Established 1915, the Department of English in St. Pauls Cathedral Mission College, celebrates its hundredth anniversary in 2015, and is one of the oldest departments to begin the Honours course. It has grown steadily as a centre for serious academic engagement. The Honours course focuses on the study of literature in English. Students who love reading, have a flair for writing and are proficient in English should aspire for this course. English Honours helps to develop and sharpen skills of analysis, logical reasoning, interpretation and understanding of various points of view. It opens up the world view of learners as they get to taste not just British Literature but a slice of world literature too. They are introduced to people, culture and tradition and more importantly to new worlds of experience. Learners grow and evolve through this literary journey by reading poems, plays, novels, essays and short stories.
The content and style of a text are often decoded through the use of literary theory. The English Honours course is designed to engage the creative imagination of learners and to improve their writing skills. Students are not only taught the nuances of the English language, but command over the language is a prerequisite to enable them to express themselves and follow class lectures. The course will comprise eight papers and students will be expected to answer questions with a set word limit of 500–600 words and short notes within 250–300 words. Answers will have to be convincing, logically argued and replete with textual evidence, while being concise and to–the–point.
The Department conducts periodical assessment and there exists a healthy system of student–teacher interaction. The mode of teaching not only entrails classroom lectures as the teachers regularly prepare PowerPoint Presentations while also providing the students with handouts and reading lists which aid them in their study. The Department publishes an annual academic journal, Symposium, (ISSN 2320–1452) and where scholars from all over Kolkata are invited to write. The Department regularly conducts UGC sponsored Seminars and Conferences.
Students who to take up English Honours will find it liberating and enjoyable provided they have a fondness for literature and are comfortable with the language.
Faculty Detail :
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Summary – (Academic Profile) |
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Name: Dr. Anasuya Bhar  |
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Summary - (Academic Profile) |
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Name: Dr. Syeda Ayesha Ali |
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Summary – (Academic Profile) |
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Name: Tayana Chatterjee |
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Name: Mr. Kush Sengupta |
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Name: Ms. Uma Biswas |
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Summary – (Academic Profile) |
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Name: Sm. Chaitali Moitra |
UG Program Outcome:
PO 1 – Historical and Analytical Study of English Literature – The BA course in English literature aims to give a thorough understanding of the history of English literature from around 700 AD to the present time, while giving a perspective on Indian writing in English as well. The course also equips students to have a thorough understanding of the major genres of literature, them being poetry, prose and drama, and also introduces them to the principles of literary criticism.
PO 2 - Literary Sensibility - It is the aim of the BA course in English Literature to facilitate a genuine literary sensibility i.e. an understanding of the spirit, purpose and aesthetics of literature in the larger perspective of educational, curricular and social needs.
PO 3 – Effective Communication – There are two aspects of a literary course: the element of language and that of literature. The course aims to foster effective communication skills with the help of language and a literary sensibility, through the process of writing and also performance.
PO 4 – Critical Thinking – As mentioned above, the course aims to foster an adequate spirit of critical and analytical thinking through extensive reading and writing skills, such that all literature, not only English or British, but bhasa literature as well, can be effectively appreciated.
PO 5 – The CBCS curriculum – The CBCS curriculum of English has a balanced quantum of British and Indian literature, while at the same time, it has an adequate focus on literary theory and other areas like Translation Studies, Language Studies and Creative Writing. This would equip students to get a balanced view on literature in general and also prepare them for competition on a national basis, with students of other states.
PO 6 – Employment Opportunities – English is among the most popular of the Humanities, and has a glamour quotient as well. The study of this course is often taken to be the gateway to other careers in the corporate sector, government and also in journalism. The course adequately prepares our students to meet these challenges and expectations. They get absorbed and employed in higher studies in the postgraduate level and upwards, research, teaching, as well as in journalism and other government and corporate sectors. The database for our ex-students for the past five years will justify this.
UG Program Specific Outcome:
PSO 1 – Understanding of Literature – To facilitate an understanding of literature, vis-a-vis the other Humanities and Social Science subjects
PSO 2 – Appreciation – To effectively appreciate the relevance and aesthetics of literature vis-a-vis all the Arts and Science subjects.
UG Course Outcome :
CO 1 – A thorough understanding of history of English Literature from the Old English period to the year 2000, along with an understanding of the science of philology.
CO 2 – A thorough understanding of poetry from the Elizabethan age to the Modern Age.
CO 3 – To foster an adequate knowledge of Drama beginning from the Elizabethan to the Modern period, with a few representative examples.
CO 4 – A thorough understanding of prose works, keeping in mind fiction (novels and short stories) as well as non-fiction.
CO 5 – An optional area of literature either Indian or American at the end of the course teaches the nuances of literature other than the core British variety.
CO 6 – The CBCS curriculum has a more focussed and diverse range of courses, which would familiarise the students with more texts and areas of thought, that would benefit them in their future careers. There are job-oriented courses and curricula that would give them an edge in the job market.