Here
is how I approached Sociology paper-1. I began with the old edition of
Haralambos. It is a fantastic book for understanding the subject and its scope.
I did not read the book from cover to cover and confined myself strictly to the
syllabus. This initiated me into the realm of sociology. I then moved on to
IGNOU’s BA notes which are an extremely useful compilation of sociological
knowledge. I also scanned through a few chapters of Giddens to get a hang of
the subject. Before Prelims, I had made some notes for the first 3 chapters of
paper 1 and had read some of the thinkers. I had by then acclimatized myself
with the subject and also understood that the old edition of Haralambos was
necessary but insufficient. After prelims, I started filling the gaps and
expanding my notes….I began referring to the new updated version of Haralambos,
internet, etc. (The topic-wise sources are given below). Though my notes were
pretty extensive, I remained alive to the problems associated with inclusion of
every topic in the notes. Therefore, at certain places, I left “flags” - page nos. or references in my notes so that
the topics best read whole from the book could be referred in a logical and
sequential manner during revision – (For example, Talcott Parson’s pattern
variables – to be read from new Haralambos, pg.xxx). The end result was that by
the end of my preparation, I had a bunch of notes that could be revised in a single day – It consisted of my notes of
around 200 pages, old and new Haralambos (for referred pages), and a couple of
booklets of IGNOU BA (out of many). I must have revised this bunch
4-5 times. I must also emphasize the importance of keeping a copy of previous
10 years’ questions handy, along with the syllabus. I made sure that there wasn’t
a question asked in previous 10 years that I couldn’t answer.
Here
is what I could manage for Sociology Paper-1
1.
Sociology - The Discipline:-------IGNOU BA, old NCERT, old Haralambos, internet
2.
Sociology as Science:------old & new Haralambos
3.
Research Methods and Analysis:-----New Haralambos, dictionary of sociology by
WP Scott / oxford dictionary of sociology
4.
Sociological Thinkers:--------Old & New Haralambos, some comparative
analyses and remaining topics from IGNOU BA (only what is not covered by
Haralambos)
5.
Stratification and Mobility: Old Haralambos, IGNOU BA
6.
Works and Economic Life: IGNOU BA, Giddens, internet.
7.
Politics and Society: Old Haralambos, Giddens, IGNOU BA
8.
Religion and Society: Old Haralambos, IGNOU BA, internet
9.
Systems of Kinship: IGNOU BA, dictionaries, (minor portions from Giddens and
Haralambos)
10.
Social Change in Modern Society: IGNOU BA, previous years’ questions, internet
Thanks for sharing the strategy and booklist for socio paper 1..could u plz tell me the difference between haralambos old &new(i had onl the new one-orange covered) and how u got acquainted to sociological thinking without any coaching or formal education in socio...Thanks in advance
ReplyDeleteHi Prudhvi
ReplyDelete1. The old Haralambos was a smaller version (Haralambos and Heald I suppose orange cover, published by oxford). The new version is a 1000 page tome (Haralambos and Holborn if I remember correctly) - I had its photocopy bought from Jawahar Book Depot. The new version has many contemporary case studies and extra topics which are of relevance to the exam. But some topics are best read from the old version since you do not have much time by your side if you want to finish it off in two odd months.
2. For initiation into the subject, NCERTs and Haralambos are good enough. I also watched a few videos of IGNOU uploaded on the net for some of the topics.
Thanks a ton brother.....NCERTS---old or new ones?? which classes??
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Deleter u going to update for paper 2 also????
ReplyDeleteExcellent blog. Waiting for paper II.
ReplyDeleteHi Kshitij,
ReplyDeleteI am just starting sociology now.... How to do it 4 months... Hoping to clear prelimns this time??
Please suugest a plan/books for speedy preparation.....
Limit yourself to the sources I've mentioned, and revise them repeatedly/make notes. It is possible to do it in less than 4 months. All the best.
DeleteThank you sir for your good suggestions. Few guys confusing us with lots of books(particularly Costlier and different and each topic wise). But I hope IGNOU and Old haralambos and internet usage is enough. But your point is clear to get good score. Thank you once again
DeleteI've also given new haralambos in my list (for some topics). You can buy its xerox which is available at many bookstores. In case you are not satisfied with a source for any topic due to some reason, come back to this blog and I shall try to sort it out for you.
DeleteHi Sir,
ReplyDeletePlease clarify that Harlambos you mention ....Is it authored by Harlambos and R Heald or is it Harlambos and Halborn since both have the same title of Sociological Themes and Perspectives ??
Didnt read earlier queries...Thanks indeed Sir :)
DeleteKshitij Sir, can you please post the topic wise booklist of Sociology - Paper II. I found whatever you wrote very helpful, I already had the materials which you suggested for Sociology but am finding it difficult to zero down the topics from the IGNOU BA and MA notes as they are quite vast. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteSir, You mentioned that you read Haralambos not " from cover to cover and confined myself strictly to the syllabus". Plz explain me in details. Haralambos me se konse topics / chapters karne hai? aur konse nahi karne hai. Also I am confused with some of the topics. like Work and Economic Life, Politics and society which are mentioned in syllabus. Which chapters of haralambos covers these topics. Also Books has few chapters not explicitly mentioned in syllabus like Women, poverty, education. To which topics of syllabus do they correspond.
ReplyDeletecan you please provide notes of paper 2 also for socio.
ReplyDeleteHi Kshitij,
ReplyDeleteCongrats!!!! I would be grateful if you could suggest any coaching institute for sociology (Vajiram or Upendra).
Regards,
Akhil
Sorry, no experience with coaching institutes - so can't comment on this.
DeleteHi Kshitij,
ReplyDeleteSo exams are just around the corner and i was hoping if you could give me a few suggestions on how to write an answer for sociology. Basically in terms of case studies that have been cited in Haralambos and Heald which pertain to the western context and are quite outdated - for eg. Goldthorpe and Lockwood and STephen Hill's studies on the working class in Britain.
I have not taken any coaching and so am at a loss if these studies can be cited.
Thanks in anticipation! :)
Radhika
They are classic studies and can definitely be cited where necessary. You should also be aware of the studies that were later conducted, for example, the one which led to variations from observations of goldthorpe et al (these also given in new haralambos. As long as your answer is coherent, logical and supported by relevant case studies, you're doing fine.
DeleteThankyou very much! And loads of good wishes for your time in the service :)
DeleteHi Kshitij, seems like you have used UIAS notes, I have also bought them, but not sure how much they are useful, can you please comment how much of your preparation was through UIAS notes (printed or class) and their usefulness in general?
ReplyDeletestay away from them....I had left indicators in my notes so that i could refer to them at the end for some topics - but when I did in the end, they turned out to be pretty useless. (I had the printed ones). Some friends who've been selected recommended praveen kishore's notes - I haven't seen them - you wanna check them out too. But I could manage 146+147 which is a very modest score without any of these notes - may be some value add could fetch more marks, but then I didnt have the time
DeleteThanks a lot, your help is much appreciated.
DeleteSir,
ReplyDeleteI belong to OBC creamy layer.how many chances are there for me?please tell me the code number of ALL sociology book of IGNOU THAT HELPS FOR IAS EXAM.
advance thanks
Sir,
ReplyDeleteI belong to OBC creamy layer.how many chances are there for me?please tell me the code number of ALL sociology book of IGNOU THAT HELPS FOR IAS EXAM.
advance thanks
HI Kshitij,
ReplyDeleteI am wondering about the notes on IGNOU sites. I dint't able to find out BA course syllabus for Sociology, but got only MA course pdf, can you guide me from where can i get this(if possible provide link).
Dear kshitij
ReplyDeleteHow is Sociology: An Integral Part of Preparation for Civil Services and Other Competitive Examinations. is it worth reading. please get back at the earliest.
Regards
Aliya
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletedear kshitij,
ReplyDeleteyour sociology notes for paper I were of immense help .i ve tried checking for sources for paper II in net.i ve read the ignou material. but every site has got different books, I ve gt the common books that is specified like y.singh, m n srinivas. but I don have clue of where to start it from. and I ve gt tons of cover in gs cause this is my first attempt at this.. it would be of much help if u suggest me a strategy to finish paper II as early as possible..
regards,
ramya
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI just started with the old Harlambos.Can you please tell the specific Ignou BA material? They are like 11-16.Do all of them are relevant to the exam rest the essay?
Thanks
Keshav
hi kshitij,
ReplyDeletei want to inquire about how to approach in case of sociological thinkers and the books i should refer for that?
sir how thick is the old Haralombos. i haven't been able to find it. plese help me out.
ReplyDeleteSir is ignou notes more than sufficient for sociology or should we go through the ignou ma notes ?
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