UGC NET English June 2024 Solved Paper: Literary Research Methodology

Correct Answer: 2 (American Psychological Association)

Explanation (Style Guides): The American Psychological Association (APA) is the leading professional organization for psychologists in the US. In research, "APA Style" is the standardized format used primarily in the Social Sciences, Education, and Behavioral Sciences.

Correct Answer: 2 (2 only)

Explanation (Research Process): A literature review is a critical synthesis and evaluation of existing scholarship on a topic. Its primary goal is to show the reader that the researcher has a deep understanding of the "state of the art" in their field.

• Gap Identification: By discussing previous research (Statement 2), the researcher can point out what is missing, which justifies their own study.
• Distractors: A list of primary sources (3) is an archive or index; citation details (1) belong in the Bibliography; and the hypothesis (4) is a result of the review, not the review itself.

Correct Answer: 3 (A brief summary stating importance of the works cited)

Explanation (Academic Documentation): An annotation is a descriptive and evaluative paragraph. Unlike a standard bibliography (which only provides citations), an annotated bibliography summarizes the content and assesses the utility/relevance of each source to the research project.

Correct Answer: 3 (Giving credit to the original author in an in-text citation and in the list of works cited)

Explanation (Research Ethics): Proper attribution is the only way to ethically use someone else's intellectual property. This requires a "double-check" system: a brief tag within the text (in-text citation) and a full entry at the end (Works Cited).

Correct Answer: 1 (In-text citation)

Explanation (MLA/APA Style): In-text citations act as a pointer. They provide the minimum information (usually Author and Page/Year) needed for a reader to find the full details in the final bibliography.

Correct Answer: 1 (18th edition)

Explanation (Style Updates): The 18th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) was released in 2024. It is the most significant update in years, addressing AI-generated content, inclusive language, and digital-first publishing workflows.

Note: While the print version was released in September 2024, the edition was highly anticipated and announced earlier in the year, making it a "current affairs" topic for the June exam.

Correct Answer: 2 (Principles of Inclusive Language)

Explanation (MLA 9th Edition): Published in 2021, the 9th Edition of the MLA Handbook added a dedicated chapter (Chapter 3) on Inclusive Language. It provides guidelines on how to discuss race, gender, and identity with sensitivity and respect, marking a shift toward socially conscious academic writing.

Correct Answer: 1 (Habib, M.A.R. Modern Literary Criticism and Theory: A History. Blackwell Publishing, 2008.)

Explanation (Citation Mechanics): The MLA 9th Edition simplified the citation format by removing the "City of Publication" for books and focusing on the Publisher and Year.

• Format: Author (Last, First). Title (Italicized). Publisher, Year.
• Option 1 is correct because it follows this order and omits the city (New Delhi), which is no longer required.
• Distractors: Options 3 and 4 use APA-style date placement (in parentheses after the author), which is a common point of confusion for students.