Finesse

FINESSE(UPDATED MODERN SKILLS)

Selections from Poetry and Prose

Prescribed for BA, BSc, BCom, BBAPart I: General English

Edited by: Board of Editors

DR. DEEPIKA RUPERT GARDNER et al.MA (ENGLISH), MA (LINGUISTICS), LLB, BEd, PHd

Associate Professor and Head, Department of English St. Joseph’s Degree and PG College, King Koti, Hyderabad

BENGALURU ∑ CHENNAI ∑ COCHIN ∑ GUWAHATI ∑ HYDERABAD

JALANDHAR ∑ KOLKATA ∑ LUCKNOW ∑ MUMBAI ∑ RANCHI ∑ NEW DELHI

INDIA ∑ USA ∑ GHANA ∑ KENYA

FINESSE

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First Edition: 2015ISBN 978-93-5138-119-8

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Foreword

As the Principal of St. Joseph’s Degree and PG College, I am happy that the “Pilot Project” of the Department of English has shaped very well. It is a well-thought “Glocal” (global local) curriculum which I hope will meet the diverse needs of our student fraternity in today’s context.

Language is undeniably crucial to learning: without it, one cannot communicate one’s understanding of a subject to the teachers or others. Students need to develop their language skills, and specifically, their academic English so that they can understand and make the most effective use of their study material, develop the specialized language and vocabulary relevant to their subject, interpret assignment questions and select relevant and appropriate material for their responses. This textbook will help them to write well-structured and coherent assignments without the fear of plagiarism. They will also become adept in the much needed “Soft Skills” and will be well-equipped with team skills, presentation skills and stress management.

“Finesse” will equip them with all the pre-requisite skills they may require in life. It has been designed to make students learn ‘life skills’ so that as they embark on the voyage of life they can successfully meet the myriad challenges that life offers them.

I am privileged to have this opportunity to write a foreword to this book as I feel that the next three years will be challenging and exciting for all those who wish to learn English language and other related skills!

REV. FR. VINCENT AROKIADAS

Principal St. Joseph’s Degree and PG College

King Koti, Hyderabad

Preface

The Department of English, St. Joseph’s Degree and PG College, Hyderabad has introduced contemporary curriculum changes after having successfully completed its First Cycle of Autonomy. These changes are done stringently according to the UGC directive to make changes in the syllabi every three years.

We have redesigned the curriculum keeping in mind the four skills of LSRW along with critical thinking skills, “personality development” and “soft skills.” Today, English has become synonymous to success. Mastery in communication skills will go a long way in making students successful. We have tried to cater to the needs simplifying grammar, vocabulary, phonetics and literature by using varied activities. The very significant “Competitive Examination” segment has been incorporated along with computer usage knowledge—copyrights and plagiarism. Précis writing and “assertive communication” have also been added as industry feedback.

The material is drawn from various genres and styles using modern English. There is a touch of “National Pride” along with a liberal sprinkling of spiritual and moral ethics. Our country is a young nation, therefore, this generation needs strong ethical and moral values to safeguard our Indian culture and tradition. As and where required “Literary Terms” have been appropriately explained.

This book will be useful for both students and professionals to enhance and improve not only their language and communication skills but also to groom their personalities for leadership roles.

Our special thanks to Professor A.V. Suresh, Chairman, Board of Studies English, Osmania University for his technical inputs and

futuristic ideas. His precious time and perspicacity has made this book possible. We also thank Professor K.S. Sunitha, Women’s College, Koti for her timely guidance and encouragement. We are grateful to Vijay Joseph Christopher, Manager DuPont (DSCI, Hyderabad) for his insightful inputs as the Industry expert.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Publishers to make the book available at a short notice.

We thank our Principal Rev. Fr. Vincent Arokiadas for his unflinch-ing support at every step.

I am also grateful to my colleagues who have risen to the occasion and helped me in the process.

Dr. Deepika Rupert Gardner

June 2014

Finesseviii

Acknowledgements

The publisher has applied for copyright permission for those pieces that need copyright clearance and due acknowledgement will be made at the first opportunity.

Contents

Foreword vPreface viiAcknowledgements ix

SemeSter - 1

Unit 1 3 ∑ Prose: The Power of Prayer—Abdul Kalam 3 ∑ Skills: Dressing Etiquette, Personal Grooming: Confidence

Building 13 ∑ Language Development: Verbal Ability 17 ∑ Writing Skills: Paragraph Writing 48

Unit 2 60 ∑ Prose: Hard Work and Honesty or Good

Bricks—C. Rajagopalachari 60 ∑ Poem: The Tyger—William Blake 65 ∑ Skills: Personality Development and SWOC Analysis 71 ∑ Language Development: Graded Reasoning 79 ∑ Writing Skills: Descriptive Essay 99

Unit 3 107 ∑ Prose: The Face of Judas—Bonnie Chamberlain 107 ∑ Skills: Time Management and Internet Security 111 ∑ Language Development: Idioms and Phrasal Verbs 115 ∑ Writing Skills: Dialogue Writing and Semantic Markers 123

Unit 4 127 ∑ Poem: Still I Rise—Maya Angelou 127 ∑ Skills: Goal Setting 131 ∑ Language Development: Direct / Indirect Speech 133 ∑ Writing Skills: Letter Writing 139

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Unit 5 144 ∑ One Act Play: Refund—Fritz Karinthy 144 ∑ Skills: Interpersonal Skills and Intrapersonal Skills 162 ∑ Language Development: Reading Comprehension 166 ∑ Writing Skills: Precis Writing 173

SemeSter - 2

Unit 1 181 ∑ Prose (Speech): I Have a Dream—Martin Luther King, Jr. 181 ∑ Skills: Positive Thinking 193 ∑ Language Development: One-Word Substitutes 196 ∑ Writing Skills: Word Processing Tools 198

Unit 2 200 ∑ Poem: Mending Wall—Robert Frost 200 ∑ Prose: The Cut-Off—Chetan Bhagat 204 ∑ Skills: Presentation in Power Point 219 ∑ Language Development: Phonetics 224

Unit 3 235 ∑ Prose: The Grief—Anton Chekhov 235 ∑ Skills: Dining Etiquettes and Mobile Etiquettes 243 ∑ Language Development: Jumbled Passages 255 ∑ Writing Skills: Information Transfer 261

Unit 4 265 ∑ Poem: The Pulley—George Herbert 265 ∑ Skills: Team Building 269 ∑ Language Development: Collocation 274 ∑ Writing Skills: Imaginative Essay 278

Unit 5 280 ∑ Prose (Story): Twelve Years a Slave (Oscar Winning Movie) 280 ∑ Skills: Problem Solving Skills 291 ∑ Language Development: Leave Application 296 ∑ Writing Skills: Film Review 298

References 301

1

SemeSter - 1

“Prayer is communication with the Divine. It can be whispered or chanted or written or expressed in the work you do. However it is expressed, it is never in vain.”

— Donna Wilk Cardillo

Pre-reading

1. What do you think about the ‘title’ of this lesson? 2. Do you think ‘prayer’ is necessary in life? Is it powerful? 3. Do you pray? Define ‘prayer’. 4. APJ is a scientist; do you think this article appears contradictory

as the scientific theory of Darwin negates God’s existence? 5. Why do you think a person of science & technology would

believe in ‘prayer’?

about the author

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born 15 October 1931 in a Tamil Muslim family to Jainulabdeen, a boat owner and Ashiamma, a housewife, at Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. He came from a poor background and started working at an early age by distributing newspapers to financially contribute to his father’s income. After completing his school education at the Rameswaram Elementary School, Kalam studied at Saint Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli and graduated in Physics in 1954. He then moved to MIT, Madras in 1955

Unit - 1

Prose

the Power of PrayerAbdul Kalam

Finesse4

to study Aerospace Engineering. In 1960, Kalam joined Aeronautical Development Establishment of Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) as a scientist. He started his career by designing a small helicopter for the Indian Army. Joining ISRO was one of Kalam’s biggest achievements in life.

He is currently a visiting Professor at IIM Shillong, IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Indore, Honorary Fellow of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Kalam advocated plans to develop India into a developed nation by 2020 in his book India 2020.

Kalam is known for his motivational speeches and interaction with the student community in India. He launched his mission for the youth of the nation in 2011 called the “What Can I Give?” movement with a central theme to defeat corruption in India.

Kalam observes strict personal discipline, practices vegetarianism, teetotalism and celibacy.

Awards & rewardsA.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s 79th birthday was recognized as World Student’s Day by United Nations.

He has also received honorary doctorates from 40 universities, received the Padma Bhushan in 1981 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1990 for his work with ISRO and DRDO and his role as a scientific advisor to the Government. In 1997 he received the Bharat Ratna, for his immense and valuable contribution to the scientific research and modernization of defence technology in India.

In 2005, Switzerland declared 26 May as Science Day to commemorate Kalam’s visit in the country

Power of Prayer

“As a child of God, I am greater than anything that can happen to me”

“One of the important functions of prayer, I believe, is to act as a stimulus to creative ideas. Within the mind are all the resources required for successful living. Ideas are present in the consciousness, which when released and given scope to grow and take shape, can lead to successful events. God, our Creator, has stored within our minds and personalities, great potential strength and ability. Prayer helps to tap and develop these powers.”

The Power of Prayer 5

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“I have always been a religious person in the sense that I maintain a working partnership with God. I was aware that the best work required more ability than I possessed and therefore I needed help that only God could give me. I made a true estimate of my own ability, then raised it by 50 per cent and put myself in God’s hands. In this partnership, I have always received all the power I needed, and in fact have actually felt it flowing through me. Today, I can affirm that the kingdom of God is within you in the form of this power, to help achieve your goals and realize your dreams”. —Wings of Fire— An Autobiography

I recall the discourse and prayer by a doctor and philosopher Dr. Alexis Carol who said, “Prayer is a force as real as terrestrial gravity. As a Physicist, I have seen many, when all other therapy has failed, being lifted out of disease by the serene effort of prayer.” It is the unique power in the world that seems to overcome the power called the “laws of nature”. Normally, people pray for themselves, for their family and friends. Many good hearts pray for the welfare of society and fellow human beings.

righteousness Starts from your heart

Friends, despite all the advances made by humanity in technology, quality of living and virtually every field, there are day-to-day problems faced by individuals, families, nations and the world. Professional challenges can occupy one’s concentration; caring for family can occupy the mind. Art, music and prayer can bring mental peace. However, how do we move towards a world of peace? What comes to my mind is a hymn:

righteousness

Where there is righteousness in the heart,

There is beauty in the character.

When there is beauty in the character,

There is harmony in the home.

When there is harmony in the home.

Finesse

Publisher : Laxmi Publications ISBN : 9789351381198Author : Dr Deepika RupertGardner

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