SOCIOLOGY PREPARATION STRATEGY
Chandra Mohan Garg, Rank 25 CSE – 2015
PAPER-1
Book List
- Upendra Class Notes – Available in Delhi Book stores
- Aditya Mongra Printed Notes– Available on his Fb Page(https://www.facebook.com/groups/838734936170059/)
- Vikash Ranjan Book ( Fundamentals of sociology) : Available in Book Stores
- Haralambos(small one) – Also called Haralambos and Heald , small orange coloured. Available on book stores
- Haralambos(new one) – Selected pages photocopy version available in market but a little bulky, I preffered small old one. Only initial chapter 2,3 need new one exclusively that can be photo stated from friends or use some other source.
- IGNOU BA– Can be downloaded from Mrunal website
- Ritzer – Printed copy in market
For Each chapter I have told two or three books or sources due to few reasons. Since each chapter has many topics and one particular source won’t have all the topics covered or even if they are covered then they won’t be very good. So out of the sources mentioned you can figure out which one explain which topic in best way and read from it .Don’t try to read one topic from multiple resources until they have something extra or you lack clarity. Other reason for telling more resources is you might not have all of them; in that case you can refer to other resources.
P.S – This is my personal Book list. Please don’t abuse me if it doesn’t suit you J . Refer it at your own risk. 😀 It is better to follow your own resources/booklist. Eg- If you are studying from Mahapatra coaching follow it/his notes. For topics there is lack of clarity or not covered you can glance my book-list.
| Topics | General List | Additional Source for Reference |
| 1. Sociology – The Discipline: | Fundamentals of sociology | |
| (a) Modernity and social changes in Europe and emergence of sociology. | IGNOU BA | |
| (b) Scope of the subject and comparison with other social sciences. | Aditya Mongra Notes/ Bottomore | |
| (c) Sociology and common sense. | Anthony Giddens | |
| 2. Sociology as Science: | Haralambos and Holborn (new)* / Fundamentals of sociology | |
| (a) Science, scientific method and critique. | Aditya Mongra Notes | |
| (b) Major theoretical strands of research methodology. | Aditya Mongra Notes | |
| (c) Positivism and its critique. | Aditya Mongra Notes | |
| (d) Fact value and objectivity. | Aditya Mongra Notes | |
| (e) Non- positivist methodologies. | Aditya Mongra Notes | |
| 3. Research Methods and Analysis: | Haralambos and Holborn(new)* / Fundamantals of sociology | |
| (a) Qualitative and quantitative methods. | Aditya Mongra Notes | |
| (b) Techniques of data collection. | Aditya Mongra Notes | |
| (c) Variables, sampling, hypothesis, reliability and validity. | Aditya Mongra Notes | |
| 4. Sociological Thinkers: | Upendra Class Notes + Ritzer and Fundamentals of sociology ( if you missed something). If you find ritzer difficult than Ignou is a good alternative. | |
| (a) Karl Marx- Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class struggle. | IGNOU BA | |
| (b) Emile Durkheim- Division of labour, social fact, suicide, religion and society. | IGNOU BA | |
| (c) Max Weber- Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism. | IGNOU BA | |
| (d) Talcolt Parsons- Social system, pattern variables. | IGNOU BA | |
| (e) Robert K. Merton- Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance, reference groups. | IGNOU BA | |
| (f) Mead – Self and identity. | Aditya Mongra Notes | |
| 5. Stratification and Mobility: | Haralambos (small) + Fundamentals of sociology /Upendra Notes | |
| (a) Concepts- equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation. | Aditya Mongra Notes | |
| (b) Theories of social stratification- Structural functionalist theory, Marxist theory, Weberian theory. | Haralambos mainly | |
| (c) Dimensions – Social stratification of class, status groups, gender, ethnicity and race. | Aditya Mongra Notes / IGNOU | |
| (d) Social mobility- open and closed systems, types of mobility, sources and causes of mobility. | Aditya Mongra Notes | |
| 6. Works and Economic Life: | Fundamentals of sociology | |
| (a) Social organization of work in different types of society- slave society, feudal society, industrial /capitalist society. | ||
| (b) Formal and informal organization of work. | ||
| (c) Labour and society. | ||
| 7. Politics and Society: | ||
| (a) Sociological theories of power. | Haralambos(small one) + Upendra Notes | |
| (b) Power elite, bureaucracy, pressure groups, and political parties. | Haralambos(small one)+ Upendra Notes | |
| (c) Nation, state, citizenship, democracy, civil society, ideology. | Fundamentals of sociology+ Upendra Notes | Aditya Mongra Notes |
| (d) Protest, agitation, social movements, collective action, revolution. | Fundamentals of sociology + Upendra Notes | Aditya Mongra Notes |
| 8. Religion and Society: | ||
| (a) Sociological theories of religion. | Haralambos (small one) | |
| (b) Types of religious practices: animism, monism, pluralism, sects, cults. | some part haralambos + Fundamentals of sociology | |
| (c) Religion in modern society: religion and science, secularization, religious revivalism, fundamentalism. | secularisation in haralambos(small one) + fundamentals of sociology | Aditya Mongra Notes |
| 9. Systems of Kinship: | Upendra Notes + Fundamamentals of sociology + Haralambos(selectively) | |
| (a) Family, household, marriage. | Aditya Mongra Notes | |
| (b) Types and forms of family. | Aditya Mongra Notes | |
| (c) Lineage and descent. | Aditya Mongra Notes | |
| (d) Patriarchy and sexual division of labour. | Aditya Mongra Notes | |
| (e) Contemporary trends. | Aditya Mongra Notes | |
| 10. Social Change in Modern Society: | Upendra Notes + Fundamantals of sociology | |
| (a) Sociological theories of social change. | ||
| (b) Development and dependency. | ||
| (c) Agents of social change. | Sindhuri Mam notes | |
| (d) Education and social change. | Haralambos (small one) | |
| (e) Science, technology and social change. | ||
Paper –II
Book List
- Mahapatra Notes : Class notes available in market or Flavido
- Sindhuri Mam Notes: Available in market or on Flavido
- Applied Sociology(Vikash Ranjan) – Available in Market
- IGNOU MA Mainly- Download from Mrunal website
- Aditya Mongra Notes – Fb Page . Link is above
- Dynamic Part – Newspaper, EPW,Yojana periodically for case studies and contemporary examples
- If you want you can selectively read Veena Das Essays, Ram Ahuja, B.K Nagla, Nadeem Hussain ( I did not read them)
P.S – Paper 2 is very confusing; you will need to refer to many resources. I am only mentioning what I referred. You may have your own resource list. Please follow it. For topics you don’t find a resource, you can take a look here. But follow your own strategy, in sync with your coaching/self-preparation.
| Topics | General List | Additional Source for Reference |
| A. Introducing Indian Society: | ||
| (i) Perspectives on the study of Indian society: | Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes | Applied Sociology |
| (a) Indology (GS. Ghurye). | ||
| (b) Structural functionalism (M N Srinivas). | ||
| (c) Marxist sociology (A R Desai). | ||
| (ii) Impact of colonial rule on Indian society: | Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes | Applied Sociology |
| (a) Social background of Indian nationalism. | ||
| (b) Modernization of Indian tradition. | ||
| (c) Protests and movements during the colonial period. | ||
| (d) Social reforms. | ||
| B. Social Structure: | ||
| (i) Rural and Agrarian Social Structure: | Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes | IGNOU MA* /Applied Sociology |
| (a) The idea of Indian village and village studies. | ||
| (b) Agrarian social structure – evolution of land tenure system, land reforms. | ||
| (ii) Caste System: | Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU MA | Applied Sociology |
| (a) Perspectives on the study of caste systems: GS Ghurye, M N Srinivas, Louis Dumont, Andre Beteille. | ||
| (b) Features of caste system. | ||
| (c) Untouchability – forms and perspectives. | ||
| (iii) Tribal communities in India: | Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU MA | Applied Sociology |
| (a) Definitional problems. | ||
| (b) Geographical spread. | ||
| (c) Colonial policies and tribes. | ||
| (d) Issues of integration and autonomy. | ||
| (iv) Social Classes in India: | Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU | Applied Sociology |
| (a) Agrarian class structure. | ||
| (b) Industrial class structure. | ||
| (c) Middle classes in India. | ||
| (v) Systems of Kinship in India: | Mahapatra Sir Notes + Sindhuri Mam Notes + IGNOU MA | Applied Sociology |
| (a) Lineage and descent in India. | ||
| (b) Types of kinship systems. | ||
| (c) Family and marriage in India. | ||
| (d) Household dimensions of the family. | ||
| (e) Patriarchy, entitlements and sexual division of labour. | ||
| (vi) Religion and Society: | IGNOU (selectively) + Applied Sociology | |
| (a) Religious communities in India. | ||
| (b) Problems of religious minorities. | ||
| C. Social Changes in India: | ||
| (i) Visions of Social Change in India: | Mahapatra Notes +Applied Sociology + IGNOU MA | Sindhuri Mam Notes |
| (a) Idea of development planning and mixed economy. | ||
| (b) Constitution, law and social change. | ||
| (c) Education and social change. | ||
| (ii) Rural and Agrarian transformation in India: | Mahapatra Notes + Sindhuri Mam+ IGNOU MA | Applied Sociology |
| (a) Programmes of rural development, Community Development Programme, cooperatives, poverty alleviation schemes. | ||
| (b) Green revolution and social change. | ||
| (c) Changing modes of production in Indian agriculture . | ||
| (d) Problems of rural labour, bondage, migration. | ||
| (iii) Industrialization and Urbanisation in India: | IGNOU MA + Mahapatra + Sindhuri Mam | Applied Sociology |
| (a) Evolution of modern industry in India. | ||
| (b) Growth of urban settlements in India. | ||
| (c) Working class: structure, growth, class mobilization. | ||
| (d) Informal sector, child labour. | ||
| (e) Slums and deprivation in urban areas. | ||
| (iv) Politics and Society: | Mainly in sync with Paper-1 | Applied Sociology |
| (a) Nation, democracy and citizenship. | ||
| (b) Political parties, pressure groups , social and political elite. | ||
| (c) Regionalism and decentralization of power. | ||
| (d) Secularization | ||
| (v) Social Movements in Modern India: | Mahapatra + Sindhuri Mam + Aditya Mongra/Praveen sir Notes | Applied Sociology |
| (a) Peasants and farmers movements. | ||
| (b) Women’s movement. | ||
| (c) Backward classes & Dalit movement. | ||
| (d) Environmental movements. | ||
| (e) Ethnicity and Identity movements. | ||
| (vi) Population Dynamics: | Sindhuri Mam + IGNOU MA+ Applied Sociology | |
| (a) Population size, growth, composition and distribution. | ||
| (b) Components of population growth: birth, death, migration. | ||
| (c) Population policy and family planning. | ||
| (d) Emerging issues: ageing, sex ratios, child and infant mortality, reproductive health. | ||
| (vii) Challenges of Social Transformation: | Sindhuri Mam + IGNOU MA+ Applied Sociology | |
| (a) Crisis of development: displacement, environmental problems and sustainability. | Can Refer Ram Ahuja, Articles of EPW here | |
| (b) Poverty, deprivation and inequalities. | ||
| (c) Violence against women. | ||
| (d) Caste conflicts. | ||
| (e) Ethnic conflicts, communalism, religious revivalism. | ||
| (f) Illiteracy and disparities in education. |
HOW TO COVER UP SYLLABUS
- Break the syllabus into parts: Chapters – Topics – Sub-topics.
Now refer to your booklist. One book/source will not have all the topics and even if they are present it will lack exhaustiveness. So out of the sources mentioned you can figure out which one explain which topic in best way and read from it .Don’t try to read one topic from multiple resources if you are able to get clarity after reading from one source, until and unless there is some value addition stuff.
- Please refer to last year questions topic wise they will help in guiding you what to cover from a topic. Also try to answer them once the chapter is over to check is you able to tackle them. That is the simplest way to check if you are on right track.
- In the initial stages it will be very difficult to understand sociology especially if you do not have a background. So be patient. Initially focus on understanding thinkers they are the base of sociology. Once you have clarity here, sociology will not be difficult.
- Sociology will require 2-3 readings of the topic before you will start understanding it. Once you are able to grasp things, it is better to consolidate and make notes of it.
- Making notes is very important since you are trying to collate information from multiple sources at one place. It will always help you.
Coaching
If you can join a coaching it is good since subject is technical needs some help. If not possible to join than too no issues, with some initial efforts you will start getting things.
Most renowned teachers are Mahapatra and Upendra Sir. Other good teachers include Aditya Mongra, Praveen Kishore, Vikash Ranjan Sir and so on. I am not going to compare and tell who is better. Take your own judgement since it is a very personal decision.
Test Series for sociology
Check out here – https://www.quora.com/Which-is-the-best-test-series-for-sociology-as-an-optional-for-the-IAS-Mains/answer/Chandra-Mohan-Garg-1?srid=a64s
P.S – its my own point of view
Answer Writing
- Learn the syllabus topics and sub-topics .It helps a lot in making linkages.
- Once you complete a chapter please do write some last year questions and get them evaluated.
- Once you complete the syllabus completely do join a test series.
- In sociology first and foremost thing is knowledge without it nothing will happen, second is using it in context of question, third is structuring your answer properly (you have to have an Intro – Critical Analysis – Conclusion) if the question demands.
- Do not mind even linking paper 1 with contemporary examples. That will help in enriching answers
- In Paper -2 try to link theory and examples in your answers. Also you can use paper -1 thinkers. Q- Impact of privatisation on educational disparities. Here you could present both sides. Use Marxian Perspective, Aser Data, some Indian thinker/activist perspective etc. Same with the functionalist perspective.
- For GS type questions Like MNREGA. You need to relate it to topics of the syllabus. MNREGA is linked with rural transformation, poverty, women upliftment, migration, social change/development, environmental change, rural development, rural labour etc. You can easily frame your answers once you know how it links to my syllabus. Try to write some social reports/analysis on MNREGA. Or some perspective if you can give. ( eg- Role of state in social development , Policy as a tool of social change etc. Just for example I sighted)
- The only way to improve answer writing is firstly knowledge and then its presentation. This will happen when u are well versed with complete syllabus. Have consolidated it and done enough answer writing practice. Do self evaluation and evaluation by teachers/friends. This helps in knowing where you are missing and accordingly you can improve.
Any queries still?
You can ping me on my Fb Page – https://www.facebook.com/chandramohangargpage/
Best of Luck !!!!
