Geography as your optional

Geography as a subject

The first paper is divided into two parts. The first section of first paper deals with the physical geography comprising of geomorphology, climatology, oceanography, Soil & vegetation and ecosystem. These are derivatives from different branches of science. For example, geomorphology is derivative from general geology, climatology from meterology, oceanography from physical oceangraphy, soil and vegetation and ecosystem from biology and ecology (hence and Bipgraphy). Similarly, the various branches of Human geography are derivative from other social sciences.

The second paper is applied portion of the first paper, that is physical geography and human geography studied in Indian context. The notion that Geography largely suits the aptitude of the science student is wrong although science students have a greater advantage. In the second paper of Geography language plays a major role and even it the student lacks information if is more than made up by a good language.

The best way to begin the subject is by studying the same books one has studied in IX and X standard in school. Although many people do not realise its importance but this alone can make a great difference in comprehending the subject. In the second stage, one should acquaint oneself with some locational aspects in the world and India. Then the student should begin systematically with the sylsequences: Human Geography - Economic Geography - Settlement Geography - Political Geography - Geomorphology - Climatology - Oceanography - Soils and Vegetation - Ecosystem and Geographical Thought. For Indian Geography , follow the topics exactly in the manner given in the syllabus.

Answering questions for the mains

Trend of questions asked

In Paper-I, there are two compulsory questions to answer:
1. Locational Aspects of India
2. Short notes.

The four short notes that are asked are drawn almost equally from physical and human geography sections.
Out of three full answers, one has to answer questions drawn from physical and human geography sections, i.e., Geomorphology, Climatology, Ecosystem, Economic Geography and Geographical Thought. To be on the safer side of the preparation, one has to pick up these five sections (out of ten) and prepare them comprehesively. The five sections can be in any other combination as well.

In Indian Geography the Physical Aspects, Human Aspects, Environment and Resources, and Agriculture can be considered as one section and the rest of it as the second section. Here, questions are equally from these two sections.
More importants than these two aspects, however, is writting answers. There are three types of answers required in Civil Services

One for the short notes, one for the long answer in the first paper and an entirely different approach in the second paper.

Preparing short notes for first paper
In the first paper the short notes is put exactly in the same manner as it is in the syllabus, for example - Rejuvenated topography, Jet stream, Ocean Bottoms Relief, Demographic Transition, limits to growth, Rank Size Rule etc. When short notes are asked in this manner one should put everything the topic encompasses in an organised manner. The contents and the structure are what the examiner will be looking for in the answer. If you have been asked a short note on Jet Stream then the components and organisation will be in the following manner.

. Evolution of the concept
. Definition
. Scales of Ecosystem
. Compomnents
. Biotic
. Abiotic
. Functioning of the System
. Energy Flow
. Biogeochemical cycle
. Ecological Succession
. Types of Ecosystem

Intially, it may seen difficult to put so many things in one short notes but it is not difficult. Here is an example of short notes that is nearest to being perfect.

How to write long answers
There are theee things the examiner is looking for in your answer.
. Your knowledge
. Your concept and illustrations, and
. How organised your thinking is

The greatest emphasis is given on the other organisations of thinking. The heart of the matter is that the more organised your thinking is the better the concept you have. Knowledge is least in the priority. How organised your thinking is best reflected in how well structured your answer is .

How to answer the questions for the second paper
The second paper is completely a different ball game that the first paper. This is because of many reasons.
. Knowledge of topics is even less siginificant than it is in the first paper.
. Language playes a key role and a much more important role than it plays in the first paper. A good smooth language more than makes up for lack of information.
. Analysis is the key to scoring marks. There will be many places where the student will be required to give his or her own view. This view must be the outcome of a logical conclusion which is analysis. The view many students carry that if one puts more data into answers then they will fetch better marks, is completely erroneous. It is the analysis of the data that is any day more significant.

Since the questions asked in the second topic the preparation also requires a different strategy. The best way to prepare second paper is writting short notes on each and every topic. This will have two advantages.
1. The student will get acquainted with all the topics.
2. This will enable the student to achieve a greater degree of corelationship between the topics.
This corelationship will lead to a bette analysis and will enable the students to make better conclusions.

SUGGESTED READING FOR PRELIMINARY TEST
Physical Geography
. NCERT Volume I
. Physical Geography Bunnett
. Physical and Human Geography Goh, Cheng Leong.
. Physical Geography made simple
Human and Economic Geography
. NCERT Human and Eco. Geography
. Economic Geography Prithwish Roy
. Eco. and Social Geog. made simple
. Penguin Masters Studies of Geog. susan Mahew
. The Cultural Landscape Rubeinstein
Indian Geography
. Physical Geology of India S. M. Mathur
. NCERT General Geography
. Mineral of India NBT (Wadia)
. NCERT Resources & Regional Dev.
. Cartography R. L. Singh
. World Regional Geography Kostabde
. Geography for Preliminary Test.
Vol-I & II, K. Siddhartha, S. Mukherjee.

Deciphering meaning of questions
You must know what all you are being asked. The words like 'describe' , 'discuss', all convey different meaning.

'Describe' , 'Outline', Give account of , 'Write a geographical essay on', each of these asks for a fairly straingtforward, usually factual essay , which needs an orderly logical presentation of information.

'Explain', 'Examine', 'Analysis', 'Assess', each of these demands an answer that puts forward areguments, critical comment and evidence, which is judged and evaluated. The reasons both for and against particular phenomena should be covered and, normally a well argued conclusion is required.

'Compare', 'Contrast', both of these ask for the constant comparison of two or more geographical features. The candidate must not write separate discriptions and compare only at the end of the essay. Similarities as well as differences should be considered in every paragraph.

'Account for', asks the candidate to give reasons for geographical phenomena: why something exists or occurs. Often this instruction is followed by the importance of or the 'the significance of ', in which case the writer must consider the results and effects of the subjects in hand. These can be both long-term and short term effects and both direct and indirect.

'Discuss', term usually asks for a wide, all embracing answer which gives an exchange of opinions, judgements, reasoned comments and a general discussion of the subject from all angles. Often this word follows a quotation. The candidate need not necessarily agree with the comments or opinions contained in a quotation-the essay writer can agree, disagree or modify the comments, but must always support the answer with well informed evidence.

Some Do's
. Expres in your own language to give impression of originality.
. confidence your answer within 700 words.
. Practice writting answers and get them evaluated either by your teacher or an experienced senior who has secured good marks.
. Write short intorduction and a very good logical conclusion.
. Make your writting as legible as possible.

Some Don'ts
. Do not make extreme statements. Be moderate in your answer.
. Do not show baisness in your answer
. Do not use ornamental, complicated and vague language but use geographical language.
. Do not quote views, opinions etc. anywhere except in Geographical Thought
. Do not exceed the word limit. 200 words means 200 words.
. Do not use long sentences, paragraphs.

Preparation for Preliminary Examinations
The preparation for preliminary examination requires an altogether different type of approach. Part of the difficulty in the fact that the syllabus is vaguely defined. It is for this reason that a Mains preparation has been advocated first. Once the Mains syllabus has been prepared, the candidate has a good grasp over the subject as he is familiar with most of the topics. He is then left to the task of finding and studying those topics which are not in a Mains syllabus but neverthless form part of 'basic' geofgraphy, for ecample interior of the earth, Drainage pattern and Mountains in Geomorphology, Climate change and Climatic regions in Climatology, Enviromental influence on Vegetation in Biogeography, Theories on migration and Population in Human Geography, Theories and Net work study in Transport in Econimic Geography, etc.

One may be left wondering as to why so many topics have to be studied? The answer topics have to be studied? The answer is -The question that are asked in the examination are drawn from each and every aspect of the subject transcending all boundaries. Thus a candiadate has to study everthing irrespective of what is in the syllabus.
Essentially, the Prelims preparation is different from the Mains because the candidate has to put emphasis on the following aspects.
. Strengthening and meticulous study of diagrams and maps.
. Emphasis on learning as many examples as possible
. A brief idea about recent statistics on production of minerals, transport flow, industrial production etc.
. From the point of view of a beginner who is studying the subject for the first time, a stepwise preparation of the subject can be suggested.

Step I. Break expand and systematise the preliminary syllabus on the lines of Mains and include all the contents that makeup the subject.
Step II. Get hold of a good atlas first and acquaint yourself with the names of mountains, plains, palteaus, straits,countries, rivers, cities, etc. Put the maximum emphasis on this section because these names are the basic building blocks of the subject. Remember, what dates are to History, Places are Geography. Make your own list of various types of places and then try marking them on an outline map of the world and India.
These steeps may take more time than you expect but willk reduce your workland enormously and simplify your effort beyond imagination.
Step III.Pick up the subject topicwise like Geomorphology, Climatology, Biogeography, Indian geography, Catography, etc. Go through them systematically. Simultaneously try to solve multiple choice questions.
Step IV. Try to solve past years' questions. In the process of solving these questions never be shy of consulting anybody of anything that is necessary. Have a dictionary and all good books along with you. Try to solve as many objective type of question as possible.

Books recommended for Main examination

Topic
Human Geography Geomorphology Soils & Vegetation and Eco System
Settlement Geography
Geographical Thought India, Human Aspects
Resources & Environment
Agriculture
Industry
Trade & Transport Settlement
Regional Planning
Climatology