ELECTIVES- REVIEW

I. Introduction to Philosophy

TEACHER: Anoop George

ATTENDANCE: Not compulsory, attendance not required for a good grade. Classes
only for discussions.
EVALUATION COMPONENTS: Apart from T1, T2 and compre, 2 Group
Discussions that require students to discuss the given topic in groups and then write a
short essay individually in a given time limit. One presentation to be made
individually on topics given by the teacher.
GRADING: The grading is generous. Tests based entirely on slides uploaded (so
good memory helps) and hence easy to score.
GENERAL COMMENTS: A straight-forward course taught with a lot of enthusiasm.
Class discussions can be very engaging depending on the interest of students present.
Not much work other than preparing a presentation and reading the notes uploaded for
GD’s.

II. Introduction to Development Studies

TEACHER: Pushkar
ATTENDANCE: Not compulsory, attendance not required for a good grade. Class
notes may help understand readings better.
EVALUATION COMPONENTS: Apart from T1, T2 and compre, an oral assessment
component included. Exams focus on the reading material that requires students to
remember even factual information apart from the general idea.
GRADING: Grading not very generous and unpredictable. But easy to score in the
exams if familiar with the reading material given.
GENERAL COMMENTS: A very interesting course that touches upon history,
economics, current affairs and other concepts of social sciences. Pushkar is a very
knowledgable teacher and a good orator on any topic, and he is slightly
unconventional. Classes are informative but not very structured. It is encouraged to
have the text book for a good grade.

III. Development Economics

TEACHER: R.P.Pradhan
ATTENDANCE: Not compulsory, but information provided in class is generally not
present in the slides and usually is asked in exams.
EVALUATION COMPONENTS: Only T1,T2 and Compre. Exam generally focuses
on the concepts mentioned in the class. Slides have a lot of unnecessary data and
hence, class notes should be preferred.
GRADING: Grading is quite generous. Easy to score in the exams if familiar with the
class notes. Instructor is very particular about the format of answers. For ex. Labelling
of the graphs and proper sub headings.
GENERAL COMMENTS: The instructor is very knowledgable. Classes can be
monotonous at times but are informative. Overall, easy to score and comparatively
less hectic as it has no extra evaluation components. However be careful that this
course mostly focuses on how economics developed rather than focusing on the very
core economics itself. So if you are looking to study economics.... This not the course
.Rather take POE in 2-2.

IV. Contemporary India

TEACHER: Dr. Madhavi Gupta

ATTENDANCE: Not compulsory, attendance not required for a good grade.
EVALUATION COMPONENTS:Apart from T1, T2 and compre, a group
presentation needs to be prepared. Exams generally have two sections - MCQ and
short answers. Exams focus mainly on the PDFs uploaded especially the NCERT
chapters. A thorough reading of the NCERT chapters is encouraged.
GRADING: Grading is generous. Easy to score in the exams if familiar with the
reading material given.
GENERAL COMMENTS: Classes are informative but not structured. The course is
overall very interesting and focuses on the Post Independence Political Scenario of
India.

V. Modern Political Concepts

TEACHER: Solano Da Silva

ATTENDANCE: Not compulsory, but it is important that you attend as everything
that he discusses in class won’t be in the slides
EVALUATION COMPONENTS: Apart from T1, T2, compre there are two group
essays to be submitted. Make sure you have a quality group. Everything is open book
and hence rote learning not required. However slides are not enough for the exams.
You have to have the class notes.
GRADING: The grading depends on your performance. There has been a case where
he awarded only one ‘A’ and there has been a case where he awarded as many as 9
A's.
GENERAL COMMENTS:A very nicely organized and conducted course. Solano is
one of the best teachers on campus and he is very knowledgeable about the subject.
However the course is a bit demanding. The group essays require a thorough research
so make sure you have a good group.If you are interested in the subject the lectures
are very interesting.
 VI. Symbolic Logic

TEACHER: Reena Cheruvalath

ATTENDANCE-: Not compulsory. However as there are surprise quizzes it is better
that you attend.
EVALUATION COMPONENTS: Apart from T1,T2 and Compre there are 3 surprise
quizzes. Class notes are enough.
GRADING: Very lenient grading. If you are looking for a course just to improve your
CG, this is it.
GENERAL COMMENTS: At the beginning of the course she'll say that this course
will help you improve your logical reasoning but the only thing that improves after
this course is your CG. One of the easiest courses in BITS. You have to hardly study
for 1-2 hours before exams if you've attended classes.

VII. Modern Fiction

TEACHER: NilakDatta
ATTENDANCE: There are marks for it
EVALUATION COMPONENTS: T1, T2, compre. Two short papers (they were
replaced by a surprise quiz and class assignment last semester).
GRADING: Top 5 or 6 get As
GENERAL COMMENTS:Syllabus - 3 novels to read. Classes are usually interesting
and Nilak Datta is quite fascinating to listen to. Not much scope for discussion, but
there is a lot to learn.

VIII. Creative Writing

TEACHER: Amitendu
ATTENDANCE: There are marks for it
EVALUATION COMPONENTS: T1, T2, compre (all need very less prep). 2-3 class
components - either an assignment (no prep needed) or a quiz. Term paper counting
for 15% of the course
GRADING: Top 5 or 6 get As
GENERAL COMMENTS:Classes mostly involve reading of stories and poems and
different interpretations. Can be very boring unless you like to involve yourself in
discussion. Not much writing in the course.
IX. Post-Colonial Literatures

TEACHER: K. A. Geetha
ATTENDANCE: You need 70%, you can skip some classes
EVALUATION COMPONENTS: T1, T2, compre (only T1 has a lot of material and
it was open slides). 3 class assignments + 1 quiz. Only the first assignment is heavy,
the rest are oral.
GRADING: Fairly strict, only 3-4 A’s usually
GENERAL COMMENTS:Course begins with post-colonial theory (can be boring).
Moves on to poetry and short stories, and group project presentations. Only take it if
you like either one of history or literature or both.

X. Cultural studies

TEACHER: K.A.Geetha
ATTENDANCE: There are marks for it
EVALUATION COMPONENTS: T1, T2 and compre-based on video analysis(in
cc)and 2 questions- mainly analysing theories. Apart from that 2 presentations- video
analysis/group work
GRADING: Decent
GENERAL COMMENTS: Good for getting general knowledge about theories
developed by different people and their perspectives on society/psychology etc. For
preparation slides are enough. Understand all the theories well to analyse any
situation

XI. International relations

TEACHER: R P Pradhan
ATTENDANCE: Not compulsory and not necessary but the lectures are interesting.
EVALUATION COMPONENTS: Apart from T1,T2 and compre there is an
assignment with weightage of 30%.
GRADING: Generally few A's and many A- are given. He generally gives B- on
average.
GENERAL COMMENTS: Lectures are very interesting. All questions in T1,T2 and
compre come from slides so the course is not so demanding.
XII. Effective Public Speaking

TEACHER: ShaliniUpadhyay
ATTENDANCE: Compulsory, almost every class is evaluative so you have to go
EVALUATION COMPONENTS: Apart from midsem and compre there are many
evaluation components but they would be much different from other courses and
much more interesting. For eg. There’s a debate, a group discussion, few speeches
that you have to give in front of the whole class etc.No T1,T2.
GRADING: Purely based on histogram (contrary to popular belief regarding this
course) generally around 3-4 A’s are given but again it depends on the histogram.
GENERAL COMMENTS: This is the most practical course in BITS, but at the same
time it is the most demanding. Ma’am is very knowledgeable about communication.
She is a bit strict but that helps. If you really want to improve your communication
skills and overcome the fear of interacting with people please take this course.

XIII. Literary criticism

TEACHER: Rayson Alex

ATTENDANCE: Not Compulsory
EVALUATION COMPONENTS: Apart from T1, T2 and compre there will be one
seminar. The tests require rote learning and all the data would be made available on
moodle.
GRADING: Pretty good
GENERAL COMMENTS: The course is all about the thoughts of Pope, Sydney,
Plato and Aristotle. Classes are boring. However Rayson Alex helps in almost every
aspect. If you want to do a minor in English literature, this is a far easy course to do.

XIV. Dynamics of Social Change

TEACHER: Pragyan Barik

ATTENDANCE: Carries 10% weightage. Might vary but definitely carries some
marks. The course structure is defined and goes accordingly. Interesting discussions
are carried on during the class which is also asked in the exam.
EVALUATION COMPONENTS: The components apart from T1, T2 and compre are
not fixed. You will be informed at the beginning of the course. There may be a GD or
a research paper.
GRADING: Not very generous. Only a few A’s are provided. But the papers are easy
to score. Few objectives and mostly personal response questions.
GENERAL COMMENTS: The class discussions and topics are quite interesting. If
you like to engage yourself in debates on controversial topics like religion, politics,
 caste, gender, and marriage this is the elective to take. The discussions, or the
examples she cites are often asked in the papers. So it’s better to attend all the classes.
Remembering stuff is needed, not so extensively though. If you already have a
mindset and opinions regarding these topics, scoring is easy.

XV. Advanced Communicative English

TEACHER: Meenakshi Raman

ATTENDANCE: There are marks for it
EVALUATION COMPONENTS: Apart from T1, T2 and compre the components
will be announced at the beginning of the course.
GRADING: Very nice
GENERAL COMMENTS: You should know general English vocabulary and should
be good in writing. To quote a friend “ULTRA LITE COURSE”

XVI. Readings from drama

TEACHER: William Henry Spates

ATTENDANCE: Not Compulsory
EVALUATION COMPONENTS: Apart from T1, T2 and compre there will be some
quizzes and projects but he will discuss about those in the class.
GRADING: Good
GENERAL COMMENTS: Good for those interested in reading dramas, both
Shakespearean and Non-Shakespearean

XVII. Applied philosophy

TEACHER: Anoop George

ATTENDANCE: Not compulsory
EVALUATION COMPONENTS: Apart from T1, T2 and compre there will be 1
seminar and 2 group discussions that are announced. T1/T2/compre are entirely based
on class notes and reading material given.
GRADING: Generous
GENERAL COMMENTS: Course is more oriented to modern day application of
different philosophies rather than metaphysics
XVIII. Professional ethics

TEACHER: Reena Cheruvalath

ATTENDANCE: It is extremely important as there is a weightage for attendance. An
additional reason to attend lectures is because the questions asked in written exam are
from discussions conducted in lectures.
EVALUATION COMPONENTS: Attendance carries 20%. And along with T1,T2
and compre there is a presentation and report.
GRADING: Grading is really good. Many A's and A- are given. She generally gives
B on average.
GENERAL COMMENTS: Do take the course if you want good grades in humanities.
And if you take the course attend all lectures.

XIX. Human rights

TEACHER: Madhvi Gupta

ATTENDANCE: Not compulsory but are really interesting.
EVALUATION COMPONENTS: There is a presentation component along with T1,
T2 and compre.
GRADING: Less A's and more A- and B are given. She generally gives B- on
average.
GENERAL COMMENTS: Do take the course if you are interested. Madhvi Gupta is
one of the best teachers in humanities department and her lectures are really
interesting. She uploads material on moodle to read and questions in T1, T2 and
compre come from this material only. The course is demanding as you need to
remember everything from the material uploaded.

XX. Critical Analysis of Literature and Cinema

TEACHER: Mrs. Geetha B.

ATTENDANCE: Not compulsory but recommended for T1, T2 and compre.
EVALUATION: Apart from T1, T2 and compre there will be two written
assignments that you have to do from home and one announced test. But you
would be informed about it in the class and not on moodle. Hence, attending
the class is important.
GRADING: Generous. But grades differ by two or three marks only.
GENERAL COMMENTS: This would be sort of recreational course for you.
After all those theoretical lectures you would attend this one hour class totally
different. You would learn new things about literature and cinema and your
sense of perceiving things would also get affected.
XXI. Introduction to gender studies

TEACHER: Ms. Anibel Ferus Camelo

ATTENDANCE: Not compulsory. (But must attend classes. Everything in the
papers is asked from class discussions and movies shown in class).
EVALUATION COMPONENTS: T1 T2 Compre Research Project and Class
Activity
GENERAL COMMENTS: The teacher is very friendly and the classes are
very interactive. Lots of discussions take place and movies are shown
regularly. Questions are mainly asked from class discussions. Reading
material is sent regularly for students to read before class so as to enhance
discussions. The course mainly focuses on the power and privileges of all the
genders. How your gender affects you at every point in life is realized by the
end of this course.