I FEP Practical Exams

Department of Media Studies

Christ College (Autonomous)

Bangalore

IFEP

Writing Skills

Practical Exam

22 March 2007

9 am to 12.30 pm

Batch I

06D3001- 06D3039

01 pm to 04.30 pm

Batch II

06D3040 – 06D3077

Australian Literature and the Canadian Comparison

I would not be making any posts on "Australian Literature and the Canadian Comparison", as mentioned in the class. However, you may make your posts on this essays on my blog to which I shall respond. You may also share your class notes there, to which also I shall respond.

PostColonial Scramble - Steven Slemon

I would not be making any posts on 'The Postcolonial Scramble" as mentioned in the class. However, you may make your posts on the essays here to which I shall respond. You may also share your class notes there, to which also I shall respond.Publish

'Come Thunder' - Christopher Okigbo

Come Thunder

Christopher Okigbo

The Poet and the Background

A Nigerian poet Christopher Okigbo is an important voice in post-colonial literature as well as twentieth century literature. He has been referred to as an outstanding postcolonial English-language African poet and one of the major modernist writers of the twentieth century. His poetry has a strong influence of modernist European and American poetry, African tribal mythology, and Nigerian music and rhythms. Like most African litterateur, Christopher Okigbo was also a poet activist. Okigbo spent the best years of his life tormenting over the problems within his society and trying to solve them. Through his poetry, he tried to convey his visions of Nigerian society.

Some of the recurring images in Okigbo's poems are dance, thunder, and sound of drums. One can find all these in ‘Come Thunder’ as well. One can also see a vision of a spiritual quest, in his poem/s which takes the poet to the realm of ancient myths and to his spiritual self. Okigbo uses repetition, songlike rhythm and melodious flow of words.

He is also called the poet of destiny

He follows the romantic notion of poetry in that he believes that the poet "is no ordinary mortal but a divinely inspired artist, a possessed performer through whom hidden truths of the spirit are revealed and through whose influence mankind undergoes regeneration and spiritual rebirth. The poet, in the romantic tradition, functions severally as priest, prophet, and legislator for mankind, as a man speaking to other men with a voice of moral authority strengthened by heightened sensibility. He is a man imbued with an understanding and suffering soul, a kind of a god."

His poems also gain importance as prophecy and warning to Nigerians and the misrulers of Nigeria against continued national misdirection.

To understand Okigbo better one needs to locate the poet squarely with all communalistic traditional African poetics, in which aesthetics and social functionality are coordinate components of art. He totally identified with the Nigerian people. Okigbo's project included a sustained critical introspection, and his indignation, a militancy, despair, and ultimate martyrdom do not constitute a pessimistic closure.

The poems which are cut up, divided, brief in their sections, impress from line to line. Structure of his poems also is significant. Lines are repeated and varied throughout several of the poem-sequences.

The poem

The characteristic so Okigbo’s poems discussed in the background section hold good in the case of ‘Come Thunder’ too. The style, tone, and techniques used are much like those found in modernist poets. But the rhythm is essentially non-English. Abundant use of plosive sounds, in words and lines give a pattern to the poem. All this give the poem onomatopoeic effect which is in tune with the main motif of the poem – thunder.

The language is prophetic. It prophesies what is to come. There is warning given perhaps to the rulers of the impending changes or revolution. The revolution that seems to be suggested is one that will make the entire society tremble. The impending revolution should be seen in the backdrop of Nigerian (?) civil war.

One can notice a lot of juxtapositions. To understand the poem read it aloud.

I am aware that I have not substantiated my points with quotations from the poem. I leave t hem to you to do. You may comment here on the poem or on my post I shall respond to all your comments. I do it order to make it interactive and allow you to explore the poem. This is my reading of the poem. You may challenge it.

Try and see how this is a postcolonial poem? How it incorporates some of the issues I mentioned in the section on background.

Reference:

“Christopher Okigbo (1932-1967).” 2000. 19 Mar. 2007 <http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/okigbo.htm>

“Christopher Okigbo: The Fallen Bard.” 19 Mar. 2007

“Christopher Okigbo.” 10 March 2007. 19 Mar. 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Okigbo>

“The Complete Review's Review Complete Review.” 2005. 19 Mar. 2007

Communicative English Syllabus from June 2007

ISem
Introduction to Mass Communication
Computer and Communication

II Sem
Applied Phonetics & Communication Skills
Introduction to Writing Skills

III Sem
Writing for the Media – Print
Creative Writing

IV Sem
Broadcasting Media – Radio
Basic Photography

V Sem
Media laws and Ethics
Films and Television

VI Sem
Advertising
Public Relations

Philosophers' pose!

Group photo taken after the last Certificate course in Philosophy Class on 10 March 2007 at Christ College Bangalore. The two-month long course had 36 participants enthusiastically participating. Prof Sundar Sarukkai of National institute of Advanced Studies, (NIAS) was the course instructor.

II Opt Eng essays

I had promised to make postings on two of the essays and also a poem if it's not dealt with in the class. Since my copy of the essays is in the college, I am unable to get make a post. Will do it may be tomorrow or within a few days.

Tomorrows workshop cancelled

I had expressed my desire to have a workshop on the Writing skill paper and the classes we had. But, since you have practical exam on Tuesday, I do not wish that you come here and spend your precious time. Once you come, even for a short time, your entire day is wasted.
Please tell all your other classmates calling or smsing that tomorrow s proposed workshop is cancelled.

We will have the workshop in the beginning of the next academic year

All the best for your exams.

FEP

Communicative English Paper IV

Introduction to Writing Skills

MINOR THESIS EVALUATION

Viva 10 + Thesis 15 = 25

Viva

Viva will try to understand the genuineness of the student work and the learning outcome by posing questions on

1. The research method

2. Analysis

3. Understanding of the conclusions drawn

Thesis

Thesis will be evaluated by Felix and Anil which will be then be ratified by the external examiners based on the viva and the re-examination of the thesis.

Thesis Evaluation criteria:

1. Content : Presentation Analysis of the research issue and conclusion

2. Understanding of research report format

3. Language: Grammar, spelling, punctuation, style

For clarification please contact Anil Pinto or Felix

Format for the Minor Thesis

I FEP Students

The Format for the Minor Thesis

Cover page (Same as title page)

1. Title page (Do not mention the page number)
2. Student, guide declaration
3. Acknowledgement
4. Content (Do not number)
5. List of Illustrations (if necessary)

1. Chapter I - Introduction
2. Chapter II – Objectives and Methodology ( also mention the limitations)
3. Chapter III – Analysis, Discussion
4. Chapter IV - Conclusion
5. Bibliography
6. Appendices( if necessary, like questionnaire model in the case of a survey)

Note

1. You may have a fifth chapter if the discussion requires more than one chapter.
2. Limitation in Chapter 2 refers to the limitation you would like to put for your research regarding the scope, area covering etc. This chapter can be one or two pages.
3. The entire report should be printed in black ink.
4. Photographs, graphs can be use, if necessary. But do not use them for the sake of using them
5. Print on one side of the paper
6. Justify (alignment) the complete text of the report
7. Do not use footnotes. Use only endnotes.
8. Use 1.5 spacing

Other instruction regarding the printing format of the report

Font size of the title: 22, do not make it bold

Font size of the name and reg. no : 16

Font size of the other matter on the title page :16

Font size of the “Acknowledgement” and “Title” 16 in Capital. Do not make it bold

Font size of the text 14

Line spacing 1.5

Text margins: left-hand side- 1.25 cm, top- 1, right-1, bottom-1

DECLARATION

I hereby declare that this minor thesis entitled (Title) ___________________________submitted to Department of Media Studies, Christ College, as part of the Writing Skills paper of Communicative English (vocational) Course, is a record of the original research work done by me under the guidance of (Name of the teacher-in-charge) _______________, Lecturer, Department of Media Studies, Christ College, Bangalore and that this work has not been submitted for any other award of degree, diploma or grants.

Countersigned

Anil Pinto Abhishek

As the Philosophy course concludes....

A big thank you to all of you for enthusiastically participating in the Philosophy course. I am sure the course has benefited you immensely.

Personally, it is an emotional moment for me. I have lost count of the various programes I have organised for my students in the past. But this was special in that it was neither fashionable to have philosophy course nor was it considered 'current', 'relevant', 'useful' by anyone I spoke to. Your response and support only encourages me to go ahead with the dreams that I dream. Thanks a million. I hope and earnestly request you that you take what you have picked up/learnt ahead in your own little ways.

I thank Sundar for being so flexible and approachable. It's rare that a person of his caliber is also so approachable. I wish that many more youngsters across Bangalore benefit from him.

I must thank Fr Principal and Fr Vaghese for their support. They have gone beyond the institutional constraints to have this course. For those of you who are not aware, this is the only certificate course happening outside the regular certificate programmes. In that way it is a special concession offered by the college.

Can't forget Padmakumar and Solomon who have been always there to manage the arrangements so that I could attend my law classes or some seminar/workshop somewhere. I owe a special debt of gratitude to them. I also appreciate their eagerness to learn new things and pray this spirit spreads among other staff as well.

Thanks to ever-encouraging Kennedy, my HOD, for permitting to have the course under the banner of the dept.

I wish that you come up with suggestions to see how we can move forward from here

I am organising a course in Art and Architecture criticism for three days between 15 and 20 April 2007. Those of you who are interested may get in touch with him. The course will be taught by Kaiwan Mehta, himself a pracising art and architecture critic, journalist and professor or architecture.

Good luck for 5000 word essay!

anil

IFEP Writing skill model Question paper

END SEMESTER EXAMINATION APRIL - 2007

II SEMESTER

Model Question Paper

Course: BA Marks: 50

Subject: Introduction to Writing Skills Time: 2 Hours

I. In the following paragraphs identify the topic sentence, the supporting sentences, and the concluding sentence. (5 x 2=10)

1. In times gone by, lions lived in Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa. Humans killed hundreds of lions either out of fear or for sport. When areas were cleared to make towns and villages, lions and other animals were killed in large numbers. Now there are no lions left in the Middle East or Northern Africa. Lions can be found in Asia and the Eastern part of Central Africa. They are mostly found in zoos or national parks.

2. In these modern times we live a fast-paced life. We speed on highways that never end, take jet planes to travel faster. Fast food restaurants save us time. Our machines are working faster than ever, and we can enjoy more leisure time. Then, in our leisure time, we grumble because things move too slowly.

II. Write a paragraph each for the following types. (2x5=10)

(Evaluation criteria: Knowledge of paragraph type, paragraph structure, spelling, grammar)

1. Cause and effect
2. Argumentative
3. Process
4. Descriptive
5. Narrative

III. Read the following passages and identify paragraph type. Do not rewrite the passage.

(2x5=10)

1. The old store lightened by 360 watts bulbs, smelled of coal oil and baking bread. In the middle of the rectangular room, where the oak flow sagged a little, stood an iron stove. To the right was a wooden table with an unfinished game of checkers and a stool made from an apple – tree stump. On shelves around the walls sat earthen jugs with corncob stoppers, a few canned goods and some of the 2000 old clocks and clock works Thurmond watts owned. Only one was ticking; the others he just looked at.

2. The young man started out to look for wood. It was not long before he saw wood that would make a beautiful warm fire, and he began to busy himself gathering the wood. Suddenly he felt the presence of the owl. The owl reached down and put the young man in its ear. The young man strung his bow and fitted one of his arrows, letting it fly from his bow deep into the ear of the owl. And the young man was free.

3. You enter with a violin and prepare to play some lovely music. Taking out a pocket handkerchief you fold it carefully and place it on your shoulder as a violin rest. You then put the violin under your chin on your left shoulder ( or vice versa if you are left handed). Drawing the bow back on the strings, you suddenly send the bow flying offstage into the wings like an arrow! Dismayed, you produce a second a bow and repeat the action, launching the bow offstage as well. You investigate the violin and discover the elastic strings, reacting with either embarrassment and delight.

4. The great increase in the free black population in America came after the Revolutionary War. In appreciation of the service of some 5000 blacks in the War for independence and as a result of the libertarian and egalitarian spirit that the declaration of independence and the war inspired, many masters, especially Northerners, freed their slaves. Soon individual states in the North decreed the gradual abolition of the institutions, beginning with Vermont’s action in 1777. In 1776 the population of United States was about two and a half million, more than 500,000 back slaves and approximately 40,000 free blacks. More than one half of these free blacks lived in the south. The revolutionary leaders, including Washington and Jefferson anticipated a constitution of the trend toward emancipation until eventually slavery would disappear from the land. This expectation was to be drowned, almost literally, by the whirring noise of Eli Whiney’s cotton gin. The invention of this native of Massachusetts made cotton production increasingly profitable and caused rapid and substantial increases in the slave population, so that on the eve of Civil War they were four million black slaves in the South.

5. To begin with, dinosaurs fell into two groups: the bird-hipped ones or ornithischians, and the reptile-hipped ones, saurischians. The bird-hipped dinosaurs were almost all herbivorous or plant-eaters, while the reptile-hippped group contained both meat eaters and plant eaters.

IV. Write an essay on any ONE of the following topics in about 600 words. (10x1=10)

(Evaluation criteria: Knowledge of essay structure, paragraph structure, spelling, grammar, punctuation, development of ideas, language)

1. A sound knowledge of political science, sociology and economics is crucial to become a competent journalist/media person.
2. Students of humanities and social sciences are more important for an inclusive and humanistic growth of societies.
3. Social evils like caste and gender discriminations do not disappear; they only change forms.
4. Indian society in 2020.
5. Bollywood films and the Indian Diaspora

V. Prepare a bibliography of the following books and articles using recent MLA or APA styles. (Evaluation criteria: Knowledge bibliography formats) (1x5=5)

1. Benedict Anderson. Book: Imagined Communities. Published in London by Verso in 1991
2. Bill Ashcroft, Griffiths and Tiffin. Editors. Book: The Post Colonial Reader. Published in London/New York by Routledge in 1995.
3. Felix Wilfred. Article: ‘Publishing History of the Bible’. Published in the The Hindu. on 02 Oct. 2001
4. John J Kenndy, Abhaya, Anil Pinto, Shaila Gaur, Sudhamshu. Book: Perspectives Published by Oxford in Banglore in 2007
5. Mrinalini Sebastian. Article Understadning culture. Updated on 7 Febraury 2006. Accessed on 5 February 2007. URL: http://cscsarchive.org/courses/ugdip05/paper1/mod1/

VI Prepare a research proposal on any ONE of the following topics. In about 150-200 words (5x1-5)

(Evaluation criteria: Knowledge of proposal format, quality of research areas identified and formulated, grammar, spelling, punctuation)

1. The impact of mobile phones on communication among youth
2. Communicative English syllabus
3. Impact of Rang De Basanti on politics in India
4. Multilingualism and contemporary media in Bangalore
5. Impact of autonomy in education in the college
6. TV viewing habits among college going students
7. Impact of Harry Potter on school children
8. Use of library by students
9. Emerging trends in FM radio
10. Elite academic institutions and their attitude towards student from slums

IFEP minor thesis evaluation

Dept of Media Studies

Christ College (Autonomous), Bangalore

FEP

Communicative English Paper IV

Introduction to Writing Skills

MINOR THESIS EVALUATION

Viva 10 + Thesis 15 = 25

Viva

Viva will try to understand the genuineness of the student work and the learning outcome by posing questions on

1. The research method

2. Analysis

3. Understanding of the conclusions drawn

Thesis

Thesis will be evaluated by Felix and Anil which will be then be ratified by the external examiners based on the viva and the re-examination of the thesis.

Thesis Evaluation criteria:

1. Content : Presentation Analysis of the research issue and conclusion

2. Understanding of research report format

3. Language: Grammar, spelling, punctuation, style

For clarification please contact Anil Pinto or Felix

Introduction to Writing Skills Qestion Paper model

CHRIST COLLEGE, BANGALORE – 560029

(AUTONOMOUS)

MID SEMESTER EXAMINATION JAN/FEB - 2007

II SEMESTER

Course: BA – Communicative English Marks: 50

Subject: Introduction to Writing Skills Time: 2 Hours

I. In the following paragraphs identify the topic sentence, the supporting sentences, and the concluding sentence.

1

2

II. Write a paragraph each for the following types. (4x5=20)

(Evaluation criteria: Knowledge of paragraph type, paragraph structure, spelling, grammar, and punctuation)

1

2

3

4

III. Read the following passages and identify the paragraph type. Do not rewrite the passages.

(5x1=5)

1

2

3

4

5

IV. Write an essay on any ONE of the following topics in about 600 words. (1x15=15)

(Evaluation criteria: Knowledge of essay structure, paragraph structure, spelling, grammar, punctuation, development ideas, language)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

All the best

Certificate Course in Philosophy

Prof Sundar Sarukkai of National Institute of Advanced Studies ( NIAS), Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore, and I are in a dialogue to begin a short term course in Philosophy.

The course as it is planned now would deal with, in Part A, basic concepts of Philosophy like Metaphysics, Epistemology, Logic, Ontology, Philosophy of Language, and in Part B Philosophy of Art, or Science, or Social Science.

We intend to keep the classes on Saturday afternoons may be from 2 to 6 in the months of January and February either at Indian Institute of Science, or Christ College. The course fee would be between Rs 500 or 750 or 1000 to meet the photocopying expenses of the reading material and remuneration. A certificate would be given either from NIAS or jointly by NIAS and Christ College. The second option is yet to be negotiated with the college.

The course is open to all the undergraduate and postgraduate students of all educational institutions of Bangalore, interested in Philosophy and its application in today’s world.

I understand, Prof Sarukkai has taught a similar course in Philosophy for the public of Bangalore, in Kabban park!! The course attracted about 40 enthusiastic participants then from diverse fields.

Presently, Prof. Sarukkai heads the Centre for Philosophy and teaches at the School of Humanities at NIAS. You may access his profile at

Prof Sarukkai would be the main resource Person and designer of the course.

I wish to know how many of you would be interested in joining the course.

Your feedback on the course content, fee structure, duration, timing and any other related issues is welcome.

A course in Philosophy is a rare one. So I strongly recommend it to you all.

Do respond by 7 January 2007 to: ajpinto42@yahoo.co.in or ajpinto42@gmail.com. I reply to emails within 24 hours. If you haven’t received my reply within this time, it means I haven’t received your email.