MSO

Master’s Degree Programme

in Sociology
First Year
M.A. Sociology

Assignment
July 2017 and January 2018 Sessions

Assignment for the Core Courses

MSO-001: Sociological Theories and Concepts

MSO-002: Research Methodologies and Methods
MSO-003: Sociology of Development
MSO-004: Sociology in India

FACULTY OF SOCIOLOGY
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY
MAIDAN GARHI, NEW DELHI-110068
 Course Code: MSO
Assignment Code: MSO-001, 002, 003, 004/AST/TMA/2017-2018

ASSIGNMENTS

Dear Student

We have explained in the Programme Guide for the Master’s 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
other’s 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 July 31st March, 2018 To,

2017 Batch The Coordinator of the Study
For students admitted in 30th September, 2018 Centre allotted to you
January 2018 Batch

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.
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 the points you with to emphasize. Make sure that
the answer is within the stipulated word limit.

Wishing you all the best

Programme Coordinator
MA Sociology
Faculty of Sociology
School of Social Sciences
IGNOU, New Delhi – 110068
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 Indira Gandhi National Open University
Core Course in M.A. Sociology
MSO-001: Sociological Theories and Concepts
Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA)
Maximum Marks: 100 Programme Code: MSO
Weightage: 30% Course Code: MSO-001
Assignment Code: MSO-001/AST/TMA/2017-18

Note: Answer five questions by selecting at least two questions from each Section. Your
answer should be in about 500 words each.

SECTION - I

1. Delineate the role of Concept and Theory in sociological analysis. 20

2. What is power? Discuss the instruments of power. 20

3. Discuss Malinowski’s Scientific Theory of Culture. 20

4. Explain the perspective of Evans-Pritchard on social structure. 20

5. What is entrepreneurship? Explain the perspective of Schumpeter on entrepreneurship. 20

SECTION - II

6. Discuss the roles and functions of civil society in a democracy. 20

7. Distinguish between modernization and modernity. 20

8. Discuss Karl Marx’s perspective on class. 20

9. Discuss the elements of caste in gender stratification. 20

10. What is post-structuralism? Examine Derrida’s theory of ‘deconstruction’. 20

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 Indira Gandhi National Open University
Core Course in M.A. Sociology
MSO-002: Research Methodologies and Methods
Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA)

Maximum Marks : 100 Programme Code : MSO

Weightage : 30% Course Code : MSO-002
Assignment Code: MSO-002/AST/TMA/2017-18

Answer questions from both the sections.

SECTION - I

Answer any two of the following questions

1. What is sampling? Explain the methods of probability sampling. 25

2. What is Hermeneutics? Explain with reference to the contribution of Hans-Georg

Gadamer. 25

3. ‘Reflexive sociology is a meaningful alternative of positivism’. Discuss. 25

4. Discuss the relevance of feminist method in social science research. . 25

5. Write short notes on: 25

(i) Key informants

(ii) Participant observation
(iii) Questionnaire
(iv) Interview technique
(v) Census method

SECTION - II

Write a research report on any one of the following topics in about 3000 words.

6. Images of women in social media. 50

7. Sociological significance of pilgrimages and festivals. 50

8. Family structure and familial relations in contemporary times. 50

You can write this report based either on review of literature, or data collected from the
primary sources.

For review of literature you are to select either two books or four research articles published
recently on the selected topic of your choice. Write a review article focusing on the location
of the study, methodology followed and the main findings of these studies.
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For the primary source you are to collect two case studies and write a report on the selected
topic in a comparative framework. While writing the report spell out clearly the objectives
and the problems of the study and

• problematise the issue within the existing/available literature,

• elaborate your observations, finding and conclusion coherently, and
• make proper referencing at the end.

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 Indira Gandhi National Open University
Core Course in M.A. Sociology
MSO-003: Sociology of Development
Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA)
Maximum Marks: 100 Programme Code: MSO
Weightage: 30% Course Code: MSO-003
Assignment Code: MSO-003/AST/TMA/2017-18

Note: Answer any five question selecting at least two from each Section. Your answer
should be in about 500 words each.

SECTION-1

1. How is the capitalist model different from the socialist model of development?
Discuss 20

2. Bring out the salient features of Marxian perspective on development. 20

3. Critically examine the gender perspective on Development. 20

4. What do you understand by Human Development and how is it measured? 20

SECTION-II

5. Examine the nature of knowledge society with particular reference to India 20

6. Critically examine the cultural and social dimensions of globalisation. 20

7. How is the civil society significant for the empowerment of the marginalized? 20

8. Write a note on the People’s Science Movement. 20

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 Indira Gandhi National Open University
Core Course in M.A. Sociology
MSO-004: Sociology in India
Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA)

Maximum Marks: 100 Programme Code: MSO

Weightage: 30% Course Code: MSO-004
Assignment Code: MSO-004/AST/TMA/2017-18

Note: Answers any five questions in about 500 words each. Attempt at least two questions
from each section. All questions carry equal marks.

SECTION – I

1. Discuss with examples the three major approaches to understand Indian society. 20

2. Did suitable conditions exist during the colonial rule in India which could promote
the emergence of sociology? Discuss. 20

3. Discuss the social structure of Indian village in terms of caste, class and gender. 20

4. Why did the village studies become popular during the 1950s and 1960s in India?
Discuss. 20

5. Describe rules of marriages amongst some of the communities in India. 20

SECTION - II

6. Discuss the relationship between tribe and caste in India with suitable examples. 20

7. Critically discuss the linkages between religion and politics in India. 20

8. What is secularism? Is it different from secularisation? Discuss. 20

9. Discuss the impact of urbanisation on social institutions like family, kinship and
marriage in India. 20

10. Discuss the changing facts of peasant movement in India. 20