What is Research?

Ashwin Kumar from CSCS gave a lecture on research for the MA English students on 11 June 2009. Following is the class notes of Jijo K. (To MA Students) if you think some points need to be added please add them in the comment section. Or if you have a write up please email it to me.

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The class was based on the perspectives of Karl Popper on research.

Karl Popper. He was psychologist and a physicist of considerable acclaim

9/10 researches in Humanities is farce and the other one is unintelligible (unundertatndable)

Karl Hopper says that research can only solve problems. Those researches which do not solve genuine problems are not researches.

E.g. What is a bike? This is not a problem actually. This becomes a problem only when you are not able to distinguish it from a car. But there is a problem when you ask, why a bike does not fall when it is on the move? Some problems are not real and can be reduced to word problems and poor narration.

Something becomes a problem because you already have a theory about it, sometimes unarticulated. There is a theory existing even as a child is born. The theory is an explanation for an expected behaviour.... or condition which is a challenge. The process of theorising is as follows.

Theory 1 (T₁) is the basic concept. T₁ predicts the expected behaviour. If the expected behaviour does not happen and .... an event occurs. An event is something that happens against or outside the horizon of expectations according to the previous theory.

Now this theory has to be changed, annulled or modified to accommodate the new event. This is called a Tentative Hypothesis. This will after testing and evaluation become a Theory 2 (T₂)

Again an event might occur and the theorising will continue.

The point is if something that does not have a problem, does not call for a research.

How to find what is a genuine problem? Intuition is the key to know whether something is a problem. Sometimes we do not ask the right questions or find the right problem because some other theories are blocking us to see the right problem. E.g. people who accepted the theory of ether tried to find its composition until someone said ether is not a necessary component to explain anything. So this was discarded and all the theories around it.

We are always called upon to make decisions. When you make a decision there is a closure of other opportunities. When you make a decision it is not based on pure logic. What is totally logical is deduction and not decisions.How do you make decisions? E.g. You were going somewhere and not able to find the way in a cross roads. But out of your hunches you make decisions. So it is not fully logical, or no reason to choose one over the other.

Theories are not verifiable. There are no positions which could not be argued out. The task of theory is to help you to perform well in a given situation. Why can’t you prove theory?

Popper answers this way

Atheory has two parts

1. The Logical Content> the set of logical materials that you present
2. Informative content> It is everything else outside of the explanation of the logical content or theory. E.g. photosynthesis gives nutrition for the plants. The Informative content is the dog does not have food through photosynthesis.

Some informative contents are relevant to the research but some are irrelevant. The knowledge of the theory is not exactly what you are trying to prove but the encircling informative content that you have. True knowledge is when you know what the theory is unable to explain.

Falsification of a theory

The only way of engaging theory is critiquing a theory. If your relationship to theory is critical then you cannot say a theory is right but only wrong. If you proved yourself you have falsified the previous theory.

You falsify a theory

1. Within the scheme of the theory itself.
2. You have to gather more informative content to disprove a theory. Not something that is not related to the topic but around the topic.
3. Only those theories are scientific which can be falsified.

Infinitive Regress: when you try to defend a theory and if the very defence is challenged as the sign of failure of the very theory you are trying to protest or defend.

All theories are infinitively regressive. Right? Falsification can be successful or otherwise.

Examples for some knowledge that you develop other than non critical ways.

Skills: E.g. Music, architectures etc...

One is theoretical knowledge?

One is a social knowledge. E.g. what kind of a government is best for a nation. This knowledge is not like that of the first one(skills), action knowledge, experiential knowledge, spiritual knowledge or theoretical. These types of knowledges that do not bend to the skill or theoretical knowledge.

Humanities and social sciences are moral sciences.

On Research

Following is the compilation of responses to a survey that MA English ... students undertook to understand issues around research in English Studies. It was part of the Research and Writing Heuristics course. The compilation was done by Rashmi and Jijo of II year MA English

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What is research?
Exploration, analysis, diverges from existing knowledge. It is constant renewal. Propose to create theories. Can be subjective. Way of life, hard work, individual perspective, search for truth. It is quest for ideas, re-search for ideas. It begins with a question or a problem. It does not start with the state of knowingness. Not defining but proposing and proving something. It is a fusion and confusion of ideas. It is a search for new dimensions. Investigation. Proposing your views and your ideas.

How is research different in Humanities, languages, social sciences and natural sciences?
Linguistics is more academic and classroom oriented, quantitative. Linguistics is exact. Research in language studies is creative and imaginative. It is inclusive and multidisciplinary, qualitative, appeals to senses. Interdisciplinary, multiple interpretations. Concepts in literature can change.

How does one go about doing research?
Observation, questioning oneself, conclusion, analysis. Need to have the basic knowledge in the area, simple and accessible, have correct perspective, be open to changes, conduct a literature survey. Follow the existing methods, be objective and clear. Should start from nothingness, read, keep jotting down? Choose the area of your interest, engage constantly, build on it, and if it is broad try to narrow it down.

When should one start?
When one feels confident, ready, when one has enough data and information, yesterday. Read and write, collect data, follow exact method, enough data, language should flow. It should start now.

III Year FEP Expectations from my Class

1. Please do not embark on tangents. (Okey)
2. Give background to authors/names you mention. (Ok)
3. Please finish portions in time (K)
4. Don't be monotonous (Sure)
5. Stop before five minutes (Sorry)
6. Keep fan on/off. (The one near table -sorry. The other one – all yours)
7. Give CIA dates in advance. (Give me the dates you want. Will consider)
8. Another round of feedback in two weeks. (Remind me on 23rd)
9. Give an overview of all new topics (Will do)
10. Put up reading list on blog (teek hai)
11. Summary of class on blog (Would encourage some of you to volunteer to put class notes on blog. Will give you contributor privileges)
12. Students can come to clarify doubts after class. (Anytime. Will mostly be in the dept or library)
13. Get options for CIA from students (You have time till the next class to suggest the possibilities)
14. Attendance taken by students (Will think over it. Need to build accountability in it)

III Year PSEng Expectations from my Class

1) You being available for interaction/query after class hours. (Can meet me anywhere. I am mostly in the dept or library)
2) Level of language used during lecture to be made simple. (Sure)
3) Make lessons/essays easier and simpler to understand. (Done)
4) Preparing the class better to face the examination. (Granted)
5) Important questions and answers, something like a question bank. (Yes. After every module will do that. Do remind me in case I do not do it.)
6) Make the class as relevant to the text as possible. (Ok)
7) Even if we go beyond the text, please explain to us how it is related to the text in discussion. (Aye)
8) Make abstract points/Concepts clear. (K)
9) Class is encouraged to read more. (Love to do this)
10) Before beginning the day's class, please recap for us the previous class. (If one of you can volunteer, can chip in if need be)

III Year PSEng, JPEng, FEP - Literary Theory and Criticism Course plan 2009

Following is the V semester Literary Theory and Criticism Course Plan for the year 2009. To download the pdf version click here

Department of Media Studies

Christ College (Autonomous), Bangalore

V Semester PSEng, JPEng, FEP

OEN 531 - Literary Theory and Criticism

Course Plan 2009

Teaching facilitators : Anil Pinto, Padma Kumar, Sudhamshu

Total No of hours (approx) : 60

Subject : Optional English

Papers : Literary Theory and Criticism

No	Topic	Dates/Remarks
1	Literature a critique Terry Eagleton: ‘What is Literature?’ Terry Eagleton : ‘The Rise of English’	June 06 – July 12
	Traditional Approaches Wifred L. Guerin : ‘Types of Traditional Approaches’ George Watson : ‘Are Poems Historical Acts?’ Text : Traditional Approaches to Marvell’s ‘To His Coy Mistress’	June 06 – July 12
2	Formalism Julie Rivkin and Michael Ryan : ‘Formalism’ Cleanth Brooks : ‘The Language of Paradox’ Text : “Word, Image, and Theme : Space-Time Metaphors in ‘To His Coy Mistress’”	July 14- Aug 2
	Structuralism Julie Rivkin and Michael Ryan : ‘The Implied Order: Structuralism’ Gerard Genette : ‘Structuralism and Literary Criticism’ Claude Levi-Strauss: ‘On Structuralist Approach to Levi-Strauss’	July 14- Aug 2
3	Post-structuralism Julie Rivkin and Michael Ryan : ‘Introductory Deconstruction’ Paul de Man : ‘Semiology and Rhetoric’ J. Hillis Miller : ‘On a Post-structuralist Approach to Wordsworth’s a “Slumber Did my Spirit Seal”’	Aug 4 - Aug 30
4	Psychoanalysis William Vesterman : ‘A Brief Introduction to Psychoanalytic Criticism’ Earnest Jones ‘Hamlet and Psychoanalysis’ Geoffrey Hartman : ‘A Psychoanalytic Approach to “A Slumber did my Spirit Seal”’	Sept 1- Sept 13
5	Feminism Julie Rivkin and Michael Ryan : ‘Feminist paradigms’ Elaine Showalter : ‘Towards a Feminist Poetics’ Texts: “The Marble Vault in ‘To His Coy Mistress’” “Frailty, Thy Name is Hamlet : hamlet and Women”	Sept 15 – Sept 25
6	Review/Feedback	Last week of Sept

Methodology

The classes will follow lecture method. The lectures may draw upon visual material namely painting, films, advertisement and literary works. The lectures will not limit themselves to any particular discipline but rather explore ways of meaning making at the intersection of various disciplines. There will also be scope for student presentations.

Continuous Internal Assessment

Guidelines for Submission in case of written assignments:

· The written assignment should be based on your field research. The typed assignment should adhere to the following specifications: A4 size paper, 12 font size, 11/2 line space, font: Times New Roman, Book Antiqua, or Garamond

· Assignment details - your name, reg. no, class, semester, assignment code, name of the College, name of the teacher in-charge and date of submission- should be mentioned on the top right-hand side of the first page. Do not use a cover page.

· You are free to take the assignment beyond the expected criteria. Such efforts will be appreciated

· Those who are going to be out of town can submit the assignment online

· No late submission is entertained

· Plagiarism will not be tolerated and may result in rejection of assignment

· Remember to give reference at the end of your assignment of the books, articles, websites, and films that you have referred to. The following pattern may be followed: Author’s name with the last name first, a period, name of the book italicised, a period, Place of Publication, colon, name of publication, year of publication, page no

o E.g.: Gandhi, Mohandas Karamchand, My Experiments with Truth, New Delhi: Penguin, 1998.

o In case of a website give the complete URL of the site referred to along with the above details

o If you are directly lifting some lines quote them. If you are using some idea write it in your words but acknowledge it

For further information on bibliography writing please refer to MLA Handbook – Sixth Edition.

Note

Ø Attendance is compulsory for all the sessions.

Ø Please be punctual. If you are late, you will not be allowed to attend the class. However, should there be any serious issue, do discuss or bring it to the notice of the teaching facilitator concerned through the counsellors.

Ø We expect you to come to class having read the required essays. Failing to which you may not allowed to attend the classes.

Ø Please feel free to clarify your doubts, ask questions or give feedback in the class, department or through email.

Ø While emailing please mention your name, class and batch.

Ø If you are absent for any of the classes please get the help of your classmates to get updated, before you approach us for help.

Ø If you wish to make classroom presentation on any topic or idea within the framework of the syllabus, you will be given encouragement and guidance.

Ø Visit my blog for notices and announcements regularly (Anil)

Ø As far as possible avoid calling me on my mobile phone. (Anil)

Ø There is a brown book on my table in which you could leave me messages/complaints/requests/suggestions. (Anil)

Ø I am available in the department for any meeting or discussion between 4.05 and 4:30 pm. If you come at other times, you could leave messages/complaints/requests/ suggestions on my table. (Padma Kumar)

Ø All the best. Let us grow together.

CIA

CIA 2 - First week of July

CIA 3 - Last week of August

Anil Pinto - FEP

Padma Kumar - PSENG

Sudhamshu - JPENG

Anil Pinto

Email: anil.pinto at christuniversity dot in

Blog: http://anilpinto.blogspot.com

Padma Kumar M.M.

Email: padmakumar@christuniversity.in, padma.beyond@gmail.com

Sudhamshu

Email: sudhamshu.m@christuniversity.in

Christ Universtiy reopening Dates

I year UG 15 June 2009
II year UG 6 June 2009
III year UG 5 June 2009

I MA 15 June 2009
II MA 5 June 2009

Have a wonderful academic year ahead

For MA English II yr students

As i have already mentioned, I will be teaching research and writing paper this semester. For the first class please come with a at 750 word proposal on your possible research area. The write up should have

• tentative title,
  
• introduction to the area,
• why you wish to do research on that topic,
• what kind of research questions are you asking (what to you want to know in that area)
• what kind of work is already done in your area of research (briefly),
• a brief bibliography.

Hoping to see you all smiles on the first day.

Shigeaki Hinohara

I came of across Shigeaki Hinohara, a 97-and-still-kicking doctor in Japan. His work in the last few year has been amazing. The following write ups/interviews have inspired me.

‘Shigeaki Hinohara’ by Judit Kawaguchi

‘Shigeaki Hinohara- Doctor of Reforms’ by Tomoko Otake

‘The Secret To Longevity In Japan’

Vacanas of Basavanna

Yesterday was the birth anniversary of Basavanna, a 12 Century Kannada poet-saint. Following are the two translations of his poems my friend Samvartha Acharya sent me.

The sacrificial lamb brought for the festival,

Ate up the green leaf brought for the decorations.

Not knowing a thing about the kill,

It wans only to fill its belly:

Born that day, to die that day.

But tell me:

Did the killers survive,

Oh Lord of the meeting rivers?

- Basavanna (Translation A.K. Ramanujan)

Iron dead-weight at my feet,
around my neck buoyant reed.
The dead-weight keeps me from floating,
the reed keeps me from drowning.
O Lord Koodalasangama, arbiter,
across this tumultuous sea, lead me.

- Basavanna (Translation Saket Rajan)

How to write an MPhil/ PhD proposal

As I was doing a net search for my research, came across the following sites which have good explanation and help on writing research proposal for MPhil and PhD, esp. for Humanities and Social Sciences.

1. From Knol
2. From Lancaster University Management School
3. From Find a Phd dot com

Opportunities open at siliconindia.com.

I am posting this here in the interest of those who might be looking for a job. This information came to me from the firm after a personal meeting with the company representatives.

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5. e-Newsletter: 2 Million opt-in subscribers
6. Ranked in top 200 sites in India

The primary responsibility of the candidate we are looking for will be updating the website (www.siliconindia.com) for technology and business news.

JOB PROFILE: Correspondent/ Reporter

1) Track news from agencies/ Press Releases/ NewsPapers/ portals

2) Attend press conferences and make news items

3) Talk to people on phone/ interview them in person and make news

4) Update the website for news

5) Generate newsletter for India and U.S. everyday.

6) Research based news stories

There will be a lot of learning and challenging tasks.

We are looking for candidates who will:

Be a creative team player with an eye for detail and a love of accuracy

Be able to work to tight deadlines and according to SiliconIndia's high editorial standards

Build a network of contacts at companies across the region

Be aggressive and wanting to make career.

We look for one year commitment from you, in case we hire you.

Apart from the website and the daily newsletter, we have two monthly magazines. Here's a brief about them:

SILICONINDIA

siliconindia is a business and technology magazine published from Fremont, California, which covers business, technology and entrepreneurship. Our current circulation exceeds 90,000 and our readership builds from CIOs, CTOs, CEOs and market influencers like fund capitalists, technology adopters and analysts. Siliconindia was founded in 1997.

Please check out: http://www.siliconindia.com/magazine/

THE SMART TECHIE

Started in 2005, The Smart Techie empowers technology leaders for tomorrow. Its mission is to update its readers on the latest developments in technology and how these developments will impact them. The magazine aims to capture insights from the experiences of senior technology professionals and experts from across the globe. The Smart Techie magazine reaches out to 95000 experienced IT professionals.

Please check out: http://www.thesmarttechie.com/

http://www.thesmarttechie.com/magazine/

(access: 7788)

Once the candidate is performing well on the website and newsletter, we teach him/her feature writing for the magazine.

OUR ADDRESS:

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If interested, please call Christo @ 080-43402000 or email editor@siliconindia.com

Exciting opportunity awaits you ahead!

Thanks

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I FEP Internship - A note from Abhaya

Hi I year FEPites here is a note from Abhaya.

• the internship diaries are over; so do not pay at the office and come with a receipt for the diaries. maintain a 50 page book as your diary. write the daily activities, date, and get it signed by your mentor in the organization; do not forget this task; you may not be able to remember everything you did during your internship
• show interest in work and get some work; this is the time when you get your contacts and test your own ability to work with professionals
• do not forget to get appendix; if you are unable to get some evidence contact your guide, so that alternatives could be worked out before you finish your internship and return empty handed and land in trouble
• mail your guides once a week; it would be easy for them to suggest things if you are in contact regularly; regular contact with the guide has 5% marks

Enjoy your internship. Come back with fresh ideas and enthusiasm.

"Look Back In Anger"

This piece was given by Padmakumar Sir. He is extremely sorry for the delay. It is still very helpfull as its a small reading which explains the title of the play.


Look Back in Anger. Why such a title?



As a qualified, but lowly positioned (he runs a sweet stall) angry young man of the England of the 1950s, Jimmy Porter [as hinted at in the first act of the play] is able to disregard the abstracting media apparatus and see the reality of the working class. It is the same approach and understanding he has about the religion, the state and other social institutions of his time and place. Further, for people like him, the idea of England as prompted by the Grand Old British Empire is disgusting, given the then poor social and economic conditions of England.

And the disregard of Jimmy Porter reality by the upper class people - Allison's family for example - infuriates them. And it is not just the disregard and insensitivity, but also holding onto a dead imperial past attitude (all-is-fine-with-the-world) by people like Allison that adds fire to their cause.

Fighting against such a system, John Osborne conceives Jimmy Porter as one who looks back in anger. Hence the title.


- Padmakumar Sir

British Literature quesions...

I am posting some of the questions that came to my mind this evening. Please inform all your friends in PSEng, JPEng and FEP, who many not otherwise see it so close to the examination.

• Compare the idea of marriage in Look Back in Anger and The Importance of Being Earnest..
• Explain how ‘My Last Duchess’ is a dramatic monologue.
• What kind of beauty Yeats does not approve? Why?
• What is the significance of these lines “In the room the women come and go/Talking of Michelangelo” in “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”?
• What are the different waves of feminism? Which wave does Woolf belong to?
• “Overarching power of the state is an important theme in ‘The Unknown citizen’” Comment. (Some of the other themes could be - Conformity and Anonymity in the Modern World, surveillance, …)
• “The fox is the symbol of shaping of poetic ideas” comment.
• What does Virginia Woolf say about Aphra Bhen?
• What is the relationship between Raina and Louka.
• What is Snowball’s role in the Battle?
• Read “Look Back in Anger” as an autobiographical play.
• Can “The Love Song of J.Alfred Prufrock” be considered as a dialogue between the conscious and the sub conscious mind/poet and his beloved?
• Who is Judith? Why does Woolf create her?
• Write a not on the idea of class struggle in Arms and the Man.
• What does Animal Farm satirize?
• What does Virgina Woolf say about the state of Victorian women writers?
• What is androgyny How does Woolf explain it?

Terms you should be familiar with
Stream of Consciousness (In connection with ’The Love Song ….’
Expressionism
Modernism
Post-modernism
Realism
Anti-realism
Satire
Imagery
Dramatic monologue
Comedy
Tragedy

kitchen sink drama