Courses in this section: Public Policy, Developmental Economics, Creative Writing, Current Affairs, Reporting and Writing for Media, Effective Public Speaking

Public Policy

The objective of this course is to explore the development, implementation, supervision, and assessment of policy processes. It provides insights into the influence of policies on contemporary governance and their impact on individuals. Through this course, students will comprehend the significance of policies in shaping societal structures. 

Evaluation includes a research paper, in addition to both comprehensive and mid-semester examinations. Typically, the evaluative questions remain relatively consistent across years, offering students a consistent framework for assessment.

Developmental Economics

This course discusses developmental economics, a branch of economics that deals with the development of middle-income countries. The course is fairly easy, with mostly basic economic concepts discussed, with a requirement of rote memorization over conceptual understanding.

Evaluations include quizzes and group projects, along with the usual mid-semester and comprehensive examinations. Classes are easy to understand and self-studying is emphasized to score well. Slides are usually more than enough to secure a good grade. Grading is lenient, with an emphasis on higher grades overall. Proper sequential answers will land one a good grade, as opposed to subjective answers.

Creative Writing

The Creative Writing course is a magnet for students with a deep fondness for diverse writing styles. The main goal is to familiarize learners with different creative writing styles, including shaping events and characters, crafting poetry, short stories, and creating concise one-act plays. Emphasis is placed on referencing contemporary works to enrich understanding and inspire creativity. Individuals already engrossed in any form of writing may discover immense value in enrolling in this course. Typically, students are given a B grade if they manage to get an average score in this course.

Current Affairs

The course content is related to how news works, what type of topics make it to the news, what type of news is relevant to the readers, and how to distinguish that. The course IC Dr. Sanjiv Choudhary also covers different pieces of news as examples to demonstrate. Attendance is highly recommended. The midsemester exam is a fully open book, with students bringing in newspapers from the last few weeks. Evaluative components are based on incidents discussed in class. Reading newspapers gives an upper edge. A high PR number is required to get into the course, as it fills quickly. The average grade is around A- and B, with the professor giving out quite a few As.

Reporting and Writing for Media

This course is designed to teach the fundamental skills needed to excel in journalism, with a focus on media writing. From learning diverse styles and structures of news writing across various media platforms to mastering the art of reading between the lines in news stories, the course imparts a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to be a successful journalist. 

As part of the course, one will develop basic reporting techniques such as interviewing skills and feature article writing. The course teaches students to plan and produce newspapers and TV news bulletins, while submitting original articles and stories. The overall goal of the course is to help not only understand journalism but also to foster practical skills and encourage creativity in media production. On average, a B- is handed out, with generally lenient grading upwards.

Effective Public Speaking

The course on Effective Public Speaking proves highly advantageous for individuals aiming to enhance their speaking abilities. It delves into the fundamentals of public speaking, emphasizing effective listening, proficient use of body language, managing voice modulation, overcoming stage fright, fostering self-assurance, and tailoring speeches for specific occasions, among other aspects. According to student feedback, both lecture sessions and assignments are notably fruitful. Assignments typically revolve around group discussions, delivering speeches, engaging in debates, or conducting personal interviews. On average, students tend to achieve slightly above-average scores, often resulting in a B grade for their performance in this course.