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Course Detail

Course Name Academic Writing & Communication
Course Code 24SDS512
Program M.Sc. in Social Data Science & Policy
Semester II
Credits 3
Campus Faridabad

Syllabus

Unit I

Unit I – Basic concepts and perspectives: Concept of Science: Nature of scientific knowledge. Scientific method, demarcation between science and non science, Critique of modern science: scientific temper vs. humanistic temper. Emergence of modern science: Role of Scientists. Institutionalization and professionalization of science.

Unit II

Unit II – Science, Technology and Culture: Science, Technological Change and Development; Science and Politics; Public Understanding of Science and Technology; Science and Religion; Science and Ethics & Social Responsibility

Unit III

Unit III – Science and Technology in India: Development of Science in India: Precolonial Science; Colonial science and response of Indian Scientists; Origin and growth of scientific institutions and societies in India; Science in Post Independent India: Role of political and scientific elites in the development of Science and Technology, Emergence of Scientific community in India

Unit IV

Unit IV – Structure of Scientific Research & Development Organizations: Evolution of S&T Policy; Science and Technology in Globalized world: Challenges and opportunities of emerging technologies like Information technology and Biotechnology. TRIPS; Patent Laws and Indigenous Knowledge. Consequences and Implications.

Summary

This course focuses on two elements. In the Writing component, the course covers the various stages of composition of an academic piece, including close reading of sources, summary, citation and reference, identifying rhetorical aspects in a text or flaws in reasoning, developing an argument, finding and using textual evidence, organising ideas effectively, compiling and referencing bibliographic material, avoiding plagiarism, and finally, strategies for revision. In the Communication component, the course focuses on covers the many facets of delivering effective presentations, such as organization and structure, modes of delivery, effective linking, choice of terminology, and interaction with an audience.

Course Objectives

Course Objectives:

  1. To apply and compare knowledge and understanding of at least two themes within Social Data Science.
  2. To write a nuanced and critical thesis statement or problem question, and to be able to answer this question in the body of the essay, using logical structure and clear argumentation.
  3. To learn careful reading techniques, develop the skill to analyse and summarize the main argument of a text in a critical and nuanced manner.
  4. To conduct library research, gather and assess academic sources, and acknowledge academic work by others by referencing sources in accordance with recognised academic citation protocol.
  5. To deliver a structured and coherent presentation about an academic research topic and engage and interact with their audience effectively.
  6. To learn to give meaningful peer-feedback and offer constructive criticism

Course Outcomes:

CO1: Students will be able to apply and compare knowledge and understanding of at least two themes within Social Data Science.
CO2: Students will be able to write a nuanced and critical thesis statement or problem question, and can answer this question in the body of their essay, using a logical structure and clear argumentation.
CO3: Students will learn careful reading techniques, learn to analyse and summarize the main argument of a text in a critical and nuanced manner, and gain an understanding the current literature on social data science.
CO4: Students will get an understanding of the research area in social science that can leverage data sciences.
CO5: Students will have an understanding of the process pipeline from data collation to modelling and forecasting through the careful reading of literature on social data science.

Skills:

  • Structured Writing: students will learn assess writings about social problems from a data science perspective and write themselves about these topics.
  • Scientific Communication: students will enhance their ability for verbal communication about social data science issues

-Program outcome PO – Course Outcomes CO Mapping

PO1 PO2 PO3 PO4 PO5 PO6 PO7 PO8
CO1 X
CO2 X X-
CO3 X
CO4 X

Program Specific Outcomes PSO – Course Objectives – Mapping

PSO1 PSO2 PSO3 PSO4 PSO5
CO1 X
CO2 X-
CO3 X-
CO4 X-
CO5

Evaluation Pattern

Assessment Internal External
Final Presentation (Unit 5) 20%

each

Units 15% each

Unit 1-3

End Semester (Final Essay,

Unit 4)

30%
Attendance 5%

*CA – Can be Quizzes, Assignment, Projects, and Reports, and Seminar

Textbooks, Papers, Reference Books

  • Barber, Bernard (1953.) Science and Social Order. London: George Allen & Unwin. Chapter 1 “The Nature of Science: The Place of Rationality in Human Society” pp.722. Chapter X , “The social Control of Science”. pp.207237.
  • BenDavid, Joseph, (1965), The Scientists Role in Society: a comparative study. Englewood Cliff, Print iceHall.
  • Campbell, Norman, (1952). What is Science? London: Dover.
  • Crother, T.G. (1967) Science in Modern Society. Boston: The Cresset Press
  • Desai, Pranav N.(2005) “Challenges of AgroBiotechnologies, Intellectual Property Rights and Globalization” , Asian Biotechnology and Development Review, Vol.7.(2)
  • Gailard, J., Krishna, V.V. and Waast, (1997), Scientific Communities in the Developing Countries. New Delhi: Sage Publication. Chapter1& 3
  • Haldane, J.B.S., (1965) Science and Indian Culture.Culcutta.New Age Publisher Kothari, D.S. (1974) Science and Man, Newdelhi: Indian Publication.
  • Kumar, Deepak (1995), Science and the Raj 18571905, NewDelhi, Oxford Uni,Press
  • Merton, Robert K. (1968). Social Theory and Social Structure. New Delhi: Amerind Publication. Chapter XVII, “Science and the social Order” pp. 591603., Chapter, XVIII “Democratic Social Structure and Science”. Pp.604615.
  • Mack, Arien (ed.) (1997). Technology and the Rest of Culture. Columbus; Ohio University Press.Chapter.2, “Social Context of Technology” pp.524.Chapter, 11, “Technology and Culture” pp. 177184.
  • Nandy, Ashis(ed.) (1988). Science, Hegemony and Violence: A Requiem for Modernity, Tokyo: Tokyo University Press.
  • Patnaik, Binay Kumar (1992). The Scientific Temper: An Empirical Study. Jaipur: Rawat Publiction
  • Rose, Hilary and Rose, Steven (1977) Science and Society. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. Snow,C.P. (1969), Two Culture: A Second Look. London: Cambridge University Press.

Optional Reading Lists:

  1. Abrol, Dinesh( 2004 )“Science and Technology: Current Imperatives.” Social Scientists, 32(78):7684.
  2. Adams, Robert McC (1997) “Social Context of Technology” in Mack, Arien(ed) Technology and the Rest of Culture. Columbus: Ohio University Press, 522.
  3. Adhikari, Kamini, (1987) “Science Society and The Indian Transformation,” Philosophy and
  4. Social Action, Vol.XII, no.14, pp3356.
  5. Avinish( 2004) “Science and Society: What Kind of Mediation?” Economic &Political Weekly 39(6) 713 Feb.53840.
  6. Barnes, B. (1982) “The Science Technology relationship: A model and query”. Social Studies of Science.12:166172.
  7. BenYehuda, Nachman (1985), Deviant Science. Chicago: Chicago Uni. Press Bernal, J.D. (1948), The Social Function of Science. London: George and Rutledge
  8. Bhattacharya, Subrata (1998) Post independent India Society and Science: An appraisal, analysis and outlook. IASSI. Quarterly. 17(2), (OctDec):6575.
  9. Biswas, S.K. 2000 “Do Science and technology have a future in India”. MAINSTREAM, annual (23 December) :103104.
  10. Bronowski, J. (1956) Science and Human Values, New York: Harper Torch Books Bush, Vannevar (1945), Science: Endless Frontier, Washington. Public Affairs Press.
  11. Chattopadhyay,D.P.(ed)(1982) Studies in the History of Science in India, New Delhi: Editorial Enterprises.
  12. Chattopadhyaya,D.P.(2000), Science Values and Ethics” Science and Culture.Vol,66,no.3 4.pp101109.
  13. Conant, James B.( 1954). Modern Science and Modern Man. New York: Columbia University Press.
  14. Desai, Pranav N.(1997) Science, Technology and International Cooperation. New Delhi: Har Anand.
  15. Finocchiaro, Maurice A.( 1988). Science and Society in Newton and in Marx. INQUIRY, 31(1):103122.
  16. Goonatilke, Susantha, (1999) Towards a Global Science: Mining Civilizational Knowledge. NewDelhi: Vistaar Pub.
  17. Irwin, Allan & Wyne, Brian (ed.) (1996) Misunderstanding science ? The Public
  18. Jagtenberg, Tom (1983). The Social Construction of Science : A Comparative Study of Global Direction of Research, Evolution and Legitimation. Dordrecht; D. Reidel Publication.Chapter 2 “What is science”.pp1240.
  19. Migration in the Context of Brain Gain &Brain Drain in India’. Science, Technology& Society, 2(2). PP. 34789.
  20. Krishna, V.V.( 2001). “Reflection on the Changing Status of Academic Science in India”. INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SCIENCE JOURNAL 169 (June) 231246.
  21. Mashelker, R.A.( 2004 )“National Building through Science and Technology: A Developing World Perspectives”. Man & Development. 26(3) September 2746.
  22. Merton,R.K.(1970) Sociology of Science. New York: Harper and Row.
  23. Minsky, Marvin (1997) “Technology and Culture” in Mack, Arien (ed.) Technology and the Rest of Culture. Columbus: Ohio University Press, 177184.
  24. Oberai,J.P.S. (1979) Science and Culture. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
  25. Paisley, Willium J. (1998 )‘ Scientific Literacy and the Competition for Public Attention and Understanding’. Science Communication Vol. 20. No.1 PP. 7080
  26. Pal, Yash (1996) “ Science in Culture and the Good Society.’MAINSTREAM Annual (December,14):1519.
  27. Polanyi, Michael (1969.) “Growth of Science in Society”. Minerva,Vol.5(4)
  28. Singh, Baldev (ed.) (1986) Jawaharlal Nehru on Science. New Delhi: Nehru Memorial Museum and library.
  29. Visvanathan, Shiv (1997) Carnival for Science Essays on Science, Technology and Development. Delhi: Oxford University Press. Chapter 1, “A carnival for Science” .pp114, Chapter 4, Modern Medicine and its NonModern Critics: A Study in Discourse. pp 94145.
  30. Ziman,J. M.(1968), Public Knowledge: An Essay Concerning the Social Dimension of Science, Cambridge: Cambridge Uni. Press.

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