B.A.

LLB - Batch 2019-2024

Course Outline
Semester II

Subject Name Contemporary Sociological Issues

Subject Credit 4 credits

Subject Code NLAW 112

This course is an introduction to the sociological analysis of contemporary social
issues and problems. The primary focus will be the examination of the social
construction of social issues in both Indian and global society. This course will also
Summary/ explore the theoretical framework for understanding of such problematic conditions
Overview in India and abroad with reference to potential solution to these issues. As it is not
possible to cover everything that may be considered as a social issue, the
courseincludes issues related to major social institutions and structures that are
perceived to be problems in today’s world.
The overall objective of the course is to provide a comprehensiveunderstanding
among the students on various social issues existed in the society and the need for the
Objective sociological imagination on various social issues in the contemporary society. At the
end of the course the students will be able to understand, explain and apply different
theoretical perspectives to analyse contemporary social issues.
Dr. Avanish Bhai Patel
Office: OF-42, Fourth Floor, Technical Block
Instructor
Phone No0091-080-46199177
E-mail : avanish.patel@alliance.edu.in

Office Hours 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Core Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria
Sl.
On completion of this course you should To achieve the learning outcome you must
No.
be able to: demonstrate the ability to:
Identify and analyse different social issues Have an understanding of the current social
1
existing in the contemporary society. events and its impact on the society.
Understand the different theoretical Relate different theoretical approaches to the
2
approaches to the study of social issues. everyday social events.
Form an opinion about important and
Explain the role and limitation of the state
3 contemporary developments on various socio-
intervention to deal with this issues.
legal issues.
The course is offered for Four credits (4) which comprises 48 teaching session as per the
norms of the Bar Council of India. Each session consists of One Hour and Fifteen
Minutes. The Class will meet regularly as per the prescribed schedule fixed by the
ASOL Dean’s office. The method of teaching will be based on Socratic methods, which
further consist of formal lectures, case study analysis, audio visual presentations and
group discussions. Core reading materials will be provided by the teacher. Students are
Approach expected to complete all reading assignments on time, take notes on reading
to Learning assignments, take notes during class lectures and discussions, and to contribute to class
discussions. Students are expected to read the essential reading before to attend the
class. Credits are allocated to your class presentation and discussion. To facilitate the
discussion, the concerned instructor or lecturer initiate the discussion and students will
have to participate and contribute to the discussion. Before end of each session the
instructor will give summary of topic and answer the questions raised by the students
during their discussion.
Assessment of this course divided between written examination and research project.
 Written Examination: There are two written examinations in the semester: Mid
Semester Examination (MSE) and Semester End Examination (SEE). MSE is a
written examination of 45 marks for 2 hours, the weightage of which is 15 percent
of the total grade. The students will receive the notification of the exam from the
ASOL Dean’s office. The semester end examination (SEE) comprises of 50 percent
of the total grade which will be carried out at the end of the semester. The question
paper will carry 100 marks and the students will get 3 hours to answer the questions.
The instructor will provide tips and technics to write thematic and problem-based
answers during the class.
Assessment  Class Test: Class test consists of 5 Marks of the total marks, which generally
Strategy conducted during 4th or 5th week of teaching. Exact dates will be informed by the
teacher. Modalities of the class test can be discussed and agreed with the class.
 Classroom Attendance: Classroom attendance and participation comprises of 5
Marks based on your attendance and your participation in the classes marks will be
awarded.
 Written Project: During the second week of the teaching the teacher will assign a
title of the research project in consultation with specific student. Each student in the
class is required to submit the full research paper of not less than 3500 words (which
carries 15 percent of the total grade). Specific date lines have been provided in the
academic calendar, request to find the specific dates for your submission. Each
student is expected to submit their research project work on or before the mentioned
 deadline in the academic calendar. Penalties will be imposed to the late submission.
If any student is interested to work on their own topic chosen by them, they are
encouraged to do so, however, they have to get prior approval from the class teacher.
Once the class teacher approves the project then the work can be carried out on
regular basis. The project should be structured around the given topic incorporating
therein the importance of the topic, brief introduction, identifying the research
problem, reviewing the existing legal system, objective of the research study and the
scope along with methodology. Further you are required to provide an analytical
review of the existing literature on the given topic and the specific questions to be
addressed. The class teacher will provide you with a template; students will have to
follow the template strictly. Non-compliance of the template will attract the
penalties. The project should be typed in Times New Roman 12 font size with 2-
point line spacing. The paragraphs should also be justified with normal margin.
Students are required to follow the OSCOLA format for the standard citation.
Project work must be free from plagiarism, you are required to provide with
proper citations in the footnote, and at the end of your project of work you are
required to give full list of select bibliography. If the work found to be a
plagiarized work then it will be treated as a serious academic misconduct.
Serious actions will be taken against the student.
 Presentation and Viva: The Presentation and/or Viva-voce comprises of 10
percent of the total grade where the students are required to give oral/presentation in
the class before the panel of teachers on the project which you have submitted and
questions will be posed by the panel of teachers based upon the presentation. Date
lines for presentations have been provided in the academic calendar.
Assessment Weight Duration and Marks of
No Description of Assessment Method
Method % Examination
2 hours and 45 Marks in
1 MSE Written examination 15
which 15 percent weightage
2 AT Class attendance 05 Throughout the course
CS/PR/CP Case Studies/Project Report/ Class 30
3 Throughout the Course
Presentation and viva
3 hours and 100 marks from
4 SemesterEnd Written 50 which 50 percent weightage
Examination Examination will taken
Outline of Teaching Schedule
Unit
Topics
Number
1. Social Issues: An Introduction
(10 Teaching Sessions)
1.1 Social Issues: Concept, Nature and Causes
1.2 Theoretical Paradigms for Social Issues
I 1.2.1 Structural-Functionalist
1.2.2 Conflict
1.2.3 Symbolic Interactionist
1.3 Approaches to the Study of Social Issues
1.3.1 Social disorganisation approach
 1.3.2 Cultural lag approach
1.3.3 Value conflict approach
1.3.4 Personal deviance approach
1.3.5 Anomie approach
1.4 Social issues and changes in India : Social movements
1.5 Media and social issues
1.6 Sociological Imagination
2. Contemporary Issues: Socio-Cultural
(12 Teaching Sessions)
2.1 Poverty and Economic Inequality
2.2 Work and Unemployment
2.3 Problems in education
2.4 Caste inequality
II 2.5 Regional, Ethnic and Religious Disharmonies
2.6 Family Disharmony: Domestic violence
Dowry
Divorce
Intergenerational Conflict
Elder Abuse
2.7 Sexism and Gender Inequality
3. Contemporary Issues: Developmental
(10 Teaching Sessions)
3.1 Population Growth
III 3.2 Regional Disparity
3.3 Displacement
3.4 Development and Migration
3.5 Ecological Degradation and Environmental pollution
4. Issues on Health and Wellbeing
(8 Teaching Sessions)
4.1 Aging
IV
4.2 Mental illness
4.3 Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
4.4 Social Stigma: HIV/STIs
5. Global Social Issues
(8 Teaching Sessions)
5.1 Globalization
V 5.2 War and Global Insecurity
5.3 Terrorism
5.4 Nuclear Weapons
5.5 Human Trafficking
TOTAL 48 ACTIVE TEACHING SESSIONS
Essential Readings:
A Konradi, M Schmidt, Reading between the Lines: Toward an Understanding of Current Social
Problems (McGraw-Hill 2004).
C. W Mills, The Sociological Imagination (Oxford University Press 1959).
Ghanshyam Shah, Social Movements in India: A Review of the Literature (Sage 2004).
 Linda Mooney, Knox David and Schacht Caroline, Understanding Social Problems (Wadsworth
2009).
Rajendra Pandey, Social problems of Contemporary India (Ashish Publishing House 1994).
Ram Ahuja, Social Problems in India (Rawat 1999).
T. J. Sullivan, Introduction to Social Problems (Pearson, 2011).
V. N Parrillo, Contemporary Social Problems (Pearson, 2005).
W Kornblun, J Julian, and C. D. Smith, Social Problems (Pearson, 2012).
Suggested Readings:
D B Grusky and S Szelenyi, The Inequality Reader: Contemporary and Foundational Readings in
Race, Class and Gender (Rawat 2012).
Flavia Agnes, Law and Gender Inequality (Oxford University Press 2001).
G.R. Madan, Indian Social Problems (Allied Publishers 1981).
Michael Snarr and, D. Neil Snarr, Introducing Global Issues (Lynne Rienner Publication 2008).
Satish Deshpande, Contemporary India: A Sociological View (Penguin 2003).
V. N Parrillo, Encyclopaedia of Social Problems (Sage 2008).