Yesterday I dashed off a mail to all participants of the MA programme (2012-13 batch) about this blog and website. The immediate response from many of you has been heartening, nay overwhelming! Thank you everyone who wrote back expressing enthusiasm about this blog and the web site, and for leaving comments on the first post. I hope that your enthusiasm will not wane.
In this post I just want to address one question/issue that many of you have posed/mentioned.
Most of you have received thus far a set of five books from us. These are critical editions of some of the prescribed texts that you will study in the two literature courses: British Literature I and II. Of these, Robinson Crusoe and Gulliver's Travels are prescribed for study in British Literature I, and Wuthering Heights and Emma are prescribed for study in British Literature II. It is advisable that you read these novels before you read the course materials on these novels; that's why they've been sent to you in advance, so that you can start reading them while you wait for the course material to arrive. (The book English Poetry 1660-1780 includes some poems that are prescribed for study in British Literature I.) Of course, there are other texts prescribed for study in these two literature courses. You must try and procure them by yourself.
[We are working on bringing out more critical editions of these other prescribed texts as well, but it will take time.]
The actual course materials are being dispatched and will reach you in a few days. (Participants within AP might already have received the course materials.)
Along with this course material you will receive a detailed letter telling you about the assignment schedules and when you are expected to submit the assignments. You will also receive a Handbook which will give you an overall idea of the entire programme, the different courses in it, and suggestions on how to use the course material, how to pace your study, how to plan your study hours, how to do the assignments, etc. So please wait till you get this letter and Handbook; most of your queries will be answered. After you receive them and read them, if you still have any further queries, you can write to me.
Maidul, Francis Anthony, I'm sorry you felt there wasn't enough communication from us. It's just that the printing of the course materials got delayed due to internal administrative snags, and since the prescribed texts were with us, we sent them first. There's a long letter and detailed Handbook accompanying the course materials; you will find all the information and advice that you want in them.
I wish all of you all the very best as you embark on this programme. I hope you will enjoy reading the course materials, and doing the assignments.
Once again, please wait for the course materials, letter and Handbook. After you read them, you can get back to me with queries, if any.
In this post I just want to address one question/issue that many of you have posed/mentioned.
Most of you have received thus far a set of five books from us. These are critical editions of some of the prescribed texts that you will study in the two literature courses: British Literature I and II. Of these, Robinson Crusoe and Gulliver's Travels are prescribed for study in British Literature I, and Wuthering Heights and Emma are prescribed for study in British Literature II. It is advisable that you read these novels before you read the course materials on these novels; that's why they've been sent to you in advance, so that you can start reading them while you wait for the course material to arrive. (The book English Poetry 1660-1780 includes some poems that are prescribed for study in British Literature I.) Of course, there are other texts prescribed for study in these two literature courses. You must try and procure them by yourself.
[We are working on bringing out more critical editions of these other prescribed texts as well, but it will take time.]
The actual course materials are being dispatched and will reach you in a few days. (Participants within AP might already have received the course materials.)
Along with this course material you will receive a detailed letter telling you about the assignment schedules and when you are expected to submit the assignments. You will also receive a Handbook which will give you an overall idea of the entire programme, the different courses in it, and suggestions on how to use the course material, how to pace your study, how to plan your study hours, how to do the assignments, etc. So please wait till you get this letter and Handbook; most of your queries will be answered. After you receive them and read them, if you still have any further queries, you can write to me.
Maidul, Francis Anthony, I'm sorry you felt there wasn't enough communication from us. It's just that the printing of the course materials got delayed due to internal administrative snags, and since the prescribed texts were with us, we sent them first. There's a long letter and detailed Handbook accompanying the course materials; you will find all the information and advice that you want in them.
I wish all of you all the very best as you embark on this programme. I hope you will enjoy reading the course materials, and doing the assignments.
Once again, please wait for the course materials, letter and Handbook. After you read them, you can get back to me with queries, if any.
