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Understanding Law and Critical Thinking

The document discusses the aims and structure of an English course. It covers topics like critical thinking, close reading, argument analysis, academic writing skills, assignments including presentations and a research paper, and discusses sources and themes for different assignments.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
91 views10 pages

Understanding Law and Critical Thinking

The document discusses the aims and structure of an English course. It covers topics like critical thinking, close reading, argument analysis, academic writing skills, assignments including presentations and a research paper, and discusses sources and themes for different assignments.

Uploaded by

daga.keshuv.dbpc
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

ENGLISH 1 [EN1101]

Important Points
1. If there is evidence to prove it the answer is valid.
2. The ability to understand and read the text closely and carefully and precisely analyse
it.
3. The ability to write in understandable language.

COURSE AIMS

At the end of the course, the student will be able to:


▪ Develop an understanding of what is critical thinking
▪ Locate and analyse arguments through the mechanics of close reading
▪ Identify logical inconsistencies in arguments
▪ Apply critical thinking techniques to produce arguments effectively
▪ Recognize the difference between primary and secondary sources
▪ Learn the conventions of academic writing
▪ Develop effective communication skills
1. 2 Internal Assignments [2*25]
2. One will be a group presentation. [To be sent later] [SEPTEMBER]
3. Second will be drafting a research paper with only five paragraphs. Mentioning
sources, and ideas where details are taken from. Min 4 sources to be mentioned.
[OCTOBER]
Evidence, Structure, Good Thesis Statement in Academic Essays/ Research Paper
The theme of English B. by Langston Hughes for Poetry
Echo by Laila Lalami for fictional narratives
Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Nationalism in India’: Chapter III of Nationalism for Non–Fiction
Prose
Never write “the poet says” instead write “the persona in the poem.”
Academic Evidence Model [Thesis – Evidence – Evaluation]
What is Law?

Euthanasia - The practice of ending the life of a patient to limit the patient's suffering.
What is law is still a vast and extensive topic that is still being explored. Several contemporary issues
are created every day to answer what the law is.
Many hold their own opinion and cling to them, but some listen to viable alternative viewpoints and
then make amendments to their own.
One viewpoint is that there should be strict control of the governmental body, and no one exercises
control over it.
Salus populi suprema lex Est (‘the safety of the people is the supreme law’). In this view, people
believe that the government is empowered to do what is necessary for the betterment of its public. It
means that only in cases of public betterment should there be a relaxation of control.
Another view underlies the doctrine of Parliamentary sovereignty, according to which the courts are
not allowed to set aside or refuse to give effect to an Act of Parliament.
In one of the recently propounded views, the government should be granted the right to discriminate
against its public for morally arbitrary decisions.
The analytical and rhetorical skills one acquires in a law degree means that a law degree can provide
excellent training for working in politics, journalism, business, or public service. But the lawyer jokes
and the caricatures of lawyers projected in the media put you off the idea of becoming a lawyer after
you leave university. Lawyers perform a vital role in society.
The law should have generality in it, and it should be enforced.
Belmarsh Case is used by the author as he wants to portray more different points of a case i.e., various
branches.
First, a background is provided with details of the case including the results or judgements of previous
cases.
Secondly, the facts of the cases are provided.
Magna Carta [Starts the introduction of the rule of law where for the first time the politicians or kings
were to be treated with the same law]
The rule of Law should provide basic human rights.
AMITAV GHOSH
Arabesque – Ornament or Ornamental Object
Derangement – Insanity, Madness
Ecological Refugees - Those who get displaced to different countries due to natural regions.
Gaze - Looking at something. Male and Female Gaze. Means of exerting one's power

The general concept of the cause of the climate crisis is that we do not believe in the importance of
something that does not make sense to us.
I THINK, THEREFORE I AM – Because we think, therefore, we exist. Everything must be run by
human consciousness.
The content and form of the writer mark his capability and the ability him be a good writer.
Why does Ghosh Use the Idea of Recognition?
The philosophical and political notion of precognition. An act of intellectual apprehension, such as
when we recognize we have made a mistake, or we recognize the influence of religion on American
politics.
We recognise the state of nature when something has been damaged.
Recognition is something that is not newly gained knowledge but is something we have experienced
before but are now trying to recall.
The tornado here was staring back at the author which connects to the concept of Gaze.
Improbability may be present around it but in cases of novels, it is put in the far background.
A serious novel engages with real life. Serious/Literary Fiction engages with real life.
Any novelist writes from their own experience which they have had in their life. But they do not write
about extraordinary events. The readers often do not perceive the author’s point of view in many
cases. Probability in the sense of novel perceives in the form of familiarity.
The author with the concept of the reader refers to the literate man/ bourgeois middle class. The
concept of improbability does not arise due to the middle class because they are so used to the
regularity. The reader enjoys probability in novels because he wants to relate it to his day-to-day life.
Novels hardly touch the supernatural element because they perceive man to be the supreme.
One crucial aspect of any novel is its ability to vividly depict scenes and create mental images in the
reader's mind. Additionally, it is important to include subtle details and fillers that give readers a sense
of everyday life.
Serious modern novels and gradualism are linked to each other.
The theme for English B

Langston Hughes was the pioneer of the Harlem (Black Neighbourhood) Renaissance in the 1920s.
Women in ancient times did not have a safe space and had to write using male names to hide their
gender as there was a lack of acceptance.
Negros – Spanish for Black
Harlem Renaissance (Part of The New Negro Movement) - Started by African American writers in
Harlem, New York for the cultural revolution. These Negros came to New York from southern
America due to the abolishment of Slavery for the better. Another reason was the establishment of Jim
Crow (Established as a synonym for Black Negros which came from a theatre performance by
Dartmouth Rice) Laws in 1877 for the segregation of Blacks from Whites. It was just a cultural
movement rather than a political one.
Culture is a source of Domination. The culture of African Americans was unexplored and unheard of
due to the emphasis on “American Culture.”
The didactic tone of the professor can be noticed at the beginning of the poem. He conveys his
message to a coloured student. The professor gives a prompt to the student in his lines. Home in the
text refers to the privilege of safety and security in a safe space which is denied to many. The
professor here is a white man who fails to take into consideration that the poet may not have a home
due to it being a privilege. He feels that whatever he might write may not be accepted by the society.
The notion of authenticity can be witnessed in the italicised lines. No writer is unique as everyone
imitates the works of previous authors, poets, etc. The concept of authenticity is a myth. It is difficult
to talk about oneself is he/she is unique or different. The poet here is at Columbia University. Age is
relevant because it represents the minimum knowledge and experience in his life. How much does
he/she know about himself/herself? It is an age when one is unsure of themselves. This poem is an
exploration of self through interaction with the self, the white professor, and the city of Harlem.
The city in which one resides is a crucial factor in shaping the identity of an individual. Emphasis on
the word ‘room’ signified that the persona in the poem did not have a place they could call home but
just a room to go and live by during his college years. He is a product of what he feels, senses, and
perceives in the city of Harlem as a resident which is called sense perception.
RESEARCH PAPER
Clarity and Precision; Formality and Objectivity; Structured organisation of thoughts; Proper research
from authentic sources while backed up with sufficient facts and evidence. Avoid prejudices and
stereotypes—the credibility of sources mentioned in citations.
Research Question and the Thesis Statement should go hand in hand while also mentioning the reason
for your paper.
Mention the keywords author and the story while searching for sources.
Bluebook and Oscola for law subjects and papers. Preplan the content of the Research Paper
Words such as how and why should not be mentioned in the thesis statement. The statement is an
answer to the question. The answer is the reasoning for the claim I am making. No need to provide the
actual evidence meant for the paper. It should be one sentence to make it sharp and clear. Another
sentence can be added by writing about the different sections mentioned in the research paper.
For introduction talk about the topic. The thesis statement must be the last line of the introduction. It
should seem like the thesis statement flows while writing the introduction.
Apart from primary sources, only five sources will be allowed. More input from your critical analysis
is preferred. Every paragraph should include a topic sentence at the beginning following the evidence
and lastly interpreting and evaluating this evidence.
Each paragraph is to have at least one citation. Better not to use a citation in the introduction and no
citations for the conclusion. This method is used for the development of your own opinion. Better to
use all five as print sources i.e., journals, articles, books, etc.
Arrange it in chronological order (Ramayana, Mahabharat, Mughal Era, British Empire. Present Age)
Mention the cause first and then the effect. (Cause of a flood, war, inflation, and the consequences),
Lastly, map the paper based on your analysis. (If I were drafting a paper on the effect of the British
Empire on the Indians then I would start with the history of the empire, then the effect of the Empire
on Education, then its impact on the Indian mindset and culture and lastly whether the mindset or
culture has been affected).
In Mahendra Kapoor's song "Ye DharmYudh Hai Mahayudh Hai," the skilful arrangement of lyrics
and emotive melodies adeptly delves into the themes of moral righteousness and the grand conflict of
ideologies. This demonstrates the powerful capacity of music to articulate profound beliefs and the
clash of principles. (Example of a thesis statement).
Topic Sentence Outline – Develop a topic sentence for every paragraph so that the reader has an idea
about the paragraph before he starts reading it. End the sentence by giving an idea for the next
paragraph. All the paragraphs should follow each other.
Do not get back to the assignment immediately due to the mentality of everything being perfect. Put a
day between the first draft and revision. The quote should be put into context. More than 30 to 40
words should be used in an indent court where the quotation should be mentioned in a separate line.
The topic sentence is the claim I am putting forward in the paragraph. Never end the paragraph with
evidence. Mention evaluation of the paragraph. The title of the story should be concrete and give the
main idea of the paper. Better to mention the name of the work. The in-text citation is something
mentioned in the text. The sentence should end after mentioning the citation. If more than two, then
(Last name of first author [Link] page number). If headline, then (“2 3 WORDS”). Follow the sample
essay.
ECHO BY LAILA LALAMI

Mona (Protagonist), Perry, Amal, Taher, Zahra, Zach, Anwar Sadat, Mohammed Abdallah
Home, Memory and Belonging and envy of her sister as to how she remembered her childhood
memories and Mona could not. People’s past affects their future and, in a way, paves a path for it. She
longs for stability due to the lack of it as we can witness in the beginning of the story.
The hypocrisy of the academic space as a liberal space due to her being rejected from a full-time job
because of a comment on a ‘war of terror.’ A lack of mind between the minds of chairperson and
Mona and she was also not allowed to share her ideologies with students.
Political repression as a universal phenomenon - She highlights the empowerment of Mona’s mother
through her involvement in politics. She tries to remove our basic ideology of women in the Middle
East as being repressed.
Precarity (Vulnerability [Sense of Being Exposed in The Form of Emotions]) – Best bonding is
created when an individual feels vulnerable in situations while exposing those emotions to others.
Judith Butler’s idea is that our vulnerability can be used as an ethical position to bond with others.
The state weaponises the emotions and pain of its citizens to retaliate. Violence makes us vulnerable.
Ethics is a judgement in an individual of what is good or bad in life.
Perry tries to get to open to her by mentioning his experience in Iraq trying to relate it to Mona who
within herself relates herself to Baghdad.
BUSINESS LETTERS

Internship Letter –
 Written to an individual or organisation to secure an internship.
 On the top left the Name, Email ID, Phone Number, Address, etc.
 Date below these details after which the details of the addressed person/organisation in the
centre (Mention the person in charge)
 Subject – Reason for internship applications.
 Don’t write respected instead use Dear/Mr/Ms/Mx
 Opening Paragraph – Reason for application of the internship while focusing on the work of
the organisation. Don’t mention about yourself.
 Body Paragraph – Relevant qualifications/experience that makes you suitable for the
internship role. Connect them.
 Closing Paragraph – Align your qualifications/experience to the goal of the
organization/individual to state the reason for being a good fit. Express gratitude at the end.
Keshuv Daga
keshuvdaga@[Link]
41, Chanmbuk Road, Villa 18, Insira - 24618
9078787844
19/2/2024
Mr. Chrouya,
Culturescape Magazine,
30, Galaxy IndIfinite, Room 6897, Kiola – 568390
SUB – Application for an internship at Culturescape
Dear Mr., Chrouya –
This letter is an application for an internship opportunity for your online magazine Culturescape
during February and March 2024. In the recent past I had the opportunity to meet your co-editor
during an event in our college and the way he spoke about the articles and the work done inspired me
to investigate it which further interested me eventually leading to this application. The articles in the
magazine so vastly but deeply explore the different cultures present throughout the world which are
unknown to many. Its intrinsic details with the writing style of making the reader feel as if witnessing
the cultures with their own eyes is what caught my attention, especially the article ‘colours’.
I am a recent college graduate with a keen interest in writing articles and journals about various topics
and have been doing so during my college years. I was the editor-in-chief of 2 major college
magazines Ranga and Differentia which had gained popularity through my articles on fashion,
differences in cultures in our college, etc. I was also the Vice President of the Culture Group
responsible for hosting many exhibitions and competitions such as the Culturina.
I feel like these past experiences especially as a writer might help the magazine in providing articles
that will help in adding to its popularity while also helping in exploring my passion as a writer. Look
forward to your reply with the possibility of working with your magazine.
Yours sincerely,
Keshuv Daga
Sponsorship Letter
 A letter that tries to build a long-term relationship with a potential donor in exchange for
some benefits.
 It's to convince why a person/company be a sponsor of your event in terms of funds, facilities,
etc.
 Write the name of the organisation on the letterhead along with the address and details.
 Date
 Header – Name of the person the letter is addressed to and their address.
 Subject
 Greeting – Same as internship
 First paragraph – Show your familiarity with the organization with your knowledge about
them and their relation to the event. Try creating a personal vibe.
 Second – Write what you are asking for.
 Third – What are you offering to the sponsoring organization?
 Closing – Appealing to help your cause and thanking them.

Subject: Invitation to Sponsor Violencia by Freedom from Violence


Dear Mr. Ray,
I hope this letter finds you in good spirits. Your articles and news coverage on Ukraine - Russia have
not gone unnoticed within the halls of Freedom from Violence. It is with a deep sense of appreciation
for BAZ New's unwavering commitment to addressing social issues that we extend this heartfelt
invitation to you. We admire the way your organization has consistently championed the struggles of
innocent people during wars which closely aligns with our mission of eradicating violence in all its
forms. Your support at this crucial juncture would not only bolster our efforts but also strengthen the
bond of solidarity within our community.
We are writing to request BAZ News's sponsorship for our upcoming fundraising event, scheduled to
take place on 24 November 2023 at Rajmargh Centre. With your esteemed support through news
coverage and articles, we aim to amplify our reach and impact, fostering a more profound and lasting
change in our society's approach to violence eradication.
In return for your generous sponsorship, we offer a range of benefits, including prominent
acknowledgement of your contribution in all our promotional materials, heightened visibility among
our diverse audience, and exclusive networking opportunities with key stakeholders and thought
leaders in the field.
Your invaluable support would significantly contribute to the success of our event and the
advancement of our shared vision for a safer and more peaceful world. We sincerely appreciate your
consideration and eagerly anticipate the possibility of collaborating with BAZ News. Thank you for
your time and consideration.
Yours sincerely,
Keshuv Daga
Head of Organising Committee
Freedom from Violence
TAGORE: NATIONALISM IN INDIA

The text provided is based on a lecture given by Tagore in the USA. The year holds significance due
to the time of World War I. He was giving the lecture after winning the Nobel Prize in 1913.
For Tagore, the ‘nation’, a Western import, is the source of competition and profit maximisation.
Nationalism emerged in the 18th Century along with the Enlightenment, Industrial Revolution, etc.
Tagore invoked achieving the higher ideals of humanity than national superiority. It emerged
according to Tagore because of the enmity and greed among the various nations due to lack of
resources. Nationalism emerges when there is a presence of homogeneity, unlike India. There is a
presence of material growth and progress. This fighting for resources due to the presence of greed is
dangerous according to Tagore. The West had taken the idea of Nationalism to the idea of belief,
spiritual growth, and fanaticism.
A nation needs to have a common ethnicity, language, religion, and territory. Ernest Renan says “A
nation has a soul, a spiritual principle. One is in the past, the other in the present. One is the
possession of a s rich legacy of memories; the other is the desire to live together and to value the
common heritage.”
Tagore championed the USA due to the reason that it is not a settled country, unlike many European
countries. The concept of the soul can be seen in Bipin Chandra Pal’s: The Soul of India (1911).
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s Anand Math champions the case of nationalism.
Benedict Anderson: A nation is an ‘imagined community’. Industrialization, rapid transport and
connectivity and the invention of print contributed to it. When India was not discovered as a nation, it
was the place of ‘sacred geography’ while people went on pilgrimages as said by Diana Eck.
Tagore’s alternative to nationalism is spiritualism/spiritual growth. Cosmopolitanism is the sense that
human beings around the world can be united by faith. He says that working on oneself is required to
attain spiritualism. Nationalism teaches only material progress, unlike spiritualism which teaches oral
progress which should be adopted not only in India but also in the world.
If nationalism is based on competitiveness but spiritualism is based on cooperation. Spiritualism
focuses on a social nature whereas nationalism focuses on a political nature. Social freedom should be
followed instead of political freedom. If you don’t take care of the social nature, its political nature
haunts you further. INC was only busy with political freedom instead of talking about the prevalent
social issue of caste. Moral progress could be a state of being not a state of mind.
A nation is a mechanical organisation with a purpose of material progress. A society is the expression
of the moral and spiritual aspirations of man. Society is supposed to help the individual to be in
harmony with himself and others.
Political – Materialism – Nation – Social/Society (caste/race) – Moral progress (humanity/spiritual
progress)
A nation is an organised power based on wealth and influence. He emphasises the social rather than
the political i.e., freedom and independence based on caste/class/race, etc. Society helps to realise
harmonious growth (emotional and intellectual come together) and how to love and help our fellow
human beings. Indian society is divided between caste and race which we need to work on for the
betterment of society. It’s a source of moral progress if it helps to realise oneself. We get to know
morality and spiritualism. Can be analysed in the way of how the British degraded Indians.
Organized power is giving up own’s rights.

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