Table of Contents
Question 88
Which among the following are true in the context of methods and methodologies in literary research?
A. Both are identical in nature
B. Methods are concerned with how one conducts a given piece of research.
C. Methodologies are concerned with how one conducts a given piece of research.
D. Methodologies are concerned with the perspectives one brings to bear on one's work.
E. Methods are concerned with the perspectives one brings to bear on one's work.
Choose the correct option:
In academic research, there is a strict distinction between "Method" and "Methodology" (meaning A is false).
- (B) True: Methods are the practical, specific tools, techniques, or procedures used to gather and analyze data (e.g., archival research, close reading, surveys, interviews). They are how you conduct the research.
- (D) True: Methodologies are the overarching theoretical and philosophical frameworks or perspectives that guide the research (e.g., Marxist theory, Feminist framework, Post-colonialism). They determine why you are using a specific method.
Question 89
Which of the following are possible ways of turning a topic into an argument?
A. An argument for or against an existing critic (or critical position) in relation to the author or group of works one is studying.
B. An argument about the value of a new theoretical approach to a text or set of texts.
C. An argument about some historical or literary-historical aspect of literature.
D. An argument showing how a particular theme or concept is not at all related to a group of texts.
E. An argument about the significance of only well-known author/work.
Choose the correct option:
When drafting a thesis statement or research paper, a broad "topic" must be narrowed into a debatable "argument." Valid academic approaches include:
- (A) Engaging with existing literature (agreeing or disagreeing with established critics).
- (B) Applying a brand new theoretical lens (e.g., Ecocriticism) to an older text to yield new meaning.
- (C) Examining a text through a specific historical/contextual lens.
Why D and E are invalid: Arguing that a theme is "not at all related" (D) is usually a logical dead-end that doesn't produce fruitful analysis (it's hard to write 20 pages on why something isn't there). Restricting research to only well-known authors (E) goes against the spirit of modern literary research, which constantly seeks to uncover marginalized or forgotten voices.
Question 90
Given below are two statements. One is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R.
Assertion (A): Co-operative learning activities are those in which students must work together in order to complete a task or solve a problem.
Reason (R): These techniques are used to identify a weak learner and to separate him/her from the rest of the members of the group for taking special care of him/her.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the option given below:
Assertion (A) is True: Co-operative learning is a core pedagogical strategy where small groups of students work collaboratively on a shared task to maximize their own and each other's learning.
Reason (R) is False: The goal of co-operative learning is the exact opposite of what the reason states. It is designed to promote inclusion, peer-to-peer mentoring, and social skills. It is absolutely not designed as a diagnostic tool to single out, isolate, or humiliate a "weak learner." Isolating a student defeats the entire purpose of collaborative group work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an example of a literary research "Method"?
If you are writing a paper on Virginia Woolf, a method would be traveling to an archive to physically read her original, handwritten diaries and letters, or using digital text-mining software to count how often she uses specific words.
What is an example of a literary research "Methodology"?
Using the Virginia Woolf example above, your methodology might be "Feminist Post-Structuralism." This theoretical perspective provides the lens through which you interpret the data you gathered using your methods.
Why is creating a debatable argument important in a thesis?
A paper that just states "Shakespeare wrote Hamlet" is a fact, not an argument. A paper must take a stance that someone else could reasonably disagree with, such as "Shakespeare used Hamlet's madness to critique the political instability of Elizabethan succession." This drives academic discourse forward.
