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BACHELOR-OF-ARTS-BA in English at Surendranath Evening College
Kolkata, West Bengal
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About the Specialization
What is English at Surendranath Evening College Kolkata?
This BA English Honours program at Surendranath Evening College, affiliated with the University of Calcutta, focuses on a comprehensive study of literature from diverse cultural contexts and periods. It delves into classical, modern, postcolonial, and popular literatures, alongside critical literary theories. The program emphasizes analytical thinking, critical interpretation, and effective communication, essential skills highly valued in India''''s dynamic media, education, and content industries.
Who Should Apply?
This program is ideal for discerning students with a passion for reading, critical analysis, and intellectual discourse. It suits fresh graduates seeking entry into academic, content creation, journalism, or civil services fields. Individuals aiming to enhance their communication and analytical abilities for diverse professional roles, or those preparing for higher studies in literature and humanities, will find this program rewarding.
Why Choose This Course?
Graduates of this program can expect diverse India-specific career paths including content writing, journalism, publishing, teaching, public relations, and advertising. Entry-level salaries typically range from INR 2.5-4 LPA, with significant growth potential to INR 8-15 LPA for experienced professionals in specialized roles. The curriculum also provides a strong foundation for competitive exams and postgraduate studies.
Student Success Practices
Foundation Stage
Cultivate Critical Reading Habits- (Semester 1-2)
Actively engage with prescribed texts, identifying themes, literary devices, and authorial intent. Utilize online literary analysis guides and platforms like SparkNotes or resources from Purdue OWL for literary terms. This practice builds foundational analytical skills crucial for academic success and future research roles.
Tools & Resources
SparkNotes, Purdue OWL, University Library
Career Connection
Develops analytical thinking essential for journalism, content creation, and research.
Master Academic Writing and Referencing- (Semester 1-2)
Focus on clear, concise essay writing, understanding different essay structures, and adhering to academic citation styles (e.g., MLA). Practice using Grammarly for proofreading and CiteThisForMe for generating citations. Strong writing skills are indispensable for all future assignments, research papers, and professional communication.
Tools & Resources
Grammarly, CiteThisForMe, MLA Handbook
Career Connection
Crucial for publishing, technical writing, content development, and higher education.
Engage in Peer-to-Peer Learning and Discussion- (Semester 1-2)
Form study groups to discuss literary concepts, analyze texts, and debate interpretations. Regularly participate in classroom discussions and departmental seminars. This fosters diverse perspectives, improves articulation, and builds a collaborative learning environment, enhancing comprehension and preparing for group projects in professional settings.
Tools & Resources
College Literary Society, Study Groups, Departmental Seminars
Career Connection
Enhances communication and teamwork skills, valuable in any professional environment.
Intermediate Stage
Explore Interdisciplinary Connections- (Semester 3-4)
Relate literary texts to historical, social, and political contexts. Read widely beyond the syllabus in areas like history, sociology, and philosophy to enrich understanding. Attend guest lectures and workshops on interdisciplinary topics. This broadens intellectual horizons and develops a holistic perspective valuable in content creation and media analysis.
Tools & Resources
University Lecture Series, Online MOOCs (e.g., Coursera, edX), Reputable News Analysis
Career Connection
Fosters critical thinking and contextual understanding, beneficial for civil services, journalism, and cultural studies.
Develop Research and Analytical Skills- (Semester 3-5)
Beyond critical reading, learn to identify research gaps, formulate research questions, and conduct preliminary literary research. Utilize university library databases and online archives like JSTOR or Project MUSE. This skill is vital for advanced academic projects, dissertations, and roles requiring in-depth analysis.
Tools & Resources
JSTOR, Project MUSE, University Library Databases
Career Connection
Essential for academic research, policy analysis, and specialized content development roles.
Participate in Literary Societies and Events- (Semester 3-5)
Join the college''''s English literary society or writing club. Actively participate in debates, poetry readings, essay competitions, and cultural events. These activities enhance public speaking, creative expression, and networking, building a portfolio and confidence for roles in media, publishing, and communications.
Tools & Resources
College Literary Clubs, Local Literary Festivals (e.g., Kolkata Literary Meet)
Career Connection
Boosts public speaking, networking, and creative expression for media, PR, and writing careers.
Advanced Stage
Undertake Independent Research Project/Dissertation- (Semester 5-6)
Work closely with a faculty mentor to conceptualize, research, and write a substantial academic paper (e.g., a dissertation in Semester 6). This capstone experience demands rigorous application of all learned skills: critical thinking, research methodology, and advanced academic writing, serving as a strong portfolio piece for higher studies or specialized job applications.
Tools & Resources
Faculty Mentors, Research Guides, Academic Journals
Career Connection
Showcases expertise and research capabilities for postgraduate studies or research-oriented jobs.
Prepare for Competitive Exams and Higher Education- (Semester 5-6)
Begin targeted preparation for UPSC Civil Services, state PSC exams, NET/SET for lectureship, or entrance exams for MA/PhD programs. Utilize online platforms like Unacademy or Byju''''s for general studies, and specific literary theory guides for subject-specific preparation, paving the way for esteemed careers or advanced academic pursuits.
Tools & Resources
Unacademy, Byju''''s, NET/SET Study Materials, Previous Year Question Papers
Career Connection
Directly prepares for prestigious government jobs, lectureship, or advanced academic research.
Build a Professional Portfolio and Network- (Semester 5-6)
Curate a collection of best academic essays, creative writing pieces, and research projects. Develop a LinkedIn profile highlighting skills and achievements. Attend literary festivals, book launches, and industry seminars in Kolkata. Networking with professionals and showcasing a strong portfolio are crucial for securing internships, job placements, and career advancement in the Indian literary and media landscape.
Tools & Resources
LinkedIn, Professional Networking Events, Personal Website/Blog
Career Connection
Facilitates job placements, internships, and builds a strong professional presence in the industry.
Program Structure and Curriculum
Eligibility:
- Passed 10+2 examination with English as a subject. For Honours, typically minimum 50% aggregate and 45% in English, or 55% in English in 10+2.
Duration: 3 years / 6 semesters
Credits: 140 Credits
Assessment: Internal: 20%, External: 80%
Semester-wise Curriculum Table
Semester 1
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGC-AECC1 | Environmental Studies | Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course (AECC) | 2 | Introduction to Environmental Studies, Natural Resources, Ecosystems, Biodiversity and its Conservation, Environmental Pollution, Social Issues and the Environment |
| ENGC-CC1 | English Literature I: Indian Classical Literature | Core Course (CC) | 6 | Kalidasa: Abhijnana Sakuntalam, Sudraka: Mricchakatika, Vyasa: Mahabharata (selections), Selections from Rigveda, Bharata: Natya Sastra (selections) |
| ENGC-CC2 | English Literature II: European Classical Literature | Core Course (CC) | 6 | Homer: Odyssey, Sophocles: Oedipus the King, Plato: Republic Book X, Horace: Ars Poetica, Aristotle: Poetics |
| ENGC-GE1 | Generic Elective I | Generic Elective (GE) | 6 | Student''''s Choice from other disciplines (e.g., History, Political Science, Sociology), Specific topics depend on chosen subject |
Semester 2
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGC-AECC2 | MIL/English Communication | Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course (AECC) | 2 | Theories of Communication, Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication, Intra-personal and Inter-personal Communication, Public Speaking and Listening Skills, Academic Writing |
| ENGC-CC3 | English Literature III: Indian Writing in English | Core Course (CC) | 6 | R.N. Tagore: Gitanjali / The Home and the World, Mulk Raj Anand: Untouchable, Kamala Markandaya: Nectar in a Sieve, Nissim Ezekiel: Poetry (selections), A.K. Ramanujan: Poetry / Essays (selections) |
| ENGC-CC4 | English Literature IV: British Poetry and Drama: 14th to 17th Centuries | Core Course (CC) | 6 | Geoffrey Chaucer: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales, Edmund Spenser: Epithalamion, William Shakespeare: Twelfth Night / Hamlet, John Donne: Poetry (selections), John Milton: Paradise Lost, Book 1 |
| ENGC-GE2 | Generic Elective II | Generic Elective (GE) | 6 | Student''''s Choice from other disciplines (e.g., History, Political Science, Sociology), Specific topics depend on chosen subject |
Semester 3
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGC-SEC1 | Academic Writing and Composition | Skill Enhancement Course (SEC) | 2 | Introduction to Academic Writing, Paragraph and Essay Writing, Punctuation and Grammar, Referencing and Citation Styles, Research Skills for Academic Papers |
| ENGC-CC5 | English Literature V: American Literature | Core Course (CC) | 6 | Ralph Waldo Emerson: Self-Reliance, Walt Whitman: Poetry (selections), Emily Dickinson: Poetry (selections), Mark Twain: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Tennessee Williams: The Glass Menagerie |
| ENGC-CC6 | English Literature VI: Popular Literature | Core Course (CC) | 6 | Lewis Carroll: Alice in Wonderland, Agatha Christie: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, A.K. Ramanujan: Three Hundred Ramayanas (selections), Chetan Bhagat: Five Point Someone, Contemporary popular fiction |
| ENGC-CC7 | English Literature VII: British Poetry and Drama: 17th and 18th Centuries | Core Course (CC) | 6 | John Dryden: Absalom and Achitophel, Alexander Pope: The Rape of the Lock, William Congreve: The Way of the World, William Blake: Songs of Innocence and Experience, Robert Burns: Poetry (selections) |
| ENGC-GE3 | Generic Elective III | Generic Elective (GE) | 6 | Student''''s Choice from other disciplines (e.g., History, Political Science, Sociology), Specific topics depend on chosen subject |
Semester 4
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGC-SEC2 | Creative Writing | Skill Enhancement Course (SEC) | 2 | Introduction to Creative Writing, Elements of Fiction, Poetry Writing Techniques, Script Writing Basics, Blogging and Content Creation |
| ENGC-CC8 | English Literature VIII: British Poetry and Drama: 18th Century | Core Course (CC) | 6 | William Wordsworth: Lyrical Ballads (selections), S.T. Coleridge: Kubla Khan, Lord Byron: She Walks in Beauty, P.B. Shelley: Ode to the West Wind, John Keats: Ode to a Nightingale |
| ENGC-CC9 | English Literature IX: British Romantic Literature | Core Course (CC) | 6 | Mary Shelley: Frankenstein, Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice, Charles Lamb: Essays of Elia (selections), William Hazlitt: On the Pleasure of Painting, Walter Scott: Ivanhoe |
| ENGC-CC10 | English Literature X: 19th Century British Literature | Core Course (CC) | 6 | Alfred Tennyson: Ulysses, Robert Browning: My Last Duchess, Charlotte Bronte: Jane Eyre, Charles Dickens: Great Expectations, Thomas Hardy: Tess of the d''''Urbervilles |
| ENGC-GE4 | Generic Elective IV | Generic Elective (GE) | 6 | Student''''s Choice from other disciplines (e.g., History, Political Science, Sociology), Specific topics depend on chosen subject |
Semester 5
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGC-CC11 | English Literature XI: Women’s Writing | Core Course (CC) | 6 | Mary Wollstonecraft: A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Virginia Woolf: A Room of One''''s Own, Sylvia Plath: Poetry (selections), Alice Walker: The Color Purple, Shashi Deshpande: That Long Silence |
| ENGC-CC12 | English Literature XII: Modern European Drama | Core Course (CC) | 6 | Henrik Ibsen: A Doll''''s House, August Strindberg: Miss Julie, George Bernard Shaw: Pygmalion, Bertolt Brecht: Mother Courage and Her Children, Samuel Beckett: Waiting for Godot |
| ENGC-DSE1 | Modern Indian Writing in English Translation | Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) | 6 | Saadat Hasan Manto: Toba Tek Singh, Mahasweta Devi: Draupadi, Amrita Pritam: The Skeleton, Vijaydan Detha: Two Stories, Contemporary Indian short fiction |
| ENGC-DSE2 | Literary Criticism | Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) | 6 | Philip Sidney: An Apology for Poetry, S.T. Coleridge: Biographia Literaria (selections), T.S. Eliot: Tradition and the Individual Talent, I.A. Richards: Practical Criticism (selections), Jacques Derrida: Of Grammatology (selections) |
Semester 6
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGC-CC13 | English Literature XIII: Postcolonial Literatures | Core Course (CC) | 6 | Chinua Achebe: Things Fall Apart, Ngugi wa Thiong''''o: Decolonising the Mind, Derek Walcott: Poetry (selections), Gabriel Garcia Marquez: One Hundred Years of Solitude, Arundhati Roy: The God of Small Things |
| ENGC-CC14 | English Literature XIV: Literary Theory | Core Course (CC) | 6 | Formalism and Structuralism, Post-Structuralism and Deconstruction, Marxism and Feminism, Postcolonialism and Ecocriticism, Reader-Response Theory |
| ENGC-DSE3 | Popular Culture Studies | Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) | 6 | Introduction to Popular Culture, Media Studies and Cultural Industries, Film Studies and Analysis, Music, Youth Culture, and Subcultures, Advertising and Consumerism |
| ENGC-DSE4 | Research Methodology | Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) | 6 | Introduction to Research in Humanities, Types of Research and Research Design, Data Collection and Analysis in Literature, Academic Writing and Presentation Skills, Referencing and Bibliography |
