HS21 TECHNICAL ENGLISH II syllabus

1.         HS21                           TECHNICAL ENGLISH II                          3   0   0   100 

   

 

AIM

To encourage students to actively involve in participa0tive learning of English and to help them acquire communication skills.

OBJECTIVES

1. To help students develop listening skills for academic and professional purposes
2. To help students acquire the ability to speak effectively in English in real-life situations
3. To inculcate reading habit and to develop effective reading skills
4. To help students improve their active and passive vocabulary
5. To familiarize students with different rhetorical functions of scientific English
6. To enable students write letters and reports effectively in formal and business situations

UNIT I

Technical Vocabulary – meanings in context, sequencing words, Articles – Prepositions, intensive reading and predicting content, Reading and interpretation, extended definitions, process description

Suggested activities

1. Exercises on word formation using the prefix `self’ – Gap filling with preposition Exercises – Using sequence words
2. Reading comprehension exercise with questions based on inference – Reading heading and predicting the content – reading advertisements and interpretation
3. Writing extended definitions – Writing description of processes – Writing paragraphs based on discussions – Writing paragraphs describing the future

UNIT II

Phrases / structure indicating cause/purpose – Adverbs – Skimming – Non-verbal communication – Listening - correcting verbal and non-verbal communication – speaking in group discussion – Formal Letter writing – Writing analytical paragraphs.

Suggested Activities

1. Reading comprehension exercises with questions on overall content – Discussions analyzing stylistic features (creative and factual description) – Reading comprehension exercises with texts including graphic communication – Exercises in interpreting non-verbal communication.
2. Listening comprehension exercises to categories data in tables.
3. Writing formal letters - quotations, placing orders, clarification, and complaint , Letter seeking permission for industrial visits , writing analytical paragraphs on different debatable issues.

UNIT III

Cause and effect expressions – Different grammatical forms of the same word – speaking – stress and intonation, Group Discussions – reading – critical reading – listening – writing – using connectives, repot writing – types, structure, data collection, content, form, recommendations.

Suggested Activities

1. Exercises combining sentences using cause and effect expressions – Gap filling exercises using the appropriate tense forms – Making sentences using different grammatical forms of the same word.
2. Speaking exercises involving the use of stress and intonation - Group discussions – analysis of problems and offering solutions.
3. Reading comprehension exercises with critical questions, multiple choice questions.
4. Sequencing of jumbled sentences using connectives – Writing different types of reports like industrial accident report and survey report – writing recommendations.

UNIT IV

Numerical adjectives – Oral instructions – Descriptive writing – Argumentative paragraphs – Letter of application – content, format (CV/Bio-data) – instructions, imperative forms – checklists, Yes/No question form – Email communication

Suggested Activities

1. Rewriting exercises using numerical adjectives
2. Reading comprehension exercises with analytical questions on content – Evaluation of content
3. Listening comprehension – entering information in tabular form, intensive listening exercise and completing the steps of a process.
4. Speaking – Role Play – group discussions – Activities giving oral instructions
5. Writing descriptions, expanding hints – writing argumentative paragraphs – writing formal letters – writing letter of application with CV/Bio-data – Writing general and safety instructions – Preparing checklists – Writing e-mail messages

UNIT V

Speaking – Discussion of problems and solutions – Creative and critical thinking – writing an essay, Writing a proposal.

Suggested Activities

1. Case Studies on problems and solutions
2. Brain storming and discussion
3. Writing Critical essays
4. Writing short proposals of 2 pages for starting a project, solving problems, etc.
5. Writing advertisements

TOTAL 45 periods

AREAS TO BE COVERED UNDER DIFFERENT HEADINGS

A. Language Focus

1. Technical vocabulary
2. Sequencing words
3. Articles
4. Prepositions
5. Word formation using prefixes
6. Phrases / Structure indicating purpose
7. Adverbs
8. Cause and effect expressions
9. Tense forms
10. Different grammatical forms of the same word
11. Numerical adjectives
12. Extended definitions

B. Reading

1. Intensive reading and predicting content
2. Reading and interpretation
3. Skimming
4. Critical reading
5. Reading comprehension exercises

C. Listening

1. Correlating verbal and non-verbal communication
2. Listening comprehension

D. Speaking

1. Group Discussions
2. Stress and intonation
3. Role plays and giving oral instructions
4. Discussion of problems and solutions

E. Writing

1. Process description
2. Formal letter writing
3. Writing analytical paragraphs
4. Report Writing
5. Descriptive writing
6. Argumentative paragraphs
7. Letter of application
8. Instructions
9. Recommendations
10. Checklists
11. Email Communication
12. Writing critical essays
13. Writing proposals

TEXT BOOK:

1.    ‘English for Engineers and Technologists’ Combined Edition (Volumes 1 & 2), Department of Humanities & Social Sciences, Anna University, Chennai: Orient Longman Pvt. Ltd., 2006. Themes 5 – 8 (Technology, Communication, Environment, Industry)

REFERENCES:

1.    P. K. Dutt, G. Rajeevan and C.L.N Prakash, ‘A Course in Communication      Skills’, Cambridge University Press, India 2007. 

2.    Krishna Mohan and Meera Banerjee, ‘Developing Communication Skills’,      Macmillan India Ltd., (Reprinted 1994 – 2007).

3.    Edgar Thorpe, Showick Thorpe, ‘Objective English’, Second Edition,      Pearson Education, 2007. 

Extensive Reading: 

1. Robin Sharma, ‘The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari’, Jaico Publishing House, 2007

Note: 

The book listed under Extensive Reading is meant for inculcating the reading habit of the students. They need not be used for testing purposes.

Question Paper Pattern

For the Semester Examination the following pattern will be adopted

Semester II Technical English II

Scheme of Examination

PART A

Questions 1-10

Number of short answers questions to be set 10

Distribution of Marks : 10 x 2 = 20 marks (each question carrying 2 marks)

Format : Answer all questions type any ten language focus items given in Unit entitled “Language Focus”

Part B

Five Questions with subdivisions

Distribution of Marks : 5 x 16 = 80 marks (each division carrying 16 marks)

Question No. 11 (No choice) Four general Reading Comprehension passages each with different types of questions – true or false type, short answer questions, multiple choice items, fill in blank types, cloze types, sentence completion questions and meaning of words.  4 x 4 = 16 marks

Question No. 12

a. Business Letter Writing (either…..or …..type)                                                 8 marks

b. Job Application Letter ( no choice)                                                                    8 marks

Question No. 13

a.         Writing recommendations / checklist ( either……or……. type)             8 marks

b.         Writing paragraph (descriptive / processing / analytical) ( either……or……. type)                                                                                                                                                  8 marks

Question No. 14

a.         Writing reports (either……….or......type)                                                  8 marks

b.         Writing different types of reports (either…..or type)                               8 marks

Question No. 15                                                                                                   16

a) General Essay                                                                                        

(Or)

b) General Essay