UNIT-3: Patriotism beyond Politics and Religion.

SUMMARY:
“For great men, religion is a way of making friends; small people make religion a fighting
tool.”
The current lesson is an excerpt from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s ‘Ignited Minds’.Dr. A. P.
J. Abdul Kalam was one of India’s most distinguished scientists, 11th President of India and
the recipient of the most prestigious Bharat Ratna, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan-
the country’s three highest civilian honours. Due to his great contribution in the field of space
research and missile development, he came to be known as the “Missile Man of India”. In
spite of being such an eminent personality, he remained humane and humble throughout his
life. Though he hailed from a poor family, he rose to the highest office through his hard work
and dedication. He had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and learning. He believed that
every single person can help him in learning something new. In this book, he narrates his
stimulating experiences with students, young people, teachers, scientists, politicians, saints
and seers. According to an editorial of the prestigious e-newspaper The Hindu, “ More than as
a scientist and a technocrat, Kalam will be remembered for his tenure as India’s 11th
President, when he moved the institution away from being merely formal and ceremonial in
nature. He used the Presidency as a platform to inspire youth, who were readily impressed by
his earthy demeanour.” He was the only President of India who went beyond his position
reached ordinary people, listened to their grievances and won their love and affection. This is
the reason for calling him people’s President”.
In this chapter, the late President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam has explained the importance of
patriotism and politics. He has taken examples from his life which includes ISRO scientists,
Army and Navy officers, Chief Ministers, Economists such as Amartya Sen and many other
distinguished Indians who served the country beyond religious and political barriers. He
promulgates inspiration from our glorious history and long freedom struggle. He urges our
Political Leadership to think beyond selfish means and have vision for better future. He
advises people not to be divided on religious and caste-based grounds.
The beginning of the chapter is inclusive of Author’s daily routine. He predicted the dawn,
like some expected rendezvous with nature, the praise of Mother Nature. There is something
more blissful in the light coming directly from the sun, the reflection on the ground with
melodies from the birds, is in fact a glory yet undiscovered by many. The rendezvous of
sound, light, and air during dusk is picturesque, which ultimately influences the author to feel
grateful towards Almighty.
Apart from Nature, certain patriotic moments of the author are included in this lesson. He
champions the cause of political integrity, religious tolerance and technical advancements. Dr.
A.P.J. Kalam was filled with the highest grace of philanthropy and wisdom deep-rooted inside
his soul.
One of his meetings with another patriot Biju Patnaik, who was the CM of Orissa, leaves a
dramatic impact on the readers mind. In his anecdote, Dr. Kalam mentions that he needed
some islands to test defence missiles. Mr. Patnaik, graciously acknowledged the author’s
request. He also shared his utmost desire to live for the day when India would make its own
ICBMs. Then he feels that he would be ‘stronger as an Indian’.

Author narrated another incident where Mr. Patnaik flew to meet Indonesian President
Sukarno. Sukarno had been blessed with a baby girl and wanted to name her. Then Mr.
Patnaik thought of christening the baby with a Sanskrit name, Megawati. Majority of the
population in Indonesia were Muslims. Sukarno, being a Muslim had named his girl child
with Hindu name which is really enthralling.
India takes pride in the slogan ‘Unity in Diversity’. India has a diverse geographical
regions, cultural diversity, linguistic diversity, ethnic diversity and religious diversity.
Religious diversity is one of the conspicuous features of Indian society. All types of religions
of the world like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Islam and
Sikhism are found here. But now-a-days, politics is overshadowing religious sentiments.
Politicians are using religion as a weapon to create a rift between people to secure their
political gain. But according to Dr. Abdul Kalam, diverse religions add new dimension to the
‘Indianness’ of the people. He wrote, “The greatest danger to our sense of unity and our sense
of purpose comes from those ideologists who seem to divide people. The Indian Constitution
bestows on all the citizens total equality under its protective umbrella. Now the cause for
concern is “the trend towards putting religious form over religious sentiments”. He believed
that pure Patriotism is needed for India to prosper beyond politics and religion. Kalam opines
if all the people of India come together, leaving behind all forms of diversities, to create a
harmonious India, that will be our greatest strength. To make this vision turn into reality,
youth would play a major role.
The significant turn in the chapter is when Kalam talks about the signs of patriotism that
can make a change in one’s life. He also stresses on spirituality. “Three factors are invariably
found in a strong nation: a collective pride in its achievements, unity and the ability for
combined action.”
“All nations which have risen to greatness have been characterized by a sense of
mission.”
“Foundation of secularism in India has to be derived from spirituality.”
The Author proclaims a great idea for India’s national wellbeing. He emphasized on
visionary leaders, who have the calibre to bring a change which was deemed for generations.
“It is because our sense of mission has weakened that we have ceased to be true to our
culture and ourselves. If we come to look upon as a divided people with no pride in our past
and no faith in the future, what else can we look forward to expect frustration disappointment
and despair?”

VOCABULARY BUILDING:

1. WORDS FROM FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND THEIR USE IN ENGLISH

FROM FRENCH
As English, French and German originated from the same language
family i.e. Indo-European, English borrowed numerous words from all
its sister languages. Though English borrowed words from the
languages with which it came into contact, but French highly
influenced English.
Some French words have entirely different pronunciation than what we might
expect.
e.g.
1. Ballet /ˈbaleɪ/,/ˈbali/
This is a form of dance that is popular throughout the world.
It’s important to note how the word ‘ballet’ is pronounced. You don’t
pronounce the “t” at the end. Instead, the second syllable should sound like
‘lay’ with the same vowel sound as the letter ‘a.’That’s an interesting thing
about some of these French loanwords: Some French words are
phonologically modified and pronounced like English words, but the other
words are pronounced more like French. Here are a few other examples of
French loanwords that end in‘-et’, but are pronounced like an ‘a’ at the end:
‘buffet,’‘gourmet,’‘filet,’‘chalet’ and even the car company ‘Chevrolet.’
Example:
My niece and nephew are in ballet class, so I watched their 5-hour ballet
performance on Saturday.
2. Cafe/ˈkafeɪ/,ˈ/kafi/
In English, this is the name for a small restaurant. It often has small tables,
and sometimes there are also tables outside. It is written both with the accent
mark (café) and without it (cafe) in English.
‘Café’ comes from the French word for ‘coffee,’ but it is also very similar to
other words related to coffee in many other languages. Usually, cafes do
serve coffee. But if a place only serves coffee (and not any food), then it’s
normally called a ‘coffee shop’.
Also note that there’s a similar word, ‘cafeteria,’ that causes some confusion.
Generally, a cafeteria is like a small restaurant that is for a specific group of
people. You’ll often find cafeterias at schools or large companies. In those
cases, the cafeterias are for the people who study or work in the building.
Example:
I’ve only got about 20 minutes for lunch, so I’ll just stop at a cafe for a quick sandwich.
3. Entrepreneurˌ/ɒntrəprəˈnəː/
This is a word that you should hear and pronounce slightly different from its
actual pronunciation. It can be a little tricky even for Native English
speakers.
An entrepreneur is a person who starts her/ his own company. Other common
forms of the word include ‘entrepreneurship’ (a noun) or ‘entrepreneurial’ (an
adjective).
Example:
Elon Musk, the man who started Space X and Tesla Motors, is one of the most
famous entrepreneurs in the world.
4. Genre/ˈʒɒnrə//(d)ʒɒnrə/
In French, this word means ‘kind’ or ‘style’. In English, it’s used to describe
a category of entertainment. You’ll especially hear people using this word to
talk about books, movies and music.
 Example:
Roy likes many kinds of music, but his favourite genre is heavy metal.
5. Rendezvous/ˈrɒndɪvuː//rɒndeɪvuː/
In English, this word is used to describe either a place where people plan to
meet, or the action of meeting a person at a specific time.
Example:
We’re in a new city, and I’m sure you all want to explore it a bit. Its 2:00
now, so let’s rendezvous back here at 6:00. Then we’ll go to dinner.
FROM GERMAN
Many words in English are borrowed from German. Be sure to listen to the
pronunciations for these originally-German words and note their meanings.
6. Fest/fɛst/
A fest is any kind of party, celebration or festival. In both English and
German, it’s commonly used as a suffix (a word part added to the end of a
word), and the most common
one is Oktoberfest. The ‘official’ Oktoberfest happens every year in Munich,
Germany, but many other cities have their own Oktoberfest.
Example:
We visited the Oktoberfest in Munich, but it was crazy. There were so many
people, and all of them were drunk!
7. Kindergarten/ˈkɪndəˌɡɑːt(ə)n/
Translated literally, this word means ‘children’s garden’ It’s a common type
of school in many parts of the world. Children often go to a year or two of
kindergarten when they’re five years old or before they go to elementary
school.
Example:
Our daughter is going to turn 5 next year, so we’ve been trying to find a good
kindergarten for her.
FROM SPANISH
8. Guerrilla/ɡəˈrɪlə/
In Spanish, this word literally means ‘little war’. In both Spanish and English,
it can be used to describe an unofficial group of people fighting the
government. In English, it is most commonly used as an adjective, in phrases
like ‘guerrilla warfare’ or ‘guerrilla marketing’.
Note that in Spanish, the ‘l’ sound is different than in English. As a result, in
English this word sounds basically the same as “gorilla,” the animal.
Example:
The guerrilla fighters took control of the capital of the country, which gave
them control of the government.
9. Macho/ˈmatʃəʊ/
This word describes a person who is very strong or masculine. It can also be
used to describe a person who is arrogant about his manhood. It’s also been
used in the name of a professional wrestler and a popular disco song from the
1970s.
 Example:
Peter is a real macho guy, but that’s annoying sometimes. He says that “real
men don’t cry,” but I think he’s wrong.
10. Plaza/ˈplɑːzə/
A plaza describes a public open area in a city, which can sometimes be
called a “square.” ‘Plaza’ is also used for shopping malls, corporate building
areas orother large open areas. If you’re a native Spanish speaker, notice
that the pronunciation in English has a vibrated ‘z’ sound, not a soft‘s’
Example:
Victoria needed to buy some Christmas presents for her friends, so she went
downtown to the new shopping plaza to check out some of the stores that
were recently opened.
11. Siesta/sɪˈɛstə/
A siesta is another name for “nap,” but it is generally a nap that one takes in
the middle of the day, especially after eating or while taking a break from
work.
People often take siestas in hot countries because the middle of the day, heat
is intense. So, it’s a good time to stay inside and sleep!
Example:
Wow, since I ate that big plate of spaghetti, now I’m feeling tired. I think I’ll
take a quick siesta before I get back to work.

FROM JAPANESE
12. Karate/kəˈrɑːti/
It describes a popular martial art that originated in Japan. The word
‘karate’means‘empty hand’, in Japanese, since you don’t need any special
equipment or weapons to do it.
Example:
Lisa has a black belt in karate, so you’d better not try to steal her things.
13. Ninja/ˈnɪndʒə/
This word means ‘spy’ in Japanese, but in English it is used to describe a
person who can move and attack silently, without being seen. People also
associate ninjas with fighters who wear masks and all black clothing, even
though that may not be historically true.
In modern use, people who can do something incredibly well are often called
‘ninjas’. This is especially common in technological fields.
Example:
You should try Karl’s cookies—they’re delicious! Karl is a real baking ninja!
14. Origami/ˌɒrɪˈɡɑːmi/
Origami is the art of folding small pieces of paper in order to form them into
interesting shapes. Origami can be really incredible.
 Example:
If you want to try origami, it’s very easy to start. You just need some small
pieces of paper. But if you want to become an expert, it could take years of
practice.
15. Tsunami/tsuːˈnɑːmi/
This is a gigantic (very huge) sea wave that is usually caused by an
earthquake. The word tsunami has become well-known ever since the 2004
Southeast Asia tsunami and the 2011 Japan tsunami. This calamity killed
hundreds of thousands of people.
Example: Those recent tsunamis were terrible, but at least they made people
aware of the dangers of tsunamis.
FROM NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGES

When Europeans arrived in America, they encountered millions of natives.

The native groups had their own languages, and many of these influenced
English. Since these words are borrowed from Native American languages,
they obviously are more common in places that had contact with indigenous
people. As a result, these words are usually more common in American
English than British English.

16. Chocolate/ˈtʃɒk(ə)lət/
This word entered English Spanish, but originally it was xocolatlin the Nahuati
language of modern-day Mexico.
Example:
If you don’t know what chocolate is, I feel very sad for you.
17. Squash /skwɒʃ/
When a group of English speakers began to settle on the North American
continent, the word squash was already part of their vocabulary. It was a verb
used as a synonym of crush. Now, it is also used as a noun.
Example:
She squashed the fruits and served the juice to the visitors.

FROM CHINESE
In English, ‘Chinese’ is used to refer to the different dialects of the languages
in China and Taiwan. Mandarin Chinese is rapidly becoming one of the top
languages in the world, especially for business.
18. Gung-ho/ɡʌŋˈhəʊ/
In Chinese, this phrase means ‘work together’. But in English it is used
casually to express that you’re excited or enthusiastic about something. We
generally use it as an adjective.
Example:
I was really gung-ho to eat dim sum, but when we got to the Chinese restaurant
it was closed for a holiday! We were all really disappointed.
19. Kung fu /ˌkʌŋˈfuː,ˌkʊŋˈfuː/
Like ‘karate’, this is probably a word that you already recognize since it is
very commonly used in many languages around the world.
‘Kung fu’ is another popular style of martial arts. In kung fu, generally
fighters only use their hands and feet, but not weapons. It has been featured in
countless movies, TV shows, books and songs in English.
Example:
I’m tired of bullies beating me up. I’m going to learn kung fu, so I can defend
myself if they attack me again!
20. Typhoon/tʌɪˈfuːn/
The origin of this word is actually complicated, but some say it was
reinforced by the Chinese word ‘taifeng,’ which means ‘big wind’. There
were also some possible influences from other languages like Greek, Arabic
and Portuguese.
A typhoon is just another name for a hurricane or a cyclone. If it’s in the Pacific
Ocean near Asia, it’s called a typhoon.
Example:
In 2014 Typhoon Haiyanhit the Philippines and caused a lot of damage. It was
one of the biggest typhoons ever recorded.
WORDS FROM SIX OTHER LANGUAGES
21. Moped (from Swedish)
‘Moped’ (pronounced with two syllables: ‘mo-ped’is a combination of the
Swedish words ‘motor’ and ‘pedaler’. Those words are nearly the same as
their English equivalents.
It is basically a bicycle with a motor. Many people call scooters or small
motorcycles ‘mopeds, but that’s not technically correct.
Example:
When I got my driver’s license, I really wanted a car. But cars are too
expensive, so I bought a moped from my friend Ronnie.
22. Paparazzi (from Italian) /ˌpapəˈratsəʊ/
‘Paparazzi’ is actually the plural form of the Italian word paparazzo. It is
used in English to describe a photographer or a group of photographers who
take pictures of celebrities. Then they sell the photos to magazines or
newspapers.
Example:
When Princess Diana died in 1999, many people believed that the paparazzi
were responsible for her death. Those photographers were constantly
following her everywhere.
23. Sheikh (from Arabic) /ʃeɪk,ʃiːk/
A sheikh is a ruler or leader of a group of people in Arab cultures. It is used
in English as a title for rulers in some countries, instead of words like ‘king’
or ‘president’.
For example, the current leader of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, is a sheikh.
 Example:
When meetings heikhs, many foreign leaders hold their hands as a sign of
respect or friendship.
24. Taekwondo (from Korean) /taɪkwɒnˈdoʊ/
In Korean, ‘taekwondo’ means ‘kick fist art' and in English it is used to
describe that popular martial art.
Example:
After writing this article, I now want to learn a martial art. I’d like to learn
taekwondo, but I want to learn how to use swords and other weapons, so it
might not be the best option forme.
25. Avatar/ˈavətɑː/
The word now commonly applied to a person’s representation in a virtual
world is a Sanskrit word. English language borrowed it from Hindi. In
Hinduism, it means the manifestation of God in bodily form.
There are ten Avatars in Hindu mythology.
26. Lemon/ˈlɛmən/
The name for the yellow citrus fruit may have originally been borrowed from
an Arabic term for citrus, ‘līmūn’.In standard modern Arabic, the word for
lemon is pronounced ‘laymuun’.
Lemons are rich in Vitamin C.
27. Sherbet/ˈʃəːbət/
The fruity frozen dessert’s name borrowed from the Middle East, either
from the Turkish ‘şerbetor’from the Persian term ‘sharbat’.
28. Modus
Operandi ˌ/məʊdəsɒpəˈrandiː/,ˌɒpə
ˈrandʌɪ/ Latin Origin
- a way of doing something (literally ‘way of operating’)
29. Glitch / ɡlɪtʃ/
A glitch (of German origin) describes a small problem, but usually it is a
problem that doesn’t make it impossible to finish something.
Example:
I planned to go downtown to meet Betty, but I ran into a glitch: The busses
weren’t plying because it was a holiday. So, I just took a taxi instead.
30. Dollar/ˈdɒlə/
This word comes from Czech through Dutch. Its roots are connected to the
origins of the mint itself: a factory where coins and currency are produced.
The word is widely used as a currency of almost twenty countries like USA,
New Zealand, Australia, Canada, etc.
 TASK 3
Complete these sentences choosing from the list of words and phrases above:
Page number 61- English for Engineers
Answers:
1. Vice-versa
2. Quid proquo
3. Vendetta
4. A-la-carte
5. En masse
6. Fauxpax
7. Emojis
8. Impromptu
9. Souvenir
10. Tsunami

GRAMMAR
Identifying common errors in writing with reference to misplaced
modifiers and tenses:
Modifier: A modifier is a word or phrase which describes a noun or
pronoun in a sentence.
e.g. He bought a red car.
In the above sentence, the word ‘red’ modifies the
noun ‘car’. Examples of other Modifiers
A modifier changes our understanding of a word by adding details. Here are some
examples of words that can be changed with modifiers:
Word Modified: Red
Bright red, fire engine red, red as
dark as blood Word Modified:
Cold
Bitter cold, freezing cold, cold that chills
you to the bone Word Modified: Cat
Fluffy cat, orange cat, the cat I
saw on the street Word Modified:
Idea
Bold idea, the world’s worst idea, the best idea I’ve ever had
Types of Modifiers
There are two types of words that act as modifiers: adjectives and adverbs.
Furthermore, phrases and clauses that serve as adjectives or adverbs can also
be modifiers.
a. Adjectives as Modifiers
An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun by making it more descriptive.
Here’s a basic sentence:
e.g. Rani wearing a blue saree, went to the county fair.
b. Adverbs as Modifiers
An adverb modifies a verb, or adjective by answering questions of where,
when, why and how. Adverbs often explain a degree to which something is
done, answering the question “to what extent?” So, let’s take the same
sentence from above and add adverb modifiers:
e.g. Yesterday the big, friendly boy went to the county fair
only to eat popcorn.
The big, friendly boy frequently went to the county fair to
eat popcorn.
Phrases and Clauses as Modifiers
Modifiers are not only single words-they can be phrases and clauses, as long
as they act as adjectives or adverbs in a sentence. A clause needs a subject
and verb. Here are some examples:
The boy ate popcorn until he had a stomach ache.
The boy ate popcorn
from the fair. The
boy ran as fast as the
wind.
The phrases ‘popcorn from the fair’ and ‘as fast as the wind’ work as
modifiers to describe what the boy ate and how fast he could run.
She saw a puppy and a kitten on the way to the store.

How to Avoid Mistakes with Modifiers

As a rule, the modifier should be placed as close as possible to the word it
modifies. That’s to avoid confusion about which word is being modified.
Otherwise, the sentence can have a misplaced or dangling modifier. Dangling
and misplaced modifiers can make a sentence ambiguous—in other words,
the meaning could be unclear.
Misplaced Modifier
If the modifier changes, qualifies, clarifies or limits a particular word in a
sentence to add emphasise or to describe, is called Misplaced Modifier.
Misplaced Adjective:
1. Fluffy and hungry, man gave the dog popcorn. IN CORRECT
Here, the placement of the modifiers makes it sound like the man is fluffy and
hungry. But we want to say that the dog is fluffy and hungry. Remember, the
modifier needs to be as close as possible to the word it is modifying.
The man gave the fluffy and hungry dog popcorn. CORRECT
Or
The man gave popcorn to the fluffy and hungry dog. CORRECT

Misplaced Adverb:
1. The man only cooked the popcorn.
2. The man cooked only the popcorn.
Though the above sentences are grammatically correct, it is unclear what the
word ‘only’ is modifying—that makes the sentence ambiguous. This is a
common mistake. If you want the meaning of sentence 1, then the modifier is
misplaced in Sentence 2, and vice versa.
The following sentences make the meaning clear:
1. The man only cooked the popcorn. No one else.
2. The man cooked only the popcorn; he didn’t make anything else.
Note: The teacher should provide more examples with misplaced modifiers
such as just, also, actually etc.
Dangling Modifier
A dangling modifier is a modifier that can be mistakenly linked to the wrong
word. Usually the subject is missing, so the modifier modifies an object.
e.g.
While running towards the fair, the popcorn smelled delicious
Here, the subject that is supposed to be modified is missing—so, it is left
“dangling” from the sentence with nothing to connect to. Instead, we link the
modifier with only object in the sentence (“popcorn”), so it seems like the
popcorn is running towards the fair.
e.g.
While the dog was running towards the fair, the popcorn smelled delicious.
Without “the dog”, the modifier is left “dangling” because it needs a proper
subject to modify.
Exercise:
Correct the following sentences with respect to modifiers.
1. The vehicle was parked on the front lawn of the school with a slightly flat tyre.
2. Flying over the barrier and into the stands, the fan could not escape the foul ball.
3. Subjected to humiliation, the producers of the reality television
show should have anticipated the contestant might break the
contract.
4. Enticed by the horses, the fence provided an inadequate barrier to prevent
the child from reaching the pasture.
5. The incident deeply upset Barnett, and he has been seeing a
psychologist with severe emotional distress.
6. Anna suggested often that the children should play outside.
7. A friend Deepak had lunch with occasionally suggested that
Deepak compete on a reality show.
8. The pedestrian was hit by a car, sitting on the curb.
9. Mary stormed out of the office, frustrated by the argument with her employer.
10.With leaking pipes and a broken air conditioner, the tenants
rightfully withheld the month’s rent on the property.
11.Contaminated with oil from the spill, Jeff refused to purchase the property.
12.Surrounded by allegations of mismanagement, shareholders demanded
the resignation of the Company’s President.
13.The Hatfield’s’ claimed ownership of the land, having built and lived in
a house on the property for over 20years.
14.Making only minimum wage, I nearly earned $2,000 last summer.
15. The bus station was located by a river which was made of redbrick.
16. A fish was found in the Pacific Ocean that had been considered extinct.
17. The cowboy was thrown by the bull in a leather vest.
18. Sam asked me to go for a ride on the telephone.
19. She was making a sweater for her lover that was warm.
20. The results will only be known after all the votes have been counted.
21. The contractors needed all kinds of artists to paint the mural badly.
22. Left alone in the house, the thunderstorm terrified the two small children.
23. The book was missing from the library that we needed to finish our research.
24. The robber was a tall man with a moustache weighing 160pounds.
25. You will only need to plant one row of corn.
26. She had a meal in a restaurant that was low in price.
27. I gave the woman an umbrella who was interviewing for the job.
28. He promised never to remarry at her deathbed.
29. I nearly waited two hours for the bus.
30.Lydia fed the pigs wearing her raincoat.
31.Dressed in a flowing gown, everyone watched the celebrity enter the room.
Tasks4 and 5 from the text book ‘English for Engineers’ Page no 63

Tenses

Tense: Tense is a form of verb which shows the time and state of action.
There are three tenses in English
1. Present 2.Past 3.Future
Each tense can be classified into four types. They are
Simple , Continuous , Perfect & Perfect Continuous

Tenses Present Past Future

Simple s+v in base form+obj s+v S+ shall/will+v+obj
3rd person
pronoun +ed/vowel I shall write a novel.
+V+s/es change+obj She will
+Obj. I She cleaned the come
write a floor. I wrote a tomorrow.
novel. novel.
He writes a novel.
Continu s+am/is/are+v+ing s+was/were+v+ing s+shall
ou s I am writing a I was writing
be/will be+v+ing
novel. He is a novel.
I shall be writing a
wearing a mask. They were novel.
They are running standing at the bus You will be going to
around. stop. UK.
Perfect s+have/has+v+en/ s+had+v+en/ed/ s+shall/
ed/vo wel change vow el change will+have+v+
I have written a I had lost my en/ed/vowel
novel. She has wallet. change
spoken to her aunt. I shall have written
The bird has flown. a novel.
 Perfect s+have/ s+had+been+v+ing s+shall/
Continu has+been+v+ing I I had been writing will+have+bee
ou s have been writing a a novel. n+v+ing
novel. He had I shall have
She has been lecturing been been writing a
for two hours. lecturing since novel.
two She will have been
weeks. participating in a
quiz.

Task 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13from text book ‘English for Engineers’ pages 66-7.1

READING: SUB-SKILLS OF READING- SKIMMING AND SCANNING:

SKIMMING is reading rapidly in order to get a general overview of the material.
Skimming
It refers to the process of reading only main ideas within a passage to get an
overall impression of the content of a reading.
How to Skim:
Read the title.
Read the introduction or the first
paragraph. Read the first sentence
of each paragraph.
Comprehend any pictures, charts, or graphs.
Notice any italicized or words put in bold.
Read the summary.
Read the title
SCANNING is reading rapidly in order to find specific facts or
information.
Comparison between Skimming and Scanning:

Skimming Scanning

A technique for fast reading. A technique in which a reader

Definition A reader reads the article in tries to search a particular text or
order to get the general idea word in the document.
of it.

● Ability to go through the ● Ability to find quickly.

article quickly. ● Looking for specific information.
Requirement ● The ability to understand ● Focus on keywords.
the relevant information
in reading.

● Grasp the general idea of ● Search a particular point

Purpose an article. or answer from a text.
● Read the title page or ● To find a particular quotation
contents of a book or definition in a book.
before
purchasing it.
● Read the title carefully. ● Read the paragraphs in a text
● First paragraph and twice or thrice to understand the
Method introduction need to be read introduction, explanation and
intensely. conclusion.
● Emphasis on the reading of

First sentence of every ● Headings are thoroughly read to

paragraph. locate the desired information.
● Pictures, charts or graphs ● Unwanted details or
should be critically explanations are omitted.
studied.
● Words or phrases that are
italicized or in bold must
be understood.
● Summary or last
paragraph is important to
understand the
conclusion.

Task 14 and 15from the text book English for Engineers page 73 and 75.
Writing
Parts of a formal letter:
Sender’s Address: Sender’s address is written if the letter is not on letter head.
Include the sender’s address at the top of the letter one line above the date. Include
only the street address, city and zip or pin code.
Date: It is used to indicate the date the letter is written. Write the month, day and
year two inches from the top of the page. The format changes according to the letter
you use.
Inside Address:
The Inside Address is the recipient's address. It is addressed to the specific individual.
Include a personal title such as Ms., Mrs., Mr., or Dr. Follow a woman's preference in
being addressed as Miss, Mrs., or Ms. If you are unsure of a woman's preference in
being addressed, use Ms. If there is a possibility that the person to whom you are
writing is a Dr. or has some other title, use that title. Make sure that you enquire the
recipient’s exact title and use the same. For international correspondence, type the
name of the country in all-capital letters in the last line of Inside Address. The Inside
Address begins one line below the sender's address or one inch below the date. It
should be justified to the left margin, no matter which format you are using.
Salutation
Use the same name as the Inside Address, including the personal title. If you know
the person and typically address them by their first name, it is acceptable to use only
the first name in the Salutation (for example: Dear Lucy,).In all other cases, use the
personal title and last /family name. Leave one line after the salutation.
If you don't know the reader's gender, use a neutral salutation, such as their job title
followed by the receiver's name. It is also acceptable to use the full name in a
salutation if you cannot determine gender. For example, you might write Dear
Chaitanya: if you are unaware of Chaitanya’s gender.
Body
For block and modified block formats, single space and left justification in each
paragraph within the body of the letter is essential. Leave a blank line between each
paragraph. When writing a business letter, be careful to remember that conciseness is
very important. In the first paragraph, consider a friendly opening and then a
statement of the main point. The next paragraph should begin justifying the
importance of the main point. In the next few paragraphs, continue justification with
background information and supporting details. The closing paragraph should restate
the purpose of the letter and in some cases, request for action from the recipient.
Closing
The closing begins at the same vertical point as your date and one line after the last
body paragraph. Capitalize only the first word (for example: Thank you) and leave
four lines between the closing and the sender's name for a signature. If colon follows
the salutation, a comma should follow the closing; otherwise, there is no punctuation
after the closing.
Enclosures
If you have enclosed any documents along with the letter, such as a résumé, indicate
this by typing the word ‘Enclosures’ one line below the closing. As an option, you
may list the name of each document you are including in the envelope. For instance,
if you have included many documents and need to ensure that the recipient is aware
of each document, it may be a good idea to list the names.

Block Format
When writing business letters, you must pay special attention to the format and font
used. The most common layout of a business letter is known as block format. Using
this format, the entire letter is justified to the left margin and single spaced. There
should be double space between paragraphs.
Modified Block
Another widely used format is known as modified block format. In this type, the body
of the letter, the sender's and the recipient's addresses are justified to the left margin
and single-spaced. The date and subscription should be written at the centre.
Semi-Block
The final and least used style is semi-block. It is much like the modified block style
except that each paragraph is indented.
Font
Another important factor in the readability of a typed letter is the font. The generally
accepted font is Times New Roman, size 12, although other fonts such as Arial
maybe used. When choosing a font, always consider your audience. If you are writing
to a conservative company, you may want to use Times New Roman. However, if
you are writing to a more liberal company, you have a freedom in choosing fonts.
Punctuation
Punctuation after the salutation and close - use a colon (:) after the salutation (never a
comma) (,) after the closing In some circumstances, you may also use a less common
format, known as open punctuation. For this style, punctuation is excluded after the
salutation and the closing.

SAMPLE FORMAL LETTER FORMATS

Block Format
143 Fortune Road
Geethanjali Employees’
Town Hyderabad
November14, 2016

Enthusiastic
English
Writing Lab
Street Wrong
City America
Dear Ms. Soft Skills
Body of the Letter

Sincerely

Rebecca

John

Format of Requisition letter

The Format of an Enquiry Letter is as follows –
1. Sender’s address: Include email and phone number, if required.
2. Date: Below address. Leave one space or line.
3. Receiver’s address
4. Salutation (Sir / respected sir /madam)
5. Subject line
6. Body
Paragraph 1: Introduce yourself and the purpose of writing the
letter Paragraph 2: Give details of the requisition.
Paragraph 3: Conclude
7. Complimentary Close
8. Sender’s name, signature and designation (if any)
Sample – letter of complaint- You had purchased a mobile from a website on
discount. However, you received a damaged phone. Write a letter of complaint to
the website asking for a replacement or refund.
House No.121/32,
Peter
Malhothra
Royal
Sports Ltd.
Gurugram
Haryana,
10001.
Sir/Madam
Subject: Complaint about supply of damaged mobile-reg.
This is to inform you about the receipt of damaged mobile, order no.148, dt.14-6-18.
I ordered an Apple Phone last month after I saw your discount sale on
www.app.mob.co.inand wanted to avail the opportunity. I talked on phone with Mr.
Benzeman, the sales Manager, Sales Wing of your website and was asked to transfer
Rs.10,000 online. I immediately transferred the specified amount.
However, I received the courier after a week. When I opened the parcel, was astonished
to find the Mobile’s screen was broken and the battery was missing. I didn’t expect such
a poor-quality service from you Sir.
Hence, I request you to replace the phone. If it is not possible, please refund the money I
paid.
I look forward to hear from you on this issue.

Yours Sincerely

Ram Kumar.

Cover Letter or Job Application.

When you submit your résumé, you need to write a cover letter. Since it is a formal
letter, there are set guidelines for the information to be included in your Cover Letter.
The following Cover Letter format lists the information you need to include in the
cover letter you submit with your résumé. Since a Cover Letter is a formal letter, it's
important to adhere to these formatting standards.
Use the guidelines below to create customized cover letter.
Cover Letter Format
Your Contact Information
Name
Add
ress
City
,
State,
Zip Code
Phone
Number
Email
Address

Date
Employer’s Contact Information

Name

Title
Company
Address
City State
Zip Code

Salutation
Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name or you can write the person's full name.
Body of Cover Letter
The body of your cover letter lets the employer know what position you are applying
for, why the employer should select you for an interview, and how you will follow-
up. Organize the body of your cover letter into the following paragraphs.
First Paragraph
The first paragraph of a cover letter should include the information about the intention of the person
to apply for the job. Give reference of the job advertisement. Mention the position you are applying
for.
 Middle Paragraph(s)
The next section of a cover letter should include specific skills and qualifications that
match the job. Next, show the previous experience can be an asset to the organisation.
The cover letter should be concluded by mentioning key strengths as per the job
requirements.
Final Paragraph
Briefly restate why you would be a good fit for the position. Include information on
how you will follow-up. Thank the employer/reader.
Complimentary Close
Best Regards, Thank you etc.
Signature
Handwritten Signature in Hard Copy. (Typed Signature)
Email versus hard copy: If you are emailing your cover letter, you need to pay attention to
the subject line of your email. Make sure you maintain the connection between your
qualifications and the job requirements clearly.
Email Subject Line
When you're sending an email cover letter, include a subject line that enables the
hiring manager to recognize the job for which you are applying.
Font choices: The details count when it comes to cover letters, so choose a
professional font in a10 or 12-point size. This is no time to break out emoticons or
emoji’s!
Spacing: Your letter should be single-spaced. Give one space between each
paragraph, and in general, a space between each section of the letter and also before
complimentary close.
Proofreading: Proof Reading is a must after writing a letter, before sending it..
Make sure to avoid errors by carefully proof reading your letter. Use your word
processor's spell check to catch common errors, and then review to catch additional
errors.
Résumé or Job Application
A Résumé is a calling card for one’s future. It is a brief summary of your talents,
abilities education, experience and skills. A successful Résumé will review
summarize and present your training, expertise in the said field and achievements
clearly and concisely. Its main purpose is to convince the prospective employer to
contact you for an Interview. A Résumé is normally 2 to 3 pages. But a Curriculum
Vitae is longer.
Types of Résumés
1. Chronological Résumé
2. Functional Résumé
3. Combination Résumé
4. Targeted Résumé
Chronological Résumé
It starts by listing your work history with the recent position written first. Your jobs,
educational qualifications are listed in reverse chronological order, with the recent
one first. Employers prefer this type of Résumé because it is easy to assess one’s
calibre and recent accomplishments.
 Functional Résumé
This type of Résumé focuses on skills and experience rather than one’s chronological
work history. It is used most often by people who are changing careers or who have
gaps in their employment history. It highlights major skill areas. Skills are
emphasized over work experience. Job titles, Dates or names of the employers may
be left out. You may use the following labels in this type of Résumé.
● Skills
● Abilities
● Accomplishments
● Experience
● Areas of competence
Combination Résumé
A combination Résumé lists a person’s skills and experience first. The employment
history comes next. With this type of Résumé one can highlight the skills relevant to
the job one is applying for. It also provides the chronological work history that
employers prefer. You are writing a targeted Résumé and need an effective way to
match the skills to the job requirements.
Targeted Résumé
A targeted Résumé is a customized report which specifically highlights the relevant
qualifications and skills needed for the job. It gives an idea of requisite experience for
the specific position.

Structure
● Cover letter
● Planning
● Projecting skills and strengths
● conclusion
● Form and style
● Expert advice (pet peeves)
● A Résumé is divided into 3 sections: Introduction, Primary section and secondary
section
Introduction:
It contains a header and Career Objectives.
Header includes name and contact details of the applicants. The name should be in
bold letters. The address, email id and telephone numbers are furnished.
Objectives:
It holds the aspirant’s career plans. The applicant’s potential qualities and his
expectations from the job are clearly indicated.
Primary Section:
It is the most important part of a Résumé. Ideally, the experience section should get
more prominence and therefore should be written first. Nevertheless, applicants can
put forth educational qualification section prior to experience.
 Experience:
It contains work history, designation, place of work, total duration of work and other
responsibilities.
While giving the above details bullet format and action words are used. This section
should be used for the best benefit of the Applicant.
Educational Qualification:
This section should include qualifications both education as well as additional, name of
the awarding bodies, year of passing and grades/percentage scored.
Certification
Extra courses, internships, workshops, seminars and training sessions participated are
listed here.
Achievements:
Awards and rewards are mentioned here.
Secondary section
Personal Details: It includes name of Parents, marital status, age, interests/hobbies
etc.
References: This includes the name and contact details of the people worked with.
However, the practice of writing references is thinning down. However, references
should be provided if asked for.
General Editing and Proof Reading of a résumé
Proof read the Resume for any Punctuation, grammar and spelling errors.
Legible and Attractive:
Use the Times New Roman, Verdana or Courier. The font size for the content would
be between 11 and 12 and for headings and sub-headings 12 or 14. Leave a margin of
11/2 inch to left and right.
Final Formatting
Check the job requirements to be sure that the Résumé submitted in the prescribed
format through email, post or fax.
Tips to prepare a good résumé
1. See that a Résumé doesn’t have any typographical, spelling, grammar, syntax
errors or factual errors.
2. Key information is given i.e., Name, address, phone number and email id at the top
of the first page. Objectives are listed next in concord with the job requirements.
3. Experience, educational qualifications in reverse chronological order. Additional
information regarding hobbies/interests is given
4. Specify the goals for opting the job
5. Strengths are highlighted
6. Key Skills are given priority
7. It should be ‘You attitude’ not ‘I’
8. Use most impressive or appropriate vocabulary
9. Experience section should come before details of education
10. ‘Result oriented approach’ is used
11. Use laser printer
12. Correct tense should be used
13. Use most impressive or appropriate vocabulary
 Avoid
● Word Résumé or C V in the Header
● Mentioning Expected Salary
● Address of the former employers
● Reasons for leaving the previous jobs
● Your weaknesses

Sample Résumé

Ravi Mathur
H.No : 1-03,
Vempally (v),
Hazipur (M),

Mancherial(Dt), Phone:+91-991277081

T.S.Pin: 504208 Email:ravi.123@gmail.com

OBJECTIVES

To work in a firm with a professional work environment where I can utilize and
apply my knowledge, skills. As a fresh graduate, I cherish to improve my skills while
fulfilling organizational goals.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

S. Course School/College Year Percentage

N of
o Pass
1 B- Geethanjali College 2018 90%
Tech(CSE) of
Engineering and
Technology,
Hyderabad
2 Intermed Prathibha 2014 92%
iat e
Junior College,
Mancherial
3 High SaraswathiVishyalaym 2012 95%
Scho High School,
ol Mancherial

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS

⮚ Languages: C, Core Java

⮚ Web Technologies: HTML
⮚ Database: SQL Server
INTERPERSONALSKILLS
⮚ Quick grasping and learning ability.
⮚ Flexibility.
⮚ Punctuality.
⮚ Self-motivated and Self-confident.
ACHIEVEMENTS
⮚ Topper in class at school level with 87% score.
⮚ Ranked among the top 10 in the District at Degree Level.
⮚ Participated in Social Service Activities.

PROJECT DETAILS
Project 1:
Title: BULGA BAG PLANNER
Team Size: 02
Environment: Net beans, SQL Server
Role: Developer
Project Description: This project is aimed at developing a system by which the
employees in the organization submit the bills of various types and various amounts
to their managers. An email will be sent to the concerned people for the sanction of
the bill.
Responsibilities: Designing, Coding and Backend Support.
Personal information should be given at the end. Writing declaration has become obsolete.

ABSTRACT WRITING

Abstract is mandatory to submit a Thesis or a Report. This is usually a concise

summary of the report or article. The abstract is to get a quick overview of the
detailed Report/Thesis.
Definition: The word Abstract comes from the Latin word abstractum, which means
a condensed form of a longer piece of writing. There are two types of abstract:
(1) Descriptive abstract
(2) Informative abstract.
Purpose of writing an Abstract: Abstracts are important parts of reports and
research papers and sometimes academic assignments. The abstract gives a clear
picture of all the findings and conclusions in a Report or any document.
How to write an abstract?
Know the context or background information for your research. The general topic
under study and the specific topic of your research should be written in Abstract. The
central questions or statement of the problem of your research should be stated.
First re-read your paper/report for an overview, then read each section and condense
the information by deleting the extra or unwanted content. Next read these
sentences again to ensure that the major points are included. Check the length of the
Abstract and further reduce the words for clarity and for succinct sentences.
 Featutes of an Abstract :
● Uses one well-developed paragraph that is coherent and concise, and is able to
stand alone as a unit of information.
● Covers all the essential academic elements of the full-length paper, namely the
background, purpose, focus, methods, results and conclusions.
● Written in Simple Sentences and is understandable by a wide range of audience.
● Often uses passive structures in order to report findings, focusing on the issues
rather than people.
● Uses the language as of the original paper, often in amore simplified form.
● Does not (usually) include any referencing.
● Is found at the beginning of the text in publications while in academic assignments,
it is placed on a separate preliminary page.

Types of Abstract:
Descriptive Abstracts: Descriptive abstracts are generally used for Humanities and
Social Science papers or Psychology essays. This type of abstracts is usually very
short (50-100 words). The key parts of an abstract:
● Background
● Purpose
● Particular focus
● overview of contents
Informative Abstracts: Informative abstracts are generally used for Science,
Engineering or Psychology reports. The report is usually in 200 words.
The main parts are:
● Background aim or purpose of research
● Method used
● Findings/results
● Conclusion
Task: Choose an article of your choice and write an Abstract of 150 words.