Fourth Regular Class

Dear Students,

We have two texts in our plan for 5 June, The Stub-Book and Proposal Writing. We may revisit To Know a Fly. I anticipate you all to attend class after going through them. Please read The Stub Book with the following questions in mind, and answer them after you finish reading:
a. Alarcon describes the significance of place, calling story of duke but focuses on incidents in the life of Buscabeatas. What effect, do you think, the author aims to impart switching the subject matter?
b. What image of Buscabeatas does the author create in the story? How do you feel about the character?
c. Buscabeatas demonstrates not only wit but also stupidity. Discuss with reference to his activities after the pumpkins are stolen.
d. Make a chart of characters, their activities, and your judgement to their act (not of Buscabeatas). Which of the characters did you find working logically? Discuss.
e. The story demonstrates various aspects of critical thinking. What are the aspects? Describe them.
To hold discussion on Proposals, I expect you to bring hard copy of the proposal that you submitted to the department.
And, regarding To Know a Fly, I would appreciate your endeavor if you try to understand section after case and control study.
Have an enjoyable reading.

Course Content: ENGT 102

ENGT 102 Course Content

OBJECTIVES: Familiarize students with the skills of research, documentation and project writings; Orient students to critical and creative practices through interdisciplinary readings

LEARNING OUTCOMES:   After the completion of the course, students will be able to:

apply argumentative and critical skills in written and oral communications

-          write and review scientific articles and conference papers

-          design formal research proposals and reports

-          use accepted citation and referencing systems in technical texts

      

 Unit 1: Technical Communication                                     20 hrs

 1.1.     Argumentation                                                      

Argumentative presentations (written and oral): using Stephen Toulmin’s Model (claim, ground, warrant, backing, rebuttal and modifier)

  1.2.      Proposals

 Research: concept papers

 Project:  project proposals

  1.3.      Reports

Technical Papers: Conference papers; Scientific journal articles; Structure: Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Analysis/Discussion, Conclusion, Acknowledgements, References;         Reviewing technical texts

 Project Reports: structure, writing process

 Memo Reports: structure, writing process

Unit 2: Critical Readings                                                     12 hrs.

Theme I: Science and Society

1.      Vincent Dethier, “To Know a Fly”

2.      Carl G. Hempel, “Scientific Inquiry: Invention and Test”

3.      Armand Denis, “The Four-Tusked Elephant”

Theme 2: Human Condition

4.      Anton Chekov, “Swan Song”

5.      L. P. Devkota, “The Lunatic”

6.      Jared Diamond, “Adaptive Failure: Easter’s End”

Theme 3: Critical Thinking

7.      Bertrand Russell, “Keeping Errors at Bay”

8.      Pedro Antonio de Alarcόn, “The Stub-Book”

9.      Somerset Maugham, “Mr. Know-All”

Text Books:

Gerson, Sharon, and Steven Gerson. Technical Communication: Process and Product.8^th ed. New Delhi: Pearson Education, 2014.

Nissani, Moti, and Shreedhar Lohani. Flax-Golden Tales. Kathmandu: Ekta Books, 2008.

Third Regular Class