Introduction to Academic Writing and Critical Thinking
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Critical thinking and academic writing do not come spontaneously. They emerge from many time-consuming effort. Martin Heidegger, a German Philosopher, provokes us saying “we are still not thinking.”
In this course, we will discuss questions related to critical thinking, academic writing, and its nitty-gritty. Do we think? Do we think in a way that responds to culture and reflective tradition, and ways of life one is rooted in? What are our grounds of thinking and expressing within writing? How do we read, think and write utilizing our strengths in the concerned field(s)? The course will emphasize the study and consideration of the interdisciplinary nature of academic endeavour. The course will help the students learn to work with the fundamental concepts of academic writing that we use: close reading to analyse texts and question sources; strategies for engaging with and analysing complex texts; reasoning with evidence; organizing persuasive and well-structured arguments; and communicating ideas in clear and effective prose. Key concepts of academic argument—such as thesis, motive, evidence, and structure—will be introduced and reviewed. Assessment and evaluation will be based on classroom participation, lecture attendance, tasks assigned throughout the course and progress check tests. Grading follows the Nalanda University rules.
COURSE GOALS & OUTCOMES
The course aims to introduce the kind of writing assignments to students which will enable them to write academic assignments with confidence and skill. It also aims to prepare them towards writing research papers and planning research projects. Quality research output plays a crucial role in strengthening India’s position in the global scenario as a Soft-Power.
Critical Thinking and Interdisciplinary Research
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Multidisciplinary? Pluri-disciplinary? Cross-disciplinary? Trans-disciplinary? Interdisciplinary? These are some of the terms we use while undertaking advanced studies and cutting-edge research today. The course is an attempt to equip students to gain a preliminary understanding about these so as to practice them. Klein and Newell offered a definition of interdisciplinarity that reflected an emerging consensus among scholars: “Interdisciplinary studies may be defined as a process of answering a question, solving a problem, or addressing a topic that is too broad or complex to be dealt with adequately by a single discipline or profession… [and] draws on disciplinary perspectives and integrates their insights [to produce] a more comprehensive perspective” (1997 193). Further, critical thinking is an essential component that shapes the interdisciplinary approach in a productive manner. The aim of the course is to reach out to students from different schools of the University to have a foundational background in critical thinking, and interdisciplinary research and understanding. Assessment and evaluation will be based on classroom participation, lecture attendance, tasks assigned throughout the course and progress check tests. Grading follows the Nalanda University rules.
COURSE GOALS & OUTCOMES
The course aims to introduce the practice of critical thinking and interdisciplinary research to students. This will enable them to pursue research. It also aims to prepare them toward planning research projects.
Short Term Programme
Diploma in English
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course aims to enable users of English, who have acquired proficiency in the language usage, to improve their language competence further. The curriculum helps to train learners in the skills of reading, writing, and thinking, in addition to articulation and perception. The resources that feed into the course structure incorporate many complex language structures, skilful writing styles, intricate social and cultural contexts, and deep portrayals of reality based on subject’s observation, reflection, and recreation of the matters they are confronted with. The aim of the course is to expose students to various challenges one has to face while acquiring a language in a culturally diverse atmosphere. Assessment and evaluation will be based on classroom participation, lecture attendance, tasks assigned throughout the course and progress check tests. Grading follows the Nalanda University rules.
COURSE GOALS & OUTCOMES
The course aims to enhance English language competence of adult learners. The course component attempts to cover necessary skills one has to acquire in order to use English in academic context as well as work atmosphere. Upon the successful completion of the course, the learners will acquire language competence to use English to meet specific requirements.
Certificate in English
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Proficiency in English is increasingly becoming the need of the day in the contemporary world. The course attempts to enable the learners to acquire English in a modern and scientific way. It is a preparatory step for the students to go from the local to the global level. The goal of this course is to help the students to become a proficient user of English. The course has been designed keeping in mind the necessary aspects of grammar and everyday usage of English in various spheres of life. The course component attempts to cover all aspects of LSRW skills.
LAB COMPONENT
The Lab component focuses on the following areas:
Basic Phonetics of English│ Vowel and Consonant Sounds │Stress Pattern │Tones and Intonations │Listening Skills │ English for Specific Purpose (ESP)
MODE OF EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT
Assessment and evaluation will be based on classroom participation, lecture attendance, tasks assigned throughout the course and progress check tests.
COURSE GOALS & OUTCOMES
The course aims to introduce English language to adult learners. The course component attempts to cover all aspects of Listening-Speaking-Reading-Writing (LSRW) skills. Upon the successful completion of the course, the students will acquire proficiency in English to use it to meet every day needs in various spheres of life.
