Sorry for the direct call in... but I'm too confused to think any better solution. Though the matter is not of National Security or something.

I would like to request suggestions and guidance about preparation for Current
Affairs. I have read all the previous posts about how to prepare for C/A so a link to those wouldn't quench my thirst.

Unfortunately, I couldn't just get into habit of reading newspaper daily:|... and now when the exams are soooo near... I need some hints and shortcuts and suggestions based on SOLID GROUNDS. Please tell me some books/journals that are available in Karachi, because I failed to find almost every book recommended by forum members for other subjects. (For example, Strategic Studies Digest... could someone tell me where in Khi I can find that???).

I have Contemporary Affairs by Imtiaz Shahid Book 44... Published in Jan 2006, so it must be covering Oct-Dec 2005?? (and it is of 300 rupees... Gosh.. it means if i try to collect 3 more books, it will cost ...... forget it) I would be highly thankful if someone can give tips for how to attempt C/A paper and score better even if you don't really have that much information...:|

One more thing.. that also relates to other subjects like Pak Affairs etc... I'm really bad at remembering dates and years and events... in fact it's the numbers that I can't really "digest" the way I can digest words and other things. Can someone please suggest ways to learn and remember dates of events specially when they are so many... one after another... (as in discussing progress of a past Pak Govt.).

One last thing partially related... I think I'm used to use simple language... Is it necessary for one to be eloquent in CSS answer scripts??? If yes, where can I find lists of those "weird and unfamiliar" words... (No Offense... It's just what they look like to me...)

Now let me summarise my questions here so that I get allll my answers:

1. Guide me how to prepare for C/A when there is little time left. (I also have to prepare other subjects :$)
2. I can't read newspaper daily... Is there any alternative?
3. Suggest some Journals/Books that are available in Khi.
4. Shortcuts.....? I would love to have them.
5. How many of "Contemporary Affairs by Imtiaz Shahid" I ought to have? Can
I have to go through it from start till end?
6. Tips for how to attempt C/A paper and score high... no matter you don't have much MATTER.
7. How to remember dates... specially of event occurring one after another.
8. Is it necessary to be eloquent??? If so, how can I improve?

I am in dire need of EXPERT OPINIONS... though I don't mean to offend
junior members, I can't afford to welcome guesstimates.

Thanks in advance!

just give 1hr to listen BBC Urdu Radio transmission from 8: 00 pm to 9: 00 pm daily and benifit it that you can do another work while listening the radio, or you can visit http://www.bbcurdu.com and just give an overview and you can learn lot about current affairs...

__________________
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more,
do more and become more, you are a leader
MCS Final Year (Karachi University)

Hello Sam,

For CA paper you must have list of main current issues in your mind. You can find one such list anywhere in CA section of this forum.

Then you will need to get comprehensive information about all those topics. If you rely on books, then may be you do not find relevant material (relating to that list of topics) contained in any single or even two or three books.

There is need of two types of information:

1- Topic introduction, historical background, current state of affairs, some analysis from different points of views, future prospects. If you were in habit of reading Newspapers, then most of these things would have to be found in editorials and analytical columns of good newspapers. Alternativey I think INTRODUCTORY materials about most of the topics is available in CA notes sections of this website. The right strategy is that whichever 'notes' you feel as important, download it to your HD. In addition, there are some good international websites about current affairs like: http://www.cfr.org/

You can search topics from this or other similar websites. These websites will give you up-to-date information.

2- Second type of information relates to 'facts, figures and statistics'. There is one such link: http://www.statpak.gov.pk/depts/index.html

You can find other similar links,

You said in your post that you have read all the posts relating to how to attepmt CA exam. I think you have not visited CA notes section of this website. I think introductory material relating to most of the topics is available in notes section.

For books in Karachi..... I can say nothing I hav not seen Karachi yet.

For other matters:


In addition to above mentioned exercise it would be better if you do some other exercise. These days, very hot discussions relating to current topics are going on in disscusion section of forum. I invite you to participate there with at least one of your DETAILED ANALYTICAL POST. This activity shall be proved to be good exercise before exam day. Hot disscussion is going on for example in following two links:

http://www.cssforum.com.pk/thread3330.html &

http://www.cssforum.com.pk/thread3263.html



I also do not read newspapers. Another thing is that I also do not watch TV.

So I can be more helpful. Previous year I had not even touched any material or fact/ figure relating to CA. But still I got at least passing marks.

I think if you do only the things which I mentioned previously, you definitely will be at far better position than to that at which I was previous year.




At this time, to be serious, only short-cut shall be effective.

I do not recommend this strategy. Better would be to have a list of topics, then to cover all those topics through online sources.

I must make it clear however that I know nothing so I can recommend nothing about how to get good marks.

First try to form a detailed mental picture of sequence of events. I mean first of all you must be knowing which event occurred first and which later. For example you should know which of these events occurred first and which later:

1- Shimla Wafad --- Division of Bangal....???
2- Dehli Proposals --- Simon Commission ...??? etc. etc.

If you first grasp the sequence of all the events, then you will find it easy to remember the dates etc.

Bhai I am spending time to write these things for you only because I have found your writing style very mature, decent, logical and expressive. I do not think that there is need to be extra eloquent. But there should be some difference between CSS candidate's English and just simple English. I recommend you to study Bertrand Russell's 'Unpopular Essays' at least once before the exam date. This is not very heavy book. Russell's writing style has the qualities of simplicity and eloquence, both. This book should be easily available because it is included in MA English literature syllabus. Just try to see and 'grasp' the writing style of Russell.



I do not know whether my opinions are expert or not. Actually I had nothing else to offer.

Thanks!

__________________
Where is the SIGNATURE....????

Dear Bro Khurram,

Thank you sooo much for your detailed and informative reply. It's really helpful and you covered almost all of my queries . I was looking for such comprehensive and systematic reply. I am surely going to check out those links including notes on the forum and I'll acquaint with Mr. Russell soon too .

I would like to thank Bro Ghayas too for their simple though genuine suggestions .

I'll still be looking forward for more enlightenment specially for the things left behind.

Thank you.

AoA

Reading of daily newspapers and International Magazines like "The Economist" is sufficient for C.A.

Regards

Godoo