BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI, KK BIRLA GOA CAMPUS

INSTRUCTION DIVISION Course Handout (Part II)

First Semester 2015-16

Date: 03/08/2015
In addition to part I (General Handout for all courses appended to the time table) this portion gives
further specific details regarding the course.
Course No
Course Title
Instructor-in-charge
Instructors

: BITS F112
: Technical Report Writing
: MEENAKSHI RAMAN (Sec.1)
: Basavadatta Mitra (Sec.2) , Geetha B (Sec.3) ,
Layla M. Mascarenhas (sec.4)

1. Scope and Objective of the course:

The objective of the course is to help the learners understand the process of communication;
develop skills in writing technical reports and presenting them to an audience effectively.

2. Textbook:
Sharma, R.C. and Mohan K., 2011. Business Correspondence and Report Writing. Fourth
Edition. New Delhi: Tata McGraw Hill.
3. Reference Books:
(i)
(ii)

Raman, Meenakshi and Sangeeta Sharma, 2011. Technical Communication: Principles

and Practice, 2/e. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
Krishna Mohan and Meenakshi Raman. 2010. Advanced Communicative English. New
Delhi : Tata McGraw Hill

4. Course Plan:
Offered over 15 weeks, the 30 discussion-cum-practice classes of this course are presented in video
modules which have been uploaded in the Photon server. You need to go through the videos and try to
comprehend the content so that the classes can be used for interactions and practice. There will be two
contact classes every week to discuss the videos and get the doubts clarified.
Please find overleaf the Schedule of Classes along with the text/ video reference. Evaluation pattern is
given at the end of this handout:

Session
No.
1
2-6

Topic & Chapter No.

Sub Topics

Video No.

Introduction
Elements of Effective
Writing
( Chapter 19)

1.0
3.1 to 3.5

7-8

Art of Condensation
(Ch.32)

Course Overview: Importance, topics

Principles
Words & Phrases
Sentences
Paragraph writing
Practice
Introduction to Prcis Writing
Writing a Prcis

9-10

Technical Reports
(Ch.15)

9.1 to 9.4

11-16

Preparatory Steps to
Writing Reports
(Ch.17)

17-22

Structure of
Reports(16,20,22,23,
26)

23-26

Presenting Reports
(ch.1,3,4,24)

27-28

Meetings and
Minutes (Ch.27)

Understanding reports : Definition, Importance,

Characteristics
Types of reports : Informational, Interpretive,
Routine
Preparatory steps ; Purpose, Audience and Data
Collection
Personal &Telephone Interview Questions
Questionnaire : Planning & Preparation
Questionnaire : Samples
Organizing the content : Patterns, Principles
Outline : Preparation
Elements of structure
Prefatory Parts
Main Text: Introduction and Discussion
Main Text : Conclusions; Recommendations
Supplementary Parts
Memo Reports : Format, Structure, Content
Professional Communication : Verbal and
Nonverbal ; Formal and Informal
Professional Presentation : Purpose, Audience,
Location, Structure, Outline
Professional Presentation : Delivery Modes,
Body Language, Voice, Visual Aids
Barriers to Communication: Intrapersonal,
Interpersonal, Organizational
Conducting Meetings : Objectives, Planning,
Procedure
Notice, Agenda and Minutes

29-30

Group Discussion
(Ch.30)

Group Discussion : Introduction, Evaluation

Criteria, Individual and Team Behavior
Group Discussion : Introduction, Discussion,
Conclusion, Dos and Donts

7.1 to 7.5

4.1 to 4.4

10.1 to 10.5

11.1 to 11.5
12.1 to 12.5
6.1 and 6.2

1.1 to 1.5
2.1 to 2.5
5.1 to 5.5

6.3 and 6.4

Evaluation Scheme ( 100% = 300 marks)

S.No.

Evaluation
Component

Weight
age %

Duration

Date &Day

Remarks

Test 1

1 Hour

Test 2

Class Assignments*

23.09.2015 Wednesday 10.3011.30 am

29.10.2015 Thursday 10.3011.30 am
Will be announced in the class

Comp Exam

15%
(45M)
15%
(45M)
35%
(105M)
35 %
(105M)

3 Hour

01.12.2015 ( 2 to 5 pm)

Closed
Book
Open
Book
Closed
Book
Open
Book

1 Hour

Class Assignments 95 Marks

Quiz (20) ; Writing Assignment (20) ; Team Report & Presentation (30+15)
Class Attendance and Participation: (20)
Chamber Consultation Hour : To be Announced by the respective section instructors

Meenakshi Raman, Instructor-in-Charge