Code: AC02/AT02                    Subject: COMMUNICATION AND TECHNICAL WRITING

Time: 3 Hours                                                                                                     Max. Marks: 100

NOTE: There are 9 Questions in all.

· Question 1 is compulsory and carries 20 marks. Answer to Q. 1. must be written in the space provided for it in the answer book supplied and nowhere else.

· Out of the remaining EIGHT Questions answer any FIVE Questions. Each question carries 16 marks.

· Any required data not explicitly given, may be suitably assumed and stated.

Q.1            In this question (parts a to j), some of the sentences have an error and some have none.  Each sentence has three divisions – (A), (B) and (C).  Find out others which part of the sentence has an error and indicate that in the space provided for it in the Answer Book against the appropriate question number (i.e. A, B, C etc.).  If there is no error in the sentence, then write (D) against that Question in the Answer Book. (20)

a. They who go (A)/ by train (B)/ must leave now. (C)/ No error. (D)

b. He was so afraid (A)/ that his knees (B)/ knocked one another. (C)/ No error. (D)

c. They are more kinder (A)/ to animals (B)/ than to children. (C)/ No error. (D)

d. He paid twenty five rupees (A)/ one seer (B)/ for these apples. (C)/ No error. (D)

e. I haven’t eaten (A)/ bananas since (B)/ I have been a child. (C)/ No error. (D)

             f.    They will write (A)/ as soon as (B)/ they will arrive home. (C)/ No error. (D)

             g.   When my father died (A)/ I could continue (B)/ his business.  (C)/ No error. (D)

             h.   One student only (A)/ came in late (B)/ yesterday. (C)/ No error. (D)

             i.    He is neither brilliant (A)/ at languages (B)/ nor science. (C)/ No error. (D)

j. Firstly, I have (A)/ no money, secondly (B)/ I have no time. (C)/ No error. (D)

Answer any FIVE Questions out of EIGHT Questions.

Each question carries 16 marks.

Q.2           Write an essay of about 400 words on ONE of the following:

(i)   Migration of the trained technologists to other countries would result in impoverishment of our country.

                   (ii)  Frequent acts of terrorism not only hamper our economic progress; they also make human life insecure.                                                                                                                       (16)

Q.3           Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow in your own language:

                   The Rs.861.6 crore hike in budgetary allocation to the department of space is welcome, as is the focus on setting up an exclusive space-training centre in Thiruvananthapuram. The institute, modelled on the lines of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Mumbai, will offer graduate post graduate courses in space programmes and technologies and would be equivalent of universities in developed countries that have aerospace departments. This could not happen soon as the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) faces an acute shortage of space scientists as most of its senior engineers prepare to retire, taking their expertise with them.

                   ISRO has only itself to blame for being caught in the bind, having been complacent for more than 30 years since its last large-scale recruitment drive. Not that this is the only reason for this techie crunch. Even newly recruited engineers are ‘poached’ by private companies - that offer compensation packages of the kind that ISRO would probably describe as asking for a moon. That said, however, the shortage of scientific human capital is a complex problem and it is doubtful if the proposed space university alone can fix it. This is a wake up call not just for ISRO, but for policy planners to take a close look at the adequacy of India’s science and engineering workforce of the future. It is no secret that our science and technology system has been bureaucratized over the years, leading to an exodus of talented scientists to non-scientific careers within the country or to pursue science abroad. No wonder students are no longer attracted to careers in science and engineering and graduation rates at universities do not keep pace with the demands for skills in science, engineering and mathematics.

                   (i)  Which different courses and of what level would the new institute in Mumbai offer?                    (4)

(ii)  What wrong policies have been adopted by ISRO and with what consequences?                      (4)

      (iii)  What dangers are apprehended if the new scientists are not trained now?                     (4)

(iv)  What has been adversely affecting our science and technology until now and what has been its effect?                                                             (4)

Q.4           Explain how inability to communicate clearly and effectively can jeopardize our interest in business.                           (16)

Q.5           What should be kept in mind while preparing for a professional presentation? Discuss.                    (16)

  Q.6           What do you understand by documentation? What are the characteristics of good documentation?                    (16)

Q.7     Distinguish between Audience analysis and Purpose analysis.                      (16)

Q.8           Most scientific and technical writing is done in impersonal style. Illustrate.          (16)

Q.9           Explain a few skills required to write for web.                                                   (16)