KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY

School of Engineering
Humanities and Management Unit
Communication Skills I [ENGT 101]
Course Profile

Semester:
I
Course:
English Language ENGT 101
Credits:
Two
Class Schedule:
Section A: Sunday 10:00 12:00
Section B: Sunday 2:00 4:00
Instructor's Personal
Name: Mabindra Regmi
Email: mabindra@gmail.com
Phone number: 9841220474
If you need any further support regarding this subject please feel free to contact me on
the above email address. Should you require personal attention, please make a prior
appointment with me.
Course objectives
-

Acquaint students with basic principles and modes of professional communication with
exposure in a digital language lab
Enhance students competence in critical and creative thinking

Course content
Unit 1: Communication Practices
S. N.
1.
2.
3.

4.

5.

[18 hrs]

Description
Preparing a journal: Blooms Taxonomy at work

Hrs
2

Technical Writing: Traits, organization, Process: prewriting (purpose, goal,

audience, data, outline) writing (organization, formatting), rewriting (review,
editing and enhancement); the process in practice
Correspondences [lab practice included]
Memos: purpose, types and criteria for writing
Emails: challenges, authenticity and criteria for writing
Letters: components, formats (full-block, modified block, simplified); types
(cover, inquiry, good-news, bad-news, complaint, adjustment, sales, job
application)
Oral communication:
Presentation: parts of a formal oral presentation (introduction, discussion,
conclusion), oral presentation practices
Seminars and group discussions: research and sessions
Lab activities: Listening, Reading and Writing [practice package]

Unit 2: Critical and Creative Thinking

2
4

6
[14 hrs]

Essentials of Critical Thinking

Main Readings
1 Huxley, We Are All Scientists
2 The Sword of Damocles
3 Feynman and Leighton, Surely Youre Joking Mr. Feynmann
4 Palacio, The Good Example
5 Gore, TV Can Be a Good Parent
6 Ramachandran, The Making of a Scientist
7 Tagore, The Cabuliwallah
8 Paudyal, The Parrot in the Cage

Text Books
Gerson, Sharon, and Steven Gerson. (2014). Technical Communication: Process and Product.
8th ed. New Delhi: Pearson Education.
Nissani, M. & Lohani, S. (eds.). (2008). Flax-Golden Tales. (Larger Edition). Kathmandu:
Ekta Books.

Session plan
Sess
ion
1

Date

Topic

Activities

Assignments

24
Aug

Introduction session
Lecture

Buy ledger
Write reflection for
Session 1

31
Aug

Introductory session
Course orientation: Content
and evaluation
Technical writing: Purpose,
Audience, Economy
Technical Writing: Elements,
Introduction, Conclusion,
Transitions

7 Sep

Descriptive, and persuasive

writing

Write reflection for

Session 2
Writing a paragraph
Writing an introduction
Writing a conclusion
Write reflection for
Session 3
Writing descriptive and
persuasive essays

14
Sep

21
Sep

Sample letter and

discussion regarding
the format of letter
writing

Write critical reflection for

Session 6
Writing letter of
application and letter of
refusal

12
Oct

Sample memo and

practice of Writing
memo
Writing Emails

19
Oct

Introduction to critical
thinking
Flax Golden Tales
Discussion on four levels:
i.
Literal
comprehension
ii.
Interpretation
iii.
Critical thinking
iv.
Assimilation
Writing Letters: components,
formats (full-block, modified
block, simplified); types
(cover, inquiry, good-news,
bad-news, complaint,
adjustment, sales, job
application)
Writing Memos: purpose,
types and criteria for writing
Emails: challenges,
authenticity and criteria for
writing
Presentation: parts of a formal
oral presentation
(introduction, discussion,
conclusion), oral presentation
practices
Seminars and group
discussions: research and
sessions

Discussion and class

practice on elements
of paragraph,
introductions and
conclusions
Discussions and
practice session on
how to write
descriptions and
persuasive works.
Group division
Discussion on
Critical Writing
Interaction on Four
levels Discussion on
four levels
Huxley, We Are All
Scientists

Write critical reflection for

Session 5
Writing a memo
Writing and email and
sending it to a recipient
Write critical reflection for
Session 7

Practice session on
presentation

Write critical reflection for

Session 4
Work in groups for
presentation and four level
discussion of the
remaining seven texts
selected

2
Nov

Flax Golden Tales

The Sword of Damocles
Feynman and Leighton,
Surely Youre Joking Mr.
Feynmann

9
Nov

Flax Golden Tales

Palacio, The Good
Example
Gore, TV Can Be a Good
Parent

10

16
Nov

Lab activity: Reading

11

23
Nov

Flax Golden Tales

Ramachandran, The Making
of a Scientist
Tagore, The Cabuliwallah

12

30
Nov

Lab activity: Listening

13

7
Dec

Flax Golden Tales

Paudyal, The Parrot in the
Cage

14

14
Dec

Lab activity: Writing

15

21
Dec

Revision session

16

28
Dec

Group presentation 1
The Sword of
Damocles
Group presentation 2
Feynman and
Leighton, Surely
Youre Joking Mr.
Feynmann
Group presentation 3
Palacio, The Good
Example
Group presentation 4
Gore, TV Can Be a
Good Parent
Computer based
reading sessions.
(TOEFL exercises)
Group presentation 5
Ramachandran, The
Making of a
Scientist
Group presentation 6
Tagore, The
Cabuliwallah
Computer based
listening sessions.
(TOEFL exercises)
Group presentation 7
Paudyal, The
Parrot in the Cage
Computer based
writing and integrated
sessions.
(TOEFL exercises)
Revision on all the
components covered
so far during the
semester
Portfolio submission
and discussion on
final examination

Write critical reflection for

Session 8
Writing on four levels of
reading on related texts

Write critical reflection for

Session 9
Writing on four levels of
reading on related texts
Write critical reflection for
Session 10
Write critical reflection for
Session 11
Writing on four levels of
reading on related texts

Write critical reflection for

Session 12
Write critical reflection for
Session 13
Writing on four levels of
reading on related texts
Write critical reflection for
Session 14
Completion of all
assignment for submission

Evaluation Criteria

Marks

In-semester

Tests:
Reading, Writing and Listening

20

[50marks]

Journal:
Classroom practices, self-study, four-levels, grammar and vocabulary
practice, free writing, reflections

10

Assignments:
Memo, email, letter, resume, critical essays

10

Presentations

10

End-semester
[50 marks]

Objective [10]
(20 minutes)

Comprehension
Language strategies

5
5

Subjective [40]
(2 hrs. 40 mins.)

Flax-Golden Tales
Free Writing
Technical Writing

15
5
20

Suggestions to the students:

There are a few suggestions for the students electing this course:
1. Please be prepared for the lesson before entering the class.
2. Please come to the class with an open mind and not be burdened with preconceived
notions.
3. Connecting the issues discussed in class with your reality is of utmost importance.
4. Since there will be a lot of written work, procrastination will be one of your greatest
enemies. You will find out that postponing your work till a later time will result in
incompleteness of your work or work not done properly.
5. All works must be handwritten in the ledger.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
The students are expected to:
read the assigned materials prior to each class;
take notes as appropriate during class;
attend class regularly, participate in class discussion and behave in a mature manner (see
expected behavior below);
complete all the assignments given on time;
sit for all tests administered;
prepare a portfolio to be submitted at the end of the semester
EXPECTED CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR
Come to class on time. Please some to class on time. Dont make excuses.
Be participatory. Please participate actively in class. Be constructive in nature.
Participation to make fun of the tutor or other students hardly translates to effective
output in the end.

Mobile phones. I dont allow mobile phones to be used in the class, so please refrain
from doing so. If you have any emergency, you can go outside the class to make/receive a
call after asking for permission.
No excuses. Making excuses reflects poorly on your part, so, try not to be in a situation
where you have to make excuses.
Integrity and honesty. Maintain integrity and honesty. Do not use any unfair means
during any time. Acknowledge other people and sources wherever applicable.
No defacing the university property.
No eating, drinking, chewing gum in class. Drinking water is acceptable.

Come prepared. Bring your own pencils, pens, notebooks, textbook, etc.

Individual Assignment:
There will be at least two individual assignments in a semester. Individual assignments carry
20% weigh in the internal examination.
Modular / Unit Test:
There will be one modular test of 2 hours and it will carry 20% of the marks. There is no
makeup for a missed exam.
Final Exam: There will be an End term exam at the end of the session. End term covers all
the chapter(s) taught during the semester.
TEAMWORK and PROJECT:
Group work is an essential part of the course. The class will be divided into different groups
of five (optimal) and will be assigned a task from the book Golden Flax Tales. The date for
presentation will be as per the session plan .
INTERNET/COMPUTER USE:
Please make use of computer and internet technology to gain information and to make
yourself adept at using technology to get your work done. It is also an essential tool in the
present era for communication. The assignments and presentations that you carry out should
reflect your familiarity with the technological world.
ATTENDANCE and LATENESS
I would like to encourage all the students to attend classes at all times. Your social obligations
should not be higher on the priority list than your academics. In addition, please do not enter
late for the class. It shows lack of interest towards the academic programme in general, and
does not reflect well at a personal level. Although I might ask reasons for lateness in class, I
do not have the habit of considering any excuse that you may provide. Thus, the best option
is to be punctual.
Moreover, Kathmandu University has a requirement of minimum 80% attendance during the
semester in each course. Otherwise, the students will not be allowed to appear for their final
examination.