Categorization Details
Course Code:
BHS 176
Credit Hours:
3(2-0-2)
Category:
Core
Pre-requisite:
Nil
Semester:
2
Degree Program:
B.TECH
Branch:
Electrical Engineering Course Details
Catalog Description:
An advanced course meant to expose students Of Science and Technology to English used in scientific texts, Expansion of non-terminological scientific vocabulary, sentence Correction and improvement, report writing official and technical Correspondence and study of scientific and general texts.
Detailed Syllabus:
Technical Writing: The nature of Technical writing; Technical style vs. general style (brevity versus diffuseness, clarity versus ambiguity, Objectivity versus subjectivity, simplicity versus pomposity, utility versus pleasurability), Writing Process (pre-writing, drafting, rewriting and editing). Exercises in grammatical pre-requisites (Case of Nouns and Pronouns, Agreement of verb and its subject, Tense and mood, Adjectives and adverbs, Pronouns with antecedents, Voice) Development of a suitable style. Effect of diction on style, effect of sentence - structure on style, effect of paragraphs on style, manuscript form, numbers, abbreviations, hyphenation of compound terms, decimal system of numbering headings, Equations, documentation, exercises in sentence correction (Fragmented sentences, Parallel/nonparallel sentences, illogical comparisons, dangling constructions, squinting constructions, split infinitives, specific information, pompous style, deadwood.
Paragraph Writing: Paragraph, Definition, requirements of a good paragraph (Unity, Coherence and Emphasis, topic sentence, various orders to develop a paragraph (viz. Inductive, Deductive, Question to answer, Exposition, Time Order, Comparison and contrast, Enumeration, Space Order), Some examples of good paragraphs. Report Writing: Report: Definition and cardinal characteristics(Self - sufficiency, Interest, Thoroughness, Omission of unnecessary materials, freedom from bias, Objectivity, Restraint, Appropriate degree of Impersonality) Analyzing the Report-Writing situation (Making a tentative plan, gathering information, interpreting facts, making detailed outline, planning the use of visuals, writing the first draft, revision), Report Formats (Blank form, letter form, Memorandum Form, General-Survey report).
Technical Correspondence: General Principles of Technical Correspondence (Format in letters, characteristics like clarity, conciseness, continuity, set-formats, simplicity, naturalness, neatness, objectivity, correctness, Creditability), Parts of a letter (Heading, address. salutation, body, complimentary closing, signature), Type of letters (letters giving instructions, Inquiries and answers to inquiries, complaints and adjustments, letters urging action, Applications and Resumes).
Proposal Writing Proposal : Definition and kinds, Division of Formal Proposals (Front Matter, Letter of Transmittal, Title Page, Summary or Abstract, Table of contents, Statement of request, body - statement of a problem, background, scope, methodology, facilities, personnel, advantages and disadvantages, costs and reports) . Some specimen proposals.
Writing Scientific and semi-technical Articles: Source material, topic selection, literature review, tables, figures, footnotes, bibliography, some specimen articles.
Reference Books:
Arora, V.N. and Lakshmi Chandra, “Improve Your Writing” (Delhi; OUP,1981) Lesson Numbers: 1.2, 1.6, 2.4, 2.6, 3.5, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1, 5.4, 6.2
For Extensive reading (any two of the following):
1. Dickens, Charles, David Copperfield
2. Hemingway Ernest, The Old man and the Sea, Indian rpt, 1977, Delhi : Surjeet.
3. Desai , Anita, Fire on the Mountain
4. Orwell, George, Nineteen Eighty four (New York: Penguin,1984)
Also
1. Strung Jr. William and E. B. White, The Element of style, New York: Macmillan, 1967.
2. Legget, Glenn, C. David Mead and William char vat, Essentials of Grammar and
Composition, New Delhi: Prentice- Hall, 1988 (Indian reprint).
3. Sherman Theodore A., And Simon S. Johnson, Modern Technical; Writing, New Jersey: Prentice – Hall 1990
4. Alvarez, Joseph A., The Elements of technical Writing, New York: Harcourt, 1980
5. O’ Conner, J. D., Better English Pronunciation, New Delhi University Book Stall, 1992
6. Jones, Daniel and A. C. Gimson, English Pronouncing Dictionary, London: J. M. Dent and ELBS, 1977
List of Experiments:
1 Listening Comprehension- Ear-training, use of latest scientific techniques - A V R Comprehension Trainer, S A R Comprehension Accelerator, A V R Comprehension Radiometer and E D L Skimmer.
Ear-training and Comprehension acceleration through listening of thirty chapters of English Course (Linguaphone Institute, London) each lesson of 5 min duration.
Listening Comprehension through Linguaphone Travel Course containing 32 chapters/records/cassettes (each of 5 min. duration)
(Practical 3 x 2)
2. Identification of phonetic Sounds and Symbols:
1. Consonants; 2. Pure Vowel; 3. Diphthongs; 4. Orgons of Speech; 5. Place of Articulation; 6. Manner of Articulation Voiceless and Voiced Sounds
(Practical 2X2)
3. Stress and Intonation:
1. Stress: Definition; 2. Initial and final consonant clusters; 3. Mono syllabic words; 4. Bisyllabic words; 5. Strong forms and weak forms; 6. Accent in connected speech
4. Intonation: Definition
1. Falling tone; 2. Rising tone; 3. Rising falling tone
(Practical 2x2)