ENGLISH (Core)
SYLLABUS FOR HIGHER SECONDARY COURSE
Background :
Students are expected to have acquired a reasonable degree of language proficiency in English
by the time they come to class XII, and the course will aim, essentially, at promoting the higher-order
language skills.
For a large number of students, the higher secondary stage will be a preparation for the university,
where a fairly high degree of proficiency in English may be required. But for another large group, the
higher secondary stage may be a preparation for entry into the world of work. The Core Course should
cater to both groups by promoting the language skills required for academic study as well as the language
skills required for the workplace.
Objectives :
The general objectives at this stage are :
to listen to and comprehend live as well as recorded oral presentations on a variety of topics,
to develop greater confidence and proficiency in the use of language skills necessary for
social and academic purposes.
to participate in group discussions/interviews, making short oral presentations on given topics.
to perceive the overall meaning and organisation of the text (i.e., the relationships of the
different “chunks” in the text to each other).
to identify the central/main point and supporting details, etc.
to build communicative competence in various registers of English.
to promote advanced language skills with an aim to develop the skills of reasoning, drawing
inferences, etc. through meaningful activities.
to translate texts from mother tongue (s) into English and vice versa.
to develop ability and knowledge required in order to engage in independent reflection and enquiry.
to develop the capacity to appreciate literary use of English and also use English creatively
and imaginatively.
At the end of this stage, learners will be able to do the following:
Read and comprehend extended texts (prescribed and non-prescribed) in the following genres:
fiction, science fiction, drama, poetry, biography, autobiography, travel and sports literature, etc.
Text-based writing (i.e., writing in response to questions or tasks based on prescribed
or unseen texts)
Understand and respond to lectures, speeches, etc.
Write expository/argumentative essays of 250-500 words, explaining or developing a topic,
arguing a case, etc.
Write formal/informal letters and applications for different purposes.
Write items related to the workplace (minutes, memoranda, notices, summaries, reports; filling
up of forms, preparing CVs, etc.).
Taking/making notes from reference materials, recorded talks etc.
2 Syllabi for H.S. Final Year
Language Items :
The Core Course should draw upon the language items meant for their language proficiency.
Particular attention may, however, be given to the following areas of grammar:
The uses of different tense forms for different kinds of narration.
The use of passive forms in scientific and innovative writings.
Converting one kind of sentence/clause into a different kind of structure as well as other items
to exemplify stylistic variations in different discourses.
A conscious knowledge of some grammatical rules and sound pattems may be useful and interesting
at this stage.
Methods and Techniques :
The techniques used for teaching should promote habits of self-learning and reduce dependence
on the teacher. In general, we recommend a multi-skill, learner-centred, activity based approach, of
which there can be many variations. The core classroom activity is likely to be that of silent reading
of prescribed/selected texts for comprehension, which can lead to other forms of language learning
activities such as role play, dramatization, group discussion, writing, etc. although many such activities
could be carried out without the preliminary use of textual material. It is important that students be
trained to read independently and intelligently, interacting actively with texts, with the use of reference
materials (dictionaries, thesauruses, etc.) where necessary. Some pre-reading activity will generally be
required, and the course books should suggest suitable activities, leaving teachers free to devise other
activities when desired. So also, 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.
Group and pair activities can be resorted to when desired, but many useful language activities
can be carried out individually.
In general, teachers should encourage students to interact actively with texts and with each other.
Oral activity (group discussion, etc.) should be encouraged.
ENGLISH (Core)
SYLLABUS FOR HIGHER SECONDARY SECOND YEAR COURSE
One paper 3 Hours Marks : 100
Unit wise Weightage :
Unit/Areas of Learning Marks
Section-A
A. Reading Skills 10
Reading unseen prose passage
Section-B
B. Advanced Writing Skills 25
Section : C
C. Grammar
(i) Narration : Direct and Indirect 4marks 20
(ii) Voice 3marks
Syllabi for H.S. Final Year 3
(iii) Tenses 5marks
(iv) Preposition 4marks
(v) Transformation of Sentences 4marks
D. Section-D (Prescribed Books)
(i) Flamingo 30
(ii) Vistas 15
SECTION - A
Reading unseen Passage 10 Marks
Reading unseen prose passage for comprehension.
The total length of the passage will be between 500-800 words. The passages may be one of
the following:
(a) Factual Passages e.g. instructions. descriptions, reports.
(b) Discursive passage involving opinion e.g. argumentative. persuasive or interpretative text.
(c) Literary passage e.g. extract from fiction, drama, poetry, essay or biography.
SUMMARY - H.S. Final year
Unseen No of words Testing Marks
Passages Areas allotted
1 500-800 Short answer type
questions to test local,
global and inferential
comprehension 07
Vocabulary 03
SECTION - B
Advanced Writing Skills 25 Marks
2. One out of two short compositions of not more than 50 words each e.g.
advertisement and notices, designing or drafting posters, writing formal and
informal invitations and replies. 05
3. A report or a factual description based on verbal input provided
(one out of two) (100-125 words) 10
4. Writing one out of two letters based on verbal input. Letter types include : 10
(a) Business or official letters (for making enquiries, registering complaints, asking for and giving
information, placing orders and sending replies):
(b) Letters to the editor (giving suggestions on an issue)
(c) Application for a job
SECTION-C-Grammar 20 Marks
5. 1. Narration : Direct and Indirect 4marks
2. Voice 3marks
3. Tenses 5marks
4. Preposition 4marks
5. Transformation of Sentences 4marks
4 Syllabi for H.S. Final Year
SECTION-D 45 Marks
Prescribed Textbooks : (i) FLAMINGO 30 marks
Prose : Selected Text
1. The Last Lesson : Alphonse Daudet
2. Memoirs of Chota Sahib : John Rowntree
3. Lost Spring : Anees Jung
4. Indigo : Louis Fischer
5. Going places : A.R. Barton
Poetry : Selected Poetries
1. My Mother At Sixty Six : Kamala Das
2. Keeping Quiet : Pablo Neruda
3. A Thing of beauty : John Keats
4. A Roadside Stand : Robert Frost
6. One out of two extracts based on poetry from the text to test
comprehension and appreciation 4
7. Three out of four short questions from the poetry section to test local and
global comprehension of text. 2×3=6
8. Five very Short answer questions out of seven questions based on the lessons
from prescribed text. 1×5=5
9. Five short answer questions out of seven questions based on the lessons from
prescribed text 2×5=10
10. One out of two long answer type questions based on the text to test global
comprehension and extrapolation beyond the set text. (Expected word limit
about 80-100 words each) 5
Prescribed Textbooks : (ii) VISTAS 15 marks
Selected Pieces
1. The Tiger King : Kalki
2. The Enemy : Pearl S. Buck
3. On the Face of it : Susan Hill
4. Memories of Childhood : Zitkala Sa and Bama
5. Magh Bihu or Maghar Domahi : Dr. Praphulladatta Goswami
11. One out of two long answer type question based on Supplementary
Reader to test comprehension and extrapolation of theme, character
and incidents (Expected word limit about 125-150 words) 07
12. Four short answer questions from the Supplementary Reader (2x4) 08
Prescribed books :
1. Flamingo : English Reader published by Assam Higher Secondary Education Council,
Bamunimaidam, Guwahati-21, developed by NCERT.
2. Vistas : Supplementary Reader published by Assam Higher Secondary Education Council,
Bamunimaidam, Guwahati-21, developed by NCERT.
***
