Course Description
This course follows the NCTB syllabus for SSC English 2nd Paper (Subject Code: 108).
It focuses on core grammar, accurate usage, and functional/creative writing. Students master rules
(articles, prepositions, verb forms, subject–verb agreement, modifiers, sentence transformation,
punctuation and capitalization, narration, suffixes/prefixes, tag questions, etc.) and practice
structured writing (paragraphs, emails/letters, applications/CV with cover letter, dialogue,
completing stories, and compositions).
Emphasis is placed on correctness, clarity, cohesion, and exam-ready presentation.
Course Content
1) Orientation & Exam Skills
- Paper structure; marks distribution
- Time management
- Answer planning and presentation
- Avoiding common errors
2) Parts of Speech
- Noun, pronoun, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction, interjection
- Function and form
- Common pitfalls
3) Articles
- A/An/The
- Generic vs. specific reference
- Zero article and fixed expressions
- Error correction
4) Prepositions
- Time, place, movement
- Phrasal/prepositional verbs
- Idiomatic use and common error patterns
5) Right Form of Verbs
- Tense, aspect, agreement, conditional forms
- Sequence of tenses
- Non-finite verbs (infinitive, gerund, participle)
6) Subject–Verb Agreement
- Person/number agreement
- Collective nouns
- Distances, amounts, tricky cases
7) Modifiers
- Misplaced/dangling modifiers
- Adjective/adverb order
- Determiners and quantifiers
- Precision in description
8) Sentence Transformation
- Simple/complex/compound
- Voice (active/passive)
- Degrees of comparison
- Affirmative/negative, question/statement
- Direct changes using equivalent structures
9) Punctuation & Capitalization
- Comma, semicolon, colon, dash, quotation marks, apostrophe
- Title capitalization, list and series rules
10) Narration (Direct/Indirect Speech)
- Reporting verbs
- Sequence of tenses
- Pronoun/time/place shift
- Punctuation changes
11) Sentence/Clause Joining & Splitting
- Coordinating and subordinating conjunctions
- Relative clauses
- Cohesion devices
- Choppy vs. run-on fixes
12) Suffixes & Prefixes
- Word formation, spelling patterns, meaning shifts
- Building academic vocabulary
13) Tag Questions
- Form and intonation
- Polarity and special cases (imperatives, let’s, never)
14) Completing Sentences
- Clause choice, connectors
- Conditional and comparative structures
- Error detection
15) Cloze Tests (with/without clues)
- Contextual deduction and collocations
- Grammar-driven choices
- Maintaining coherence
16) Paragraph Writing
- Topic sentence, unity, coherence
- Development by example/contrast/cause–effect
- Concluding techniques and word-limit control
17) Informal/Semi-formal Email & Letter
- Purpose, tone, audience
- Formatting, openings/closings, clarity and concision
18) Application & CV with Cover Letter
- Formal register
- Essential sections and achievement statements
- Formatting and proofreading
19) Completing a Story
- Logical plot development and coherence
- Consistent tense and point of view
- Effective endings
20) Composition/Essay
- Descriptive, narrative, argumentative
- Thesis–support–conclusion structure
- Cohesion, evidence, and avoiding plagiarism
21) Graph/Chart/Picture Description
- Trends, comparisons, proportions
- Overview–details–insight structure
- Quantified language
22) Editing & Proofreading Workshop
- Error logs and peer/self-review
- Improving clarity and cohesion
23) Mock Tests & Targeted Feedback
- Timed practice
- Examiner-style marking; personalized improvement plan
24) Final Revision
- High-yield checklist
- Template structures
- Last-week and exam-day strategies
Learning Objectives
Grammar Mastery — Apply rules for articles, prepositions, verb forms, subject–verb agreement, modifiers, sentence transformation, punctuation and capitalization, narration, affixation, and tag questions accurately.
Usage & Clarity — Produce error-free sentences with appropriate register; join or split clauses effectively; maintain cohesion and coherence.
Task Writing — Write clear paragraphs, emails, letters, applications and CVs with cover letters, stories, and compositions/essays that fit audience, purpose, and format.
Data-based Description — Accurately describe and compare information from charts, graphs, and pictures using precise, quantified language.
Editing & Proofreading — Detect and correct grammatical, lexical, and mechanical errors; revise for clarity, concision, and cohesion.
Exam Preparedness — Follow SSC marking criteria, manage time, avoid common mistakes, and deliver complete, high-scoring responses under timed conditions.
