Sociology Optional : Resources, strategy etc
Thread for aspirants with sociology optional to discuss strategy, resources, answer writing and everything else
What test series are you all planning to join?
I had previously joined (before prelims) a reputed coaching's test series after some topper's video but hardly gained commensurate to the price paid. I could hardly contact the checker and was unable to figure out how to improve beyond a certain point. In addition, the teacher did not believe in giving model answers.
When I called the main professor of the Institute, he told me he can do nothing as I was not in Delhi.
So I do not want to join such a centralized opaque Institute where I cannot even figure out how to improve.
Kindly suggest and advice
Brave,neonaren
some basic learnings from previous failures:
1) It’s very important to FINISH the syllabus.
There are 2 parts to the syllabus. One is the CORE part - this includes THINKERS plus some HIGH VALUE topics. Most of the serious aspirants have a decent grasp on these topics. The trend is that not more than 50% of the paper is from this section. The other section has PERIPHERAL topics which appear very general. If you write a general answer here - it won’t work. Must make “Sociological” notes on these general topics.
2) Examples seem to work!
Found in multiple topper copies that they spend 30-40% of the space writing contemporary examples. For ex: If sacred-Profane is asked - you can write about Sabarimala and profanity of menstrual blood.
3) Interlinkage between 2 papers seems to work.
Found in multiple topper copies that when something from Paper-2 is asked, it is linked with some theory or concept in Paper-1.
4) Value of diagrams and flow charts is questionable in Sociology.
Didnt find many diagrams etc in topper copies in Sociology. Most of them wrote in standard 3-line paragraphs combined with points where necessary.
5) Dropping Names works!
For everything you say - if it’s substantiated with the name of a Sociologist or Sociological study - it seems to work. One topper copy had as many as 45 Names in Paper-2. This is a common feature of all topper copies.
6) 75% of paper is from PYQ. Practice them instead of writing random test series.
How to make sociological notes on general topics
some basic learnings from previous failures:
1) It’s very important to FINISH the syllabus.
There are 2 parts to the syllabus. One is the CORE part - this includes THINKERS plus some HIGH VALUE topics. Most of the serious aspirants have a decent grasp on these topics. The trend is that not more than 50% of the paper is from this section. The other section has PERIPHERAL topics which appear very general. If you write a general answer here - it won’t work. Must make “Sociological” notes on these general topics.
2) Examples seem to work!
Found in multiple topper copies that they spend 30-40% of the space writing contemporary examples. For ex: If sacred-Profane is asked - you can write about Sabarimala and profanity of menstrual blood.
3) Interlinkage between 2 papers seems to work.
Found in multiple topper copies that when something from Paper-2 is asked, it is linked with some theory or concept in Paper-1.
4) Value of diagrams and flow charts is questionable in Sociology.
Didnt find many diagrams etc in topper copies in Sociology. Most of them wrote in standard 3-line paragraphs combined with points where necessary.
5) Dropping Names works!
For everything you say - if it’s substantiated with the name of a Sociologist or Sociological study - it seems to work. One topper copy had as many as 45 Names in Paper-2. This is a common feature of all topper copies.
6) 75% of paper is from PYQ. Practice them instead of writing random test series.
How to make sociological notes on general topics
There is no simple way to do it. I usually do the following 3 things:
1) I check if any content is available for the topic in Harlambos and Giddens
2) I try to see if any of the Thinkers that we have already studied can be applied to the topic
3) I search on Internet --->I join "Sociology" as a keyword beside the topic I'm looking for -->usually some JSTOR article pops up --I try to read it and make notes.
JessicaPearson,Equalizer
Literally all the advice is out there, my own personal reality over successive failures is that I didn't implement it to the fullest extent.
Vision no longer has a socio test series, na?
I'll probably stick with ForumIAS. Vajiram's faculty are brilliant but I had bad experiences with the actual answer-writing part of their tests, even if their question papers are fantastic (so will try to get my hands on those probably). No experience with Praveen Sir's system, but my problem with these places has always been that you need to really establish a connection with the profs to stick out and get enough personalised etc feedback, and I've never been good at that.
Augustya_Shrivastava,some basic learnings from previous failures:
1) It’s very important to FINISH the syllabus.
There are 2 parts to the syllabus. One is the CORE part - this includes THINKERS plus some HIGH VALUE topics. Most of the serious aspirants have a decent grasp on these topics. The trend is that not more than 50% of the paper is from this section. The other section has PERIPHERAL topics which appear very general. If you write a general answer here - it won’t work. Must make “Sociological” notes on these general topics.
2) Examples seem to work!
Found in multiple topper copies that they spend 30-40% of the space writing contemporary examples. For ex: If sacred-Profane is asked - you can write about Sabarimala and profanity of menstrual blood.
3) Interlinkage between 2 papers seems to work.
Found in multiple topper copies that when something from Paper-2 is asked, it is linked with some theory or concept in Paper-1.
4) Value of diagrams and flow charts is questionable in Sociology.
Didnt find many diagrams etc in topper copies in Sociology. Most of them wrote in standard 3-line paragraphs combined with points where necessary.
5) Dropping Names works!
For everything you say - if it’s substantiated with the name of a Sociologist or Sociological study - it seems to work. One topper copy had as many as 45 Names in Paper-2. This is a common feature of all topper copies.
6) 75% of paper is from PYQ. Practice them instead of writing random test series.
How to make sociological notes on general topics
There is no simple way to do it. I usually do the following 3 things:
1) I check if any content is available for the topic in Harlambos and Giddens
2) I try to see if any of the Thinkers that we have already studied can be applied to the topic
3) I search on Internet --->I join "Sociology" as a keyword beside the topic I'm looking for -->usually some JSTOR article pops up --I try to read it and make notes.
Thanks
some basic learnings from previous failures:
1) It’s very important to FINISH the syllabus.
There are 2 parts to the syllabus. One is the CORE part - this includes THINKERS plus some HIGH VALUE topics. Most of the serious aspirants have a decent grasp on these topics. The trend is that not more than 50% of the paper is from this section. The other section has PERIPHERAL topics which appear very general. If you write a general answer here - it won’t work. Must make “Sociological” notes on these general topics.
2) Examples seem to work!
Found in multiple topper copies that they spend 30-40% of the space writing contemporary examples. For ex: If sacred-Profane is asked - you can write about Sabarimala and profanity of menstrual blood.
3) Interlinkage between 2 papers seems to work.
Found in multiple topper copies that when something from Paper-2 is asked, it is linked with some theory or concept in Paper-1.
4) Value of diagrams and flow charts is questionable in Sociology.
Didnt find many diagrams etc in topper copies in Sociology. Most of them wrote in standard 3-line paragraphs combined with points where necessary.
5) Dropping Names works!
For everything you say - if it’s substantiated with the name of a Sociologist or Sociological study - it seems to work. One topper copy had as many as 45 Names in Paper-2. This is a common feature of all topper copies.
6) 75% of paper is from PYQ. Practice them instead of writing random test series.
How to make sociological notes on general topics
There is no simple way to do it. I usually do the following 3 things:
1) I check if any content is available for the topic in Harlambos and Giddens
2) I try to see if any of the Thinkers that we have already studied can be applied to the topic
3) I search on Internet --->I join "Sociology" as a keyword beside the topic I'm looking for -->usually some JSTOR article pops up --I try to read it and make notes.
Thanks
Vision is actually starting a socio test series.
Vision is actually starting a socio test series.
When
@MaeveWiley thanks!
Does anyone have some topic-wise compilation of past years' questions?
Hi, I'm scoring around 100 (doubtful qs removed).
Is it advisable to join Optional test series rn?
Which one would be apt for sociology? I'm very confused.
Also, I've personally referred to the videos of sleepyclasses and found them helpful. They also have their test series; If anybody here can provide reviews regarding the same it would be great.
Thanks!
Augustya_Shrivastava,Reznick99@Reznick99 This is my first attempt as well. I did a test series right after I got done with my sociology syllabus ie notes+ 2 revision. Didn’t help me a lot because I wasn’t very thorough with PYQs. So test series is a good value addiction only when you get done with PYQs, imo
Any PYQ compilation such as that of Chronicle would be enough I guess to know the demand of UPSC for self - learners. I mean test series may not be available when I'm done with my notes. So while I prepare notes for ultimate revision from several sources, I'll be attempting some PYQ's. Test Series will help me in time management of paper. My doubt is, Test series subscription even after Prelims 2021 would be fine right?
What test series are you all planning to join?
I had previously joined (before prelims) a reputed coaching's test series after some topper's video but hardly gained commensurate to the price paid. I could hardly contact the checker and was unable to figure out how to improve beyond a certain point. In addition, the teacher did not believe in giving model answers.
When I called the main professor of the Institute, he told me he can do nothing as I was not in Delhi.
So I do not want to join such a centralized opaque Institute where I cannot even figure out how to improve.
Kindly suggest and advice
i will suggest you go for better platform
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