Tuesday, 12 February 2008
Students take to the Dais in this Order..: - II BA Eng Litt.,
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
HOW TO ANALYZE AND CRITIQUE A SPEECH..:
Studying other speakers is a critical skill, and quite an essential skill for a public speaker. The ability to analyze a speech will accelerate the growth of any speaker. The Most Important Thing to Analyze: The Speech Objectives:
Knowing the speaker’s objective is critical to analyzing the speech, and should certainly influence how you study it.
What is the speaker’s goal? Is it to educate, to motivate, to persuade, or to entertain?
What is the primary message being delivered?
Why is this person delivering this speech? Is he/she the right person?
The Audience and Context for the Speech:
A speaker will need to use different techniques to connect with an audience of 1500 than they would with an audience of 15. Similarly, different techniques will be applied when communicating with teenagers as opposed to communicating with corporate leaders.
Where and when is the speech being delivered?
What are the key demographic features of the audience? Technical? Students? Elderly? Athletes? Business leaders?
How large is the audience?
In addition to the live audience, is there an external target audience? (e.g. on the Internet or mass media)
Speech Content and Structure:
The content of the speech should be selected and organized to achieve the primary speech objective. Focus is important — extraneous information can weaken an otherwise effective argument.
The Speech Opening:
Due to the primacy effect, words, body language, and visuals in the speech opening are all critical to speaking success.
Was a hook used effectively to draw the audience into the speech? Or did the speaker open with a dry “It’s great to be here today.“
Did the speech open with a story? A joke? A startling statistic? A controversial statement? A powerful visual?
Did the speech opening clearly establish the intent of the presentation?
Was the opening memorable?
The Speech Body:
Was the presentation focussed? i.e. Did all arguments, stories, anecdotes relate back to the primary objective?
Were examples or statistics provided to support the arguments?
Were metaphors and symbolism use to improve understanding?
Was the speech organized logically? Was it easy to follow?
Did the speaker bridge smoothly from one part of the presentation to the next?
The Speech Conclusion:
Like the opening, the concluding remarks are also quite critical to speaking success.
Was the conclusion concise?
Was the conclusion memorable?
If appropriate, was there a call-to-action?
Delivery Skills and Techniques:
Delivery skills are like a gigantic toolbox — the best speakers know precisely when to use every tool and for what purpose.
Enthusiasm and Connection to the Audience:
Was the speaker enthusiastic? How can you tell?
Was there audience interaction? Was it effective?
Was the message you- and we-focussed, or was it I- and me-focussed?
Humor:
Was humor used?
Was it safe and appropriate given the audience?
Were appropriate pauses used before and after the punch lines, phrases, or words?
Was it relevant to the speech?
Language:
Was the language appropriate for the audience?
Did the speaker articulate clearly?
Were sentences short and easy to understand?
Was technical jargon or unnecessarily complex language used?
What rhetorical devices were used? e.g. repetition, alliteration, etc.
Intangibles:
Sometimes, a technically sound speech can still miss the mark. Likewise, technical deficiencies can sometimes be overcome to produce a must-see presentation. The intangibles are impossible to list, but here are a few questions to consider:
How did the speech make you feel?
Were you convinced?
Would you want to listen to this speaker again?
Were there any original ideas or techniques?
Saturday, 2 February 2008
CA on Rhetoric
Dear Students of II BA English, As regards your II CIA on Rhetoric, it will be a choice between the Spoken and the Written. Those of you who have opted for the Spoken part, kindly note that the topics have been given out in our class on Friday, February 2008. Those of you who've opted to take your written CIAs check HERE toaccess the broad overview of the portions for the II CIA.
Please note that on no account your status can be changed from written to spoken, or vice versa because your time slots have been prepared.
As regards the Spoken part, please check back on the presentations by your immediate seniors HERE.
Note: Students who have opted for the Spoken version of the CIA, cannot sit for their written CIAs.
The following are the Students who've opted for the Written CIA.
1. Satchin
2. Rinila
3. Sanjoy
4. Vanlal
5. Samuel
6. Jennita
7. Kalaiarasi
8. Mercy
9. Stella
10. Kamatchi
11. Shipporah
12. Swaroop
Check back soon for updates...! All the best...!!
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
Announcements... II BA English - Assignments - Reg:
Dear Students of II BA English, For your Assignment on Rhetoric, for those of you all who come under my purview, your Assignment topic is as follows:Choose any famous Speech by a well-known person that has inspired you and analyse its appeal based on the Canons of Rhetoric, or else, with the Various Elements of Rhetoric.
You are expected to analyse the Speech chosen, based on its Rhetorical features, the main theme and background of the Speech, most famous lines in the Speech, the success of, and the universal appeal behind the speech etc.
Originality and Creativity will be much appreciated and suitably rewarded. All the best.!
For a Database of and index to 5000+ full text, audio and video versions of famous public speeches, sermons, lectures etc, you can CLICK HERE. For yet another selective compilation of most famous speeches, CLICK HERE
And the Debate goes on and on...!
The debate on Science versus Religion, as part of the finishing stages of the novel The Power and the Glory in the very first hour of the II BA English class, yesterday, was heated right from the start.The topic for the debate was: Do you think religious belief is irrational, in the present era of scientific progress, where every work of nature and its manifestations, right from the wind mill to the cell phone has been attributed to Science? also, Do you feel Science is far better compared to religious beliefs, which divide and differentiate humankind?
While almost fifty per cent of the class took the side of 'Religion,' forty five per cent stood their stead for Science. A five per centime section, motley yet with vociferous views, stood their ground on neutral territory.
Many argued that religion was responsible for so many suppressions, sexism, and bigoted thoughts, while others equally defended their faith with gusto, saying religion still holds good in the present society.
Some argued that religious heads, who have to serve society, are serving themselves, and fighting for their salaries, while the majority of their folk live in dire straits. Another opinion was that religion has always been instrumental in shaping scientists and their views, but on the same line, religious thoughts are dynamic, while the laws of Science are static and universal in its appeal.
For giving a very good perspective on the Religion versus Science debate, and for her thought-provoking and in-depth analysis of the issue, Noeline Shirome gets the Prize for the Best Speaker of the Day.
Thursday, 24 January 2008
A Date with the Youngest Author in India...!
Tuesday, 22 January 2008
Results of the First CIA held on 04 January 2008
Dear Students of I BSc Pb&Pbt,The following are your marks for your I CIA.
Creativity, Sincerity and Neatness have been suitably rewarded.
You can also access your marks at our academic website HERE.
PS: Clarifications, if any, can be made within ten working days of the publication of the I CIA marks.
Regards, Rufus
I BSc Plant Bio & Biotech:
1. Anandhi, B -68
2. Annie Jenifer- 74
3. Archana, N - 64
4.Ashwini, M -73
5. Beni, T.S -60
6. Gayathri, B-68
7. Jane Elaine Linda-73
8. Jasmine John- 70
9. Jenefer, W- 73
10. Kethzial Nireshini, M-68
11. Logeswari, S -70
12. Melanshiya Shanthini, S- 55
13. Nandhini, R -70
14. Parimala Devi, R- 65
16. Rama, E -68
17. Ramya, K -58
18. Rebecca Murmu- 68
19. Revathy, S -64
20. Sandhya Devi, B- 56
21. Shanthirani, M -50
22. Subhashini Sreedharan- 70
23. Sweety Selva Kumari, P- 68
24. Yogalakshmi, R -59
25. Alister, M -72
27. Antony George Reegan, A- Ab
28. Aswin, M-68
29. Daniel Vinay Kumar, V-W
30. Darwin Vinesh Rudy John, C-62
31. Elijah Victor, S -71
32. Emmanuel Antony Raj, P-40
33. James Samuel Dhanraj, D-W
34. Kalaiarasan, G-60
35. Lalsangliana Ralte- Ab
36. Muthupillapan, S- 47
37. Selvin Prabhu, W- 65
38. Shain Samuel, S- 68
39. Vignesh, D- 67
40. Vignesh, K- 75
41. Yuvaraj Kumar, A- Ab
42. Sathiaraj- 68
I BSc Zoology (Reg):
1. Amuthavalli, P- 45
2. Arthi, A - Ab
3. Asha Davidraj- 68
4. Bakialakshmi, K- 50
6. Devi, P - W
7. Gowthami, S- W
8. Jayalakshmi, M- 60
9. Karthiyayani, V- 58
10. Malarvizhi, J- W
11. Mohanapriya, S- 68
12. Nithya, B -W
13. Pilomina, D- W
14. Premalatha, M- 68
15. Rejina Jayarani, S- 64
16. Rekha, R- W
17. Reychal Mary, S- W
18. Roselin, I- 70
19. Saranya, D- W
20. Saranya, S- W
21. Balakrishnan, S- 68
23. Dawngliana Pachuau M.S- Ab
24. Emmanuel Joel Singh, J- 70
25. Ezekiel Prithvin Raja Rao, S- 68
26. Franklin, S -72
27. Hopeland, P -73
28. John Reegan, R- W
29. Kalaivanan, M- W
30. Karthikeyan, N- 55
31. Paul Pravin George- 70
32. Porpatham, S- 59
33. Sachin T.Jose -72
34. Sakthivel, B- 62
35. Tovito H Sema- 72
36. Vijay, T- W
38. Vinoth, D- 65
39. Yogendra Pratap Singh- 70
40. Deepa Mohan- 67
41. Nisha Dymi- 50
42. Vadivu- 62
43. Susitha- 59
44. Kala,M- W
45. Priscilla- 52
46. Danula Evangeline -64
47. Kavitha- 62
W- Withheld; Ab- Absent
Clarifications, if any, should be made before Friday, 29 February 2008
CRAIG MEMORIAL PRIZE
Friday, 18 January 2008
Meet the Youngest Author in India
Dear Students, I am happy to bring to your midst the youngest author in India, Mr.Raja Monsingh, a child prodigy. The coming week, on Wednesday, 23 Janauary 2008 at 10.40 am in the Language Classroom.(S-220) We hope to have a meaningful time with this child wizard, and learn lots from the great thoughts of this little kid. You can read more about him HERE"Monsingh believes he can make money through books. "He thinks of himself as a plant and his abilities as roots. The ideas he shares with me is the biggest root. Knowledge acquired from formal education is one of the smaller roots," says Subha"
Thanks to THE HINDU dt 18 April 2007
This week, in the City..:
Business Writing Contest: - The Madras Management Association and teh Sanmar Group have announced the second Ramaswamy Business Writing Competition, which is aimed at nurturing young professionals' talent in drafting business proposals. The competition will be held on January 19 at different locations in Chennai. The proposals will be judged for logical flow, clarity, simplicity and grammar.Thursday, 17 January 2008
Assignment Topics - III BA English
Topics for assignments for the following students who come under my purview:Points to Note before you Ink: The essays should be about 12 to 15 pages in length, handwritten, proofed, and well thought-out, adhering to the MLA Style. Bibliography should be used, wherever applicable. I see these assignments as a chance for you to explore more thoroughly some of the topics we have discussed / we will be discussing in class. Also, when you write the essays, be sure to use examples from the text of the play/novel, which have some very usable quotes: use them to your advantage. All assignments should be submitted to Ms.Rani at the IQAC, before 1.30 pm on 29.02.2008. No further extension is permissible under any circumstances.
Creativity, Neatness and Originality will be rewarded suitably. I would also like to add that I really enjoy reading your essays, and remember, you should be able to make a presentation in class, in about five minutes based on your assignment.
Angelin: How and why did things fall apart? Identify what you interpret to be major themes of Things Fall Apart.
Chaithanya: Write a play in about two or three acts on Chapter One, Two and Three of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. You can use the various parameters involved in the staging of a play for theatrical effects.
Jemima: Write a play in about two or three acts on Chapter Four, Five and Six of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. You can use the various parameters involved in the staging of a play for theatrical effects.
Mispa: Write a note on Women in Things Fall Apart, and comment on their role in their immediate family and societal set up.
Rita: Write a play in about two or three acts on Chapters Seven, Eight and Nine of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. You can use the various parameters involved in the staging of a play for theatrical effects.
Alexander: Write a play in about two or three acts on Chapters Ten, Eleven and Twelve of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. You can use the various parameters involved in the staging of a play for theatrical effects.
Ashish: Achebe has integrated traditional Igbo/African elements in his novel. Elaborate on a few of them, and explain their importance.
Jason Roy: Write a play in about two or three acts on Chapters Thirteen, Fourteen and Fifteen of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. You can use the various parameters involved in the staging of a play for theatrical effects.
Kunga Ngodup: Write a play in about two or three acts on Chapters Sixteen, Seventeen and Eighteen of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. You can use the various parameters involved in the staging of a play for theatrical effects.
Pothen Cherian: Write a play in about two or three acts on Chapters Nineteen, Twenty and Twenty one of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. You can use the various parameters involved in the staging of a play for theatrical effects.
Sidharth Kumar: Write a play in about two or three acts on Chapters Twenty two, Twenty three and Twenty four and Twenty five of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. You can use the various parameters involved in the staging of a play for theatrical effects.
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
Assignment Topics - II BA English
Topics for assignments for the following students who come under my purview:Points to Note before you Ink: The essays should be about 12 to 15 pages in length, handwritten, proofed, and well thought-out, adhering to the MLA Style. Bibliography should be used, wherever applicable. I see these assignments as a chance for you to explore more thoroughly some of the topics we have discussed / we will be discussing in class. Also, when you write the essays, be sure to use examples from the text of the play/novel, which have some very usable quotes: use them to your advantage. All assignments should be submitted to Ms.Rani at the IQAC, before 1.30 pm on 22.02.2008. No further extension is permissible under any circumstances.
Creativity, Neatness and Originality will be rewarded suitably. I would also like to add that I really enjoy reading your essays, and remember, you should be able to make a presentation in class, in about five minutes based on your assignment.
1. Jayanthi: Discuss the novel's title. Where are "power" and "glory" found in the book?
2. Adlin: Make a play with interesting dialogues and commentaries on Part I – Chapter I of the novel The Power and the Glory with special focus on Dialogues, Stage setting, props and style of presentation.
7. Richard Rakesh: The lieutenant is an ambitious young man who wishes to see his country free from poverty, superstition, and ignorance. Since he believes that the priests play a negative role in the country, he is determined to capture this last priest and rid the country of the negative influences of religion. Do you think that priests and religion play a negative role in the country? Defend your stance with slight textual allusions.
Friday, 11 January 2008
For II / III BA English Litt students - Assignment topics - Reg:
Dear Students of II BA and III BA English,Thursday, 10 January 2008
FREE SPOKEN ENGLISH CLASSES..!
The Nav Bharath Soft Skills Academy, Triplicane, will conduct free spoken English classes from Friday to Sunday. The purpose would be to bring about awareness of phonetics. Grammar, including tenses, articles, kinds of sentences, active and passive voice would also be taught. Saturday, 5 January 2008
A HAPPY NEW YEAR...!
Friday, 14 December 2007
LECTURE ON 'CLIMATE CHANGE'
DATE: 18 December 2007
Time: 2 pm
VENUE: Anderson Hall, Madras Christian College
Campus Interview for All final year UG students
Designation: Customer Support Associate
Selection Process: Pre-placement talk, Written Test, GD & Personal Interview.
Requirements: One passport size photograph, Updated Resume, Copies of all Educational Certificates/ Mark Sheets
Thursday, 29 November 2007
TODAY IN THE CITY...!
VENUE:
Kunnakkudy School of Music ,No 14/65, Rajaji Nagar 1st Street, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai.
Contact:
Kunnakkudy School of Music at 9884086060, 9840507415
A Polish film festival in collaboration with the Indian Cine Appreciation Forum, Chennai presents Supplement by Krzysztofa Zanussiego, Thursday, 29 November 2007 @ 6.15 pm
VENUE:
South Indian Film Chamber Theatre, No 605, Anna Salai, Thousand Lights, Chennai.
Contact:
Indian Cine Appreciation Forum at 9840151956
BOOK FAIR 2007 - Muthuchidambaranar Pathippagam is organising Book Fair 2007, an exhibition of books, CDs, stationeries, fancy items, gift articles & many more and also offering 10% discount on all products.
VENUE: Muthuchidambaranar Pathippagam,
No AG-66, 3rd Street, River View Colony,
Anna Nagar ,Chennai
TIME:
Nov 5 2007 to Nov 30 2007
CONTACT:
Muthuchidambaranar Pathippagam, at 9840554385, 30535533
Book fest @ Chennai - Plethora of popular and old literary works...!
In addition, there are special offers on classic titles such as "The Catcher in the Rye", "To Kill a Mocking Bird", and on collectors' packs such as "The Ramachandra Guha Omnibus".
The fest is on at CROSSWORD STORE in T.Nagar. For details, call 42641850 - 55
On Leave..!
Stay happy, stay DYNAMICCC...!
Regards,
Rufus
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
Dear Pbt/Zoo Students
Regards,
Rufus
Monday, 12 November 2007
Papers handled by me this semester for II BA & III BA English Litt;
Dear Students of II BA English Lit & III BA English Lit.,
The following is the syllabus that I will be handling this semester for your classes. It is albeit imperative that you get a copy of the Texts as early as possible. If possible, you can also read these texts at home for yourselves before class starts, to facilitate better interaction.
Regards and all best wishes,
Rufus
II BA English:
Modern Period - Fiction:
E.M.Forster : A Passage to India, Graham Greene : The Power and the Glory;
Prosody and Rhetoric:
1) Definition: Elements of Rhetoric-Style-Figures of Speech- Composition
2) Style: Definition-Qualities-Diction-Characteristics of Poetic Diction-Characteristics of Prose Diction- Diction as determined by Object and Occasion
3) Figures of Speech: Definition-Classification
a) Figures that promote clearness: Synecdoche and Metonymy-Simile-Metaphor-Personification-AllegoryFigures that promote Emphasis: Exclamation-Interrogation-Apostrophe-Hperbole-Irony-Antithesis-Epigram-Climax
III BA English:
New Writing - Fiction:
Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart; Shyam Selvadurai's Funny Boy;
Wednesday, 7 November 2007
A DIWALI WISH FOR MY DEAR STUDENTS - PAST AND PRESENT
May this Diwali bring joy, health and wealth to you.
May the festival of lights brighten up you and your near and dear ones lives.
May this Diwali bring in u the most brightest and choicest happiness and love you have ever Wished for.
May this Diwali bring you the utmost in peace and prosperity.
May lights triumph over darkness.
May peace transcend the earth.
May the spirit of light illuminate the world.
May the light that we celebrate at Diwali show us the way and lead us together on the path of peace and social harmony
"WISH U A VERY HAPPY DIWALI"
Regards and wishing you all the goodness of the season,
Rufus
Monday, 5 November 2007
On Examinations
Featured post
Anne Carson and her Fellow Champions of Linguistic Rebellion 💜
Breathing New Life into Ancient Epics | The Art of Linguistic Rebellion On Nobel Laureate Anne Carson & Her Fellow Rule-Breakers 😊 ...

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