Communicative

English
MODULE 3 : Academic Writing
Academic Writing
Academic writing is a formal style of writing used in universities and scholarly publications. Academic writing follows
the same writing process as other types of texts, but it has specific conventions in terms of content, structure and
style.

Features Of Academic Writing

A piece of academic writing is :

Formal : Written using a formal language using words typical to the discipline
Objective : Impersonal tone and unbiased views that are independent of the writer or reader
Technical : organised in a set pattern with technical words and in a style prescribed for the discipline
Key Elements to Academic Writing
Before writing a piece of academic work, one must identify the following elements :

Purpose of the work : once the topic is confirmed, one must identify whether the purpose of the work is

a. Social : demonstration of knowledge

b. Rhetorical : persuading or convincing the audience
c. Professional : research skills or career related

Audience analysis : once the purpose is identified, the next step is identifying the readership of the work or the
target audience whether they are peers, examiners, experts or layman and then formulate ideas using illustration or
statistical tools necessary.

Appropriate voice: According to the selected approach, the speaking voice may vary but for an academic piece it is
recommended to use neutral or third person perspective and a plural form of pronouns (they) is recommended to
maintain gender neutrality.
Steps in Academic Writing
1. Pre Writing :
It involves preliminary activities that helps to gather ideas and organise the order in which ideas are presented. Pre
writing activities include brainstorming, clustering and mind mapping.

2. Writing :
In this step, divide the writing into a sequence with an introduction, body and conclusion paragraphs.

3. Revising :
It is the process of revisiting and reviewing your arguments and evidence and eliminate any changes in tone, style,
and rewriting colloquial and slang expressions as well as redundant expressions.

4. Proofreading :
The focus is to render the piece of written work easier for understanding and perception by checking spelling and
sentence structure as well as proper placement of data and acknowledgement of sources.

5. Fact Checking :
While proofreading looks for mistakes within the piece of writing, fact checking looks for mistakes outside the work ie
in the source of data used such as mistakes in dates, day, year, names etc by comparing its factual accuracy with
other sources of information available.
Genres of Academic Writing
1. Essay :
An essay is written to answer a question or to defend an argument or opinion on a topic with supporting
evidence. An academic essay mostly follows a linear structure ie ideas are presented in chronological sequence.
Essay comprises of three types of paragraphs.
a. Introduction : presents opening statements and main idea
b. Body : develops the main idea through subpoints and evidence
c. Conclusion : rephrases the main idea and presents closing statements.

2. Research paper/ Article :

Usually longer than an essay, it provides detailed information on a topic of research and have scholars and
experts as the target audience. It requires a more serious research and documentation of evidence which is
written with an aim to publish in scholarly journal.

3. Proposal :
A proposal is what you present to explain objectives, purpose, methodology and a detailed plan of action. The
main purpose is to demonstrate your ability and uses persuasion to convince the reader to accept your plan of
action. Various proposals include : book proposal, project proposal, business proposal, research proposal etc.
4. Case Study :
Case study uses a method of analysing sample cases -real or imaginary crisis and hypothetical situations,
involving an individual, group or organisation to identify the problem and find solutions using theories and
recommending a series a steps to solve the problem in the best possible way.

5. Review of Literature :
In order to understand one’s topic of research, a thorough investigation and review of relevant literature and
previously published works is necessary to establish the distinctiveness of your own work. Review of literature
helps to identify the research gap that will justify the relevance of your own research in the given broad area
and is an important factor in displaying your own knowledge in the field.

6. Dissertation/ Thesis :
The words dissertation and thesis are often used interchangeably to refer to the mandatory final projects in
academic programmes. They are reports of research work carried out by scholars with the style of approach
varying with different academic disciplines.

In the US a Thesis is final project in the Master’s degree and Dissertation is submitted for a Doctoral degree.
In the UK a Dissertation is final project in the Master’s degree and Thesis is submitted for a Doctoral degree.

While the structure followed is the same for both, a doctoral thesis/dissertation is longer than that of a
master’s.
Approaches to Academic Writing
There are different styles/ approaches to academic and non academic writing. The writer’s choice in style depends on
the nature of assignment, discipline, audience and purpose. They maybe objective, subjective or a combination of
both depending on the requirement. These approaches or stylistic tones are:

1. Expository : used to explain, inform or define a subject with focus on facts and figures rather than opinions and
arguments following a logical ordering of subject matter.
Eg : textbooks, business articles, technical and scientific manuals.

2. Descriptive : use of visual and rhythmic words that enable the reader to imagine scenarios while reading the work,
which may or may not follow a logical ordering of subject matter.
Eg : literature and poetry, works of fiction.

3. Persuasive : aims at convincing readers to accept the writer’s point of view where evidence is used to substantiate
the writer’s arguments or plan of action.
Eg : advertisements, pamphlets, political speeches or debates, proposals.
4. Analytical : may contain elements from expository,descriptive and persuasive. Focus is on organising
facts/information into categories and examines them to provide possible scenarios and alternative responses
by comparing and contrasting the available data.
Eg : surveys, graph interpretations.

5. Critical/ Evaluative : used to evaluate the merits or to point out inadequacies of an existing work by
pointing out its weaknesses and provide alternatives while also giving the (often persuasive) writer’s point of
view.
Eg : critique on articles, book/movie reviews, review of literature.

6. Narrative/ Reflective : presents a story, personal experience or idea through narration and using its
memory to reflect or document the experience. It often gives life experiences as a model for learning or
realisation with a deeply personal (sometimes descriptive) personal conclusion.
Eg : autobiographies, biographies, memoirs, anecdotes.
Communicative English
Module 3: CV , Resume and Email
 Curriculum Vitae and Resume
Curriculum Vitae :
A CV (abbreviation for the Latin word curriculum vitae, meaning “course of life”) is a detailed document sharing
not only your career history but also your education, awards, special honors, grants or scholarships, research
or academic projects, and publications.

It may also include professional references, coursework, fieldwork, descriptions of research projects or
dissertations, hobbies and interests and a personal profile that lists your skills and positive attributes.

Generally, a CV is chronological and starts with your educational experience.

Resume :

A resume (originates from the French word résumé, which translates to “abstract” or “summary”) is a document
that summarizes your career history, skills and education.

A resume may also list relevant professional associations or volunteer work and may include an objective
statement that shares your professional goals.

[ Please note the difference in pronunciation between the verb /rɪˈzjuːm/ and the noun /ˈrezjuːmeɪ/ ]
 Use and Usage
● Use

A CV and resume are similar in that they’re both documents that summarize your professional
history, education, skills and achievements. They’re also both documents you might provide an
employer for consideration for an open position.

● Usage

a) In the United States and most of Europe, resumes and CVs are not interchangeable. A
resume is a shorter-form document that provides a concise overview of your previous roles,
skills and details about your education. A CV, on the other hand, is typically a longer, more
detailed document focused largely on academic coursework and research.

b) However, in India, South Africa and Australia, the terms CV and resume are
interchangeable.
 CV vs Resume
● Length: People are encouraged to keep their resume as concise as possible, ideally only one to two pages, a
CV can run several pages in length. A CV includes more information than a resume.

● Experience / career type: Often, CVs are used by people in academic roles. You may use a CV if you are
currently applying to or have graduated from a masters or doctoral program, or if you work as a professor or
researcher at an academic institution whereas most other jobs prefer a resume for effective management of
their time per applicant.
● Ability to customize: A CV is a static document that does not change. You may add new information to a CV
throughout your professional career, but the information will not change based on where you’re applying. A
resume, on the other hand, is often tailored to highlight specific skills or experience relevant to the position or
industry.
● Geography: In other regions of the world, such as the UK, New Zealand and parts of Europe, employers use
the term CV to describe both CV and resume-style documents and don’t use the term “resume” at all. In South
Africa, Australia and India, the terms CV and resume are often used interchangeably. But, in the US, a resume
and CV are two distinctly different types of documents.
 Should I use a Resume or a CV?
If you’re unsure whether an employer requires a resume or CV, ask yourself the following questions to help
determine the best document:

● What kind of job are you applying for?

If you’re applying for a job in academia, especially as an educator, teaching assistant or researcher at a
college or university, then you’ll need a CV. Some institutions have guidelines for what to include in a CV,
so be sure to check the institution website for information before you apply.

● Where is the company based?

Depending on where the company is located, CV may refer to a standard resume, or it may refer to the
longer form, highly detailed document. To determine what you should send, first consider the type of job.
If it’s an academic or research position, the employer is likely seeking a traditional CV. However, if it’s a
position you’d use a standard resume, then the employer is likely seeking the shorter form resume-style
document. Also, looking into the prospects required will give an idea of the type of document asked.
Standard Information in both CV and Resume
While a Resume can be tailored to specific needs and the skill set can be highlighted
as per job requirement, it includes standard information that is common to CV as well.

● Contact information
● Academic history
● Professional experience
● Qualifications and skills
● Awards and honors
● Publications
● Professional associations
● Grants and fellowships
● Licenses and certificates
● Volunteer work ( if it can boost your job application)
● Personal information (optional)
● Hobbies and interests (optional)
Joe Smith
Example Template
1234 Main Street, Atlanta, GA 30308
770-555-1234
joe.t.smith@email.com

Objective
To inspire young minds into joining animal healthcare and gain insight of the youth’s contribution to animal protection.

Education
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree, 2018
University of Texas College of Science, Austin, TX

Professional Experience
University of Southern California
Professor, Herman Ostrow School of Veterinary Sciences | 2012–2018
● Taught multiple undergraduate and graduate courses in veterinary sciences.
● Fostered student commitment to lifelong learning and excellence in veterinary sciences.
● Acted as a student advisor to first-year veterinary school students.

Skills and qualifications

● Team leadership
● Seminar instruction
● Fluent in English and Spanish
License/ Certifications
● Specialization in livestock science, research and development with license to drug prescription.
● Certified animal whisperer.

Awards and Honors

● AVMA Advocacy Award, 2018
● AVMA Animal Welfare Award, 2016

Publications and presentations

Yang, J., Sanchez, C., Patel, A., Johnson, L., (2017) “Study of cocoa product component theobromine and
danger to canines.” Journal of Modern Veterinary Medicine. 272: 1234-56789.

Professional Associations and Affiliations

● American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (2013–Present)
● American Veterinary Medical Association (2011–Present)

Volunteer Work
● Runs a local animal foster home
● Member of an NGO for stray dogs.

Hobbies/ Interests
● Read and test the effect of musical instruments on livestock.
● Conducts local meetings on basic pet healthcare.
 Email
Short for electronic mail, e-mail or email is information stored on a computer that is exchanged between two users
over telecommunications. More plainly, e-mail is a message that may contain text, files, images, or other attachments
sent through a network to a specified individual or group of individuals.

Writing an Email

● The To field is where you type the e-mail address of the person who is the recipient of your message and the
From field should contain your e-mail address.If you are manually specifying more than one recipient
(group e-mail), the addresses should be separated by a comma and a space, or by pressing the Tab key.

● The Subject should consist of a few words describing the e-mail's contents. The subject lets the recipient see
what the e-mail is about, without opening and reading the full e-mail.

● The CC (Carbon Copy) field allows you to specify recipients who are not direct addressees (in the "To" field).

● The BCC (blind carbon copy) is similar to CC, except the recipients are secret. Each BCC recipient will receive
the e-mail, but will not see who else received a copy. The addressees in ‘ To’ remain visible to all recipients.

● Finally, the Message Body is the location you type your main message. It often contains your signature at the
bottom; similar to a handwritten letter.
 Advantages of an Email
● Free delivery - Sending an e-mail is virtually free, outside the cost of Internet service. There is no need
to buy a postage stamp to send a letter.

● Global delivery - E-mail can be sent to nearly anywhere around the world, to any country.

● Instant delivery - An e-mail can be instantly sent and received by the recipient over the Internet.

● File attachment - An e-mail can include one or more file attachments, allowing a person to send
documents, pictures, or other files with an e-mail.

● Long-term storage - E-mails are stored electronically, which allows for storage and archival over long
periods of time.

● Environmentally friendly - Sending an e-mail does not require paper, cardboard, or packing tape,
conserving paper resources.
 Formal and Informal Email
Use a formal email style:

● if it is required in your organization

● if the recipients are not well known to you
● when sending an email to someone who is above you in authority such as your boss or a teacher

Use an informal email style:

● if it is encouraged in your organization (your boss and others use an informal style)
● for a business colleague who is well-known to you and/or on friendly terms
● for personal emails that may contain both business and non-business topics

The choice between formal and informal style varies from company to company. If you're not sure whether you
should use a formal email structure or an informal email structure, it's often safer to use a more formal style.
 Structure of a Business/Formal Email
All good business emails should have all these parts:

● Subject Line. The subject line is the first part of the email your reader sees. It can determine whether
your reader opens the email. Most experts agree that subject lines should be short (six to ten words)
and specific.
● Salutation. The salutation is how you greet the reader. It's important that you understand whether you
are addressing a formal or informal audience.
● Body Text. The body text conveys the main message of the email. It should also include an introduction
and conclusion. It should be written in short paragraphs of one to two sentences. Where it will add
clarity, use bulleted or numbered lists.

● Signature. An email signature is a block of text appended to the end of an email message which often
contains the sender's name and contact information. An email signature often contains a name,
business contact information, email address a website URL, etc.
 Format for a Business/Formal Email

Structure your email so that the first few sentences of the body text explain what the email is about. The last few
sentences should be a conclusion that summarizes the business email. The conclusion is also a good place to
include a call to action. A call to action tells the email reader what to do next and how to do it.
Example Template
Communicative English
Module 3 - Interview and Group Discussion
 Interview
Interview can be simply defined as a formal meeting between two groups or two individuals :

● the interviewer(s) - the person(s) asking questions

● the interviewee(s) - the person(s) answering the questions

Interviews are great tools that help both the company and the candidates to make the right selection for the jobs. It
not only helps the establishment to prosper and grow by selecting the right candidates but also provides a way for
the employee to grow both professionally and personally.

Objectives
● It helps to verify the information provided by the candidate and ascertain the accuracy of the provided facts
and information about the candidate.
● It not only gives the interviewer information about the technical knowledge but also gives an insight into the
much needed creative and analytical skills of the candidate.
● It is beneficial for the interviewee as an individual to gain experience, both professionally and personally.
● It helps the candidates assess their skills and identify areas of personal improvement.
 Types of Interviews
1. Count of people Involved
a. One-to-one interview (Personal interview):
It is the most common among the interview types, it involves the interviewer asking questions maybe both technical
and general to the interviewee to investigate how fit the candidate is for the job.
Example: Posts in small organizations and mid-level and high-level jobs in big organizations.

b.Group interview:
This involves multiple candidates and they are given a topic for discussion. They are assessed on their
conversational ability and how satisfactorily they are able to have their own views and make others believe in them.
Here, the best among the lot gets selected.
Example: Fresher posts and mid-level sales posts.

c. Panel interview (Committee Interview):

The interviewers here are a group from among the company people who are in a senior position and usually, the
panel interview is when the candidate is supposed to make a presentation. But many-a-times it could be for the job
interview as well.
Example: Mid-level and high-level jobs.
2. Planning Involved:

a. Structured interview (Formal interview or guided interview):

In this traditional form of an interview, the questions asked are in a standard format and used for all the candidates.
This is to assess the ability of all the candidates impartially.
Example: Entry-level jobs for fresher.

b. Unstructured interview (Informal interview or conversational interview):

This is the opposite of a structured interview. The interviewer has a definite idea in mind about the questions to be
asked, but it doesn’t follow a certain format. The questions may deviate and a conversation style interview follows.
Example: Mid-level job interview for managerial position

3. Judging the Capabilities:

a. Behavioral-based interview:
The interviewee is asked questions about past work experiences in a particular situation. This helps the interviewer
understand the candidate’s future performance based on his past experiences. Here the candidates need to provide
examples of when they have handled situations at workplace or life in general.
Example: Interview for managerial positions, executive posts.
b. Problem-solving interview (Task-Oriented interview):
The most common among the interview patterns, the interviewer is more concerned about problem-solving abilities
be it technical, managerial, creative or analytical skills. and it may involve either writing and answering a
questionnaire set or answering them orally.
Example: Interviews for Software recruitments, technical industries, and managerial positions.

c. Depth interview (In-depth interview):

When everything about the interviewee right from life history, academic qualifications, work experiences, hobbies,
and interests are to be understood, the interviewer with a clear idea about the questions allows the conversation to
flow and is more of a listener. This interview takes time and has a friendly approach towards the interviewee.
Example: For executive posts.

d. Stress interview:
These rare interviews are conducted to see how the candidate will be able to react in stressful situations and to
assess if the interviewee will be able to handle a crisis the job.

Tactics involved include:

● Completely ignore the candidate by maybe, making a phone call in the middle of the interview.
● Or some other tactic like continuously interrupting the candidate when he answers the questions.
● Trying to enforce your point of view forcefully even if he disagrees.
● Asking a whole lot of questions all at once.
● Interrupting him by asking another question not related to his answer.
Example: For sales jobs and customer relations
4. Facilities or Settings Involved:
a. Telephonic interview:
The interview is conducted in the initial stages and before the personal interview, over the phone to narrow down the
probable list of candidates so that only the most eligible ones finally get shortlisted especially when the candidates
are far-off, and company has to provide travel expenses.
Example: Interview for entry-level jobs.

b. Online interview (Video interview or Skype interview):

The interview is conducted through online chats, email or through videos calls. This involves the interviewer asking
questions just like in a personal interview but using internet as the medium of communication. This mode is
preferable as the interviewer doesn’t need to inform the candidate many days in advance especially if the
interviewee resides far-off or if the interview at the appointed time got cancelled for some reason.
Example: Interview for mid-level posts.

3. Job Fair Interview (Career Fair interview):

Here the interviewer does a mini-interview to know the qualifications and the technical knowledge of a vast number
of candidates. Then basic technical questions are asked to know if the candidate can proceed further for the main
interview. This is a very short interview to net only the potential candidates.
Example: Interviews for fresher jobs held at the college campus.
d. Lunch interview:
This interview is more of a conversational interview mainly designed so that the interviewer gets to know more about
the candidate. This also helps the interviewer to assess how the candidate conducts himself in a less-formal
environment and how he presents himself.
Example: Interview for managerial and sales posts.

e. Tea interview:
This is the same as a lunch interview but only that it differs in the time limit. Here the interviewee gets less time to
prove himself. The interviewer here has a structured format for questioning since there is a time limit.
Example: Interview for positions in the fashion and glamour industry and sales posts.

5. The Task Involved:

a. Apprenticeship interview:
Here the candidate is a novice and the interview is very formal with general and some skill related questions put forth.
Example: Interview for training programs and internships.

b. Evaluation interview:
In this interview, a fixed set of questions are asked and a scoring system evaluates the points scored. This type of
interview negates the scope of the personal bias of the interviewer.
Example: Interview for trainee jobs.
c. Promotion interview:
This is for an employee of the company seeking a higher position for career enhancement purposes.
Example: Interviews for mid level employees.

d. Counselling interview:
When employees are called and their problems and solutions are discussed within the organization, such meeting
type interviews are called counselling interviews.
Example: Employee review in corporates.

e. Disciplinary interview:
An individual or number of employees or the employee union is interviewed for their misconduct or non-
performance. It is a meeting between the manager and the employees to get the problem resolved.
Example: Damage control interviews in corporates.

f. Persuasive interview:
The interviewee here has to persuade the interviewer to accept his point of view as in case of an employee persuading
his manager to implement some changes in the policy or a sales manager persisting on selling a product.
Example: Interviews for project funding.
 Group Discussion

"Group Discussion" or GD, refers to a communicative situation that allows its participants to share their views and
opinions with other participants.
It is a popular methodology used by many organizations (company, institute, business school, etc.) to gauge
whether the candidate has certain personality traits such as interpersonal communication skills, confidence in public
speaking, team spirit, leadership abilities, social behaviour and problem-solving skills (or soft skills) .
GDs form an important part of the shortlisting process for recruitment or admission in a company or institution. It is
a situation test wherein a candidate’s group worthiness and potential as a worker comes out quite explicitly .
The contenders who are shortlisted on the basis of written exams have qualified with their intelligence quotient, i.e.,
hard skills, however, since the significance of emotional quotient arose, new tools such as GD were devised to find
out whether they possess the qualities/soft skills required to contribute effectively to the goal accomplishment
process.
Objectives :

● Evaluate whether a candidate is the right fit for the organisation.

● Assess how a participant performs under different situations in a group.
● Judge how one conceptualizes and manoeuvres his ideas through the discussion.
● Analyse the candidate’s attitude towards fellow members and tolerance to others’ ideas.
● Shed light on candidate’s leadership, problem-solving aptitude, creative thinking and knowledge.
● Evaluate both the personality traits and group skills of candidates participating in a G.D.

Since, teamwork is an essential element of business management and corporate work-sphere, a person’s ability to
perform well in a GD is very critical for a successful career.
 Types of Group Discussion
a. Topical :
Based on current affairs or static matters.
Example: demonetization, Indian democracy

b. Case Study:
Multiple problems are embedded in the given situation, and both the individual participants and the group are
required to analyse the situation, identify the problems, and suggest a way out.
Example: organizing an event with shortage in budget and manpower

c. Abstract :
No definite framework of the topic, and hence no definite direction to take in the discussion. Instead, the
participants are required to interpret the topic in their own ways and demonstrate innovative thinking in doing so.
Example: word, cryptic sentence or an image
 How is a Group Discussion Conducted?
An average GD usually features 10 to 15 participants. The group is given a topic or a situation which could either
be factual, abstract or case based, followed by a preparation time of 3 to 5 minutes.
At the end of the prep time, the panel signals the group to commence the discussion, and from then on plays the role
of a non-participating observer.
The group members must discuss the topic as they deem appropriate without any suggestion from the panel. The
panel expects no particular order of speakers to be followed nor a minimum or maximum duration of speaking to be
followed by individual participants.
While the group discusses the pertaining issue at hand, the Moderators/ Panelists silently observe each candidate on
various predetermined parameters.
The Panelists assign scores to every candidate based on their individual performance as well as how they performed
within the group.
The average duration of most GDs is 15 minutes but may continue for up to 45 minutes.
The GD ends in either of the two ways:
1. First, the panel may abruptly stop the GD and announce the end of the process.
2. Second, the panel may ask a participant (or more than one participant) to summarise the GD.
○ The summary cannot have anything in it that was not discussed during the GD.
○ The participants who have been mostly quiet during the GD are usually asked to
summarise it, and they must not take this opportunity to present their own views which
were not presented during the discussion.
○ The summary must be an objective recapitulation of the important points and conclusions
brought up during the discussion.
 Evaluation Criteria for a Group Discussion
1. Individual Qualities :
(refer to the competencies that you may demonstrate in or outside the context of a group.)

a. Content: whether what you say is relevant (not deviating from topic) and comprehensive (superficial or in depth
treatment of the topic).

b. Analytical skills: answering the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of the subject matter (especially in a case study).

c. Reasoning skills: the panel looks at how you support your standpoints, and how you respond to those of the
others, how effectively you can ‘strengthen or weaken’ an argument, how logical you are in your overall approach
to the topic.

d. Organisational skills: presentation of facts in the right order so as to maximise the impact of good content.

e. Communication skills: getting your point across to someone in a language they understand, with relevant
illustrations they can identify with.

f. Creativity: ability to bring to the table a novel perspective on the topic, look at a problem differently from ten
other participants and suggest a path-breaking solution and interpret an abstract topic in ways the others cannot.
I2. Group Skills :
(refer to those skills which can only be evaluated in the context of a group)

a. Listening skill: The panel constantly observes whether or not every participant is listening to the discussion. A
participant is a poor listener, if there is a lack of eye contact with the group, or a poor summary at the end.

b. Leadership quality: In highly-charged discussions, one or two participants usually play the role of the anchor, in
that they define the topic appropriately, offer the initial analysis of the keywords of the topic, and also try to hold
the group together in pursuit of a common goal. Such individuals could demonstrate effective leadership.

c. Body language: The panel primarily looks at voice, eye contact and hand movements.

● The speaker must maintain a consistent eye contact with the entire group and the listeners must reciprocate, or it
may point to a lack of confidence, interest in the GD or concern for others.
● Hand movements are like punctuations; if used wisely they enhance the effect of your words and used unwisely
can attract unnecessary attention and distract the listener from your words.
● The panel may also pay attention to your voice modulation. A monotonous pitch may reduce the impact of even
the most powerful words

d. Group behaviour: This means whether the candidate is assertive or aggressive in a group. Assertiveness is a
rational display of conviction of one’s thoughts, while aggressiveness is a display of domination through
intimidation. Assertiveness allows room for flexibility, which is a desired trait ,while aggressiveness leads to
irrational rigidity of viewpoint.
 Preparing for a Group Discussion
Reasons for failing at a GD maybe :

1. Due to the fear of speaking in public.

2. Lack of knowledge on the topic.
3. No proper command on language.

One can overcome these difficulties by :

4. Be up-to-date on the latest information such as news and trending topics in the social media.
5. Read newspapers and magazines as well as editorials as they offer opinion, comment and perspective.
6. Review the timelines of important national and international affairs and their subsequent developments.
7. Prepare on these topics, and speak in front of the mirror so as to make an assessment for yourself.
8. Try on the roles of a coordinator/leader as well as a summariser while preparing on each topic.
Note Making
Note Making

Note making is not just about writing down everything you hear or read. It is a process of reviewing, connecting
and synthesising ideas from your lectures or reading.

Making notes helps you to:

● stay active and engaged during your lectures, reading and revision
● understand what you are learning and clarify your thinking
● be selective and identify key ideas
● remember the material
● organise your ideas and make connections
● plan and structure written assignments
● review and revise before exams
Do

● Be consistent.
● Always record your sources – date, subject, lecturer, title, author, page no. etc.
● Write on one side only.
● Use “speech marks” or different coloured pen to identify direct quotations.
● Use abbreviations. (Develop a personal form of abbreviations to allow you to take notes more quickly and allow you
to include more information effectively).
● Keep separate notebooks for each subject. It will keep your notes well organized.
● Use colour, shape, dotted lines, to highlight, link, group ideas.

Don’t

● Copy words as it is.

● Write everything.
● Rely on PowerPoint handouts. (Make your own notes)
● Worry if you miss something. (Try to understand general idea about the topic, not all details)
● Write down more than you would want to read again.
Different Methods of Note Making

1. Linear notes

Advantages
● Simple and familiar approach.
● Good for listing information.
● Good for detail

Limitations
● Order tends to follow the source.
● Difficult to go back and insert additional
information.
● Repetitive format.
● Poor at conceptual/big picture level.
● Can reduce complex issues to lists and
bullet-points.
2. Flow-chart notes

Advantages
● Presents complex processes/
interactions in a simple, easy to
understand manner.
● Can reduce large volume of text to
simple graphics.
● More memorable and differentiated
than plain text.

Limitations
● Can be time consuming to construct.
● May require more than one chart to
complete one concept.
Matrix/grid notes

3. Matrix/grid notes

Advantages
● Clarity
● Good for understanding a topic
thematically.
● Good for deconstructing complex
information.

Limitations
● Danger of categorising complex
information in overly simple –ve/ +ve
terms.
● May not applicable to different
subjects.
4. Spider diagrams

Advantages
● Generates processed information.
● Highly personalised.
● Can reduce large volume of text to
simple graphics.
● Easy to arrange and link information.
● Good for showing connections/ big
picture.
● More engaging than copying.

Limitations
● Can become messy/confused.
● Requires practice.
5. Cornell Notes

The Cornell System is a unique system of note taking that

allows you to visually organize your notes and quiz yourself
on the material later. It was popularised by Walter Pauk.

To use Cornell, start by leaving a two-inch column on the

left-hand side of the page. You should also be sure to
leave a space of 3-4 lines blank at the bottom of the
page. Once these areas have been designated you can
take notes on the rest of the page as you normally would.
Don’t be afraid to use blank space to separate and organize
new concepts.

The Cornell System helps you make connections and

clarify definitions, thereby increasing your ability to retain
the material. This technique also makes it easy to regularly
review the material, keeping it fresh in your mind.
How to write notes

Step 1 :
(i)Read the passage carefully.
(ii)Try to get the theme and subject of the passage. You may ask yourself: “What is this passage about?”
This will provide you the gist.

Step 2 : Read carefully. Identify main ideas and important supporting details.

Step 3 : Make notes of the main ideas under headings and add sub-points under sub-headings.

Step 4 : Use proper layout/format, e.g.,

(a) Indented, linear form
(b) Sequential form
(c) Tabular form
(d) Flow chart
(e) Pie chart, graphs or diagrams, etc.

Step 5 : Use recognisable abbreviations wherever possible

Passage 1:

Conversation is indeed the most easily teachable of all arts. All you need to do in order to become a good
conversationalist is to find a subject that interests you and your listeners. There are, for example,
numberless hobbies to talk about. But the important
thing is that you must talk about other fellow’s hobby rather than your own. Therein lies the secret of your
popularity. Talk to your friends about the things that interest them, and you will get a reputation for good
fellowship, charming wit, and a brilliant mind. There is nothing that pleases people so much as your
interest in their interest.

It is just as important to know what subjects to avoid and what subjects to select for good conversation. If
you don’t want to be set down as a wet blanket or a bore, be careful to avoid certain unpleasant subjects.
Avoid talking about yourself, unless you are asked to do so. People are interested in their own problems
not in yours. Sickness or death bores everybody. The only one who willingly listens to such talk is the
doctor, but he gets paid for it.

To be a good conversationalist you must know not only what to say, but how also to say it. Be mentally
quick and witty. But don’t hurt others with your wit. Finally try to avoid mannerism in your conversation.
Don’t bite your lips or click your tongue, or roll your eyes or use your hands excessively as you speak.

Don’t be like that Frenchman who said, “How can I talk if you hold my hand?”
 Title: The Art of Conversation
1. Conv’n—most easily tch’ble art
1. (i) Reqd. interest’g subject – hobbies
1. (ii)Talk about other fellow’s int./hobby
1. (iii) Win’g reptn. as good conversationalist KEY
1. (iii). a. good f’ship 1. Reqd. - required
1. (iii). b. charm’g wit 2. Conv’n - conversation
1. (iii). c. brl. mind 3. F’ship- friendship
2. Fit subs, for conversationalist 4. &- and
2. (i) What subs, to avoid/select? 5. brl- brilliant
2. (ii) Avoid unpl’nt subs. 6. Subs- subjects
2.(ii). a. sickness 7. /- or
2.(ii). b. death 8. Reptn- reputation
2. (iii) Avoid talk’g about self
3. Qualities of a good conversationalist
3.(i) What to say & how to say it
3.(ii) ment’y quick & witty
3.(iii) pleasant & unhurt’g
3.(iv) avoid mannerisms.
Conversation is the easiest and the most effective tool than other arts. To have such attractive quality, you need to pick a
subject that interest your listners more than you. Talk to your friends on topics that can indulge your friends in the
conversation for a longer period of time. Being a good conversationalist, you have to quick and witty. You should have a
pleasant and unhurting quality. Mannerism should be avoided.
Exercise Passage 2:

A good business letter is one that gets results. The best way to get results is to develop a letter that, in its appearance, style and
content, conveys information efficiently. To perform this function, a business letter should be concise, clear and courteous.

The business letter must be concise: don’t waste words. Little introduction or preliminary chat is necessary. Get to the point, make
the point, and leave it. It is safe to assume that your letter is being read by a very busy person with all kinds of papers to deal with.
Re-read and revise your message until the words and sentences you have used are precise. This takes time, but is a necessary part
of a good business letter. A short business letter that makes its point quickly has much more impact on a reader than a long-
winded, rambling exercise in creative writing. This does not mean that there is no place for style and even, on occasion, humour in
the business letter. While it conveys a message in its contents, the letter also provides the reader with an impression of you, its
author: the medium is part of the message.

The business letter must be clear. You should have a very firm idea of what you want to say, and you should let the reader know it.
Use the structure of the letter—the paragraphs, topic sentences, introduction and conclusion—to guide the reader point by point
from your thesis, through your reasoning, to your conclusion. Paragraph often, to break up the page and to lend an air of
organisation to the letter. Use an accepted business-letter format. Re-read what you have written from the point of view of
someone who is seeing it for the first time, and be sure that all explanations are adequate, all information provided (including
reference numbers, dates, and other identification). A clear message, clearly delivered, is the essence of business communication.

The business letter must be courteous. Sarcasm and insults are ineffective and can often work against you. If you are sure you are
right, point that out as politely as possible, explain why you are right, and outline what the reader is expected to do about it. Another
form of courtesy is taking care in your writing and typing of the business letter. Grammatical and spelling errors (even if you call
them typing errors) tell a reader that you don’t think enough of him or can lower the reader’s opinion of your personality faster than
anything you say, no matter how idiotic. There are excuses for ignorance; there are no excuses for sloppiness.

The business letter is your custom-made representative. It speaks for you and is a permanent record of your message. It can pay
big dividends on the time you invest in giving it a concise message, a clear structure, and a courteous tone.
Communicative English
Module 3- Non fiction reading and Script Writing
 What is Fiction?
Fiction generally is a narrative form, in any medium, consisting of people, events, or
places that are imaginary—in other words, not based strictly on history or fact.
In its most narrow usage, fiction refers to written narratives in prose and often specifically
novels though also novellas and short stories.
More broadly, fiction has come to encompass imaginary narratives expressed in any form,
including not just writings but also live theatrical performances, films, television programs,
radio dramas, comics, role-playing games, and video games.

In other words, fiction is a type of literature that describes imaginary people and events,
not necessarily real ones and is invented or imagined thing or scenario
What is Non- fiction?
Non-fiction (also spelled nonfiction) is any document or media content that intends,
in good faith, to present only truth and accuracy regarding information, events, or
people. Nonfictional content may be presented either objectively or subjectively.

Non-fiction's specific descriptions may or may not be accurate, and can give either a
true or a false account of the subject in question. However, authors of such accounts
genuinely believe or claim them to be truthful at the time of their composition or, at
least, pose them to a convinced audience as historically or empirically factual.

Works of nonfiction need not necessarily be written text, since statements expressed by
pictures or film can also purport to present a factual account of a subject.

In other words, non-fiction is writing that is about real events and facts, rather than
stories that have been invented.
 Comparison Fiction Non- fiction

Type of writing It is a subjective form of writing, It is an objective form of writing, which

meaning it is based on personal opinions means it is based on evidence and facts.
and emotions of the writer.

Definition When something is written in fiction, it When something is written using

means that it is based on the writer’s nonfiction, it is all based on real-life and
imagination and creative license. authentic events that have transpired in
the world.

Purpose Written work based on fiction is Works based on nonfiction convey

generally for entertainment and meaningful information or events that
pleasure, or to convey information in an have made some impact in the world.
ironic sense.

Information used The writer has no creative limits, so their The writer must make sure that all the
work can be inspired by real-life events information mentioned is genuine, and
which are moulded with their nothing is made up.
imagination.

Responsibility to reader The writer holds no responsibility here The writer must make sure that the
and just wishes to push the reader’s information conveyed is factual, as they
creative boundary ad limits. hold all responsibility and liability.
Types of Non-Fiction
Non-fiction texts come in many types, and have many different purposes. They surround us in everyday
life from the back of the cereal packet at breakfast, to a text book at the library, but can also come in
more sophisticated forms from a newspaper article to a review of a new computer game.
They are written for many different purposes, and are aimed at many different people or audiences.

Non-fiction texts include:

◦ Reviews
◦ Letters
◦ Diaries
◦ Essays
◦ Travel writing
◦ Feature articles
◦ Advertisements
◦ Autobiographies
◦ Magazine articles
◦ Newspaper articles
◦ Information leaflets
1) Biography
Biography, form of literature, commonly considered nonfictional, the subject of which is the life of an
individual. If someone is writing about their own life it becomes an autobiography. A memoir is a
collection of memories written by the person themselves.These forms can also widen out to focus on a specific
part of someone’s life, or their family.

Steps to a biographic narrative:

1) When starting to write a biography, first of all the author must know about who will be written
about. It can be about a historical person, someone famous, a member of our family or it can be of
oneself.
2) Once the person who will star in the biography has been chosen, all kinds of relevant information
must be collected, such as the date of birth and death, in the event that the biographed person is dead.
3) The most important and outstanding events that marked a change in the person’s life. It should
include anything that may be of general interest to the reader of the biography being written.
4) If you choose to write about a person from another era, you should add details of the context in which
they lived so that the reader can understand the reasons for the actions they took.
5) A biography can be organised and written in narrative form or in third person depending on the
type of biography it is.
2) Review
A review is a critical evaluation of a text, event, object, or phenomenon. Reviews can consider
books, articles, entire genres or fields of literature, architecture, art, fashion, restaurants,
policies, exhibitions, performances, and many other forms.

The most important element of a review is that it is a commentary, not merely a summary. It
allows you to enter into dialogue and discussion with the work’s creator and with other
audiences.

Typically, reviews are brief. In newspapers and academic journals, they rarely exceed 1000
words. While they vary in tone, subject, and style, they share some common features:

1) A review gives the reader a concise summary of the content.

2) A review offers a critical assessment of the content.
3) A review often suggests whether or not the audience would appreciate it.
The most common types of review are film and book reviews, but people also review music,
television programmes, theatre performances and computer games. All reviews share a number of
different purposes.

Movie Review Criteria

● to inform - the review needs to tell people who is in the film, who it is by and where or
when readers can see it
● to describe - the review should describe the story, characters and some of the action -
without spoiling the plot or giving too much away
● to entertain - to use humour to provide the reader with their opinion of the item that they
are reviewing
● to analyse - a good review gives an opinion on whether the film is good or not and why
● to advise - the review should tell the reader whether or not to go and see the film
Movie Review Process - Questions to be answered :
● What is the movie and who is the director?
● What other movies has the director worked on?
● What is the genre?
● What is the major theme of the movie?
● Describe the major characters.
● Describe whether the casting did justice to the role.
● What scene did you like best and why?
● What kind of audience would enjoy the movie and why?
● How does it compare with other movies of the same genre?
● What is your overall impression of the movie?
● Will you recommend this movie to the viewers or not?
‘Kumbalangi Nights’ review: Life and love in a beautiful, borderless isle

Shammi has the thickest moustache in town. He single-handedly beats to pulp a group of men who dare to enter his
home. He is ‘decent’ by the conventional conservative standards, always has a smile on his face, even when he hears
unpleasant things. He gets a scene where he admires his face and utters “the complete man”. In a different movie,
Shammi, played by Fahadh Fazil, would be the "hero" (as he refers to himself), strutting around to a rousing
background score.
But in ‘Kumbalangi Nights’, he is not a hero. Nor are there any other heros, for that matter; only flawed, broken
humans trying to stay afloat and make space for one another, be they like or unlike them.
Brothers Saji (Soubin Shahir), Bony (Sreenath Bhasi), Bobby (Shane Nigam) and Frankie live in a house in the margins
of a ‘wasteland’, in a home devoid of borders, and also women, after their mother left them. Not everything is pleasant
here. The elder brothers, with no proper job to speak of and little inclination to find one, are constantly fighting. So
much so that Frankie, the youngest and the most responsible of the lot, dubs theirs the “worst house in the panchayat”.
Bobby, one of these incomplete men, falls in love with Baby (Anna Ben), Shammi’s sister-in-law, setting the stage for a
collision that would change everyone involved. Madhu. C. Narayanan has the cushion of Syam Pushkaran’s perceptive
and subtle writing for his directorial debut; even so he makes a mark of his own, helming the beautiful coming together
of all the elements that make this film what it is. The visuals of the nights, when all the key events happen, and the
background score that leaves an impression even though you may not notice it right away and add to the effect.

(https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/kumbalangi-nights-review-life-and-love-in-a-beautiful-borderless-isle/article26218170.ece)
Book Review

When you have finished a book, skim through it again and note the following points:
● Main characters
● Setting
● Summary of the plot and the theme
● Parts you liked
● Parts you found disappointing
Now ask yourself some questions like this
● Did the characters come alive to you?
● Was the action well planned?
● Could you picture the setting?
● Did the plot drag on?
● Were there any confusing parts?
● Was the ending believable and satisfying?
● Did you enjoy the book?
Book Review Process :

● A book review must begin with the title, the author, the publisher, the publication date, the
price and the number of pages
● Always begin with a strong introduction. The body should give the setting, characters and
one or two events from the plot
● The review concludes with an overall impression (funny/happy/ sad/ scary/ exciting) and
should contain your opinion of the book and whether you would recommend it to others (if
so, to what kind of a reader- optional)
● Give good reasons for your comments and be fair with criticism.

Refer https://owll.massey.ac.nz/pdf/sample-book-review.pdf for a book review in academic writing.

3) Newspaper Article
There are several different types of newspaper articles:
● News articles - these are found at the front of a newspaper. They inform readers about
things that are happening in the world or in the local area. They will be full of facts, like
names, dates and places.
● Feature articles - these explore news stories in more depth. The purpose of a feature is
not just to tell you what has happened, but to explore or analyse the reasons why. These
kind of pieces normally name the writer who wrote them - a byline.
● Editorials, columns and opinion pieces - these are pieces by 'personality' writers.
They might be there to inform (because the writer's expert opinion is valued), or they
might be there to entertain (because the writer has a comic or interesting way of
describing everyday life). They are likely to have a more personal style that the writer
regularly uses when writing - this could be shown through particular vocabulary or the
opinion of the writer
 4) Advertisement Texts

● Advertisement texts aim to sell something (promotion of a product, brand or service to a

viewership in order to attract interest, engagement and sales).
● There are many genres within advertising texts: newspaper/magazine advertisements,
television and cinema advertisements, billboards and screens, radio advertisements, e-
mail, brochures, flyers, video cuts on the internet and more. Advertisements can even be
received as SMS messages.
● The principle of advertising is to get our attention so communication is the key. Here
we are talking about what we do with language in advertising, but of course the visual, the
multimedia approach, is also a key part of advertising.
The typical advertisement may:
● address you directly, or personally. "You" and "your" are often used as the advertiser is
striving to speak to you.
● have language that is accessible to everyone
● be full of emotive words, for example:
- Adjectives: bold, bright, new, good, better, best, fantastic, free, fresh, splendid, great,
delicious, wonderful
- Evaluative words: glamorous, sure, clean, special, crisp, fine, real, easy, extra, rich,
safe, delicate, perfect, expert, lovely
- Simple, direct verbs: make, taste, start, hurry, get, look, need, love, feel, ask for

So it is important to look at the tone, choice of words, accessibility and the way the text
addresses the reader. Modern advertisements also use other techniques, like extended
narratives, irony and humour.
Features of advertisements
● It is a mode of communication.
● It is a paid service.
● An advertisement should be focused on a particular group (a target group).
● Advertisement is a great mode of publicizing the product of your company.
● Persuasion
● Creativity
● Advertising should be impersonal.
● Perfect choice of language.
Script Writing

Script writing (or screenwriting) is the process of writing stories in the screenplay medium.
Script writing is writing down the movement, actions, expression and dialogue of the
characters in screenplay, in screenplay format. The process of writing a novel, a poem, or
essay, is entirely different than script writing. In order to express yourself effectively for the
screen, particular formatting methods are required.
Screenplay format is used to express the story visually. Scriptwriters or screenwriters write for
film, television, video games, and now even online web series. Script writing can be done for
hire or on speculation in hopes to sell their screenplay or find an agent.
Script writing will do :
◦ Externalize a character's internal motivations
◦ Tell a story visually
◦ Use proper screenplay format
The first formatting element is the scene heading – also known as the slug line. Screenplays written in
the master scene format are broken into scenes not cuts. The scene headings are written in all caps, as
well as INT or EXT for Interior( scene happening inside a setting like a room or house) or Exterior
( scene happening outside a setting like shop or window). This is followed by the name of the location
and a designation of day or night.

The next element is action. This should describe action that can be seen or heard. Sounds Effects that
are important to the story but are heard off screen need to be in ALL-CAPS.

Next we have Character name. This has it’s own line in ALL caps. A character who is off screen or
speaking in voiceover should be designated by O.S. or V.O.

Parentheticals provide context or instruction for the dialogue delivery. These should be used
sparingly so as not to reduce the readability of the script.

Dialogue blocks are offset from everything else and centered on the page. Parallel dialogue
(overlapping dialogue) is written in side-by-side blocks.

The final element is the scene transition.

Types of script writing
Script writing can be defined as writing the dialogue and relevant directions for a
production. As scripts are used for a variety of purposes in a number of settings, there are specific
criteria or formal structures that are often unique to a given type of script.

◦ Screenplays are scripts written specifically to be produced for a visual medium, such as film or
television. For the most part, screenplays are fictional in nature and designed to tell a story.
Screenplays typically include a variety of information including setting, dialogue, camera
instructions and may include editing instructions

◦ Plays (playwriting) are productions that occur live, on a physical stage rather than the
symbolic stage of film or television. Like a screenplay, a play script includes dialogue and
directions.

◦ Scripts for audio dramas share a number of components with screenplays and the scripts for
stage plays. There can be an extensive presence of narrator to provide third person perspective
than other fictional scripts. The dialogue is also different in that it includes more descriptive
language about the surroundings to help establish setting.

◦ While appearing natural on screen, most news anchors are provided with scripts to read via
teleprompters. Generally News scripts tend to share information that provide factual content.
Teleprompter
Audio drama script
Radio News Script