Syllabus of English – I BA LLB (First Year First Sem)
Course Title: English I
Credits: 4
Course Objectives:
Language is an essential tool in legal profession. Competence in communication and a good vocabulary is essential for lawyers. The skills contemplated as essential to a lawyer are communication skills (both written and oral) as well as skills of comprehension (learning by reading and listening). This course primarily aims to give a functional knowledge of the language for the purpose of communication and comprehension in legal profession. This entails emphasis on both General English as well as English for legal purpose. The main focus of this course is on the use of English language for effective communication, reading, writing and speaking, for the purpose of understanding and transaction of legal learning and profession. The course aims to expose the students of law to literature texts with legal themes and inculcate in them the importance of ethics, new ideas and human sensitivity. Improve their reading skills with the use of literature texts in order to expand their vocabulary. The course aims to expand their speaking skills and pronunciation with activities such as speeches and elocution. The course aims to advance their grammar skills by improving their syntax and construction of sentences and enhance their writing skills with activities that are meant to train them in using this skill for various purposes, such as letters, reports, précis. Developing the ability to analyze literature texts is yet another objective of this course.
Course Outcomes:
After the completion of this course the student will be able to:
Identify the different literature texts related to legal themes through the writings of various authors while simultaneously understanding the importance of ethics in legal issues and deal them with human sensitivity.
Read efficiently and develop the vocabulary with the help of the prescribed texts.
Develop the ability to speak grammatically correct sentences and with proper syntax.
Write official communication through various related activities.
Learn to critically analyse literature texts.
Develop analytical skills and structure the foundation for legal writing.
Module 1 – Law and Literature: Texts:
The Merchant of Venice – William Shakespeare
Joseph Andrews – Henry Fielding
The Pickwick Papers – Charles Dickens
Adam Bede – George Eliot
Puddn’head Wilson – Mark Twain
Note: In order to improve reading skills students should be given tips and suggestions to improve their reading ability as the texts are being read.
Note: For the text ―The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, the abridged version can be used for explanation depending upon the aptitude of the students. However, for reference to context use the original text of the play.
Module 2 – Law & Literature: Speeches & Essays:
2.1. Apology – Plato
2.2. Of Judicature – Francis Bacon
2.3. Some Reminiscences of the Bar – M.K Gandhi
2.4. Joy of Reading – A.P.J Abdul Kalam
2.5. Why the Indian Labour is Determined to Win the War – B.R. Ambedkar
Note: In order to improve reading skills students should be given tips and suggestions to improve their reading ability as the texts are being read.
Module 3 – Language Development:
3.1 Analytical Skill:
3.1.1 The Cop and the Anthem – O. Henry
3.1.2 Murder – Arnold Bennett 3.1.3 A Time to Kill – John Grisham Chapters 11 and 13
Note: Students should be exposed to a critical analysis of the text with respect to its themes, character analysis and language. Students should also be made to read aloud to enhance their reading and pronunciation ability.
3.2 Oral Communication:
3.2.1 Definition of oral communication, meaning and its importance
3.2.2 Types of Oral Communication – Verbal Communication – Formal Speech (Oral & Written),
3.3.3 Elocution/Mock Trials/ Meetings
Note: Emphasis should be given to the theory related to oral communication. * Students should be given exercises both written and oral, to build the respective skill
Module 4 Language Enhancement:
4.1 Written Communication
4.1.1 Types of written communication (New Addition)
4.1.2 Techniques/tips on effective letter writing Letter of Application
4.1.1 Precis Writing (New Addition)
Note: Emphasis should be given on internship application letters and e-mail correspondence Note: Allocation of marks is to give an idea for the weightage to be given to the respective modules and sub-modules during paper – setting.
4.2 Grammar
4.2.1 Verbs/Tenses – Activity
4.2.2 Active/ Passive – Activity
4.2.3 Reported Speech – Activity Note:* Students should be given exercises to be solved, regarding respective topics.
Recommended Resources:
Law & Literature – By ShakuntalaBharvani(Himalaya Publication)
English for Law‖ by M A Yadugiri and GeethaBhasker, Foundation Books, Online publication date:October 2011, Print publication year:2005, Online ISBN:9788175968660 https://doi.org/10.1017/UPO9788175968660
Is law required to be demystified? Should law be a puzzle that needs to be solved? Laws are meant to resolve disputes, not become disputed themselves. Law should not be mystery to the common man. Law is not written as an edict meant for the legal experts. They apply and govern almost everything in our daily lives and therefore use of simple language is required. This enables the citizens to take informed decisions and avoid unintentional violations. This equally applies to our decisions and judgements.
Justice Khanna, at valedictory session of International Lawyers’ Conference organised by the Bar Council of India
Everyday phrase:
“I give you this orange.”
Legal translation:
Know all the persons by these presents that I hereby give, grant, bargain, sell, release, convey, transfer, and quitclaim all my right, title, interest, benefit, and use whatever in, of, and concerning this chattel, known as an orange, or Citrus orantium, together with all the appurtenances thereto of skin, pulp, pip, rind, seeds, and juice, to have and to hold the said orange together with its skin, pulp, pip, rind, seeds, and juice, for his own use and behoof, to himself and his heirs, in fee simple forever, free from all liens, encumbrances, easements, limitations, restraints, or conditions whatsoever, any and all prior deeds, transfers, or other documents whatsoever, now or anywhere made, to the contrary notwithstanding, with full power to bite, cut, suck, or otherwise eat the said orange or to give away the same, with or without its skin, pulp, pip, rind, seeds, or juice.
“Never judge someone’s character based on the words of another. Instead, study the motives behind the words of the person casting the bad judgment. An honest woman can sell tangerines all day and remain a good person until she dies, but there will always be naysayers who will try to convince you otherwise. Perhaps this woman did not give them something for free, or at a discount. Perhaps too, that she refused to stand with them when they were wrong — or just stood up for something she felt was right. And also, it could be that some bitter women are envious of her, or that she rejected the advances of some very proud men. Always trust your heart. If the Creator stood before a million men with the light of a million lamps, only a few would truly see him because truth is already alive in their hearts. Truth can only be seen by those with truth in them. He who does not have Truth in his heart, will always be blind to her.”
Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem
“The said Ivan Dovgochkun, son of Nikifor, when I went to him with a friendly proposition, called me publicly by an epithet insulting and injurious to my honor, namely, a goose, whereas it is known to the whole district of Mirgorod, that I never was named after that disgusting animal, and have no intention of ever being named after it. And the proof of my noble extraction is, that, in the baptismal register to be found in the Church of the Three Bishops, the day of my birth, and likewise the fact of my baptism, are inscribed. But a goose, as is well known to every one who has any knowledge of science, cannot be inscribed in the baptismal register; for a goose is not a man, but a fowl: which, likewise, is sufficiently well known, even to persons who have not been to a seminary. But the evil-minded nobleman, being privy to all these facts, for no other purpose than to offer a deadly insult to my rank and calling, affronted me with the aforesaid foul word.”
