Announcements... II BA English - Assignments - Reg:

Dear Students of II BA English, For your Assignment on Rhetoric, for those of you all who come under my purview, your Assignment topic is as follows:

Choose any famous Speech by a well-known person that has inspired you and analyse its appeal based on the Canons of Rhetoric, or else, with the Various Elements of Rhetoric.

You are expected to analyse the Speech chosen, based on its Rhetorical features, the main theme and background of the Speech, most famous lines in the Speech, the success of, and the universal appeal behind the speech etc.

Originality and Creativity will be much appreciated and suitably rewarded. All the best.!

For a Database of and index to 5000+ full text, audio and video versions of famous public speeches, sermons, lectures etc, you can CLICK HERE. For yet another selective compilation of most famous speeches, CLICK HERE

And the Debate goes on and on...!

The debate on Science versus Religion, as part of the finishing stages of the novel "The Power and the Glory" in the very first hour of the II BA English class, yesterday, was heated right from the start.

The topic for the debate was: Do you think religious belief is irrational, in the present era of scientific progress, where every work of nature and its manifestations, right from the wind mill to the cell phone has been attributed to Science? also, Do you feel Science is far better compared to religious beliefs, which divide and differentiate mankind?

While almost fifty per cent of the class took the side of 'Religion,' forty five per cent stood their stead for Science. A five per centime section, motley yet with vociferous views, stood their ground on neutral territory.

Many argued that religion was responsible for so many suppressions, sexism, and bigoted thoughts, while others equally defended their faith with gusto, saying religion still holds good in the present society.

Some argued that religious heads, who have to serve society, are serving themselves, and fighting for their salaries, while the majority of their folk live in dire straits. Another opinion was that religion has always been instrumental in shaping scientists and their views, but on the same line, religious thoughts are dynamic, while the laws of Science are static and universal in its appeal. As such, the concept of religion existing on diamtrically opposite poles to Science does not arise at all. Quoting Eintstein who had attributed his stupendous success in science to God, the speaker said that religious thoughts nourish science and hence cannot be dispensed with. We should take the sap from every religion and use them to nourish our lives and never be bigoted and fanatic in outlook, she said.

For a good perspective on the Religion versus Science debate, and for her thought-provoking and indepth analysis of the issue, Noeline Shirome gets the Prize for the best Speaker of the Day.

A Section of the enthusiastic Students...

A Date with the Youngest Author in India...!

By 10.45 am, the class was literally overflowing. 

Students were eagerly awaiting the youngest author's arrival, and the child prodigy landed sharp at 11.oo am in the S 220 classroom, along with his inspiring mom, who had accompanied him. 

The questions poured forth in quick succession and Master Raja Monsingh tackled them with consummate ease.

When asked, who was his greatest inspiration, he promptly replied, "My Mother.!" 

But when one student asked him, how much percentage of his success he owed to his mom, he started thinking for quite a while, and calmly replied, "20 per cent"

When asked, what was his goal in life - when he grows up, - he casually remarked, "That we can think of when I grow up."

Students congratulating Master Monsingh

Results of the First CIA held on 04 January 2008

Dear Students of I BSc Pb&Pbt,

The following are your marks for your I CIA.
Creativity, Sincerity and Neatness have been suitably rewarded.
You can also access your marks at our academic website HERE.

PS: Clarifications, if any, can be made within ten working days of the publication of the I CIA marks.
Regards, Rufus

I BSc Plant Bio & Biotech:
1. Anandhi, B -68
2. Annie Jenifer- 74
3. Archana, N - 64
4.Ashwini, M -73
5. Beni, T.S -60
6. Gayathri, B-68
7. Jane Elaine Linda-73
8. Jasmine John- 70
9. Jenefer, W- 73
10. Kethzial Nireshini, M-68
11. Logeswari, S -70
12. Melanshiya Shanthini, S- 55
13. Nandhini, R -70
14. Parimala Devi, R- 65
16. Rama, E -68
17. Ramya, K -58
18. Rebecca Murmu- 68
19. Revathy, S -64
20. Sandhya Devi, B- 56
21. Shanthirani, M -50
22. Subhashini Sreedharan- 70
23. Sweety Selva Kumari, P- 68
24. Yogalakshmi, R -59
25. Alister, M -72
27. Antony George Reegan, A- Ab
28. Aswin, M-68
29. Daniel Vinay Kumar, V-W
30. Darwin Vinesh Rudy John, C-62
31. Elijah Victor, S -71
32. Emmanuel Antony Raj, P-40
33. James Samuel Dhanraj, D-W
34. Kalaiarasan, G-60
35. Lalsangliana Ralte- Ab
36. Muthupillapan, S- 47
37. Selvin Prabhu, W- 65
38. Shain Samuel, S- 68
39. Vignesh, D- 67
40. Vignesh, K- 75
41. Yuvaraj Kumar, A- Ab
42. Sathiaraj- 68

I BSc Zoology (Reg):


1. Amuthavalli, P- 45
2. Arthi, A - Ab
3. Asha Davidraj- 68
4. Bakialakshmi, K- 50
6. Devi, P - W
7. Gowthami, S- W
8. Jayalakshmi, M- 60
9. Karthiyayani, V- 58
10. Malarvizhi, J- W
11. Mohanapriya, S- 68
12. Nithya, B -W
13. Pilomina, D- W
14. Premalatha, M- 68
15. Rejina Jayarani, S- 64
16. Rekha, R- W
17. Reychal Mary, S- W
18. Roselin, I- 70
19. Saranya, D- W
20. Saranya, S- W
21. Balakrishnan, S- 68
23. Dawngliana Pachuau M.S- Ab
24. Emmanuel Joel Singh, J- 70
25. Ezekiel Prithvin Raja Rao, S- 68
26. Franklin, S -72
27. Hopeland, P -73
28. John Reegan, R- W
29. Kalaivanan, M- W
30. Karthikeyan, N- 55
31. Paul Pravin George- 70
32. Porpatham, S- 59
33. Sachin T.Jose -72
34. Sakthivel, B- 62
35. Tovito H Sema- 72
36. Vijay, T- W
38. Vinoth, D- 65
39. Yogendra Pratap Singh- 70
40. Deepa Mohan- 67
41. Nisha Dymi- 50
42. Vadivu- 62
43. Susitha- 59
44. Kala,M- W
45. Priscilla- 52
46. Danula Evangeline -64
47. Kavitha- 62

W- Withheld; Ab- Absent
Clarifications, if any, should be made before Friday, 29 February 2008

CRAIG MEMORIAL PRIZE

ESSAY COMPETITION ON THURSDAY – 24 January 2008

The Craig Memorial Prize is to be awarded for the best written essay. An essay competition will be held on THURSDAY, 24 January, 2008 at 2 pm in the Examinations Office Gallery. Interested candidates may register their names with Dr.Ann Thomas of the dept before 10.45 am on Wednesday.

- An English Dept Communication [For further details look up the dept notice board]

Meet the Youngest Author in India

Dear Students, I am happy to bring to your midst the youngest author in India, Mr.Raja Monsingh, a child prodigy. The coming week, on Wednesday, 23 Janauary 2008 at 10.40 am in the Language Classroom.(S-220) We hope to have a meaningful time with this child wizard, and learn lots from the great thoughts of this little kid. You can read more about him HERE

"Monsingh believes he can make money through books. "He thinks of himself as a plant and his abilities as roots. The ideas he shares with me is the biggest root. Knowledge acquired from formal education is one of the smaller roots," says Subha"
Thanks to THE HINDU dt 18 April 2007

This week, in the City..:

Business Writing Contest: - The Madras Management Association and teh Sanmar Group have announced the second Ramaswamy Business Writing Competition, which is aimed at nurturing young professionals' talent in drafting business proposals. The competition will be held on January 19 at different locations in Chennai. The proposals will be judged for logical flow, clarity, simplicity and grammar.

The three best business proposals will receive the 'MMA-Sanmar Effective Business Communication' Award, a trophy and a cash prize of Rs.One lakh. FOr further details, call 24962766.

Interested in Turtle walks? - Student Sea Turtle Conservation Network is inviting participants for turtle walks during the weekends. As the number of participants has been restricted to 30 per walk, those interested need to register with Arun on 24901019 or Akila on 99403 00200

Meet the Youngest Author in India - Dear Students of I BSc Pbt and Zoology, I have great pleasure in introducing to you all the youngest author of our country, Master Raja Monsingh. He will meet you all in the coming week, and the exact day will be intimated to you shortly. You can read more about him HERE.

Assignment Topics - III BA English

Topics for assignments for the following students who come under my purview:

Points to Note before you Ink: The essays should be about 12 to 15 pages in length, handwritten, proofed, and well thought-out, adhering to the MLA Style. Bibliography should be used, wherever applicable. I see these assignments as a chance for you to explore more thoroughly some of the topics we have discussed / we will be discussing in class. Also, when you write the essays, be sure to use examples from the text of the play/novel, which have some very usable quotes: use them to your advantage. All assignments should be submitted to Ms.Rani at the IQAC, before 1.30 pm on 29.02.2008. No further extension is permissible under any circumstances.

Creativity, Neatness and Originality will be rewarded suitably. I would also like to add that I really enjoy reading your essays, and remember, you should be able to make a presentation in class, in about five minutes based on your assignment.

And please don't feel bad if you dont get your marks, as marks from now on, will be strictly based on the above parameters. All the best..!!!

Angelin: How and why did things fall apart? Identify what you interpret to be major themes of Things Fall Apart.

Chaithanya: Write a play in about two or three acts on Chapter One, Two and Three of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. You can use the various parameters involved in the staging of a play for theatrical effects.

Jemima: Write a play in about two or three acts on Chapter Four, Five and Six of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. You can use the various parameters involved in the staging of a play for theatrical effects.

Mispa: Write a note on Women in Things Fall Apart, and comment on their role in their immediate family and societal set up.

Rita: Write a play in about two or three acts on Chapters Seven, Eight and Nine of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. You can use the various parameters involved in the staging of a play for theatrical effects.

Alexander: Write a play in about two or three acts on Chapters Ten, Eleven and Twelve of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. You can use the various parameters involved in the staging of a play for theatrical effects.

Ashish: Achebe has integrated traditional Igbo/African elements in his novel. Elaborate on a few of them, and explain their importance.

Jason Roy: Write a play in about two or three acts on Chapters Thirteen, Fourteen and Fifteen of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. You can use the various parameters involved in the staging of a play for theatrical effects.

Kunga Ngodup: Write a play in about two or three acts on Chapters Sixteen, Seventeen and Eighteen of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. You can use the various parameters involved in the staging of a play for theatrical effects.

Pothen Cherian: Write a play in about two or three acts on Chapters Nineteen, Twenty and Twenty one of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. You can use the various parameters involved in the staging of a play for theatrical effects.

Sidharth Kumar: Write a play in about two or three acts on Chapters Twenty two, Twenty three and Twenty four and Twenty five of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. You can use the various parameters involved in the staging of a play for theatrical effects.

Assignment Topics - II BA English

Topics for assignments for the following students who come under my purview:

Points to Note before you Ink: The essays should be about 12 to 15 pages in length, handwritten, proofed, and well thought-out, adhering to the MLA Style. Bibliography should be used, wherever applicable. I see these assignments as a chance for you to explore more thoroughly some of the topics we have discussed / we will be discussing in class. Also, when you write the essays, be sure to use examples from the text of the play/novel, which have some very usable quotes: use them to your advantage. All assignments should be submitted to Ms.Rani at the IQAC, before 1.30 pm on 22.02.2008. No further extension is permissible under any circumstances.

Creativity, Neatness and Originality will be rewarded suitably. I would also like to add that I really enjoy reading your essays, and remember, you should be able to make a presentation in class, in about five minutes based on your assignment.

1. Jayanthi: Discuss the novel's title. Where are "power" and "glory" found in the book?

2. Adlin: Make a play with interesting dialogues and commentaries on Part I – Chapter I of the novel The Power and the Glory with special focus on Dialogues, Stage setting, props and style of presentation.

3. Rinila Rachel: After the Mexican Revolution of 1910, there were clashes between the state and the church and under the presidency of Plutarco Elias Calles (1924-28), anti-clerical measures were adopted and organized religion was banned. Calles believed that the Catholic Church was responsible for spreading superstition and that priests were corrupt, greedy, and responsible for the poverty in Mexico. Calles formed the National Revolution Party, which was a coalition of military, labor, and peasant organizations and he totally excluded the church from the party. Do you think Religion is responsible for the corruption, greed and poverty? Defend your stand with slight allusions from the text.

4. Stella: Discuss and comment on at least three important themes that strike you about the novel The Power and the Glory

5. Allan Gladwin: Create a play with interesting dialogues and commentaries on Part I – Chapter II of the novel The Power and the Glory with special focus on Dialogues, Stage setting, props and style of presentation.

6. Juda: Create a play with interesting dialogues and commentaries on Part I – Chapter III of the novel The Power and the Glory with special focus on Dialogues, Stage setting, props and style of presentation.

7. Richard Rakesh: The lieutenant is an ambitious young man who wishes to see his country free from poverty, superstition, and ignorance. Since he believes that the priests play a negative role in the country, he is determined to capture this last priest and rid the country of the negative influences of religion. Do you think that priests and religion play a negative role in the country? Defend your stance with slight textual allusions.

8. Sushant: Create a play with interesting dialogues and commentaries on Part I – Chapter IV of the novel The Power and the Glory with special focus on Dialogues, Stage setting, props and style of presentation.

For II / III BA English Litt students - Assignment topics - Reg:

Dear Students of II BA and III BA English,

For those of you who come under my purview for assignments, the topics will be posted on this, our academic blog, latest by tomorrow, Saturday. So keep watching. Regards, Rufus

Have a lovli holiday time. Wish you all a Happy Pongal.

PS: Don't miss out on the Book Fest goin' on at St.George's School premises.

FREE SPOKEN ENGLISH CLASSES..!

The Nav Bharath Soft Skills Academy, Triplicane, will conduct free spoken English classes from Friday to Sunday. The purpose would be to bring about awareness of phonetics. Grammar, including tenses, articles, kinds of sentences, active and passive voice would also be taught.

Application, registration and coaching are entirely free of cost. Prior registration is compulsory.

For registration, contact the Academy located on 63, C.N.Krishnaswamy Road, Triplicane. Phone: 98407 22178, 98408 22160

POSTPONED: The "Chennai Science Festival" organised by Science City, will now be held between February 6 and 10, 2008, and not as announced earlier,by the organisers.

A HAPPY NEW YEAR...!

Dear Students, I wish you all a vibrant and a successful NEW YEAR ahead. May this new year ring in harmony, peace and prosperity in all that you do. Regards, Rufus