Subject Reading and Writing Skills

Course Title: Reading and Writing Skills Course Code: ENG-301 Credit Hours: 3(3-0)

Course Contents:

Reading Skills:

• Identify main ideas and topic sentences
• Skimming, scanning, and inference to find specific and general information quickly
• Distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information according to the purpose of reading
• Recognize and interpret cohesive devices
• Distinguish between fact and opinion
• Guess the meanings of unfamiliar words using context clues
• Use the dictionary to find meanings and usage of unfamiliar words
• Practice exercises for each aspect of reading

Writing Skills:

• Parts of speech; phrase, clause, and sentence structure; combining sentences
• Tenses: meaning and use
• Modals
• Use of active and passive voice; reported speech
• Writing good sentences; error-free writing
• Paragraph writing with topic sentences
• Summary writing

Note: Teachers should include practice activities, exercises, and worksheets on the provided topics.

Recommended Books:

1. Howe, D. H., Kirkpatrick, T. A., & Kirkpatrick, D. L. (2004). Oxford English for Undergraduates. Karachi: Oxford University Press.
2. Eastwood, J. (2004). English Practice Grammar (New edition with tests and answers). Karachi: Oxford University Press.
3. Murphy, R. (2003). Grammar in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Reading Skills

• Identify Main Idea / Topic Sentences: Develop the ability to discern the primary message or argument in a text.
• Skimming, Scanning, and Inference: Learn techniques to quickly locate specific and general information, and draw logical conclusions from the text.
• Distinguish Between Relevant and Irrelevant Information: Enhance critical reading by identifying information pertinent to the reading purpose.
• Recognize and Interpret Cohesive Devices: Understand how connectors and transitional phrases contribute to text coherence.
• Distinguish Between Fact and Opinion: Develop analytical skills to separate factual information from subjective viewpoints.
• Guess the Meanings of Unfamiliar Words Using Context Clues: Improve vocabulary by deducing meanings from surrounding text.
• Use the Dictionary for Finding Meanings and Usage of Unfamiliar Words: Enhance lexical knowledge and proper word application.
• Practice Exercises: Engage in activities corresponding to each reading aspect to reinforce skills.

Writing Skills

• Parts of Speech; Phrase, Clause, and Sentence Structure: Gain a solid foundation in grammatical components and their functions.
• Combining Sentences; Tenses: Meaning and Use: Learn to construct complex sentences and apply appropriate verb tenses.
• Modals: Understand and use modal verbs to express necessity, possibility, permission, and ability.
• Use of Active and Passive Voice; Reported Speech: Master different voice forms and accurately convey reported information.
• Writing Good Sentences; Error-Free Writing: Develop clarity and correctness in sentence construction.
• Paragraph Writing with Topic Sentence: Craft coherent paragraphs centered around a clear main idea.
• Summary Writing: Learn to concisely encapsulate the main points of a text.