CBSE Syllabus 2011 ENGLISH (Elective) Class XI and XII

ENGLISH (Elective) Code No: 001
Classes XI-XII

Background

The course is intended to give students a high level of competence in English with an emphasis on the study of literary texts and will provide extensive exposure to a variety of

rich texts of world literature as well as to Indian writings in English, including classics, and develop sensitivity to the creative and imaginative uses of English and give them a taste for reading with delight and discernment. The course will be pitched at a level which the students may find challenging.

The course is primarily designed to equip the students to pursue higher studies in English literature and English language at the college level and prepare students to become teachers of English.

Objectives

The general objectives at this stage are:

• to provide extensive exposure to a variety of writings in English including some classics.
• to develop sensitivity to literary and creative uses of language.
• to further expand the learners’ vocabulary resources through the use of dictionary, thesaurus and encyclopaedia.
• to develop a taste for reading with discernment and delight.
• to initiate the study of formal English grammar and elementary linguistics and phonetics.
• to enable learners to translate texts from mother tongue into English and vice versa.
• to critically examine a text and comment on different aspects of it.

At the end of this stage the Elective Course would ensure that the learner

• grasps the global meaning of the text, its gist and understands how its theme and sub-theme relate.
• relates the details to the message in it; for example, how the details support a generalization or the conclusion either by classification or by contrast and comparison.
• comprehends details, locates and identifies facts, arguments, logical relationships, generalization, conclusions, etc.
• draws inferences, supplies missing details, predicts outcomes, grasps the significance of particular details and interprets what he/she reads.
• assesses the attitude and bias of the author.
• infers the meanings of words and phrases from the context; differentiates between apparent synonyms and appreciates the nuances of words.
• appreciates stylistic nuances, the lexical structure, its literal and figurative use and analyses a variety of texts.30
• identifies different styles of writing like humorous, satirical, contemplative, ironical and burlesque.
• does text-based writing (writing in response to questions or tasks based on prescribed as well as ‘unseen’ texts).
• develops the advanced skills of reasoning, making inferences, judgements, etc.
• develops familiarity with the poetic uses of language including features of language through which artistic effect is achieved.
• to develop sensitivity to the literary and creative uses of language.
• to further expand the learners’ vocabulary resources through the use of dictionary, thesaurus and encyclopaedia.
• to develop a taste for reading with discernment and delight.
• to initiate the study of formal English grammar and elementary linguistics and phonetics.
• to enable learners to translate texts from mother tongue into English and vice versa.
• to critically examine a text and comment on different aspects of it.

Methods and Techniques

The techniques used for teaching should promote habits of self-learning and reduce dependence on the teacher. The multi-skill, learner-centred, activity based approach already recommended for the previous stages of education, is still in place, though it will be used in such a way that silent reading of prescribed/selected texts for comprehension will receive greater focus as one of the activities. Learners will be trained to read independently and intelligently, interacting actively with texts and other reference materials (dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopaedia, etc.) where necessary. Some pre- reading activity will generally be required, and course books should suggest those. The reading of texts should be followed by post reading activities. It is important to remember that every text can generate different readings. Students should be encouraged to interpret texts in different ways, present their views of critics on a literary text and express their own reactions to them. Some projects may be assigned to students from time to time. For instance, students may be asked to put together a few literary pieces on a given theme from English as well as regional literatures.

Click here to download CBSE Syllabus 2011 ENGLISH (Elective) Class XI

Click here to download CBSE Syllabus 2011 ENGLISH (Elective) Class XII