(Contd from page 3)
Develop the ability to engage in
close and detailed analysis of written text.
The course is designed keeping the basic concepts of ‘global perspective and
international awareness’ and a host of other guidelines in mind.
Part 1: World Literature
Three texts of World Literature linked by more than one aspect such as
culture, genre, theme, period, style, type of literary study, or methodology
Assessment: Comparative study of 1000-1500 words based on at least two Part
1 texts.
Eg: Revolution Rejected: A Longing for the past Boris Pasternak’s Doctor
Zhivago and Yukio Mishima’s The Sailor who Fell from Grace with the Sea.
Part 2: Detailed Study (One text of Shakespeare and one other genre)
Assessment: Formal Oral commentary from one of the part two works. A section
from the studied texts will be given in random to the student 15 minutes
before the exam. The student then speaks critically about the section into a
tape-recorder in the presence of the teacher for 15 minutes.
Part 3: Genre Study
Three texts from a single genre.
Assessment: Written exam, two papers, at the end of Sc form (like Boards).
1. One and half hour written commentary on an unseen passage, poetry or
prose (in our case, students will attempt the prose passage).
2. One and half hour essay. Choice of topic from two questions on genre
studied.
Eg: a. Compare the narrator’s role in two or three novels or short stories
you have studied.
Or b. Explore the ways in which the presentation of the family, or its
absence, has shaped your understanding of two or three novels or short
stories you have studied.
Part 4: School’s Free Choice [One work has to be from PWL]
Assessment: Individual Oral Presentation based on Part 4 texts. A 10-15
minute presentation on a topic chosen by the student, based on any of the
texts.
From the looks of it, it may seem daunting, but one needs to keep in mind
that 30% (orals) of the evaluation is done internally. Not only are the
assignments spread out over two years, they practically require no mugging
up or tuitions. All that the course seems to ask for is careful reading of
the texts (and if you are a readerly type, it’s more pleasure than pain),
discussion of issues and loads of good old thinking. By the way this entire
course needs to be completed in 150 hours of contact time as opposed to the
299 hours spent on the ISC syllabus. So a student no longer remains a
consumer, ‘rutting’ reference to contexts, but some one who actually
understands the texts and produces some original thinking on the subject.
This is something quite similar to what Barthes was trying to say!!
The Countdown Begins
Abhishek Singhi
I have been depressed all evening,
It had struck me like lightning,
Leaving me in a pensive mood.
The countdown had begun,
Less than ten days to go,
The days left till my papers get over,
And they pave the road to my near future.
Whatever I had done in school wouldn’t matter;
The blazers, colours, awards – all zilch.
That is not what you come here for anyway.
The experiences you have had, the moments relished,
‘Maggi-cooking’, ‘katoing’, names(chiller),
‘entis’, nabbing, sliming, extra P.T.s ,
Traditions – broken, continued and made-
Is what makes this place fun.
The best part is obviously the friends you make,
You share their woes, applaud their achievements,
If they are sick, accompany them to the hospital,
You pull their leg, point out their mistakes.
They aren’t short-term investments,
But life-long insurances.
Have to concentrate on my papers,
Lots of expectations on my shoulders,
The knock-out punch will probably
Come on the day of my last paper.
Till then I will fight my emotions.
Less than a month from now,
86 Doscos will walk out of this place,
All set to take the world by storm.
Online Edition: http://www.doonschool.com/magazine
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reserved. Printed by The English Book Depot, 15 Rajpur Road, Dehra
Dun, Uttaranchal - 248001, India. Published by Philip Burrett, The
Doon School, Dehra Dun.
Editor-in-Chief: Akaash Pathare. Editor: Shikhar Singh.
Senior Editors: Rijul Kochhar, Uday Pratap Singh. Hindi Editors:
Amritesh Rai, Naman Aggarwal. Associate Editors: Naman Goel, Ashish
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Assistant Managers: Stuti Bathla, Priya Chaturvedi, Arvindanabha
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Vishnukaant Pitty.
Please note: The SC form scribbles have not been included in the online version due to space limitation. If you want a copy please email the online editor at thedoonschoolweekly@gmail.com