I BA English - Topics for Assignment..:

Points to note before you ink: All assignments must be original, handwritten, in A4 size, in about 12 to 15 pages (min) and must have a bibliography - All sources should be acknowledged at the end of the assignment. The last date for submission of assignments is 29 September 2008.

Angel, G – Parts of Speech - Write an essay in about 250 words on why grammar is important to the study of language? Also, write short notes on : Closed-system items - Open-class items - Stative and Dynamic - Pro-forms - Question and negation.

Deborah, H – Write an essay in about 250 words on why grammar is important to the study of language? Also, write short notes on : Verbal forms and the verb phrase - The Morphology of lexical verbs - Regular lexical verbs - The -ing and -s forms - The past and the -ed participle.

Haritha, B – Write an essay in about 250 words on why grammar is important to the study of language? Also, write short notes on : The auxiliaries 'do', 'have', 'be' - The modal auxiliaries - Marginal modal auxiliaries - Finite and non-finite verb phrases - Contrasts expressed in the verb phrase.

Kalaiselvi, M – Write an essay in about 250 words on why grammar is important to the study of language? Also, write short notes on : Time, aspect and mood - Tense and aspect - The Future - The Basic Sentence Patterns

Kezia Gnana Kumari, W – Write an essay in about 250 words on why grammar is important to the study of language? Also, write short notes on : The basic noun phrase - Noun Classes : Proper nouns, common nouns, non-count nouns, determiners

Meenu Mary Jain – Write an essay in about 250 words on why grammar is important to the study of language? Also, write short notes on : The basic Noun Phrase, determiners, closed-system premodifiers, predeterminers, post determiners, quantifiers, gender and case, pronouns.

Parline Maria, A – Write an essay in about 250 words on why grammar is important to the study of language? Also, write short notes on : Parts of Speech - Closed-system items - Open-class items - Stative and Dynamic - Pro-forms - Question and negation

Rintu Elsa Jacob – Write an essay in about 250 words on why grammar is important to the study of language? Also, write short notes on : Verbal forms and the verb phrase - The Morphology of lexical verbs - Regular lexical verbs - The -ing and -s forms - The past and the -ed participle.

Sharnya, M – Write an essay in about 250 words on why grammar is important to the study of language? Also, write short notes on : The auxiliaries 'do', 'have', 'be' - The modal auxiliaries - Marginal modal auxiliaries - Finite and non-finite verb phrases - Contrasts expressed in the verb phrase.

Anand, K.S – Write an essay in about 250 words on why grammar is important to the study of language? Also, write short notes on : Time, aspect and mood - Tense and aspect - The Future - The Basic Sentence Patterns.

Arun Kumar, J – Write an essay in about 250 words on why grammar is important to the study of language? Also, write short notes on : The basic noun phrase - Noun Classes : Proper nouns, common nouns, non-count nouns, determiners,

Cerin P.Simon – Write an essay in about 250 words on why grammar is important to the study of language? Also, write short notes on : Parts of Speech - Closed-system items - Open-class items - Stative and Dynamic - Pro-forms - Question and negation

George Infant Arockiaraj – Write an essay in about 250 words on why grammar is important to the study of language? Also, write short notes on : Verbal forms and the verb phrase - The Morphology of lexical verbs - Regular lexical verbs - The -ing and -s forms - The past and the -ed participle

Johny Raj, S – Write an essay in about 250 words on why grammar is important to the study of language? Also, write short notes on : The auxiliaries 'do', 'have', 'be' - The modal auxiliaries - Marginal modal auxiliaries - Finite and non-finite verb phrases - Contrasts expressed in the verb phrase

Midhun K. Varghese – Write an essay in about 250 words on why grammar is important to the study of language? Also, write short notes on : Time, aspect and mood - Tense and aspect - The Future - The Basic Sentence Patterns

Paul Israel, I – Write an essay in about 250 words on why grammar is important to the study of language? Also, write short notes on : The basic noun phrase - Noun Classes : Proper nouns, common nouns, non-count nouns, determiners,

Rajeshwaran, S – Write an essay in about 250 words on why grammar is important to the study of language? Also, write short notes on : Parts of Speech - Closed-system items - Open-class items - Stative and Dynamic - Pro-forms - Question and negation

Samuel Praise, P – Write an essay in about 250 words on why grammar is important to the study of language? Also, write short notes on : The auxiliaries 'do', 'have', 'be' - The modal auxiliaries - Marginal modal auxiliaries - Finite and non-finite verb phrases - Contrasts expressed in the verb phrase

Siju Philip Rajan – Write an essay in about 250 words on why grammar is important to the study of language? Also, write short notes on : The auxiliaries 'do', 'have', 'be' - The modal auxiliaries - Marginal modal auxiliaries - Finite and non-finite verb phrases - Contrasts expressed in the verb phrase

Wesley, P – Write an essay in about 250 words on why grammar is important to the study of language? Also, write short notes on : Verbal forms and the verb phrase - The Morphology of lexical verbs - Regular lexical verbs - The -ing and -s forms - The past and the -ed participle.

Assignment topics for II BA English Litt., Students...:

Paper: A Practical Introduction to Literature

Points to Note before you start working on your Assignment:

The essays should be about 12 to 15 pages in length, proofed, and well thought-out. 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 novel/short story concerned.

No further extension of the prescribed deadline is permissible under any circumstances. Creativity, Neatness and Originality will be rewarded suitably.

1. Ankita Harihar – Hemingway’s Vision of Heroism with reference to “The Old Man the Sea.”

2. Dolly Mary - To be a man is to behave with honor and dignity: to not succumb to suffering, to accept one's duty without complaint, and most importantly, to display a maximum of self-control. Discuss the above statement with reference to The Old Man and the Sea.

3. Hebzibah Nancy - 3. Discuss religious symbolism in The Old Man and the Sea. To what effect does Hemingway employ such images?

4. Nadhiya, N - Write a carefully planned paper in which you explore the meaning and the appropriateness of Hemingway's title. In doing this, you will need to examine carefully each word of the title and you will also need to consider other possible titles that Hemingway might have used.

5. Priya, P –A.) How much convincing evidence do you find for regarding the old man as a symbol of man in general? B.) How much convincing evidence do you find for regarding the fish as more than just a marlin? If the fish is a symbol, what does he symbolize?

6. Sheela, R - Comment on the major themes in the short stories of Oscar Wilde with spl reference to the prescribed short story, and also discuss Wilde’s achievements as a writer.

7. Shruthi, M.T - Analyze Santiago's inner conflict and introspection while at sea.

8. Sudha, M - What is the role of the sea and all its inhabitants? Does the sea, with all its elements of life and challenges, represent or symbolize the nature of society in general, and Santiago's fishing village in particular?

9. Supraja, P - Write a paper in which you comment fully and specifically on the significance for the entire book of Santiago's words, "A man can be destroyed but not defeated." (p. 103) To do this you will need to start with an exploration of possible meanings of the two words destroyed and defeated.

10. Ajit Daniel, C –

Answer the following questions in one or two sentences each:
1. How long had it been since Santiago had caught a fish?
2. Santiago's eyes were not old- they were the colour of the ______, and______?
3. How did the other fishermen react to Santiago?
4. How did Santiago and Manolin meet in the morning? What did they eat for breakfast?
5. Did Santiago realize that he was going "far out"? (give page reference)
6. Did Santiago speak of the sea as feminine or masculine?

7. Comment on symbolism in the novel in about 150 words.

11. Arun Prashanth:
1. In what direction was the fish pulling?
2. What did Santiago hope the fish would do? Why ?
3. What woke him up?
4. How many times had the fish jumped?
5. What did Santiago eat for breakfast?
6. Write a note on Existentialism in The Old Man and the Sea in about 150 words.

12. Baskar, G -
1. When was Santiago going to say 100 Our Fathers and Hail Marys?
2. Who met him in the morning? What did he do when he saw the old man?
3. How big was the fish? Did the fish beat Santiago?
4. What was on the walls of Santiago's shack? What used to hang there?
5. How did Santiago get his dinner that night, and what was it?
6. What does Santiago say is "his alarm clock"?
7. In his dreams, how did the lions play?
8. Write a short note on the life and works of Ernest Hemingway in about 150 words.

13. Dayananth, J -
1. On day two, when did Santiago think he would catch 'the big one'? (give page reference)
2. What did Santiago use for bait?
3. When the man-of-war bird dove into the sea, what happened?
4. On day three, what added drag to the line, and pleased Santiago?
5. What did Santiago eat for breakfast?
6. Santiago considered the fish his _______?
7. Write a note on the life and works of Oscar Wilde in about 150 words.

14. Georgy Varghese:
1. (On the fourth day,) When was Santiago going to say 100 Our Fathers and Hail Marys?
2. What was the fish doing all this day?
3. What did Santiago kill the fish with? What time was it?
4. What is Manolin determined to do now?
5. Who did Santiago give the fish head to? Why?
6. Write a short essay in about 150 words on Hemingway’s attitude towards God and man.

15. Jaison Mathew –
1. Did Santiago speak of the sea as feminine or masculine?
2. When did Santiago think he would catch 'the big one'? (give page reference)
3. What did Santiago use for bait?
4. Can Hemingway be a source of inspiration to today’s youth. Why or why not? Authenticate your answer from his life and works, in about 250 words.

16. Karthick, J.R –
1. How did Santiago get his dinner that night, and what was it?
2. What does Santiago say is "his alarm clock"?
3. How did Santiago and Manolin meet in the morning? What did they eat for breakfast?
4. Did Santiago speak of the sea as feminine or masculine?
5. The lights of what city are visible on the horizon?
6. Comment on the maxim “Man can be destroyed but not defeated” in about 250 words with reference to the prescribed novella.

17. Madhavan, M -
1. What was the biggest fish that Santiago had ever caught? Was he alone those times?
2. What did Santiago promise to do if God allowed him to catch the fish?
3. What did Santiago kill the fish with? What time was it?
4. The entire novel is a single unit as written, but it is possible to divide the book logically into parts. How many parts are there and what happens in each section? Although there is no single right answer, your explanation should demonstrate the logic and accuracy of your divisions, in about 250 words.

18. Martin, T -
1. What did Santiago drink throughout this ordeal?
2. What attacked his fish enroute?
3. On day five, who met him in the morning? What did he do when he saw the old man?
4. Hemingway might have written The Old Man and the Sea as a much longer novel, taking Santiago from his early childhood to his final dreams of the lions. What would have been lost if he had done this? What gained?

19. Praburaj, D
1. Did Santiago like the Portuguese man of war? Why?
2. Did Santiago realize that he was going "far out"? (give page reference)
3. Who did Santiago give the fish head to? Why?
4. Comment on the maxim “Man can be destroyed but not defeated” in about 250 words with reference to the prescribed novella.

20. Roshan Joseph –
1. Did Santiago speak of the sea as feminine or masculine?
2. When did Santiago think he would catch 'the big one'? (give page reference)
3. What did Santiago use for bait?
4. Can Hemingway be a source of inspiration to today’s youth. Why or why not? Authenticate your answer from his life and works, in about 250 words.

21. Samuel Gnanaselvan –
1. Use one word to describe how Santiago 'works' his big fish.
2. The lights of what city are visible on the horizon?
3. Who did Santiago wish was with him?
4. Santiago considered the fish his _______?
5. Comment on the symbolism in The Old Man and the Sea, in about 250 words with references to the text, wherever possible.

22. Thirumoorthy, N –
1. What did Santiago hope the fish would do? Why ?
2. What was the biggest fish that Santiago had ever caught? Was he alone those times?
3. What did Santiago do to convince God to allow him to catch the fish?
4. The entire novel is a single unit as written, but it is possible to divide the book logically into parts. How many parts are there and what happens in each section? Although there is no single right answer, your explanation should demonstrate the logic and accuracy of your divisions, in about 250 words.

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II BA English - I CIA MARKS - Practical Intro to Litt.,

Dear Students,
The following are your marks for the Paper "Practical Intro. to Literature"
Clarifications, if any, should be made before 26 September 2008.
1. Ankita – 54
2. Ashita – ab
3. Dolly – ab
4. Ebarish – 68
5. Hebzibah – 48
6. Kalpana – 48
7. Nadhiya – 40
8. Navitha – 56
9. Priya – 62
10. Riyukta – 58
11. Sheela – ab
12. Shloka – 72
13. Shruti – 50
14. Silvia – 54
15. Sudha, M – 46
16. Sudha, S – 50
17. Supraja – 60
18. Abner – 54
19. Ajit Daniel – 64
20. Ajit Joseph – 58
21. Arun Prashant – 60
22. Arunan – 40
23. Baskar – 16
24. Bharat – 38
25. Dayananth – 52
26. Deepak – 60
27. Georgy – 66
28. Isaac – 44
29. Jaison – 60
30. John – 64
31. Karthick – 58
32. Lakshmi Narayan – 64
33. Madhavan – 56
34. Mainar – 36
35. Martin – 70
36. Prabhuraj – 36
37. Rajesh – 58
38. Roshan – 52
39. Samuel Finny – 64
40. Samuel Gnanaselvan –ab
41. Thamizhvanan – 60
42. Vignesh – 40
43. Vivek – 56

Dear Students,

Click on THIS LINK to check out on how a group of youngsters is making a positive impact on the lives of many underprivileged children. T. VINODH VENKATAKRISHNAN, an illustrious alumna of our College profiles them through the pages of THE HINDU - NxG.

Regards, Rufus

Topics for Assignment - II BA English Litt., Students...:

Paper: The Victorian Age

Points to Note before you start working on your Assignment:

The essays should be about 12 to 15 pages in length, proofed, and well thought-out. 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 novel concerned. JANE EYRE, A TALE OF TWO CITIES etc., have some very usable quotes: use them to your advantage.

No further extension of the prescribed deadline 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. All the best!!!

Ankita Harihar – In what ways might Jane Eyre be considered a feminist novel? What points does the novel make about the treatment and position of women in Victorian society? On a modern parallel, imagine Jane Eyre belonged to the present generation. What would have been the modern Jane Eyre's reactions to the atrocities against her? Discuss.

Ebarish Rebe, R – Compare and contrast some of the characters who serve as foils throughout Jane Eyre: Blanche to Jane, St. John to Rochester, and, perhaps, Bertha to Jane and so on. How do these contrasts aid the development of the book’s themes?

Nadhiya, N - Discuss the resurrection theme in A Tale of Two Cities. Which characters are “recalled to life”? How?

Riyukta Raghunath - One of the questions in the background of the book Jane Eyre is, What makes a lady? Is it birth, breeding, experience, money, or something else? What is the novel's answer? And what is your personal answer?

Shruthi M.T - Discuss Dickens’s attitude toward the French Revolution. Does he sympathize with the revolutionaries?

Sudha, S - How does Dickens reconcile his distaste for the Revolution with his identity as a social crusader? Does he believe in the people's right to revolt under an oppressive government?

Ajit Daniel, C - Discuss Jane as a narrator and as a character. What sort of voice does she have? How does she represent her own actions? Does she seem to be a trustworthy storyteller, or does Brontë require us to read between the lines of her narrative? In light of the fact that people who treat Jane cruelly (John Reed, Mrs. Reed, Mr. Brocklehurst) all seem to come to unhappy endings, what role does Jane play as the novel’s moral center?

Arunan, M - Attempt a character sketch of Jane Eyre.

Dayananth, J – Write a note on Realism in Jane Eyre.

Isaac Ebenezer, J - Keep a list of all the major female characters. What is each like? How is she like or unlike Jane? In what sense may she serve as a role model, either positive or negative, for Jane? What parallels are there between Jane and any of these other characters?

Karthick, J.R - What are the things you like about Jane Eyre, the girl, and what do you dislike about her. Discuss the good things that society can learn from a novel like JANE EYRE.

Mainar, V – Write a note on Miss.Temple and Helen Burns. How do they influence the life of Jane Eyre.

Praburaj, D- Examine the theme of resurrection in the novel "A Tale of Two Cities." Which characters are brought back to life and how? Is there any situation from which resurrection is impossible?

Samuel Finny, M - Does the plot's reliance on fate and coincidence--including the resemblance of Carton to Darnay, the discovery of Dr. Manette's document, and the double recognition of Solomon Pross a.k.a. John Barsad by Miss Pross and Jerry Cruncher--make the story less believable or less powerful, in the novel "A Tale of Two Cities"

Thirumoorthy, N – Write a note on the female characters in Jane Eyre and suggest in what sense each of them serves as a role model, either positive or negative, for Jane? What parallels are there between Jane and any of these other characters?

Assignment topics for III BA English Litt., Students...:

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.

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.

Your marks will be based on the above parameters. All the best..!!!

Cleeta, S.J – “The reason and inspiration for my writing are those people who are exploited and used, and yet do not accept defeat,” opines Mahashweta Devi. Justify this statement of hers, with reference to her life and writings.

Jayanthi, L – Select any Indian woman writer of your choice and comment on her achievement as a writer.

Kamatchi, M – Quest for Identity in Modern Women Writers with specific reference to any one Indian Woman Writer in English of your choice.

Mercy Mary, D – Gender Consciousness in the works of any one Indian Woman Writer of your choice.

Sayujya Sankar – Realism in the works of Kamala Das.

Smitha Susan – A Study of Men in Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things.

Aadithyan Mohan – Do you think Indian Women Writers are highly subjective in their outlook? Argue for or against the motion citing one Indian Woman Writer.

Ashish Ityerah – Quest for Identity as a theme in Indian Women’s Writing with reference to any one Indian Woman Writer of your choice.

Daniel Jesudoss, J – Choose any one Indian Woman Writer of your choice, and say why you like or dislike her writing, with references from her works.

Juda Eleazar, J – Choose any one Indian Woman Writer and comment on her achievement as a writer.

Pradeep Kumar, E – Do you think Indian Women Writers are highly emotional in their writing? Argue for or against the motion, citing any one Indian Woman Writer of your choice.

Satchin Joseph – Choose any one Indian Woman Writer of your choice, and say why you like or dislike her writing, with references from her works.

Sushant Anugrah – Is Feminism still relevant in today’s society? Pick out any Feminist Woman writer of your choice, and say why she is relevant or outdated in today’s societal set up. Substantiate your arguments with relevant examples from texts.

Yerram Sreekanth – Man through a Woman’s Eyes - Choose any one Indian Woman Writer of your choice, and exemplify how Men are portrayed in her writings.

Topics for Assignment - Reg..:

Dear Students,
Topics for your assignment (for students who come under my purview) will be displayed in this, our academic blog, shortly.
Regards,
Rufus

Essay Competition for School and College Students..:

The Govt Royapettah Hospital invites school and college students to send in essays on the ill effects of consuming tobacco and alcohol.

The theme for this year is "Stay away From Tobacco and Alcohol, Save Your Life," aiming to address two of the leading causes of ill-health and disease among the general population.

The competition is open to students in recognised eduacational institutions in the State, in three categories: high school, undergraduate and post graduate college students; and medical students.

The essays must be original, and not more than 1,000 words in length. They should be emailed before midnight of August 8 to royappettahhealth@gmail.com

The two best essays in each category will be awarded a medal and a certificate each at the Independence Day function at the hospital. All participants will get certificates of appreciation. Prize winners will be intimated by email before August 12.