries, left few, are under-maintained. Hence, the importance of reading, or developing it as an essential habit, is least emphasized. However, no one can deny the fact that reading not just increases one’s authentic bank of content but enables a reader to understand what formal academic writing actually is.

The arrangements expressed (Read + write= Practice) are the center strategies of acing a language that almost every other candidate overlooks resulting in failure. Not to state that efforts are not put in- indeed multidimensional- but not straight into the bull’s eye.

The Writer is an Award-winning Educationist in Pakistan

The word “pornography” is a combination of the Greek word porni (“prostitute”) and graphein (“to write”), which means “writing about harlots.”

Pornography, as defined by Peter and Valkenburg, is portrayal of sexual subject matter through various mediums such as books, videos, magazines, drawings etc. for the purpose of sexual arousal.

With the technological boom and a widespread use of internet, pornographic material (in all its mediums) has become easily accessible. Hence, the easy procurement of sexual content has increased its viewership developing an addiction, technically, also referred as compulsive or impulsive viewing. For this reason, the addiction has become key factor behind hypersexual disorders.

The disorder is an umbrella construct for problematic behaviors such as excessive masturbation, cybersex, telephone sex, strip club visits and most predominantly the use of drugs.

According to a study 79% of porn performers have used marijuana, and 50% have used ecstasy; a fact that should be treated as a serious concern. The west has conducted numerous studies over the addiction of pornography and its implications, according to which, the side effects include: higher level of depression, feeling of guilt, addiction to sex/drugs/alcohol, fatigue, impaired concentration, anger and impatience etc. However, the porn addiction also hampers the normal sexual orientation of a person.

Sexuality has remained a fluid yet a debatable phenomenon, peculiarities to which vary pertaining to the social context. In this aspect, social constructivism holds much relevance when we in these times are witnessing the increase in rapes: specifically in child molestation.

Concepts such as homosexuality or sadomasochism that were considered taboo subjects to be even discussed, have now become a common practice. Much credit goes to stimulated psychological construct developed in an individual who has been watching such content and no longer finds the so called “garbage” bizarre rather practicable.
A study exploring the relationship between hard-core pornography and sexual offences explains that the cliental of hard-core porn consider violence and assault justified.

Another Swedish research explained that people who are addicted to porn (90% of teens and 96% of young adults are either encouraging, accepting, or neutral when they talk about porn with their friends) have more liberal and positive attitude towards the unconventional sexual themes than the people who watched porn less frequently.

Now the fact to ponder upon is, what morphological construct of human brain triggers an individual to watch porn as much to turn the activity into an addiction.
There is this chemical ‘Dopamine’ also known as the ‘feel-good neurotransmitter’ which human brain releases every time one reaches the climax of sexual pleasure, takes drugs/sedatives, or curbs his craving of food. The chemical basically, when released, reaches the nerve cells with the message” All is well”. Consequently, your nerves relax, rejoice and rest in peace giving an individual temporal but a heightened feeling of pleasure.

So it become easier to contemplate why people, especially youngsters, mired in stress and frustration resort to pornography. After all, ‘the feel good trance’ comes for free. But the fun people think comes for free, has in fact become a business empire.
It is estimated that virtual reality pornography would reach a $1 billion business by the year 2025.Whereas, Jenna Jameson (the queen of porn industry) has net worth of $30 million.

Nevertheless, the addiction has not just helped in increased cases of sexual disorders, rapes, molestation, harassments, etc. but has seriously inflicted damage to marital relationships.
68% of divorce cases involved one partner meeting a new lover over the Internet particularly because they think their partners cannot fulfill their sexual fantasies they are known to through pornography.

Elaborating the same fact Dr. Mary Anne Layden stated. “I have seen in my clinical experience that pornography damages the sexual performance of the viewers. Pornography is raising their expectation and demand for types and amounts of sexual experiences.”

In Pakistan, although the government has posed a ban over the pornographic websites, the measure certainly was not enough either to stop the viewers from viewing it (VPNs – as most know) or to curb the horrifying rate of rapes.

According to a study by Human Rights Watch, there is a rape once every two hours and a gang rape every eight in the Islamic Republic: a nation of rich cultural and moral values (ingredients for a virtuous nation that west is deprived of).

The basic pillars on which the Pakistani nation stands: religion and diversified culture which strictly condemns sexually illicit evils is now into the quagmire of filth germinated through the pornographic Frankenstein. It is an undeniable fact, that most, if not all, teenagers in our society resort to pornography out of curiosity and the biological changes that occur during their phase of puberty.

Unlike the western nations, the urge to be inquisitive specifically about the ‘unseen’, ‘hidden’ and ‘censored’ is rampant in Asian nations with their strict laws that exacerbate the situation. Advocates of such strictness are often forgetful of the fact that by creating such an atmosphere where even the discussion of such topics is considered a grave taboo ends up doing more harm to the already deplorable state of the country. In addition such conventional a setup proves to be a breeding ground for the rebellious nature of individuals who deliberately perform such acts clandestinely at first, and then penetrate deep into an unending downward spiral of heinous acts.

It is therefore recommended that instead of focusing ‘solely’ on harsher rules and regulations, sensitization of masses at large is need of the hour. Individuals ought to be acquainted with not only moral and social values but also need to get cognizant of the laws and punishments associated with deviant behaviors. Likewise, the government and the citizenry need to go hand in hand by devising such mechanisms that educate and inculcate civic sense in the population regarding this pressing issue.

The Writer is an Award-winning Educationist in Pakistan

“According to a recent survey conducted by an independent organization, two men were reported dead and several were seriously harmed by the severe shortage of ‘internet supply’ in an unidentified area.”

This news might seem quite exaggerated at the moment; however, with the increased dependence on technology, specifically the portable gadgets responsible for connecting people, this headline might not appear as a shock to the masses.

While the advanced search engines, ads, cookies, and suggestions have successfully attempted to “assimilate or integrate” the entire world, there is another side of this technology which holds equal gravity and cannot be turned a blind eye towards. The dismaying repercussions of the increased dependence on social media have been highlighted to serve as an eye-opener.

”WHERE IS MY PHONE?”

Don’t be surprised, this is usually the first and the most frequently occurring question in absence of the prestigious gadget, irrespective of time and place.

 It was a nice time with my family!

Time is a precious gift and families know its importance better than anyone. The kids cannot be held culpable alone for being reserved and engaged; with the increased interest of parents and other members of the family engulfed by social technology, they are equally responsible in exacerbating the already worsened situation.
The average daily time spent on social media is 142 minutes a day. And here we speak about normal users, let alone the ones addicted to it. Concept of spending time with your old parents, visiting a bed ridden relative, or having a healthy conversation with your kids asking them “how was your day?” (While Facebook Messenger and Whatsapp handle 60 billion messages a day) is carried away by the so-called notion “Time is money”.

Surprisingly, the world is more inclined towards providing convenient internet services to its inhabitants than saving them from hunger via providing food. As per the record, 3.5 billion people- which makes 45 percent of world’s population- are social media users. Whereas, (to quote with utter disappointment) 09 million people die every year due to hunger according to the international relief agency Mercy Corps.

 Privacy? What privacy?

The concept of privacy seems outdated nowadays as the world moves towards marginalizing this idea in the purview of globalization. Moreover, the people have developed a habit of posting and “checking in” at any place one could think of, literally any place! While the social portals have also been accused of breaching the privacy of the users, the numbers of users increase by the minute as I write and you read.

Real versus Online friends!

Well, the concept of fame and popularity has enormously changed from conventional factors to the number of followers, friends, likes, tweets, comments, and posts.
Moreover, even the basic idea of playing has been adulterated as “online is the new game.” Similarly, the irony between online friends versus real friends, who actually show up when needed, remains a thought-provoking question for many.

Nature? Do you mean wallpaper?

Whether we admit it or not, but one can clearly witness the enormous difference between the times when parents were worried about their kids of reaching home when they got late, contrary to now when parents are worried about their kids for at least seeing the sunshine outside. Likewise, the gathering, outing, sightseeing and exploring the beauty of nature has taken a nosedive.

The psychological and mental traumas!

Owing to the deluded and hypnotizing traps of some users who hold the expertise of encompassing and blackmailing the less aware ones, the gush in the cases of psychological and mental traumas is one of the most noteworthy aspects to be mentioned. Not only does this evil trap hold the potential of ruining all sorts of relationships, but the situation is also further aggravated when this leads to the worst possible situation of deeming “suicide” as the only viable option.

 Social Acceptance: Do I stand on the perceived standards?

It is crystal clear beyond a shred of a doubt that today, we compare our own lives with the people – as they portray on social media – no matter how superficial.  This comparison has led the majority to adopt unprecedented ways in order to impress the people who might least matter but their opinion don’t hold enough ground to alter their lifestyles completely. They travel to show people, they talk to impress people henceforth, every act is fueled by an impetus to show-off, or to pretend to be better than the other out of envy and desperation. The virtual world of social-media, and its excessive reliance is losing our grip from the reality.

As one rightly said:

 “Another day.
How long are you gonna scroll down?
Semicolon
Smile”

The Writer is an Award-winning Educationist in Pakistan