Course Outline
This course has twofold aims of teaching and learning with a set of objectives related to the contemporary issues and grand challenges of nation. The primary aim of the course is to enable the student to recognize the grand challenges and contemporary issues of Indian society and to formulate various methods of resolving them through the knowledge gained through the study of literature in Tamil.
The aim to study literary works is to enhance the language proficiency of students and to equip them in creative usage of language through analytical and critical study of literary works. It also aims to develop the ability of learners in classification and identification of various themes, forms, genres and narrative structures of literature in the process of creative reading, writing and interpretations which will strengthen the value and ethical commitments of learners. The creative and analytical skills of students in language and literature shall be correlated with the grand tasks of nation building and social construction.
Grand Challenges:
The grand challenges which India facing today are identified as follows:
- Economic Development, Rural and Urban linkages
- Energy and water
- Urbanization, Infrastructure, Transport, Sanitation
- Environment and Public Health
- Food security and Agriculture
- Education, Literacy
- Ethics, Society and Justice.
Every semester, teaching will be spread over 16 weeks including two weeks for review.
Medium of Teaching and Examination: Tamil
Medium of teaching and writing of examination of this course is Tamil. (The students studied Tamil as a language in school education up to VIII/X/XII std. are eligible to take this course.)
Objectives of the Course:
This course shall teach and train the students to:
- Use language in different situations and express their ideas on various themes and topics with precision.
- Respond to spoken language and other conversations with optimum listening skill.
- Express and speak confidently on a variety of topics and contents.
- Develop reading skills to read varied texts.
- Improve their writing skills in terms of expressing ideas/point of view and organizing thoughts with coherence and clarity.
- To appreciate different kinds of literary genres and expressions.
- Become creative in expression, thought and presentation.
- Write and present their project proposals and final reports.
Organization of Teaching
There are six units in the course speread over 14 weeks. There would be 56 teaching periods and
14 periods for students presentation in a semester and the total number of period will be 70 (56+14). The details of the Units / themes and their distribution of periods are given below. In addition two weeks for field work/ project work / trip related activity as required by the course curriculum will be given.
Themes of Study:
This study includes the following themes related to the grand challenges of our contemporary Indian society:
Unit-1 Equality and Social Justice: (10 Periods)
Caste and the Problem of untouchability
Gender Equality
Unit-2: Environment and Public Health (10 Periods)
Ecological degradation: Land, water and air
Health problems and Environment
Unit-3: Urbanization and Migration (10 Periods)
Unemployment in Villages
Migration and life in urban centers
Unit-4: Rural and Agrarian life (10 Periods)
Poverty in villages Child labour Female infanticide
Unit-5: National Integration (08 Periods)
Cultural diversity and integration
Unit -6: Education and Literacy (08 Periods)
Literacy for women
Education in rural India
Reading Materials:
The teaching and learning material includes the following texts and films related to the issues. The texts and films can be identified and added according to the need of the students along with the recommended reading materials. The teachers are free to select some other suitable texts related the contents.
Unit: 1 Equality and Social Justice:
1. Article on E.V.R.Periyar by V.Anaimuthu
2. Ayotthithaasar: orukannottam by AnbuPonnoviyam in ayotthidaasar sinthanaikal-Vol- 1 Edited by Gnana. Aloysias
3. Kolai, Short Story by Vaasanthi
4. Elakkaaram, Short Story by Baamaa
Unit: 2 Environment and Public health:
1.kadalpazhankudikal, Article by VareethiyaKonstatine (2012)
2. maasusoozhnthaukakam by R.N.Seshagiri , New Delhi:NBT
Unit-3 Urbanization and Migration:
1. AnkaaditTheru (Film)
2. Veedu(Film)
Unit-4 Rural and Agrarian Life:
1.ThanneerThaneer (Film/Play)
2.kathavu ,short Story by Ki.Rajanarayanan
3.karuppu rail by Konangi
Unit-5: National Integration:
FivePoemsof SubramaniyaBharathi
Unit-6 Education and Literacy:
1. Penmakkalum (pp:29-39) andPenmakkalnilai (pp:50-54) by Thiru.Vi.Kalyanasundaram.
2. Karutthamma , Film Directed by Bharathiraja Supplementary Material
- Printed material
- Audio Visual CD and DVDs
- Films and Documentaries
- Websites and digital archives
Teaching, learning and interactive study:
The class room activity is designed as a group discussion, dialogue, debate and consultancy on the related texts and film screenings.
This integrated teaching method can improve the listening, speaking, reading and writing skills of the students and strengthen the vocabulary and application of grammar. The combined teaching will enlighten the students in understanding and addressing the issues and challenges.
ASSESSMENT
The assessment of the students performance will be through:
(i) Continuous evaluation of Project work (35 marks)
(ii) End Semester written examination (40 marks)
End-semester written examination:
- The testing will not be necessarily dependent on any prescribed text.
- Test items related to Themes of Study and language skill
- Test items on vocabulary expression, grammar and writing.
- The students will be assessed on their ability to express their ideas and in error free language usage.
- Writing on larger issues.
Project Work:
- The project work is based on the skills of students in creative writing on a select theme. This can be extended to rewriting, adaptation, retelling and change of narrative format.
- -A student can write a short story, one act play, conversation and dialogue, reportage and an essay on a theme by their choice.
- A student can prepare a paper of appreciation, evolution and analysis of a select literary work and film on social issues.
Topics of Project:
Topics for Project work shall be related to the themes of study and other issues related to the contemporary society as identified in the course structure. The topics shall be suitable to facilitate the students to involve their language skills and creative spirit. The format of project work can follow any one of the genres learned in the course. The student shall be given a choice of selection of the Project in the beginning of semester.
Topics identified for Project work:
1. Development of Tamil language/script/literature.
2 Festivals of Tamils.
3. Use of traditional medicines by the Tamil community
4. Attitude of Tamil speakers towards their language.
5. Mapping of Tamil culture (on a particular event from the culture)
6. Usage of Tamil language in media, films and cyber world.
7. The life and works of a creative writer in Tamil
8. Any performing tradition of Tamil (dance, drama, music, traditional game etc.).
9. Contemporary social issues/challenges.
10. Tamil language in the 21st century.
11. Retelling/rewriting of a narrative.
12. Critical evaluation of a text, in any form, of Tamils literature.
14. Tourist places in Tamil Nadu
Reading List:
Aloysias, Gnana. (Ed.). (1999). Ayotthidaasar Sinthanaikal (Vol.1), Palayamkottai: Folklore Resource and Research Centre, pp.xxiii-xlv
Anaimuthu,V. (Ed.), (1975). Periyar E.V.R. Cinthanaikal, (Vol-I), Tiruchirappalli: Cinthanaiyalarkalaga, pp. xviii-lxxix
Ithayavendan, Vizhi. Pa. (Ed.). (2000). elakkaram in Dalit Cirukathaikal, Chennai: Kaavya. pp.51-59
Kalyanasundaram,Thiru.Vi. (2004). TamilcholaiAllathuKatturaithirattu, Chennai:PumpukarPirasuram. pp. 29-39 and 50-54
Konangi. (1987). karuppurail in Mathinimarkalkathai , Sivagangai: Annam. pp.28-35
Rajanarayanan, Ki. (1965). katavu in Katavu, Sivagangai: Akaram. pp. 5-13
Ramakrishnan. E.V. (Ed.) kolai in Indiya-c-Cirukataikal, Translated into Tamil by Prem, New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi.. pp.493-508.,
Seshagiri. R. N. (1991), Maasusoozhnthaulakam, New Delhi:NBT
Subramaniya Bharathi, (2011). BharathiyarKavithaikal, Chennai: Narmada Pub. pp.18- 50
VareethiyaKonstatine, 2012, kadalpazhankudikal Anniyappadum Kadal, Chennai: Kilaikkarru. pp.5-17
