Day 7 – Section-A – Write any one of the following essays in 1000-1200 words.

Section-A

Write any one of the following essays in 1000-1200 words.                                                                                                          (125 marks)

Q1. With greater power comes greater responsibility.

Objective of the Essay

This is a value-based, ethical essay topic that tests a student’s ability to understand abstract ideas and relate them to practical governance, leadership, institutions, and individual roles in society. The topic encourages an exploration of the relationship between authority and accountability. It aims to assess not just knowledge, but the student’s capacity for reflection, structure, and ethical reasoning.

1. Understanding the Topic

• Begin by understanding the key terms:
  • Power: This can include political authority, institutional control, social influence, economic resources, intellectual capacity, or technological dominance.
  • Responsibility: This refers to ethical obligations, accountability, transparency, duty of care, or commitment to public interest.
• Students should explore why power becomes dangerous without responsibility and how responsible use of power leads to justice, development, and trust in systems.
• Important guiding questions:
  • Who holds power in a society, and why?
  • What are the consequences of power exercised without accountability?
  • Can responsibility exist without power? Can power be legitimate without responsibility?

2. Introduction Techniques

• Students should explore various ways to begin the essay to capture attention and set the tone. Some methods include:
• Anecdotal Introduction
  • Begin with a real or fictional story that reflects the misuse or noble use of power. For instance, referencing an ethical civil servant or a historical event where power was used for the greater good.
• Philosophical Introduction
  • Start with a general reflection on the nature of power and how its ethical use is foundational to social order.
• Quotation-Based Introduction
  • Use a relevant quote such as Winston Churchill’s “The price of greatness is responsibility” or Gandhi’s idea that “the means must justify the ends.”
• Historical Hook
  • Start with a brief historical example, such as the aftermath of World War II and the creation of the United Nations to illustrate global responsibility following large-scale use of military power.

3. Structuring the Body

• Encourage students to select an essay structure that best suits their thinking and content preparation. Some possible frameworks:
• Thematic Structure: Divide the essay into sections based on themes, such as:

• • Political power and ethical leadership
  • Institutional power and public accountability
  • Technological power and corporate responsibility
  • Social and individual responsibility in a democratic society
  • Global power and responsibility of nations
• Temporal Structure: Divide the essay based on time periods:

• • Historical perspectives on the use and abuse of power
  • Present-day challenges in balancing power and responsibility
  • Future concerns, such as the role of AI, climate leadership, or emerging economies
• Level-Based Structure: Divide the analysis across different levels of society:

• • Individuals (e.g., educated citizens, influencers)
  • Institutions (e.g., media, judiciary)
  • Nation-states (e.g., democracies, superpowers)
  • International organizations (e.g., UN, IMF)

4. Building Arguments

• Students should be trained to construct balanced arguments supported by:
  • Real-life examples from Indian and world history
  • Constitutional principles (e.g., separation of powers, checks and balances)
  • Reports (e.g., Law Commission, UNHRC)
  • Ethical theories (e.g., Kant’s categorical imperative, Gandhian philosophy)
• Guiding thought prompts:
  • What examples show power used with high responsibility?
  • What happens when leaders or institutions fail in their duties?
  • How does democratic accountability function as a safeguard?
  • Can too much responsibility dilute the decisiveness of power?

Conclusion Techniques

• Students should practice writing different types of conclusions:
• Vision-Based Conclusion: End with a call for ethical leadership and responsible citizenship in an increasingly interconnected world.
• Return-to-Intro Conclusion: If the essay began with an anecdote or case, return to it in the conclusion to provide a sense of closure and completeness.
• Philosophical Conclusion: Reflect on the enduring relevance of the theme in every era, profession, and level of human interaction.

Q2. When man discovered the mirror, he began to lose his soul.