What is Case Study Question / Paragraph Based Question?
A case study is a scenario in a particular academic / professional context which students are expected to analyse and respond to, guided by specific questions posed concerning the situation. In many cases, the scenario or case study involves a number of issues or problems that must be dealt with in a academic / professional workplace.
Why Case Study Questions are included in academics?
Case study assignments usually require students to identify problems and issues in a scenario, to demonstrate their developing knowledge of theories and academic / professional policies and to make decisions and recommendations based on these to either prevent or solve some of the issues in that scenario.
How to solve Case Study Questions?
There are several steps to writing an answer to a case study assignment:
STEP 1: Read the case study and questions carefully.
- Read the case and associated questions carefully.
- Highlight the main points of the case and any issues that you can identify.
- Read the questions closely and analyse what they are requiring you to do.
- Read the case again, linking the information that is relevant to each question you have been asked.
STEP 2: Identify the issues in the case study.
Case studies describe a situation which may arise in a particular profession or social context. They often involve a number of people in a complex situation. They will often describe a situation which is problematic, possibly in how it is dealt with, or in its complexity. An important part of your answer is to analyse the situation and to identify the issues/actions described in the case which may be problematic. The following questions may help you to do this:
- What actions were taken in the case?
- Were these actions the most appropriate and why?
- Were there any consequences of the actions taken?
- Was anything omitted or not considered?
- Were actions/procedures in line with existing codes of practice, policy or theories?
STEP 3: Link theory to practice.
Use your knowledge of existing codes of practice, theories and/or other academic / professional documents and behaviours to decide what was done appropriately and what was not.
STEP 4: Plan your answer.
It can be useful to use the questions you have been set as headings and to answer each part in turn, reducing the chance of omitting set questions. You can always take out the headings before you submit if you wish. Lecturers usually set questions in a logical order, so answer in the order they are written in your question.
STEP 5: Start writing your case study answer (for theory only)
Like any assignment, you will need an introduction, body sections in which you answer the questions put to you regarding the case study, and a conclusion.
STEP 6: Edit and proofread.
Read through your paper yourself to detect and correct other errors and omissions.
Check you have answered all questions and backed up your answer with relevant passage.
Types of Case Study Questions / Paragraph Based Questions
Case Study Questions / Paragraph Based Questions can be broadly classified into two types:
- MCQs type: In this type, student has to tick the correct option from various options.
- Theory type: In this type, student has to write proper solution / answer in cotext to the case study.
Case Study/ Passage Based Questions Chapter 3 Gender, Religion and Caste
Type 1: MCQ type
Case Study Question 01
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
In India, the proportion of women in legislature has been very low. For example, the percentage of elected women members in Lok Sabha has touched 12 per cent of its total strength for the first time in 2014. Their share in the state assemblies is less than 5 per cent. In this respect, India is among the bottom group of nations in theworld. India is behind the averages for several developing countries of Africa and Latin America. In the government, cabinets are largely all-male even if a woman becomes the Chief Minister or the Prime Minister. One way to solve this problem is to make it legally binding to have a fair proportion of women in the elected bodies. This is what the Panchayati Raj has done in India. One-third of seats in local government bodies – in panchayats and municipalities – are now reserved for women.
Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option:
Question.1. In which of the following years of Lok Sabha elections women got their highest representation?
(a) 2019
(b) 2014
(c) 2009
(d) 2004
Question.2. In which of the following level of government seats are not reserved for women?
(a) Gram Panchayat
(b) Block Samiti
(c) Zila Parishad
(d) Vidhan Sabha
Question.3. Find out the incorrect statement from the following:
(a) Nordic countries are having highest women representation in politics.
(b) In India, the representation of women in politics is less than the average of Asia.
(c) The women representation at state level is better as compare to central level.
(d) No major improvement in women conditions have been seen when governments are headed by women.
Question.4. 1/3 reservation of women in local bodies shows that:
(a) It is good when social division becomes a political issue
(b) Feminist organisations were demanding to reserve seats in local bodies
(c) Parliament is very serious about gender equality
(d) Political leaders want to give equal status to women in politics
Ans.1. (a) 2019
Ans.2. (d) Vidhan Sabha
Ans.3. (c) The women representation at state level is better as compare to central level
Ans.4. (a) It is good when social division becomes a political issue
Case Study Question 02
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Caste plays different kinds of roles in politics. In some situations, expression of caste differences in politics gives many disadvantaged communities the space to demand their share of power. In this sense-caste politics has helped people from Dalits and OBC castes to gain better access to decision making. Several political and non-political organisations have been demanding and agitating for an end to discrimination against particular castes, for more dignity and more access to land, resources and opportunities. At the same time exclusive attention to caste can produce negative results as well. As in the case of religion, politics based on caste identity alone is not very healthy in a democracy. It can divert attention from other pressing issues like poverty, development and corruption. In some cases caste division leads to tensions, conflict and even violence.
Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option:
Question.1. At which of the following level of politics, caste factor is most visible?
(a) Central level
(b) State level
(c) Local level
(d) None of these
Question.2. Which of the following is not correct about ‘Dalits”?
(a) A community which has been discriminated by high caste people
(b) Dalits were considered ‘untouchables’ in Indian society
(c) B. R. Ambedkar worked hard to ensure their political rights
(d) Now the issues related to Dalits are not visible in rural areas
Question.3. Find out incorrect statement about caste in politics:
(a) Caste in politics always produces positive results
(b) Caste factor played important role in the formation of Central Government
(c) Social reformers and laws have played important role to reduce casteism
(d) Routes of casteism are visible in our society from ancient time
Question.4. The political party having its main objective of upliftment of lower caste people:
(a) Communist Party of India
(b) Bharatiya Janata Party
(c) Indian National Congress
(d) Bahujan Samaj Party
Ans.1. (c) Local level.
Ans.2. (d) Now the issues related to Dalits are not visible in rural areas.
Ans.3. (a) Caste in politics always produces positive results.
Ans.4. (d) Bahujan Samaj Party
Type 2: Theory Type
Case Study Question 03
Read the sources given below and answer the questions that follows:
Source A-Secular state
Communalism was and continues to be one of the major challenges to democracy in our country. The makers of our Constitution were aware of this challenge. That is why they chose the model of a secular state. This choice was reflected in several constitutional provisions that we studied last year. There is no official religion for the Indian state. Unlike the status of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, that of Islam in Pakistan and that of Christianity in England, our Constitution does not give a special status to any religion.
Source B- Caste system
All societies have some kind of social inequality and some form of division of labour. In most societies, occupations are passed on from one generation to another. Caste system is an extreme form of this. This system, hereditary occupational division was sanctioned by rituals. Members of the same caste group were supposed to form a social community that practiced the same or similar occupation, married within the caste group and did not eat with members from other caste groups.
Source C- Social Reformers
Caste system was based on exclusion of and discrimination against the ‘outcaste’ groups. They were subjected to the inhuman practice of untouchability. That is why political leaders and social reformers like Jyotiba Phule, Gandhiji, B.R. Ambedkar and Periyar Ramaswami Naicker advocated and worked to establish a society in which caste inequalities are absent. Partly due to their efforts and partly due to other socio-economic changes, castes and caste system in modern India have undergone great changes.
Source A-Secular state
Question.1. What is the basic principle of secular state?
Source B- Caste system
Question.2. What is Caste system?
Source C- Social Reformers
Question.3. Write some important name of political leaders and social reformers.
Ans.1. The basic principle of secular state is that there is no official religion for the Indian state.
Ans.2. Caste system is an expression of social division on the basis of caste. In this system, hereditary occupational division was sanctioned by rituals.
Ans.3. The political leaders and social reformers like Jyotiba Phule, Gandhiji, B.R. Ambedkar and Periyar Ramaswami Naicker advocated and worked to establish a society in which caste inequalities are absent.
Case Study Question 04
Read the extract and answer the questions that follows:
Boys and girls are brought up to believe that the main responsibility of women is housework and bringing up children. This is reflected in a SEXUAL DIVISION OF LABOUR in most families: women do all work inside the home such as cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, tailoring, looking after children, etc., and men do all the work outside the home. It is not that men cannot do housework; they simply think that it is for women to attend to these things. When these jobs are paid for, men are ready to take up these works. Most tailors or cooks in hotels are men. Similarly, it is not that women do not work outside their home. In villages, women fetch water, collect fuel and work in the fields. In urban areas, poor women work as domestic helper in middle class homes, while middle class women work in offices. In fact the majority of women do some sort of paid work in addition to domestic labour. But their work is not valued and does not get recognition. The result of this division of labour is that although women constitute half of the humanity, their role in public life, especially politics, is minimal in most societies. Earlier, only men were allowed to participate in public affairs, vote and contest for public offices. Gradually the gender issue was raised in politics.
Women in different parts of the world organised and agitated for equal rights. There were agitations in different countries for the extension of voting rights to women. These agitations demanded enhancing the political and legal status of women and improving their educational and career opportunities. More radical women’s movements aimed at equality in personal and family life as well. These movements are called FEMINIST movements.
Question.1. Give an example of sexual division of labour in most families.
Question.2. What will be the resultant of division of labour especially on the women?
Question.3. What is feminist movement?
Ans.1. An example of sexual division of labour in most families women do all work inside the home such as cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, tailoring, looking after children, etc., and men do all the work outside the home.
Ans.2. The women constitute half of the humanity and if they are discriminated on the basis of gender then half of the legitimate population will be destitute.
Ans.3.
1. Women in different parts of the world organised and agitated for equal rights. There were agitations in different countries for the extension of voting rights to women.
2. These agitations demanded enhancing the political and legal status of women and improving their educational and career opportunities.
3. More radical women’s movements aimed at equality in personal and family life as well. These movements are called FEMINIST movements.
