I have few questions,hope u will help me out,
I want to ask if a paragraph is given for precis which is in( “ “)and the writer’s name is added at the end ,should we make precis by writing that “writer says” or by putting his specific name,or we should make our precis without giving the reference of the writter,I mean in generalized way.
And in exams where to write our rough draft of precis.

About essay I want to ask that if we chose the topic based on quotation,should we spell out the quotation in first paragraph(from where it is taken,what is its background etc)or should we treat it in generalized way without giving direct reference to it.?

Can we cite our personal experiences in an essay and deal it in direct speech or not?
About sentence structure of an essay I want to ask can we use many different tenses in essay(first paragraph in past,second in present and so on)or there is any restrictions about tense structure in essay.?

And minimum of how many pages an essay should be.
Lastly,is there any need to practise comprehension?
hope u will remove my confusion about aforesaid questions.
Regards
Miss Sabeena

__________________
In the darkness of the might,
I will lead my weary caravan,
My sighs will remit spark,
And my breath will raise flames.

Assalamo alaikum:
The questions you have asked are, in my opinion, not as such governed by any set rules. However, I shall try my level best to assist you:

1. I did contemplate on the matter when I was taking the exam; failing to find any particular formal rule, I made up my mind that by using the concept of precis, one should not reproduce the quotations or use the phrase 'writer says'. I suggest you should do the same in a generalized manner.

2. I opted to write my rough draft on the backside of the question paper.

3. I would recommend spelling out the background or the origin of the quotation with one word of caution, which is that one should do so when he is 200% sure.

4. Yes, surely we can cite our personal experiences provided that the essay allows us to do so and it has sense and suitability there. You might be aware of the type of essays called 'Personal Essays'.

5.There is no such restriction. However, one should be mindful of sequence and the theme at hand.

6. Again there is no hard and fast rule about minimum. Anyway, since essay carries 100 marks, it is better to write an essay with reasonable length. To share my experience, it is submitted that I exhausted the entire answer sheet and borrowed no extra sheet(s).

7. As is said, practice makes a man perfect, I think yes if you have time you MUST practise it. Anyway, good and careful reading habit is a form of permanent practice.

Wassalam
Kamran
(Kamran Adil scored 74 in Essay)

__________________
In the darkness of the might,
I will lead my weary caravan,
My sighs will remit spark,
And my breath will raise flames.

I do not think so. personal essay is something different and has got nothing to do with essays written in exam papers. according to my humble knowledge we should avoid using our exeriences in exam papers. use of first person is not adviseable in exams.

Essay is personal,

I think this area is dealt in a good length by Sadaat Ali in "Exploring the world of English" in essay section.

one should be reflective if one has to write a good essay. my perception.

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Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.