PSIR - Strategy, resources & discussion
Hi peeps. Let’s do this!
1. Previous papers from 2009 (both papers are in the same PDF):here2. Topic-wise PYQs: here
3. Look for PDFs of books here: b-ok.cc, http://libgen.rs/, archive.org
4. Model answers from SR:here
5. OnlyIAS notes, if you need extra matter for a few topics:here
6. SR notes, typed:politicsforindia.com
@dingding2021 I somehow missed your comment, sorry!
I don’t know about the SR tablet course. I didn’t take it.
This was my experience with the crash course. It might help someone make a choice. This was my first time, maybe it was different in previous years and COVID slowed it down this year. They did say that was the reason. Anyone who knows more, please feel free to add something.
Mock test questions:Great. They’re good at identifying which topics might be asked in the exam. There was a lot of overlap.
Mock test evaluations:Poor. They started out average and became completely ridiculous by the end. Some were just a series of ticks with no comments. Also, inflexible schedule unlike others and an unclear policy. They said tests submitted within three days of the scheduled date would get an evaluation within 10 days. The rest had to wait pretty much without any kind of timeframe.
Lectures:I didn’t listen to any of the lectures due to lack of time, so can’t comment. For others in my situation - first attempt, notes yet to be made fully - it might be the same. From what I gathered, the idea was to focus on IR for 2B since that’s the most dynamic part. However in the beginning they uploaded more of the other papers. Which was fine, but delayed IR. The result was that you couldn’t rely on them for IR current affairs and analysis - which was the point of the course.
Lecture notes:A bit disorganised, and difficult to add to your material quickly when time is already precious. The content added value - especially by giving you scholars and quotes. However, could be overkill for some topics. In the end you’ll never be able to write 4 scholars for one small subtopic.
I guess a lot of this gets tolerated because of their dominance in the market. Hope it’s better next year!
I second this : )
whatonly,
How to make crisp notes for psir.. I had made earlier and later ended up writing the whole thing which again has become bulky.. it's like everything seems important to me. Should I segregate things like - quotes of thinkers in one place, keywords in another, critics in one..
Please suggest 🙏
Hey. It really helped me to think of my notes in levels.
Level 1: I made notes from all books except SR notes. Never went back to those books again.
Level 2: Made notes combining level 1 notes and SR notes. Enough detail that I could just revise from these. Arranged according to syllabus list. Revised multiple times.
(Did this is mindmaps for 1A, and handwritten for others for lack of time. If you have time to make mindmaps, please do it! It really helped me remember things. In the exam I could visualise my mindmap for 1A and navigate it inside my head. Mindmaps rule.)
Level 3: A few days before the exam, I scribbled keywords, scholars, book titles etc. Just a random collection of words that wouldn’t make sense to anyone else. This is best done at the point where you just need to see the keyword to recall everything related to it.
In the 5 day gap between GS and mains, I gave 4 days to revising my level 2 notes. On the 5th day and on the exam day, I revised level 3 notes a few times. I think it really helped recall things quickly in the exam.
Samples:
Level 2 Gramsci:
Level 3 Gramsci
Your post came just at the right time. Was going to start note making from tomorrow!
Wad wondering how to incorporate notes from reference books
whatonly,@dragon_rider The mind maps look very neat.Is there an app /software for this?
XMind is also very good. The free version has all the features you need. It’s super convenient to use and makes the whole process very enjoyable.
@whatonly Thanks👌
whatonly,
@dragon_rider The mind maps look very neat.Is there an app /software for this?
XMind is also very good. The free version has all the features you need. It’s super convenient to use and makes the whole process very enjoyable.
Thanks! I downloaded it simply because of how aesthetically pleasing it is. My inner organising fiend wants to be friends with you.
whatonly,Jammu
How to make crisp notes for psir.. I had made earlier and later ended up writing the whole thing which again has become bulky.. it's like everything seems important to me. Should I segregate things like - quotes of thinkers in one place, keywords in another, critics in one..
Please suggest 🙏
Hey. It really helped me to think of my notes in levels.
Level 1: I made notes from all books except SR notes. Never went back to those books again.
Level 2: Made notes combining level 1 notes and SR notes. Enough detail that I could just revise from these. Arranged according to syllabus list. Revised multiple times.
(Did this is mindmaps for 1A, and handwritten for others for lack of time. If you have time to make mindmaps, please do it! It really helped me remember things. In the exam I could visualise my mindmap for 1A and navigate it inside my head. Mindmaps rule.)
Level 3: A few days before the exam, I scribbled keywords, scholars, book titles etc. Just a random collection of words that wouldn’t make sense to anyone else. This is best done at the point where you just need to see the keyword to recall everything related to it.
In the 5 day gap between GS and mains, I gave 4 days to revising my level 2 notes. On the 5th day and on the exam day, I revised level 3 notes a few times. I think it really helped recall things quickly in the exam.
Samples:
Level 2 Gramsci:
Level 3 Gramsci
Thanks a lot man for this! Am going to try this out. Makes much sense. :))
whatonly,@AzadHindFauz @whatonly @Jammu or anyone else please entertain my concern it would be of great help.
While writing an answer if I remember a very good point which I know most won't write for eg- If they asked to do a critical analysis of Plato and I remember that Someone has said " Plato is the biggest Liar" but i don't remember the thinker's name, should i write that thing without the thinker ( If yes, how should i write it) or should proceed with the normal Karl popper and aristotle criticism.
@AzadHindFauz @whatonly @Jammu or anyone else please entertain my concern it would be of great help.
While writing an answer if I remember a very good point which I know most won't write for eg- If they asked to do a critical analysis of Plato and I remember that Someone has said " Plato is the biggest Liar" but i don't remember the thinker's name, should i write that thing without the thinker ( If yes, how should i write it) or should proceed with the normal Karl popper and aristotle criticism.
In my personal opinion, I feel Plato is such a big name, he is father of Pol Philosophy. Such a big allegation of being a biggest liar must be substantiated with name of scholar. Without scholar, it would look rude.
In case question asks you to comment, even then I believe you should avoid writing extreme views.
@AzadHindFauz @whatonly @Jammu or anyone else please entertain my concern it would be of great help.
While writing an answer if I remember a very good point which I know most won't write for eg- If they asked to do a critical analysis of Plato and I remember that Someone has said " Plato is the biggest Liar" but i don't remember the thinker's name, should i write that thing without the thinker ( If yes, how should i write it) or should proceed with the normal Karl popper and aristotle criticism.
Learning how to make the most out of a half-remembered point is a useful skill indeed :) You can say things like “it has been said that...”, “there is a school of thought that believes...”, or something like that and draw attention away from the fact that you’ve forgotten the author.
But for that the point that you remember has to be useful without the author.
If you write “it has been said that the Plato was the first fascist” because you don’t remember the author, it is still a valuable point because it still conveys something substantial by itself and gives the reader something to consider, independently of who said it.
But if you write “it has been said that Plato is the biggest liar” it would not add any value because it’s not a substantial criticism, it is more of an insult. I would say don’t write this point even if you remember the author, because it doesn’t really convey anything except the author’s dislike for Plato without any explanation. Only if it is a really well-known author will the sentence have an impact - if Aristotle had said that, it would be valuable in an answer, but not if it was someone the reader is reading about for the first time.
If you want to find unique points and have the time, one idea is to go to the Wikiquote page for, say Plato, and scroll down to the section containing quotesabout him. You might find something short and useable.
HeNeArKr,
Whoops, I did not know that. I searched for that quote earlier but couldn’t find it. Could you post the full quote or the source if you have it?
And yeah, since Nietzsche obviously will carry weight, it seems good to go :)
Jammu,Whoops, I did not know that. I searched for that quote but couldn’t find it. Could you post the full quote or the source if you have it?
And yeah, since Nietzsche obviously will carry weight, it seems good to go :)
@whatonly It's in ma'am's notes only i think. In the post modernism chapter of Ideologies
whatonly,Whoops, I did not know that. I searched for that quote but couldn’t find it. Could you post the full quote or the source if you have it?
And yeah, since Nietzsche obviously will carry weight, it seems good to go :)
@whatonly It's in ma'am's notes only i think. In the post modernism chapter of Ideologies
Yeah, I also googled it just now, couldn't find it but it is given in ma'am booklet-2 page no. 24 to be precise can't vouch for the authenticity.
whatonly,Whoops, I did not know that. I searched for that quote but couldn’t find it. Could you post the full quote or the source if you have it?
And yeah, since Nietzsche obviously will carry weight, it seems good to go :)
@whatonly It's in ma'am's notes only i think. In the post modernism chapter of Ideologies
Lolol. Thank you. Every time I open those notes there's something new :p
HeNeArKr,Whoops, I did not know that. I searched for that quote earlier but couldn’t find it. Could you post the full quote or the source if you have it?
And yeah, since Nietzsche obviously will carry weight, it seems good to go :)
I don't remember reading this either. But then, Nietzsche did straight up call Plato a "bore" :P XD
Seriously though, I think he might have criticized Plato, for Plato differentiated b/w experienced reality (forms) and actual reality but for Nietzsche true reality is whatever is experienced.
Still, quoting him out of context, might not be worth it.
whatonly,
I don't remember reading this either. But then, Nietzsche did straight up call Plato a "bore" :P XD
Seriously though, I think he might have criticized Plato, for Plato differentiated b/w experienced reality (forms) and actual reality but for Nietzsche true reality is whatever is experienced.
Still, quoting him out of context, might not be worth it.
Not sure about Nietzsche but Bertrand Russell traced the ideas of Fascism to the Republic:
Villanelle,I don't remember reading this either. But then, Nietzsche did straight up call Plato a "bore" :P XD
Seriously though, I think he might have criticized Plato, for Plato differentiated b/w experienced reality (forms) and actual reality but for Nietzsche true reality is whatever is experienced.
Still, quoting him out of context, might not be worth it.
Not sure about Nietzsche but Bertrand Russell traced the ideas of Fascism to the Republic:
Yes calling him Fascist is a trend. But I never came across someone calling him Liar. I think Karl Popper also said him fascist, not sure abhi. Have to revise : )
Jammu,Not sure about Nietzsche but Bertrand Russell traced the ideas of Fascism to the Republic:
Yeah Plato’s conception as a proto fascist by Karl Popper is one of the themes we read about.
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