Masters Degree Programme

in Sociology




Assignment for students admitted in July 2010 and
January 2011 sessions

Assignment for the Elective Courses:

MSOE-001: Sociology of Education
MSOE-002: Diaspora and Transnational Communities
MSOE-003: Sociology of Religion
MSOE-004: Urban Sociology
MPS-003: India: Democracy and Development
MPA-016: Decentralization and Local Governance




FACULTY OF SOCIOLOGY
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY
MAIDAN GARHI, NEW DELHI-110 068

MSO
Second Year
M.A. Sociology
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Programme Code: MSO
Course Code: MSOE-001, 002, 003, 004, MPS-003, MPA-016/AST/TMA/2010-2011

ASSIGNMENTS

Dear Student

We have explained in the Programme Guide for the Masters Degree Programme in
Sociology (MA Sociology) that you would have to complete one Tutor Marked Assignment
TMAs) for each of the courses.

In these assignments, we have included several types of questions to sharpen your ability, to
describe, to analyse and to critique, and to ensure that you know and are able to write over a
topic systematically and coherently. In these assignments there are some broad descriptive
and analytical questions. There are 10 questions in each assignment, with two sections. In
each section there are five questions.
Your answers for a broad question worth 20 marks should be within the approximate range
of 500 words each. In case of short question worth 10 marks it should be within 250 words
each. It could be advisable to have a group discussion on the questions with your co-learners
and the Academic Counsellors in the Study Centres before you attempt these assignments.
Remember you are encouraged only to share each others ideas and not to copy answers at
all. Group discussion and constant practice of writing answers to assignment questions will
help you to write better answers to questions in the term-end examination. It is important
that you write answers to all questions in your own words.

Admission Cycle

Date of Submission To be sent
For students admitted in
J uly 2010 Batch
31
st
March, 2011

For students admitted in
J anuary 2011 Batch
30
th
September, 2011

To,
The Coordinator of the
Study Centre allotted to
you

You must obtain a receipt from the Study Centre for the assignments submitted and
retain it. If possible, keep a xerox copy of the assignments with you. The Study Centre will
have to return the assignments to you after they are evaluated. Please insist on this. The
Study Centre has to send the marks to the SR&E Division at IGNOU, New Delhi.
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Some Tips for Doing Assignments

You will find it useful to keep the following points in mind while doing the assignments:

1) Planning: Read the assignments carefully; go through the units on which they are
based. Make some points regarding each question and then rearrange them in a logical
order.
2) Organization: Be selective and analytical before drawing up a rough outline of your
answer. Give adequate attention to the introduction and conclusion.
3) Presentation: Once you are satisfied with your answer, you can write down the final
version for submission. Write each answer neatly and underling each points you with to
emphasize. Make sure that the answer is within the stipulated word limit.


Wishing you all the best,






Faculty of Sociology
School of Social Sciences
IGNOU Delhi 110 068
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Indira Gandhi National Open University
Elective Course in M.A. Sociology
MSOE-001: Sociology of Education
Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA)

Maximum Marks: 100 Programme Code: MSO
Weightage: 30% Course Code: MSOE-001
Assignment Code: MSOE-001/AST/TMA/2010-11

Answer any five questions selecting at least two from each of the sections. Your answer should
be in about 500 words each.
Section 1

Marks
1. Explain the concept of education. Discuss the sociological perspectives
on education. 20

2. Critically discuss the role of education in nation-building with particular
reference to India. 20

3. Education is one of the means through which social and economic
inequalities get perpetuated. Discuss. 20

4. Discuss the politics of educational curriculum development. 20

5. Examine the role of schools in society with emphasis on the writings
of Ivan Illich. 20

Section 2

6. What do you understand by universalization of primary education? Explain
the major initiatives of the government to universalize primary education in
India. 20

7. Discuss the merits and demerits of treating education as a commodity. 20

8. Critically discuss the role of open and distance learning (ODL) in democratizing
education in India. 20

9. Critically examine the role of the private sector in professional education 20
in India.

10. What are the major trends in growth of education in the post-independent
India? 20
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Indira Gandhi National Open University
Elective Course in M.A. Sociology
MSOE-002: Diaspora and Transnational Communities
Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA)


Maximum Marks: 100 Programme Code: MSO
Weightage: 30% Course Code: MSOE-002
Assignment Code: MSOE-002/AST/TMA/2010-11


Answer any five questions selecting at least two from each of the sections. Your answer should
be in about 500 words each.

Section 1

Marks
1. Explain major approaches to the study of Indian Diaspora. 20

2. Analyse the different types of migration flows in colonial India. 20

3. Discuss nature of Indian diaspora in Western Europe? 20

4. Write a note on the organizational linkages among the Indian diaspora. 20

5. Examine the influence of Bollywood films on the Indian diaspora. 20

Section 2


6. How is diasporic writing a marker of cultural identity? Explain 20

7. Examine the relationship between globalization and transnational networks. 20

8. Examine the nature of inter-racial divide among the Indian diaspora in Africa. 20

9. Discuss the transformation of Indian diaspora into a transnational community
with suitable illustration. 20

10. Write a note on returning NRIs. 20



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Indira Gandhi National Open University
Elective Course in M.A. Sociology
MSOE-003; Sociology of Religion
Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA)



Maximum Marks: 100 Programme Code: MSO
Weightage: 30% Course Code: MSOE-003
Assignment Code: MSOE-003/AST/TMA/2010-11


Answer any five questions selecting at least two from each of the sections. Your answer should
be in about 500 words each.

Section 1

Marks
1. What is Durkheims approach to the study of religion? 20

2. Analyse any one of the psychological approaches to the study of religion. 20

3. In what way is religion an instrument of oppression, according to Marx. 20

4. How did Weber link the spirit of capitalism to the Protestant ethic? 20

5. What do you understand by tribal cosmology? 20

Section 2


6. Discuss the concepts of auspiciousness and purity as analysed by T.N. Madan. 20

7. Write a note on the nature of Buddhism in the West. 20

8. Discuss the Dharmaachar complex in Hinduism. 20

9. Discuss critically the issue of religious conversion in India. 20

10. Write in brief on Radhasoami Satsang. 20


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Indira Gandhi National Open University
Elective Course in M.A. Sociology
MSOE-004: Urban Sociology
Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA)


Maximum Marks 100 Programme Code: MSO
Weightage 30% Course Code: MSOE-004
Assignment Code MSOE- 004 /AST/TMA/2010-11


Answer any five questions selecting at least two from each of the sections. Your answer should
be in about 500 words each.

Section 1

Marks


1. Discuss the different approaches to the study of urban sociology. 20

2. Is there a continuity between rural and urban society in India? Give reasons for
your answer. 20

3. Describe the ecological perspective on the study of urban phenomena. 20

4. Compare and contrast the ancient and the modern cities in terms of their features. 20

5. What do you understand by the new urban sociology? Discuss 20

Section-2

6. Discuss the trend of urban growth in contemporary India. 20

7. Are the rural areas in India impacting the urban areas? Discuss. 20

8. Describe with suitable example the growth of the unorganized sector in India. 20

9. Discuss urban poverty and its regional patterns in India. 20

10. Discuss the significance of urban planning in India. 20

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INDIA: DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT
(MPS-003)
TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT


Course Code: MPS-003
Assignment Code: MPSE 003/Asst/TMA/2010-11
Marks: 100

Answer five questions in all, selecting at least two questions from each section. Each
question is to be answered in about 500 words. Each question carries 20 marks.


Section-I

1. Discuss the nature of relationship between democracy and development in India during 1947-
1967.

2. Critically examine the following in about 250 words each:
a) The Karachi resolution.
b) Caste inequalities.

3. Analyse the nature of relationship between bureaucracy, police and army in India.

4. Discuss the working of federal system in India.

5. Compare the main provisions of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments.



Section-II

6. Comment on the following in about 250 words each:
a) Significance of elections in Indian democracy.
b) Role media in Indian democracy.

7. Write a short note on the following in about 250 words each.
a) Language and politics in India.
b) Role of civil society in Indian democracy.

8. Discuss ethnic politics in the context of north-east India.

9. Comment on the following in about 250 words each:
a) Differences between the procedural and substantive democracies.
b) Concept of sustainable development.

10. Examine the impact of the new economic policy on the working class in India.


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MPA-016 (Decentralisation and Local Governance)
ASSIGNMENT
TUTOR MARKED
Course Code: MPA-016
Assignment Code: MPA-016/Asst/TMA/2010-11
Marks: 100
This Assignment consists of Section I and Section - II. There are five questions in each
section. You have to answer a total of five questions in about 500 words each, selecting at
least two questions from each section. Each question carries 20 marks.
SECTION - I
Q.1) Explain the constitutional dimensions of the democratic decentralisation from the
political, constitutional and administrative angles.
Q.2) What is empowerment? Discuss the various initiatives taken for empowerment in
India.
Q.3) Discuss how components of decentralised development lead to equal distribution of
benefits of development.
Q.4) Special and single purpose agencies defeat the spirit of the local governance. Discuss.
Q.5) Explain the impact of decentralised development in realising the objectives of local
governance.
SECTION - II
Q.6) Discuss the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions in various states after 73
rd

Constitutional Amendment.
Q.7) The study of 11
th
schedule suggests that local bodies have been assigned major
responsibilities. Discuss.
Q.8) What do you understand by development planning? Discuss the requirements in
development planning.
Q.9) Highlight the modalities for peoples participation in local governance.
Q.10) What do you understand by sustainable development? Discuss the role of urban and
rural institutions in the area of sustainable development.







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