Ms.R.

Sindhu
Assistant Professor/English
Subject: Technical English
Subject Code: HS8251
HS8251
SYLLABUS
TECHNICAL ENGLISH L T P C4 0 0 4

OBJECTIVES:

The Course prepares second semester engineering and Technology students to:
• Develop strategies and skills to enhance their ability to read and comprehend engineering and technology
texts.
• Develop strategies and skills to enhance their ability to read and comprehend engineering and technology
texts.

• Develop their speaking skills to make technical presentations, participate in group discussions.
• Strengthen their listening skill which will help them comprehend lectures and talks in their areas of
specialization.

UNIT I INTRODUCTION TECHNICAL ENGLISH 12

Listening- Listening to talks mostly of a scientific/technical nature and completing information-gap
exercises- Speaking –Asking for and giving directions- Reading – reading short technical texts from
journals- newspapers- Writing- purpose statements – extended definitions – issue- writing instructions –
checklists-recommendations-Vocabulary Development- technical vocabulary Language Development –
subject verb agreement - compound words.
UNIT II READING AND STUDY SKILLS 12
Listening- Listening to longer technical talks and completing exercises based on them-Speaking –
describing a process-Reading – reading longer technical texts- identifying the various transitions in a text-
paragraphing- Writing- interpreting charts, graphs- Vocabulary Development-vocabulary used in formal
letters/emails and reports Language Development- impersonal passive voice, numerical adjectives.

UNIT III TECHNICAL WRITING AND GRAMMAR 12

Listening- Listening to classroom lectures/ talks on engineering/technology -Speaking – introduction to
technical presentations- Reading – longer texts both general and technical, practice in speed reading;
Writing-Describing a process, use of sequence words- Vocabulary Development- sequence words-
Misspelled words. Language Development- embedded sentences

UNIT IV REPORT WRITING 12

Listening- Listening to documentaries and making notes. Speaking – mechanics of presentations- Reading
– reading for detailed comprehension- Writing- email etiquette- job application – cover letter –Résumé
preparation (via email and hard copy) - analytical essays and issue based essays--Vocabulary Development-
finding suitable synonyms-paraphrasing-. Language Development- clauses- if conditionals.
UNIT V GROUP DISCUSSION AND JOB APPLICATIONS 12
Listening- TED/Ink talks; Speaking –participating in a group discussion -Reading– reading and
understanding technical articles Writing– Writing reports- minutes of a meeting- accident and survey-
Vocabulary Development- verbal analogies Language Development- reported speech.
TOTAL :60 PERIODS

OUTCOMES: At the end of the course learners will be able to:

 Read technical texts and write area- specific texts effortlessly.
 Listen and comprehend lectures and talks in their area of specialisation successfully.
 Speak appropriately and effectively in varied formal and informal contexts.
 Write reports and winning job applications.
TEXT BOOKS:
[Link] of editors. Fluency in English A Course book for Engineering and Technology. Orient Blackswan,
Hyderabad: 2016
[Link].N.P and Saveetha. C. English for Technical Communication. Cambridge University Press:
New Delhi, 2016.
REFERENCES:
1. Raman, Meenakshi and Sharma, Sangeetha- Technical Communication Principles and
[Link] University Press: New Delhi,2014.
2. Kumar, Suresh. E. Engineering English. Orient Blackswan: Hyderabad,2015
3. Booth-L. Diana, Project Work, Oxford University Press, Oxford: 2014.
4. Grussendorf, Marion, English for Presentations, Oxford University Press, Oxford: 2007
5. Means, L. Thomas and Elaine Langlois, English & Communication For Colleges.
Cengage Learning, USA: 2007

Students can be asked to read Tagore, Chetan Bhagat and for supplementary reading.
UNIT I-LANGUAGE
DEVELOPMENT
SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT
20 Rules of Subject Verb
Agreement

Can’t we all just get

along?
1. Subjects and verbs must agree
in number.
• Singular subject = singular verb
• Plural subject = plural verb
• Cow= singular, eats= singular
• Ducks= plural, quack= plural
• *Hint*= SVS- singular verbs have an S
• Singular yes?- the verb has an “S”!
• Singular no? The “S” has to go!
2. Don’t get confused by the
words that come between the
subject and verb.

The detective who was called to the case

is usually very good.
3. Prepositional phrases between
the subject and verb usually do
not affect the agreement.

The biker in this race is very competitive.

The bikers in this race are very competitive.

4. If a sentence starts with “there”
or “ here”, the subject will always
be placed after the verb.

There is a meeting today.

Here are the results from this past month.

 5. Subjects can come after the
verb in questions.
• Does Betty always play with dolls?

• How are the Bosco sticks today?

 6. If two subjects are joined by
“and”, they typically require a
plural verb.

• The puppy and the lady are friends.

7. If two subjects are separated
by “and” refer to the same thing,
the verb is singular.

• Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite

pasta dish.
 8. If both subjects are singular and
connected by or, nor, neither/nor,
either/or and not only/but also, the
verb is singular.

• Sally or Bubba has stolen the

scarecrow.

• Not only the guitar player but also the

drummer was soaked with sweat.
 9. If both subjects are plural and
connected by the words or, nor,
neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but
also, the verb is plural.

• Cookies or brownies are nice treats for

your teacher.
 10. If one subject is singular and one
plural and are connected by the words or,
nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but
also, use the subject that is nearest the
verb.
• Either my sisters or my mom has sent
me a present.

• Not only Bob but also the Smiths want

some hamburgers for supper.
11. Units of measurement usually
use a singular verb.
• Six gallons of paint was used on the
house.

• Five dollars is too much for a cup of

coffee.
 12. Collective nouns usually
take a singular verb.
• The herd is stampeding. QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

The class was ready for the test.

 13. Titles of books, movies,
novels, etc. are treated as
singular.
• Holes was one of my favorite books.I
want to see the movie.

QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
 14. Two infinitives separated
by and take a plural verb.
• To run and to read are my two favorite
“Free-time” activities.
 15. Gerunds alone take a
singular verb. Gerunds linked
by and take a plural verb.
• Dancing is not something everyone can
do as well as I can!
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
16. If the words each, every or no
come before the subject, the verb
is singular.

• Each boy and girl has to take the test.

• Every frog and toad turns into a prince.

• No paper and pen is required.

(But an apple would be nice!:)
17. Most indefinite pronouns take
singular verbs.
one body thing
someone somebody something
anyone anybody anything
No one nobody nothing
everyone everybody everything

Little One * Everybody is happy.

Another Neither * No one has a dime.
Much Either * Nothing was going to help.
Each
 18. Both, few, many, others,
and several take a plural verb.
• Several need to finish the race.

• A few have the right answer.

 19. When the subject is all, any, more,
most, none, or some, this is the ONLY
time you must look at the object of the
prepositional phrase to determine whether
it is singular or plural.
• All of the chickens have laid eggs.
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

• Some of the milk has spilled.

QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
20. Final rule- Remember, only the
SUBJECT affects the verb!