BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI

INSTRUCTION DIVISION
First Semester 2018-2019
Course Handout (Part II)

Date: 02/08/2018

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. : BITS F437

Course Title : Technical Communication
Instructor-in-Charge : GAJENDRA SINGH CHAUHAN

1. Scope and Objective:

Specifically designed for the students of Higher Degree, this course aims at preparing
them for the communicative challenges of both the types: Oral as well as written
which they may face in their professional world. It provides them adequate practice
so as to increase their confidence and effectiveness when presenting their technical
ideas in interpersonal and group communication situations.

2. Learning Outcomes:

Having successfully completed all the modules of the course, students should be able
to
 communicateeffectively in professional life
 use correct and appropriate language in oral and written
communication
 make effective oral presentations
 write business letters, memos, emails and reports
 participate invarious kinds of group communications
 prepare and face job interviews
 write research papers, dissertation and thesis

3. Text Books:

Raman Meenakshi and Sangeeta Sharma. 2015. Technical Communication:

Principles and Practice.Third Edition.New Delhi:OUP.

4. Reference Books:
(i) Gamble, Teri Kwal and Michael Gamble.2010.Communication Works. New
Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Ltd.

(ii) Rizvi, M Ashraf. 2006. Effective Technical Communication. New Delhi:

Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Ltd.
 (iii) Guffey, Mary Ellen. 2004. Essentials of Business Communication. 6th
Edition. USA: Thomson (South-Western).

(iv) Lesikar, Raymond V. et al. 2001. Lesikar’s Basic Business

Communication. 8th Edition. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Company
Limited.

(v) Stewart, Charles J and William B. Cash Jr. 2010.Interviewing-Principles

and Practice. 12th Edition. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Company Limited.

5. Course Plan:

Module No. Topics to be covered Reference Learning Outcome

Chap/Sec.
L1-2.Basics
1.Cof Technical Chap. 1,2& Ability to identify Process,
1. Communication Communication 3 Characteristics, Levels, Flow,
Process L3-4. Barriers to Networks and Importance of
Communication technical communication and
also to understand the major
barriers to communication
L5-8. Words
2. & Phrases, Chap.14 Ability to write correctly and
2. Fundamentals of Sentences and Paragraphs in a proper style
Effective Writing
3. Oral L9-10. Analysing Audience, Chap. 8 Ability to make effective oral
Presentation Organising Contents, Preparing professional presentation
an outline, Visual aids, Types
of Delivery, Kinesics,
Proxemics, Paralinguistics,
Chronemics
L11-12. Mock Presentation
followed by Discussion
L13-18 Presentation practice
and evaluation
L19-21. Importance,
3. Chap. 18 Ability to prepare various
4. Technical Preparatory Steps and Structure types of technical reports
Reports L 22-23. Report writing
practice
5. Letter, Memo and L 24-26. Structure, Principles, Chap.17 Ability to prepare various
email writing and Types of letters and kinds of business letters, and
memos memos and emails
6.Group L 27-29. Group Discussions, Chap.10 Ability to participate in and
Communication Meetings and Conferences also to conduct Group
L 30. Mock GD followed by Discussions, Meetings, and
comments conferences
L 31-34 Practice and
evaluation
7.Interviews L 35-36. Types, Preparation, Chap. 9 Ability to participate in and
Success and Failure Factors also to conduct job interviews
L 37-38 Practice for job
interviews
8. Research L 39-41. Essential features of Chap. 20 & Ability to write research
Documentation Research Paper, Dissertation, 22 paper, dissertation
and Thesis writing and also
style of referencing

6. Evaluation Scheme:

EC.NO. Evaluation Weightage Duration Date & Time Remarks

Component
1 Mid Semester 60 90 mts Open Book
9/10 2:00 - 3:30 PM
Test
2 Class 60
Assignments*
4 Comp Exam 80 3 Hrs Closed
4/12 AN
Book

7. Chamber Consultation Hour: To be announced in the class.

8. Notices: The notices concerning the course will be displayed on the HSS Dept.
notice boards.
9. Make-up Policy:
The make-up for an evaluation component will be given only in genuine cases.
However, the student has to contact his/her instructor for his/her approval. In these
matters his/her decision shall be final.

Instructor-in-charge
BITS F437