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IGNOU MSO
Exam Question Pattern
MSOE-003

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 Question Paper Pattern …
Sociology of Religion

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 Super-Notes
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 We are here to help you…
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We are here to help you!
If you are a faculty or student of IGNOU, this document may be just what you need!

IGNOU has a vast syllabus, there is minimal support from the study centers and university.
But, the exams are as tough as exams for regular programs, if not tougher. Unfortunately,
the students, most of whom are working, don’t get sufficient support for their exams.

We at PsychoTech Services have launched several efforts to help IGNOU students – if you
haven’t visited our IGNOU MSO Corner yet, now might be the right time! Back in 2015, we
created the first version of our ‘IGNOU Question Paper Pattern Analysis’ with the objective of
helping IGNOU students with their theory examinations. Several copies and duplicates soon
surfaced. Some of them very brightly colored with fancy graphics. But none with the same
high level of accuracy and quality of analysis and insights.

While this document and the analysis in it would help you a lot, do remember exams are
both a test of your knowledge and your ability to present the answers in a manner that the
examiner is inclined to give you marks. So work on both these aspects – read this for some
very useful tips on How to Score More in your Exams!

Good luck for your exams!!!

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 An approach that works…

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An approach that works…
Our approach is based on a very simple and logical concept… The syllabus of any course
created anywhere on this planet can, typically, be broken into three parts – 1. core concepts,
2. important concepts and 3. related but not as important concepts. Now, logically, if you
have to test your students’ knowledge of a subject which of these three would you focus on?

Simple, right ☺ This is the reason we find that the pattern of questions asked in entrance
exams and university exams anywhere in the world clearly mirror the above. Most questions
are asked from the core concepts, some from the important concepts and rarely from
the related concepts.

Therefore, as a student, it does not make sense for you to put equal effort in all subjects.
When you prepare for your exams, you must prioritize - ‘by-heart’ the core concepts, learn
the important concepts and touch the related concepts if you intend to score a perfect 100!

How do you know which topic belongs to which category? That is what this document will
help you to know. We analyzed all the question papers available on the IGNOU site, right
from the beginning of the course to find out the relative importance of every part of your
syllabus.

This will help you to get maximum marks with minimum effort!

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 Let’s start!
Question Paper
This document Pattern …
is for: MSOE-003

Sociology of Religion

PsychoTech Services Sociology Super-Notes Sociology Learners

 What is the
Exam Setup like?

PsychoTech Services Sociology Super-Notes Sociology Learners 12

The Examination Setup
Environment:
An examination hall, typically in an IGNOU study center. Depending on your luck – it could be
noisy with lot of cheating, peaceful with strict invigilation, comfortable desks or
uncomfortable broken desks, clean or filthy washrooms. Be mentally prepared for the worst!

Time: 3 hours Maximum Marks: 100

Question Paper Structure:

The question paper structure has been fairly consistent since 2008:
• There are two sections – with 5 questions each.
• All questions have equal (20) marks
• You have to attempt any five questions – minimum two questions from each section.
• The questions are mostly essay type with a 500 word limit
• The questions are usually broken into sub-parts comprising of related questions.*
However, there have been some exceptions – MSO-002 exams from December 2011 to June
2013 and MSO-003 in 2014 and 2017 did not have a restriction by section – students could
answer any of the 9 or 10 questions, respectively.
*In our analysis we have counted them as separate and mapped to the respective IGNOU topics

PsychoTech Services Sociology Super-Notes Sociology Learners 13

 The most important blocks are…

PsychoTech Services Sociology Super-Notes Sociology Learners 14

…blocks 1 and 3!
Whether you look at the recent or lifetime stats, Blocks 1 and 3 are the most important,
followed by blocks 6, 5 and 4 respectively. Just look at the consistency!

Weightage of different blocks in exams, %age of total marks

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4 Block 5 Block 6 Block 7

Last 3
25% 8% 20% 11% 12% 14% 11%
years

Last 5
23% 11% 18% 14% 11% 14% 10%
years

Lifetime 20% 16% 14% 16% 13% 12% 11%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Note: Numbers have been rounded off for easier understanding

PsychoTech Services Sociology Super-Notes Sociology Learners 15

 Now, let’s look at the
Most Important Units
We suggest students to use this list
for the final full reading before exams –
so that you do not miss any important
chapters in case of insufficient time.

PsychoTech Services Sociology Super-Notes Sociology Learners 16

The Top 10 units – Priority 1
Unit Lifetime Last 5 years Last 3 years

Unit 20 Secularisation and Secularism 7.1% 9.8% 8.8%

Unit 2 Anthropological 6.9% 9.3% 12.1%

Unit 12 Peter Berger: Phenomenology of Religion 6.6% 6.0% 3.3%

Unit 5 Marxian 6.2% 5.0% 3.3%

Unit 22 Religious Conversion 6.2% 5.0% 4.2%

Unit 1 Sociological 5.9% 5.8% 4.6%

Unit 13 Clifford Geertz: Cultural Analysis 5.7% 4.5% 5.0%

Unit 7 Weber and the Question of Meaning 5.6% 3.5% 2.5%

Unit 21 Communalism and Fundamentalism 4.6% 4.5% 5.0%

Unit 16 Jainism and Buddhism 4.4% 4.0% 5.0%

Throughout this document:

• Priority 1 chapters are highlighted in yellow background (or text)
• Priority 2 chapters in bold text, and
• Priority 3 in normal text.
Note: Numbers have been rounded off for easier understanding

PsychoTech Services Sociology Super-Notes Sociology Learners 17

Next 10 units – Priority 2
Unit Lifetime Last 5 years Last 3 years

Unit 4 Comparative and Psychological 4.2% 4.0% 5.0%

Unit 6 Functionalism 4.1% 2.0% 1.7%

Unit 10 T. N. Madan: Non-Renunciation 4.0% 5.0% 8.3%

Unit 14 Levi-Strauss's on Totemism and Myth 3.9% 3.3% 2.9%

Unit 9 Evans-Pritchard: The Nuer 3.8% 5.5% 4.2%

Unit 8 M. N. Srinivas: The Coorgs 3.0% 3.5% 5.8%

Unit 11 Sudhir Kakar: Shamans, Mystics and Doctors 2.8% 4.0% 1.7%

Block 7 Religious Revivalism: New Movements and Cults 2.8% 4.0% 5.0%

Unit 3 Historical 2.7% 3.5% 3.3%

Unit 19 Hinduism 2.0% 2.0% 2.5%

Throughout this document:

• Priority 1 chapters are highlighted in yellow background (or text)
• Priority 2 chapters in bold text, and
• Priority 3 in normal text.
Note: Numbers have been rounded off for easier understanding

PsychoTech Services Sociology Super-Notes Sociology Learners 18

Remaining units – Priority 3
Unit Lifetime Last 5 years Last 3 years

Block 5 Religious Pluralism 2.0% 2.0% 1.7%

Unit 17 Christianity 1.6% 0.0% 0.0%

Unit 18 Islam 1.4% 0.5% 0.0%

Unit 15 Sikhism 1.4% 2.5% 2.5%

Unit 26 Sai Baba Shirdi 0.8% 0.0% 0.0%

Unit 23 Transcendental Meditation 0.6% 0.0% 0.0%

Unit 24 Hare Krishna Movement 0.4% 1.0% 1.7%

Note: Numbers have been rounded off for easier understanding

PsychoTech Services Sociology Super-Notes Sociology Learners 19

 Now, let’s look at the topics.
We suggest you use this list for revision –
to ensure that you have learnt
Priority 1 and 2 topics

PsychoTech Services Sociology Super-Notes Sociology Learners 20

The Top 15 topics – Priority 1
Topic Lifetime Last 5 years Last 3 years

5.3 Marxian Notion of Religion 5.4% 5.0% 3.3%

20.3 What is secularization? 4.5% 5.0% 5.4%

12.2 The Theoretical Framework 3.1% 4.0% 1.7%

7.5 Weber's Central Thesis on Religion and Economy 2.8% 1.0% 0.0%

4.2 Freud 's Reformulation 2.8% 3.0% 3.3%

11.2 The Concept of Healing 2.8% 4.0% 1.7%

Block 7 Religious Revivalism: New Movements and Cults 2.8% 4.0% 5.0%

13.5 Religion as a System of Symbols 2.7% 2.0% 3.3%

14.2 Levi-Strauss’ Totemism 2.6% 1.8% 2.9%

2.6 Religion as a Cultural System 2.4% 4.0% 6.7%

22.2 Aspects of Religious Conversion 2.4% 2.5% 0.0%

1.4 Study of Totems 2.2% 2.8% 2.9%

16.8 Historical Development in India 2.2% 3.0% 3.3%

8.6 The Okka 2.2% 3.5% 5.8%

2.5 Functional Interpretation of Religion 2.2% 3.0% 3.3%

Note: Numbers refer to marks as %age of total marks for the period, and have been rounded off for easier understanding

PsychoTech Services Sociology Super-Notes Sociology Learners 21

Next 30 topics – Priority 2 (1/2)
Topic Lifetime Last 5 years Last 3 years

20.6 The Indian Experience 2.0% 4.3% 3.3%

7.7 Ascetic Protestantism and Capitalism 2.0% 1.5% 2.5%

Block 5 Religious Pluralism 2.0% 2.0% 1.7%

22.5 Conversion and the New Age Cults 2.0% 1.0% 1.7%

12.4 Religion and World Construction 1.9% 1.0% 0.0%

13.2 The Interpretive Approach 1.8% 2.0% 1.7%

10.4 Concepts of Auspiciousness and Purity 1.6% 1.0% 1.7%

1.6 Economy and Religion 1.6% 2.0% 1.7%

2.2 Origin Theories 1.6% 2.0% 1.7%

21.2 Definition of Fundamentalism 1.5% 1.5% 0.8%

21.5 Definition of Communalism 1.4% 1.0% 0.8%

9.2 Concept of Cuong 1.4% 2.0% 0.0%

21.6 Fundamentalism and Communalism 1.2% 2.0% 3.3%

6.2 Functionalism as a Sociological Perspective 1.2% 0.0% 0.0%

10.5 The Notion of Asceticism and Eroticism 1.2% 1.0% 1.7%

Note: Numbers refer to marks as %age of total marks for the period, and have been rounded off for easier understanding

PsychoTech Services Sociology Super-Notes Sociology Learners 22

Next 30 topics – Priority 2 (2/2)
Topic Lifetime Last 5 years Last 3 years

6.6 Totemism: The Elementary Form of Religion 1.2% 1.0% 1.7%

3.7 Myths 1.2% 2.0% 1.7%

12.6 The Concept of Religion 1.2% 1.0% 1.7%

15.2 The Sikh community 1.0% 2.0% 1.7%

22.3 Religion and Conversion 1.0% 1.5% 2.5%

1.2 The Scope of Religion 1.0% 0.0% 0.0%

4.7 Culture, Society and Religion 1.0% 0.0% 0.0%

19.6 Dharm-Achar Complex in Hinduism 1.0% 0.5% 0.0%

19.5 Purusharth: The four ends of Hinduism 0.8% 1.0% 1.7%

1.3 Process of Knowledge 0.8% 1.0% 0.0%

8.2 A Coorg Village 0.8% 0.0% 0.0%

18.3 Teaching of Islam 0.8% 0.5% 0.0%

17.10 Christianity in India 0.8% 0.0% 0.0%

22.4 The Contemporary Debate on Conversion 0.8% 0.0% 0.0%

14.3 The Method 0.8% 1.0% 0.0%

Note: Numbers refer to marks as %age of total marks for the period, and have been rounded off for easier understanding

PsychoTech Services Sociology Super-Notes Sociology Learners 23

Remaining topics – Priority 3 (1/3)
Topic Lifetime Last 5 years Last 3 years

9.7 Priests and Prophets 0.8% 1.0% 1.7%

13.7 Belief and Faith in Religious Symbols 0.8% 0.0% 0.0%

5.4 Religion - An Instrument of Oppression 0.8% 0.0% 0.0%

3.5 The Soul and Sacrifice 0.7% 1.5% 1.7%

10.9 Living and Dying 0.7% 1.8% 2.9%

16.6 Buddhism: Main Traditions 0.7% 0.0% 0.0%

6.5 Sacred and Profane 0.7% 0.0% 0.0%

9.3 The Notion of Spirit 0.6% 1.0% 1.7%

16.4 Doctrine of Jainism 0.6% 0.0% 0.0%

9.6 Concept of Sacrifice 0.6% 1.0% 0.0%

3.4 Cosmologies and World-View 0.6% 0.0% 0.0%

20.5 The European Experience 0.5% 0.5% 0.0%

14.5 Totemism and Classification 0.5% 0.5% 0.0%

21.4 Fundamentalism and Equality of Religions 0.5% 0.0% 0.0%

2.3 Magic and Religion 0.5% 0.0% 0.0%

Note: Numbers refer to marks as %age of total marks for the period, and have been rounded off for easier understanding

PsychoTech Services Sociology Super-Notes Sociology Learners 24

Remaining topics – Priority 3 (2/3)
Topic Lifetime Last 5 years Last 3 years

17.2 Genesis of Christianity as a Religion 0.4% 0.0% 0.0%

6.3 Durkheim and Elementary Forms of Religious Life 0.4% 1.0% 0.0%

23.3 TM and Religion 0.4% 0.0% 0.0%

24.2 Aims of the Movement 0.4% 1.0% 1.7%

12.8 The Future of Religion 0.4% 0.0% 0.0%

13.4 The Meaning of Symbol 0.4% 0.5% 0.0%

18.6 Metaphysics of Islam 0.4% 0.0% 0.0%

9.5 Concept of Sin 0.4% 0.5% 0.8%

17.5 The Bible: Its Books and Its Message 0.4% 0.0% 0.0%

16.9 Diffusion of Buddhism 0.4% 0.0% 0.0%

26.4 Early Teachings of Sai baba 0.4% 0.0% 0.0%

7.4 Weber's Sociology of Religion 0.4% 1.0% 0.0%

16.7 Doctrine of Buddhism 0.4% 1.0% 1.7%

4.8 Culture and Self 0.4% 1.0% 1.7%

10.3 Life Cycle Rituals 0.4% 1.0% 1.7%

Note: Numbers refer to marks as %age of total marks for the period, and have been rounded off for easier understanding

PsychoTech Services Sociology Super-Notes Sociology Learners 25

Remaining topics – Priority 3 (3/3)
Topic Lifetime Last 5 years Last 3 years

6.7 Categories of Religious Rites and their Social Functions 0.4% 0.0% 0.0%

26.5 The Assurances of Sai baba 0.4% 0.0% 0.0%

1.8 Gods and Godesses 0.3% 0.0% 0.0%

19.4 Hinduism and the Concept of Religion 0.2% 0.5% 0.8%

18.2 Genesis of Islam 0.2% 0.0% 0.0%

15.6 Interaction with other faiths 0.2% 0.5% 0.8%

15.7 The Martial Background 0.2% 0.0% 0.0%

2.7 Defining Religion 0.2% 0.3% 0.4%

7.6 The Origins of Spirit of Capitalism 0.2% 0.0% 0.0%

23.2 The World Plan for TM 0.2% 0.0% 0.0%

7.8 The World Religions 0.2% 0.0% 0.0%

3.2 Earliest Evidences and Forms 0.2% 0.0% 0.0%

6.4 Durkheim's Positive Definition of Religion 0.2% 0.0% 0.0%

10.2 Domesticity and Detachment 0.1% 0.3% 0.4%

16.2 Jainism: The History 0.1% 0.0% 0.0%

Note: Numbers refer to marks as %age of total marks for the period, and have been rounded off for easier understanding

PsychoTech Services Sociology Super-Notes Sociology Learners 26

 Now that you know the most
important topics,
What Next?
Move to the next page to find out…

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 Super-Notes
A proprietary approach developed by bringing together
the best of learning theories from Psychology, design
principles from the world of visualization, and
pedagogical methods from over a decade of training
experience, that enables you to:

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