Anum Zara, kindly can you tell me about your optionals and share your strategy for Pak affairs, current affairs and islamiat as you are a senior member of this forum. Actually I am new to this forum and I need guidence regarding the preparation.
My optionals are
International relations, geography, environmental science, governance and public policy and Indo Pak history.
I am waiting for your response and suggestions.
Thanks in advance.

[QUOTE=clamintine;1025894]Anum Zara, kindly can you tell me about your optionals and share your strategy for Pak affairs, current affairs and islamiat as you are a senior member of this forum. Actually I am new to this forum and I need guidence regarding the preparation.
My optionals are
International relations, geography, environmental science, governance and public policy and Indo Pak history.
I am waiting for your response and suggestions.
Thanks in advance.[/QUOTE]
My optional subjects for Ce-18 are International Relations, International Law, Environmental Sciences, US History and Psychology.

For Pakistan Affairs:
I am using following two books for syllabus and past events mentioned in syllabus.
1- Pakistan Affairs by JWT
2- Pakistan & World Affairs by Shamshad Ahmed

For new information about Pakistan affairs I am preparing from Daily Dawn, JWT Magazines, JWT Journal and internet if required.

For Current Affairs:
I am using 1 book
C.A by Waseem Riaz Khan JWT
Plus JWT magazines, Journal, Dawn news paper, contemporary affairs by Imtiaz Shahid and internet for latest articles as well.

For Islamiyat I have two books.

1- Islamic Studies by Hafiz Kareem Dad Chughtai
2- Islami Nazria Hayyat by Prof. Khursheed

[QUOTE=clamintine;1025894]Anum Zara, kindly can you tell me about your optionals and share your strategy for Pak affairs, current affairs and islamiat as you are a senior member of this forum. Actually I am new to this forum and I need guidence regarding the preparation.
My optionals are
International relations, geography, environmental science, governance and public policy and Indo Pak history.
I am waiting for your response and suggestions.
Thanks in advance.[/QUOTE]
For IR:
1- IR by Joshua Goldstien
2- IR by Parkash Chander
3- IR by JWT
4- Globalization of World's politics

I am preparing from all these books and going according to syllabus. I choose topic and view all books before studying then I study from book in which I feel topic is written well. Then I make notes. For latest topics I am using same sources I have been using for CA & PA

Environmental Sciences:
I am studying from JWT book plus internet.

At the moment, I have started fresh round of studies. I am doing English + Islamic studies according to my schedule.

@Anum Zara: What do you think, in your opinion, is the best medium to attempt Islamic Studies paper, Urdu or English?

[QUOTE=quantumX;1025934]@Anum Zara: What do you think, in your opinion, is the best medium to attempt Islamic Studies paper, Urdu or English?[/QUOTE]
I think Urdu. In my previous attempt I prepared in English but when paper came into my hands I started writing in Urdu. I had no practice of writing Urdu since 2013 but still after gap of 4 years with out any preparation and writing practice I started writing in Urdu. I had prepared well in English but when I saw the question paper my mind almost went blank. At that time writing in Urdu was better choice. I felt I can write the questions better in Urdu instead of English. I think one can write better in Urdu and can decorate answers with Arabic Verses, Ahadith's and famous quotes etc. It looks nice and in my opinion it hits mind of reader as reading verses in Arabic feels different and reading their English translation is very different. In my graduation my teacher advised me to attempt in Urdu and I did not listen to him and ended up with low score in Islamic Studies. My teacher told me subjects like Islamic Studies should be attempted in Urdu and this way student has better chance of getting high scores. I felt it on my exam day and I have attempted my paper just by the knowledge I had previously.
It was my personal experience and others might disagree with me but I am going to attempt in Urdu in my next attempt.

[QUOTE=Anum Zara;1025919]For IR:
1- IR by Joshua Goldstien
2- IR by Parkash Chander
3- IR by JWT
4- Globalization of World's politics

I am preparing from all these books and going according to syllabus. I choose topic and view all books before studying then I study from book in which I feel topic is written well. Then I make notes. For latest topics I am using same sources I have been using for CA & PA

Environmental Sciences:
I am studying from JWT book plus internet.

At the moment, I have started fresh round of studies. I am doing English + Islamic studies according to my schedule.[/QUOTE]
Thanks a lot for replying Anum, I am using the same book for environmental science plus I am a graduate of geography that's why I have a strong grip on this subject...
I wanted to ask that are books IR by prakash chandar and IR by Joshua Goldstein easily available in market?
Presently I am using IR by JWT and some notes provided by my younger sister, she is student of political science, but I want to read from the books of foreign authors.

[QUOTE=clamintine;1025942]Thanks a lot for replying Anum, I am using the same book for environmental science plus I am a graduate of geography that's why I have a strong grip on this subject...
I wanted to ask that are books IR by prakash chandar and IR by Joshua Goldstein easily available in market?
Presently I am using IR by JWT and some notes provided by my younger sister, she is student of political science, but I want to read from the books of foreign authors.[/QUOTE]
My pleasure :)
Yes both books are easily available in the market. JWT book is not enough. The one by Joshua Goldstien is best. For remaining topics you can consult JWT as it is written according to syllabus.
You can also download book of Joshua Goldstien from following link.

[url]http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-optional-subjects/group-i/international-relations/115774-latest-working-link-international-relations-joshua-goldstien.html[/url]

[QUOTE=Anum Zara;1025938]I think Urdu. In my previous attempt I prepared in English but when paper came into my hands I started writing in Urdu. I had no practice of writing Urdu since 2013 but still after gap of 4 years with out any preparation and writing practice I started writing in Urdu. I had prepared well in English but when I saw the question paper my mind almost went blank. At that time writing in Urdu was better choice. I felt I can write the questions better in Urdu instead of English. I think one can write better in Urdu and can decorate answers with Arabic Verses, Ahadith's and famous quotes etc. It looks nice and in my opinion it hits mind of reader as reading verses in Arabic feels different and reading their English translation is very different. In my graduation my teacher advised me to attempt in Urdu and I did not listen to him and ended up with low score in Islamic Studies. My teacher told me subjects like Islamic Studies should be attempted in Urdu and this way student has better chance of getting high scores. I felt it on my exam day and I have attempted my paper just by the knowledge I had previously.
It was my personal experience and others might disagree with me but I am going to attempt in Urdu in my next attempt.[/QUOTE]

Thank you so much for such a detailed response to my question. I really appreciate the way you help members with their queries over here on the forum.

[QUOTE=quantumX;1025949]Thank you so much for such a detailed response to my question. I really appreciate the way you help members with their queries over here on the forum.[/QUOTE]
My pleasure :)

Thank you very much Anum, for sharing the link. I am really grateful to you, for your quick response and guidance. May Allah bless. Thanks again for helping me out.