TECHNICAL ENGLISH

UNIT III - EFFECTIVE SPEAKINGEffective speaking is the most frequently required skill in professional as well as social life. It involves the ability to express ones message effectively to the audience through the spoken word. Messages can be delivered face-to-face or through electronic devices. Speaking should be aided with appropriate gestures and postures.

Importance of speaking in professional world1. To talk to colleagues, clients and suppliers2. Required in varies forms of presentation or speech such as conferences, meetings,

seminars, group discussions etc…3. It can be studied, polished and perfected with hard work4. At a higher hierarchical organizational level the ability sell ideas and plans to the

management this is required more than technical skill.5. Presentation should be convincing and create an impact6. It affects career growth7. It affects organization reputation

Importance of speaking in Social world

1. In personal and community life one speaks to family friends and acquaintances.2. Talk to persuade them, safe their perception motive them and build relationships.3. They may not be prepared speeches.4. They are more spontaneous.

Being confident, clear and fluent is the key to effective speaking. Confidence, clarity and fluency in speeches and presentations should be evident in content, presentation style and in handling of the audience.

Following are the guidelines for effective Speaking:1. Confidence: Content-

1. Choose a topic of your interest2. If given a specific topic develop genuine interest3. Prepare extensively, more than the required material, so that you don’t go blank when

asked questions.Presentation-

1. Stage fright should be transformed into excitement and enthusiasm to be successful speakers.

2. Stage fright should be befriended, since it sharpens reflexes.3. It is natural to be nervous before a speech.4. Preparation is the key and an antidote for nervousness.5. Give a mock speech/ presentation in front of the mirror or friends to find out your

strengths and weaknesses.6. Try positive visualization technique to be in control of self on stage.7. Prepare the introductory part of the speech thoroughly so that you have smooth

beginning and be able to take control of stage fear while the introduction of the speech takes control of the presentation.

8. Do not start immediately after reaching the stage.9. Relax; Take a couple of deep breaths, before you start.10. Check the venue and other arrangements beforehand to avoid unnecessary confusion

and nervousness.

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11. Familiarize with the room.12. Look at friendliest faces in the audience.13. Do not show your nervousness explicitly- it is not seen by others even to the one-

tenth.14. Do not comment on your nervousness.15. Be not camera conscious if you are being recorded.

Audience-1. Anticipate all sorts of questions from the audience, easy and difficult, prepare to

answer them all.2. Clarity:A speaker’s meaning must be understood immediately with no chance of misunderstanding. A speech lacks clarity, if the speaker:

1. Speaks either very fast or very slow.2. Does not articulate the words properly3. Pronounces incorrectly or does not follow the standard pronunciation.4. Gives wrong emphasis on words.5. Uses too many unfamiliar words.

Clarity in speech can be achieved by:1. By speaking an average of about 120-140 words per minute.2. Exercising the speech organs to be able to articulate the words properly.3. Learning the correct pronunciation of the words while preparing a speech4. Stressing the right word in the sentence as per the context. Misplacing of emphasis

will confuse the audience.5. Thinking and organizing the contents of the message in logical manner for the

audience to understand easily6. Using simple and unambiguous words and expressions and avoiding technical terms

technical terms acrimony and complicated words and phrases that the audiences are not familiar

3. FluencyFluency is delivering with continuous flow of message at appropriate rate with appropriate pauses. It depends mostly on the proficiency of the languageGuidelines for fluency

1. Avoid fillers like ”aaah..”,”um..” and weak words like “I mean actually” etc2. Avoid speech errors like, speaking too fast or too slow pausing in correctly

emphasizing wrongly, pronouncing incorrectly etc..3. Believe in what you speak.4. Concentrate on your ideas rather than your appearance.5. Expand your vocabulary.6. Write personal diaries, watch English movies for conversional English read aloud

passages.7. Listen to good speakers.8. Practice correct pronunciation, accent and tone.9. Learn from your mistakes.10. Think in English.11. Avoid feeling irritated when audiences interrupt.

Developing voice qualityAlthough our voice quality depends on various factors such as our vocal habits developed since our childhood and the structure and conditions of speech organs, which cannot be changed much, we can improve on our voice quality by manipulating other aspects of voice such as rate, volume, pitch and pauses. To develop voice quality, we need to first identify the strengths and weaknesses of our voice. Just like effective body language enables us to

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enhance the impact of our speech, a proper use of our voice makes our speech more lively and dynamic. The features associated with our voice are known as paralinguistic features. PARALINGUISTIC FEATURESParalinguistic communication refers to the study of human voice and how words are spoken. Paralinguistic features are non- verbal vocal cues that give extra life to one’s speech. The characteristic nuances of voice are:

1. Quality- Each one has a unique voice quality and it depends on its resonating mechanism. Quality of voice may be rich and resonant, soft and alluring, thin and nasal, hoarse and husky or harsh and irritating. Voice quality cannot be changed but can be trained for optimum impact.

2. Volume – Volume refers to loudness or the softness of the voice. If the volume is too high, it sounds impolite and insensitive and if it too low it conveys the idea of timidity. Volume should be adjusted with respect to the place of delivery and the number of audience. Speaker should vary the volume to be audible and clear.

3. Pace/ Rate – Rate is the number of words spoken per minute. A normal rate is 120-150 words per minute. If the person speaks too slowly and monotonously he is considered a dull and boring. If the speaker speaks too fast it becomes difficult to grasp the thoughts and switch from one thought to another. A well-paced varied message suggests enthusiasm, self- assurance and awareness of audience.

4. Pitch – Pitch refers to the number of vibrations in voice per second. The rise and fall of the voice conveys various emotions. Lowness of pitch can convey sadness, shock, dullness, guilt etc. The pitch is high when excited, joyous, triumphant and even angry. They tell our listener whether we are asking a question, making a statement, as well as whether we are sincere, happy, dynamic listless, bored, tense relaxed or sarcastic. A well balanced pitch results in a clear and effective tone. It helps in avoiding being monotonous. A variety of pitches should be used to hold listeners’ attention.

5. Articulation- To articulate well means not to slur, chop, truncate or omit sounds between words or sentences. If all sounds are not uttered properly the meaning gets lost. Bad articulation also lowers the credibility of the speaker.

6. Pronunciation – Pronunciation requires us to speak the sounds the way they are generally accepted. The best way is to follow Received Pronunciation (RP), Queen’s / Kings’ English, Oxford/ BBC English which is the Standard English.

7. Voice Modulation – Intonation refers to tonal variation and modulation refers to regulating, varying and adjusting the tone, pitch, and volume of the sound or speaking voice. It brings flexibility and vitality to voice and helps express emotions and sentiments such as impatience, planning, despondency, suspicion etc…

8. Pauses- A pause is a short silence flanked by words. A pause helps listener reflect on the message and digest it accordingly. It is a natural process to give a break, but it should also be spontaneous.

Manipulating Paralinguistic FeaturesAlthough our voice quality depends on various factors such as our vocal habits developed since our childhood and the structure and conditions of speech organs, which cannot be changed much, we can improve on our voice quality by manipulating other aspects of voice such as rate, volume, pitch and pauses. Rate: Though the average rate at which a person speaks is 120 to 150 wpm, this rate is not universal. This rate varies from a person to person. Great personalities like Martin Luther King, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, etc. had their own rate based on pauses, vocal attribute, the mood, the occasion and the strength within. With thorough practice one can get control over his rate.

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Volume: Naturally, our voices sounds louder to us than to our audience. So, the volume should be adjusted to the sound arrangements of the room. Based on the majority of audience and the equipment provided, the adjustments should be done. Pitch: The pitch we maintain tells the audience whether we are sincere, happy, dynamic, listless, bored, tense, relaxed or sarcastic. Changes in our pitch give our voice the focus, warmth, and vitality. So, our voice has to be trained in the manner that it shouldn’t have the same inflection throughout the sentence and sound monotonous. Practicing in front of mock audience, recording one’s own voice and modifications if any could provide the right pitch for the speaker. Pauses: Initially, to manage pauses may be a bit difficult task. But, with fine practice and effective procedure, we can attain the stage of using them at apt stages and leading them to modulate the rate and rhythm of our messages.

BARRIERS TO SPEAKING

Language: Inadequate proficiency or lack of command over language poses a barrier to speaking. Proficiency includes accuracy and fluency. So ability to speak grammatically correct, using right pronunciation, correct accent, appropriate vocabulary and suitable expressions is proof of proficiency of language.

Inhibition: Shyness or inhibition may be barrier to speaking. So the cause of inhibition should be analyzed and overcome.

Physical barriers: The physical setting of the place where a speech is to be delivered can sometimes pose as a barrier. It may be in the seating arrangement, lighting, ventilation, audio equipment, projection system, external noise etc.

Cultural barriers: In multicultural context it is important to use words and expressions that are comprehendible to all. It is also better to avoid culture- specific examples as the listener will not be able to relate to them.

Perception – Perceptional/ Attitudinal Barrier: Everybody has their own perception that is shaped by their background. Same things can be viewed differently by different people. So it is important to view things from others’ perspective while speaking.

Emotions – Emotional Barrier: The mind of the speaker sometimes is blocked by feelings of fear, suspicion and mistrust, which become an emotional barrier. It affects the flow of speech. Controlling emotions and keeping oneself cool is important to speak effectively.

TYPES OF SPEAKINGTask – Oriented Speaking – Speaking in order to perform a task or assignment is called task- oriented speaking. Instances that require task- oriented speaking are:

Collecting data Eliciting information Addressing people to motivate or persuade them Interviewing somebody for preparing articles for a magazine Conducting a research Enquiring about something Negotiating a deal Guidelines for effective Task- oriented Speaking are:

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Be clear with your purpose Plan and prepare Give a brief background to the objectives of your task at the beginning Stay focused on your purpose and agenda Listen carefully to or observe your audience’s response in order to adjust your speech

accordingly

Interpersonal Speaking: It is mostly relationship oriented speaking. It is connected with building new relationships or keeping alive the existing relationships. It includes conversations, counseling, group discussions, team communication etc. Interpersonal speaking helps us develop and sustain good relations and plays a vital role in the execution of group- oriented or team – oriented assignments.

Semi- formal and Informal Speaking: Speaking to a colleagues on personal matters makes our speech semi-formal, if it is it is with casual acquaintances it may be considered informal speaking. Semi-formal and informal language involves the use of reduced forms as ‘they’ve’ for they have; assimilation (adjacent or nearby consonants blending or changing to resemble each other) did ju: (did you); Elision (omission of consonant or vowel sound usually at the end of syllable) a thousand people – (a thousand people), Reduction (dropping of a strong vowel hen a syllable gets weak stress) you know- ya no, ‘I can go’- I kin go

And the language we use depends on the people too. If we are communicating with our friends, family members, relatives, etc., the language is informal, and if it is with the rest, the language carries formality. Compare the examples below:

Formal InformalDoes Sheela Want to join dance classes? Sheela wanna join dance class?What are you going to do tonight? Whaddyagonna do tonight?They are going to prepare script tonight? They’re gonna make the dialogue tonight?

Semi-formal English follows the rules of formal grammar but can use contractions and less formal vocabulary. It doesn’t use unfamiliar acronyms, expressions such as wanna, gonna, etc. Though the semi-formal speech is not as preplanned as formal, it would be better to have some practice on its usage. Occasions like after-dinner speeches, speaking during official picnics, speaking to our client during personal shopping, etc. may come under semi-formal speaking. Compare the examples below:

Formal Semi-formalI don’t think that it is necessary Don’t think it’s necessaryDo you want some coffee? Want some coffee?Are you going there? Going there?

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PERSUASIVE SPEAKINGPersuasion is an art as well as a psychological process. It always occurs in situations where two or more points of view exist. It’s because of the variations in one’s values, policies, principles, certain techniques, etc. However, with the power of persuasion, we may me bale to make people agree with us on many matters. Everyone among us might have been convinced or persuaded by a speaker in some or other situations. That attribute that makes us feel convinced is known as source credibility. Besides, a speaker may need to persuade others for various purposes. These may be:

To accept a new methodology developed by the speaker to solve a technical problem To agree with the speaker’s view on a topic To convince that they are the right candidate for the post of the president of students’

union To motivate to take immediate action on a matter

And we need to be conscious on acquiring a few skills in order to persuade. They are:1. Credibility: Aspects such as intelligence, expertise, and knowledge of the subject; and sincerity, trustworthiness, and concern for the audience, contribute to our credibility. Here are a few guidelines to attain that:

Develop interest in the topic on which you speak Refer magazines, books, journals, newspapers, etc., to gain more knowledge Use your body language effectively to show the audience that you are passionate

about the topic and enthusiastic in sharing the information with them Tell your audience the benefit they are going to reap from your speech Adapt yourself to audience by giving relevant examples.

2. Evidence: Supporting materials such as examples, statistics, definitions, testimonies, analogies, etc. act as evidence in your speech to the audience. Using any of these evidences effectively can drive home one’s point. (Refer the example and its emphasis by Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro Ltd, in page 131). Similarly, an analogy can make a point by showing how one idea resembles another. Some analogies are figurative an others are literal. 3. Reasoning: Several general conclusions arrived at by people on various matters. This happens based on their observations and experiences with some people. Such conclusions are never foolproof and may always be challenged. And these may also happen in persuasive speaking. When audiences question us, we need to go for specific instances. And our specific instance must be large enough to justify our conclusions. Extreme words, such as everyone, always, never, only, etc., should always be avoided. Since we can’t avoid questioning for our specific instance, it should be assisted with evidence. And if specific instance is based on your general statement, it should be reasoned with specific ideas. 4. Emotional appeal: Effective persuasion often requires an appeal to our listener’s emotions. The emotions that are generally evoked by most persuasive speakers are: fear, compassion, pride, anger, guilt, and reverence. To persuade our listeners, we need to use emotional language. We may appeal on any of these emotions depending on the topic and the point we wish to drive home in our speech. It may be either an appeal to persuade you friend to stay in India rather going abroad for higher studies or an appeal to make your friend realize on the sense of guilt he is with as consumer.

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UNIT IV - READINGIntroductionReading is an important communicative process and reading skills are probably the most important language skills required for academic and professional purposes. Quick, efficient and imaginative reading techniques are essential to enhance the effectiveness. Professionals spend on receiving information (listening and reading) is more than what they spend on sending (speaking and writing) information. PURPOSE OF READINGProfessionals may have to read a variety of texts ranging from a short email to a voluminous book or lengthy report every day. Reading is concerned with four factors: decoding, comprehending, text analysis, and response. The basic purpose of reading is to extract information from various sources such as text books, research papers, and articles in technical journals, teaching notes, notices, web materials, encyclopedias and technical reports. One reads to understand a topic or enrich one’s knowledge about a topic; to derive pleasure; to understand what happens around. In addition, one needs to connect the ideas on the text to what one already knows. During reading one needs to concentrate and be alert so that one will be able to grasp the message first and has to read again to understand the finer aspects of the topic. Pouring words of clueless subject into your mind is like pouring water into your handTOPIC SENTENCE AND ITS ROLEThe topic sentence known by varied terms such as theme sentence, key sentence, and summarizing sentence, is the main idea of a particular paragraph. It sums up the entire content of the paragraph and generally appears as the first sentence of the paragraph. But many a time, it may occur at the end. Occasionally, it may be found somewhere else in the paragraph too. A paragraph starting with the topic sentence is said to follow deductive logic, as all other sentences in that paragraph deduce something from this sentence. In contrast, if paragraph ends with topic sentence, one needs to induce some supporting details in order to attain statements. Such paragraphs are said to follow and inductive logic. Topic sentence gives only the main idea while the detailed points are supplied through the other sentences of the paragraph. And striking feature of this paragraph is its unity in gathering all the relevant links to connect the main idea.READING RATESThe number of words that one reads in a certain time is said to be reading rate and it differs depending upon the reading material and the way it is written. While one reads, one’s eyes move across the page and rest on a word, which is called a fixation. In order to increase the speed, one must take in more words with each fixation, rather than make the eyes move faster. The following lines will help to read faster and ensure that one is grasping what one reads.

Concentrate on group of words rather than each and every word while reading Familiarize with new words by referring dictionary Inculcate a habit of reading with non-lip movements. Spend a few minutes a day reading at a faster-than-comfortable rate. Increase the speed of reading gradually from day to day.

Note: Refer the table in page 262 to understand and analyze various reading rates.

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READING AND INTERPRETATIONA passage can be understood in the following ways:1. Understanding the passage from author’s perspective2. Interpreting from one’s own perception and3. Deviate from author’s intention.4. Understanding the author’s technique of presenting will help understand the passage better.5. Authors use the following techniques of presentation:

DiscussionElaborationDemonstrationComparisonArgumentationCriticism…Etc.

6. Perceptions are unique to person and are shaped by background,, ability etc.7. It is important to go beyond the literal meaning of the words and understand the main idea the author intends to focus on.8. Applying mind to understand the text being read is therefore critical.9. Language proficiency will enable interpreting the context quickly10. Additional knowledge about the topic may interfere in understanding the intentions of the author.Note:Refer pages 264 and 265 for examples

READING BETWEEN THE LINESUnderstanding the hidden meaning or intention behind explicitly stated words is known as reading between the lines. One should know how to connect the dots between the lines in the text what the author implies or leaves unsaid. Some clues given in the text or our prior knowledge of the topic may be helpful. Inference questions such as “what do you infer from these lines?” or “What does the author imply in lines..?” enable us to understand the elements of the given text.Note:Refer pages 265 and 266 for examples

INFERRING MEANINGS – LEXICAL AND CONTEXTUAL Good vocabulary enables you to detect the hidden differences in sentence meaning that may hold the key to the meaning of an entire paragraph or a passage. Enhancing ones vocabulary cab boost the reading speed and comprehension, as it is easy to infer that hidden meaning of a particular word in a context. As one concentrates and gets more information, it is able to define that word and also will get connected to the information about its orthography (Spelling) and tries to infer the lexical and contextual meanings of it. One needs to perceive the words and phrases used and recognize their definitions to follow what one read. The following suggestions help in developing skills that could recognize and infer the words

Words in isolation mean different from words in integrated word groups, so perceive complete word group as a unit and try understanding the word.

Domain knowledge is necessary to give meaning to otherwise confusing sentences. Do not stop reading if you are not able to recall the meaning of a certain word or phrase.

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Analyze the word structure to guess the meaning of words and identify the context clues and signal words to understand the meaning of unknown words.

Contextual clues in the neighborhood of the word can be helpful. Meaning of an unknown word can be inferred through its extended definition or stated

qualities. The antonym of the unknown word can lead to the meaning of the word. Remembering the words through the appropriate phrases in another excellent way of getting

the meaning. Ensure that the guess made is appropriate.

Note: The above points are effective in exam point of view when read and written with relevant examples given in pages 267 and 268.Understanding and Interpreting IdeasUnderstanding and interpreting ideas requires critical eye and the following guidelines will help develop the critical eye:

Identify the type of the passage (specific science, general science, or non-science) Pay attention to first 1/3rd of the text to get an overview of the text. Look for author’s intention – to discuss, compare, persuade etc.… Identify Author’s tone – opinionated, argumentative, descriptive, factual, or even handed Identify the main an supporting ideas Get the gist of each paragraph Ask yourself questions to understand Do not get caught in unnecessary details. Paraphrase the complicated parts. Jot down notes. Read for structure; ignore details.

Note: Refer pages 270 and 271 for examples

Interpreting Graphics in Technical Writing

Technical material contains not only text but also a number of graphics such as table graphs, maps, drawings, diagrams, flower charts. In order to understand and interpret these graphics, the following questions must be answered.

What is the title/caption? What features do the graphics represent? How is the graphic organized? What is the scale/unit of measurement? What is their significance? What are the highlights? Why did the writer choose this type of illustration? What relationships do they depict? What is the relationship between the data in these graphics and the textual information?

Note: Refer pages 272 and 273 for examples

INTENSIVE AND EXTENSIVE READING

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There are different purposes of reading a text like: To get information To get facts quickly To derive pleasure To enjoy a narrative technique To grasp the meaning of almost all the words.

Extensive Reading: It is the type of reading that is carried out for overall or general understanding of the

text without aiming for 100 per cent comprehension. In extensive reading the focus is not on vocabulary, syntax etc. but on the gist of the

text. It provides pleasure rather than the comprehension.

Intensive Reading: It is a type of reading that requires a high degree of comprehension and longtime

retention. It is carried out for complete or thorough understanding of the text by focusing on

vocabulary, sentence structure, and also the coherence among the various parts of the text.

It is also called academic reading. It involves several skills like: predicting the content, scanning and identifying the

topic sentence, understanding the discourse coherence, sequencing of the sentences etc.

Guidelines for intensive Reading are:1. Be clear with the purpose of your reading2. Predict the contents3. Scan the text.4. Use contextual clues to interpret the meaning of the unknown words.5. Understand the gist of the text.6. Identify the topic sentence and its role in each paragraph7. Make notes

CRITICAL READING When a text is read specifically to discover and analyze some information then is read

critically. Understanding the manner over and above the matter is given importance. Attempt is made to understand the factors that affect the discovery made in the

understanding the manner of presentation And also connect the idea that lead to the discovery. As critical reader the text can be understood from three different angles :

The author’s purpose The tone and style of presentation and The author’s preferences/ biases on the topic

Intensive reading is mandatory for critical reading.

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The critical reader needs to examine the choice of words for the content, language and structure used to assess the text appropriately.

Critical reading requires the discovery, analyses and the interpretation of the information contained in the text.

Analysis and interpretation are possible only if the reader thinks creatively and critically.

Creative thinking enables to generate innovative ideas and critical thinking helps to evaluate what is being read.

Non Critical readers satisfy themselves with only the information but critical readers go further and identify the style of writing and the meaning of the text.

READING FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSESAs we learnt already that besides reading academic and professional texts, we read several kinds of other texts too for various reasons. They are for

Enhancing reading ability Knowing about what is happening around Awareness on the developments in science & technology Expanding vocabulary Developing writing skills Deriving pleasure etc.

When we read certain texts, we get not only the updated information about what is happening in the various domains but also the recent developments. Reading different kinds of texts like these enables students to progress both personally and professionally. And to make these things get progressed well, we need to keep in mind certain other guidelines while reading them. Reading General ArticlesThe writers of general articles of both newspapers and magazines prefer an easy-to-understand/conversational style as they know their readers don’t like to read or absorb the whole text but to just get an idea about the topic and its application areas. The following are a few tips for reading general articles.

a) Pay attention to the titles, visuals, and the introductory paragraph to know the topic and scope.

b) Try to connect the ideas to understand the content. In order to create a dramatic impact, some authors may not present the ideas in a logical sequence.

c) Think how you can use the ideas from the articles you read in your everyday life.d) Enjoy the language, sense of humor and examples used by the author. e) Focus on conclusion as it gives the essence of the title and precisely give the author’s

viewsNote: Refer pages 276 and 277 for examplesReading EssaysEssays are written as a part of the application process to describe about their objectives in joining the proposed discipline, to get financial assistance for attending an event or recruitment tests, to express one’s faculty in competitive exams etc. In all these cases, they are written from the author’s point of view. To write such essays, we should read, understand

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and appreciate essays in terms of their objectives, language, style, etc. The more we read such essays, the more we could enhance our knowledge on certain topics and also our writing skills. The following are a few tips for reading essays.

i. Pay attention to the title and the introductory paragraph to know the topic or issue.ii. Identify the purpose.

iii. Find out the author’s point of view about the topic.iv. Note down the clear stated assumptions made by the author and consider whether

they are true.v. Infer the unstated assumptions.

vi. Decide whether to agree or disagree with the author’s definitions of particular terms.

vii. Analyze carefully the examples the author use. They are to justify his/her views on the topic.

viii. Understand the well-defined structure – an introduction, the main text and the conclusion.

ix. Use the cues (Transitional words and phrases) to understand the relationship between ideas.

Note: Refer pages 278, 279 and 280 for examplesReading Journal ArticlesThough all journal articles have a more or less similar structure beginning with an abstract and introduction followed by method, result, discussion, conclusion, and references; the structure of a particular journal is generally determined by its editors. We need to pay attention to each of these parts that will give us adequate information to understand the topic. The following are a few tips for reading journal articles.

1. Read the abstract first in order to get an overview about the whole article.2. Read introduction to know the objectives of the article and the previous work

done on that area and also the purpose behind that.3. Understand the series of steps taken to accomplish the research from the

methodology section.4. Know the findings of the author from the results section.5. Read the discussion section to interpret the results/to know what they mean.6. Read the conclusion to understand the key issues related to the research topic

or to know the areas in which the research can be used. Novel/Story DiscussionThe way we discuss the story or novel with our friends or family members is informal and they may not follow any particular pattern. However, if it is discussed in forum, we need to follow certain pattern to make audience understand the various aspects of it. Given below are few guidelines that you can use while discussing a novel.

1. Begin with the plot (Introduction, suspense, climax, conclusion) of the novel which should be more detailed than what is given on the back cover of the book. We could mention the protagonists and the other important characters and the story line which may arouse the audience’s attention. If there is sub-plot or parallel plots, discuss them.

2. Talk about the author – his/her brief biography, other words, and any incident in his/her life that may be related to the novel.

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3. Discuss the genre or the kind of story – is it a murder mystery. A romantic novel, a space opera, a political satire, a moral story, etc.

4. Talk about the message that the novel gives to its readers. The theme can also be presented here (courage, love, happiness, alienation, escapism, revenge, etc.).

5. Discuss the place/setting, time and action of the novel.6. Discuss the style of writing – the narrative technique used by the author, the language

(idioms, figures of speech, symbols, examples, sentence structure, etc.), the tone (formal, conversational), simple and clear or complicated.

7. Present the character sketches – their characteristics, their roles in the novel and the relationship that exists among the characters, how they are developed.

8. Discuss your views of the novel.

SQ3R READING TECHNIQUEIn order to reap maximum benefit out of reading time, we can make use of the SQ3R reading technique – survey, question, read, recite, and review. George Bernard Shaw said: question, examine, Search inorder to understand things in their right perspective. The functions of the SQ3R technique enable us to get an idea about the structure and organization of the text

1) Survey :We need to get an overview of the text before finding out answers for the given questions. Get an overview of the text by

Reading the title, contents, headings and sub-headings. Reading the chapter summaries. Looking at the illustrations, their captions, etc. Making a note of highlighted words, sections, etc. Reading the introduction and conclusion.

Surveying a text is more or less equal to scanning the text. Surveying a text also helps us to judge our background knowledge related to text.

2) Question: Many a time we pose questions to ourselves to clarify something. Such questions enable us not only to get a clear picture of the given

information but also enable us to check the details. We may be able to get the main points of the text. We may also grasp well the sequence of ideas presented the text.

3) Read: We should read the text focusing on the main points. Slow down reading speed in case of certain dense or complicated texts Read fast the simple texts. Making notes while reading may be helpful to understand and interpret

the text.4) Recite/Recall :

Retain some information regarding places, people or products by recollecting the details.

Recall the main points and supporting points once we finish the reading. Recite the supporting points in our own words.

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We may write down the points. But we should not copy from the passage.5) Review:

The last stage after completing steps one to four is review of SQ3R technique.

Test yourself by covering the key points. Check the correctness by referring to the text. We can reread or expand our notes or discuss with our friends the main

points.

STUDY SKILLSIn order to make the most of the comprehension, one needs to apply certain skills besides employing various reading techniques. Two important skills, namely note-making and sequencing of sentences are discussed in this section.NOTE-MAKINGIt is a systematic process of writing down important information, ideas, facts, viewpoints, and arguments contained in a written text for future references. It is necessary to recall the main idea from the text we have read as it is not so easy to remember all the points. We need to develop qualities like quick comprehension, identification of main ideas, and recognition of the relevance to our needs. The following are some formal note-making methods:Outline/linear method:In this method, main ideas and subsidiary points are identified from the reading text and arranged in a table consisting of two columns. The first column is used to write down the main ideas and the second one for the subsidiary points of each main idea. One can differentiate the main and subordinate points by using indentation or two levels of bullets. Sentence/categorical method:In this method, sentences are used to represent the main and subordinate ideas. As we know each paragraph contains the topic sentence and it is supported by the relevant points; here these sentences should be selected and highlighted above the main and subsidiary points which are in relevant to them. Though it resembles the linear method, like the latter it isn’t put in contrast mode with words and phrases, but with highly focusing on topic sentences followed with main and subordinate points. Schematic/mapping method:In this method, semi graphical elements are used to represent the context of a text to show the relationship of each point or idea to other facts and idea contained therein. This method has an edge over other methods as one can record a great deal of information in less space and also show the complex relationships among several ideas and facts. The following are a few tips on using this method for note-making tasks:

Represent the main idea in a central box/circle. Depict the subordinate ideas as though they are radiating from this central image. Use branches attached to the higher-level branches to represent further minor points. Ensure that the branches form a connected nodal structure.

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