PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS

(For M.Tech/MCA/MSC Programmes)

CONTENTS
1. ERROR DETECTION BASED ON CONCORD & TENSE CONSISTENCY
- Dr N S Vishnupriya
2

TECHNICAL REPORT WRITING

- Dr V Anitha Devi

3. RESUME WRITING
- Dr Sarika Gupta Tyagi

4. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
- Dr Sarika Gupta Tyagi
5. RESEARCH PAPER WRITING
- Dr Sarika Gupta Tyagi
6. PROJECT PROPOSAL WRITING
- Dr N S Vishnupriya

Error Detection based on Concord & Tense Consistency

Concord
Many mistakes in written and spoken English occur when the verb of the sentence does
not agree with the subject. This subject verb agreement is called as concord. The general
rule is that a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural
verb. However this rule does not make things easy for us since there are some
complications. There are some basic rules related to subject verb agreement. They are:
1. Singular subject takes a singular verb.
Eg: 1. I am a teacher.
2. He is a teacher.
Note: You is considered as a plural subject and hence takes a plural verb.
Eg: 1. You are a teacher.
2. V1S is used in the present tense with third person singular nouns.
Eg: 1. Ram eats apples every day.
2. She writes poems regularly.
3. Similarly in the present perfect tense has is used with third person singular
subjects.
Eg: 1. Vinay has written the letter.
2. The student has copied the answer.

4. Sometimes modifiers that appear between the subject and the verb seem to
confuse the subject verb agreement. They modify the subject but do not affect the
subject verb agreement.
Eg: The prisoner, who was arrested along with two other soldiers, is taken to the
Andamans.
In the above sentence who is arrested along with tow two other soldiers is a
modifier. The verb is is in agreement with the subject the prisoner.

5. Prepositional phrases between the subject and the verb do not affect the subject
verb agreement.
Eg: The colours of the painting are vivid.

6. In sentences starting with here and there, the subject appears after the verb.
Hence the verb should agree with the subject that comes after it.
Eg: There is a problem in the charge sheet. Here are the proofs you asked for.

7. Similarly in the case of interrogative sentences, subjects follow the verbs and the
verbs should go in agreement with the subjects that follow.
Eg: 1. Where are the books that I gave you?
2. What is the boy doing?

8. If the subject of a sentence has a noun followed by a relative clause, the verb
agrees with the main noun but not with the relative clause.
Eg: 1. The only person who is educated in the nearby villages is Raghav.
2. Many students who had participated in the strike were suspended from the
college.
9. When two singular nouns are joined by and, the subject becomes plural and
requires a plural verb.
Eg: 1. Ram and Lakshman are brothers.
2. The book and the pen are missing.
10. When two singular nouns are joined by and and refer to the same person or
thing, then they make the subject a singular and require a singular verb.
Eg: 1. Bread and butter has become dear.
2. The principal and teacher is on rounds.
11. When two singular nouns are joined by along with or as well as they make the
subject a singular.
Eg: 1. The teacher along with his student is attending the conference.
2. The mother as well as the daughter is not willing to attend the function.

12. When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by the phrases as well as
or along with the verb goes in agreement with the first subject.
Eg: 1. Ram along with his friends is attending the party today.
2. The students as well as the teacher are working for the annual day.

13. When two singular subjects are connected by the words neithernor, eitheror,
or, nor, not onlybut also they take a singular subject after them.
Eg: 1. Either the father or the son has to sign the document.
2. Neither the mother nor the daughter is responsible for the fault.

14. When a singular subject and a plural subject are connected by the words
neithernor, eitheror, or, nor, not onlybut also the verb is in agreement
with the nearest subject.
Eg: 1. Either the lion or the cubs have escaped from the zoo.
15. Units of measurement always take a singular verb after them.
Eg: Four kilograms of sugar is required to make the sweet.
16. When words like each, every or no precede the subject, they take a singular verb
after them.
Eg: 1. Each man and woman is asked to check in.
2. No smoking is allowed inside the campus.
17. When a sentence begins with words like some, half, none, more, all followed by
a prepositional phrase the verb gores in agreement with the object of the
preposition.
Eg: 1. Some of the students have come.
2. None of the flowers has blossomed.
18. Indefinite pronouns like everybody, anybody, somebody, anyone, someone take
singular verbs.
Eg: 1. Anyone has to take the responsibility.
2. Someone is knocking at the door.
19. Words like few, many, several, both, all always take a plural verb.
Eg: 1. Few were injured in the accident.

2. All have left.

3. Many have survived the bomb blast.
20. Two infinitives joined by and take a plural verb.
Eg: To dance and to sing require great skill.
21. Gerunds generally take a singular verb. But when two gerunds are joined by and
they take a plural verb.
Eg: 1. Smoking is injurious to health.
2. Smoking and drinking alcohol have become a fashion for the present day
youth.
22. When two subjects, one positive and one negative are joined by the conjunction
and, the verb goes in agreement with the positive subject.
Eg: 1. It is the mother not the daughter who has to sign the document.
2. It is the students not the teacher who have arranged the function.

23. Collective nouns like herd, crowd, senate, crew, class, group are considered
singular and take a singular verb.
Eg: 1. The herd is grazing.
2. The crowd is angry with the politician.

24. Title of books and movies are considered singular and take a singular verb.
Eg: 1. Pride and prejudice is a novel written by Jane Austen.
2. The Jaws is movie of the 1980s.

Exercises:
Correct the following sentences with regard to subject verb agreement:
1. Communication which is one of the essential conditions of social interaction are
now taught in every school and college.
Ans: _________________________________________________________

2. He is one of the winners who does things differently.

Ans: _________________________________________________________

3. The rivals, with the intention of defeating their common enemy, has decided to sink
all differences till the election is over.
Ans: _________________________________________________________

4. 1000 miles are not a matter of concern for those who walk with a purpose.
Ans: _________________________________________________________

5. His total dependence on his family members and workers to do even simple things
have made him lazy.
Ans: _________________________________________________________

6. Good wages with nice treatment as well as job security make the workers happy.
Ans: _________________________________________________________

7. Many a teacher are honoured on the Teachers Day this year.

Ans: _________________________________________________________

8. An hours walk with her pet dog on the beach road during the evenings have
become Shyamalas regular habit.
Ans: _________________________________________________________

9. The minister, on the advice of his doctors, have given up drinking alcohol.
Ans: _________________________________________________________

10. A chemical combination of two or more elements result in a substance called a

compound which behaves quite differently from it component elements.
Ans: _________________________________________________________
11. The colour perception of different animals are different due to the different
structure of rods and cones.
Ans: _________________________________________________________

12. None of the students have got first division this time.
Ans: _________________________________________________________

13. There are very few books available in the library.

Ans: _________________________________________________________

14. The college cricket team have won the tournament several times.
Ans: _________________________________________________________

15. The news that we heard yesterday are not true.

Ans: _________________________________________________________

II. Correct the following passage with regard to subject verb agreement:
The bacteria in the roots of leguminous plants, such as pulses and groundnuts converts
nitrogen in the soil into nitrogen compounds like nitrates and ammonia, which is used in
the formation of plant protein. Hence the decay of leguminous plants make the soil rich
in nitrogen compounds. These nitrates and ammonia in the soil is used by other plants
for the synthesis of proteins. Soil bacteria feeds on dead plant and animal matter and
returns the nitrogen to the soil as nitrates and ammonia.

Tense Consistency

The time frame in which an action takes place in relation to the time of speech is called
a tense. These tenses are formed with the help of four basic verb forms. They are:
1. The Present form (V1)
2. The Past form (V2)
3. The Past Participle form (V3)
4. The Present Participle form (V4)
Broadly speaking there are three main tenses in English. They are:
1. The Present Tense
2. The Past Tense
3. The Future Tense
These three main tenses are again divided into four sub divisions. They are:
1. The Simple Tense
2. The Continuous Tense
3. The Perfect Tense
4. The Perfect Continuous Tense
In total there are twelve different tenses. They are:
1. The Simple Present
2. The Present Continuous Tense
3. The Present Perfect Tense
4. The Present Perfect Continuous Tense
5. The Simple Past Tense
6. The Past Continuous Tense
7. The Past Perfect Tense

8. The Past Perfect Continuous Tense

9. The Simple Future Tense
10. The Future Continuous Tense
11. The Future Perfect Tense
12. The Future Perfect Continuous Tense
The general rule in English is when you are writing in a particular tense, keep writing in
the same tense unless there is a need to shift to another tense. This is called tense
consistency. A paragraph or an essay should have a basic tense. There can be an
occasional shift to other tenses to indicate a change in time frame.
When to use a particular tense:
1. Present tense: When we are discussing facts or our own ideas or describing a scene
in a particular book or a movie, we can use the present tense.
Eg: To form an administration of this scale and complexity is a serious undertaking in
itself. But we are in the preliminary phase of one of the greatest battles in history.
(Winston Churchills Speech in the House of Commons on 10th May, 1940)

2. Past tense: When we are discussing past events or findings or argument in a book
we can use the past tense.
Eg: An old beggar cried for alms at the gate. They told her not to pester when they
were engaged in a snake-hunt. On hearing it the old woman became happy. (R.K.
Narayans A Snake in the Grass)

3. Future tense: When we are reflecting on what will happen in the future we can use
the future tense.
Eg: Then all will be well. India will grow, not like a structure, but like a tree. India will
grow like a natural organic body if only we are true to ourselves. (Rajajis speech in
Technological Institute, Nagpur on August 26, 948.)

The Rule:
1. Do not shift from one tense to another when the time frame for all the actions is the
same.
2. There can be occasional shift to other tenses to indicate changes in time frame.
Eg: Now that the brief visit of the Dynamo football team has come to an end, it is
possible to say publicly what many thinking people were saying privately before the
Dynamos ever arrived. (George Orwells The Sporting Spirit published in Tribune in
1945.)
In the above paragraph the author is talking of something that is happening in the
present. Suddenly he is forced to switch to the past to describe something that has
happened in the past. Hence this shift of tense can be appreciated and welcomed.
How to change tense in a given paragraph?
1. When the primary narration in a given paragraph is in simple past, then the action
initiated before the time frame of the primary narration can be described in the past
perfect tense.
Eg: The conductor came in and took the fares. Then his eyes rested with cold malice
on the beady-eyed toy dog. I saw trouble brewing. This was the opportunity for
which he had been waiting, and he intended to make the most of it. (A.G. Gardiners
All about a Dog)
2. When the primary narration in a given paragraph is in simple present, then the
action initiated before the time frame of the primary narration can be described in
the present perfect tense.
Eg: We do not care about the future; we just want the world to last our time.
Because we do not feel equal to the new ideas; we have been told that science is
mysterious and difficult. (Dr. J. Bronowskis talk printed in Classics in Science)
3. When the primary narration in a given paragraph is in simple future, then the action
initiated before the time frame of the primary narration can be described in the
future perfect tense.

Eg: We will work for the benefit of the organization that pays us. We will not cheat
ourselves or the organization. Then we will have lived a satisfactory life.

Some sample paragraphs where shift of tense can be found:

1. Mulk Raj Anand is the advocate of the down trodden and the under privileged
and voiced the concerns and predicaments of the lower classes in our society
and used crude language to convey the truth of Indian myth fused with harsh
reality. In his short stories he condemned some of the social, political, ethical
and moral practices which resulted in the oppression of the poor, the down
trodden and the women through humour and irony and talked about the pride
of parents, child marriage, stubbornness of elders, hypocrisy, insanitation,
cruelty in education through his short stories.

2. Clear-cut and concrete plot was given more importance in the 19th century but
today short story has got more flexibility by imbibing in itself figurative rhythmic
pattern and direct presentation. On the whole it can be said that short story is a
product of the writers imagination deep-rooted in his consciousness with the
rare combination of accuracy and passion to appeal to the readers.

Exercise:
Correct the following paragraphs with regard to tense consistency:
1. Springing down from the carriage, she ran towards the children, takes one of the two
youngest a Tauvache child and lifting it up in her arms, she kisses him passionately on his
dirty cheeks, on his tousled hair daubed with earth, and on his little hands, with which he fights
vigorously, to get away from the caresses which displeased him.
Then she got into the carriage again, and drives off at a lively trot. But she returned the
following week, and seats herself on the ground, takes the youngster in her arms, stuffs him
cakes; gives candies to all the others, and plays with them like a young girl, while the husband
waits patiently in the carriage.
2. I had heard about this habit before I went to England but to meet the silence at first hand is a
wholly novel experience. To me it seemed that not even their forums and agoras can be

associated with characteristic sounds. Life in London, even in the most crowded streets, seems
like a film of pre-talkie days.

3. The deceased and the accused were rival applicants for a license to sell arrack at a
certain tavern. The deceased had his rival beaten up three days before the alleged incident
and also threatens to molest his wife. The police registered a case against him at about
that time. I made note of it but suddenly revert to the tiger which I thought is more
interesting than the police.
4. We were dejected because we know that we cant disobey her. But that evening we
wandered through the orchard and count all the trees which bear those fruits. There are
other trees too but we arent interested in them. It was the first time that the house we had
rented at a hill station has an orchard with so many trees. Other houses have an odd apple,
plum or apricot tree, or the neighbouring houses have a few trees we could quietly pluck a
few fruit off, but this is the first time our house had an orchard. We could not contain our
excitement.

5. My host spoke fair English, but the eldest brother speaks none; and we could only exchange
greetings and look at each other with friendliness. What I saw was an intelligent, thin, painsharpened face, whose eyes are at once wise and piercing. The body was quite helpless, but it is
scrupulously clean and the cotton garments are snow-white. We exchanged a few remarks, and
then a group of villagers approach, not to see me but to talk with the elder brother, and so my
host leads me into the house to meet his young wife and children.

TECHNICAL REPORT WRITNG

A report is an authentic record of facts, analysis and evaluation of systems, procedures or

products. Usually a technical report deals with an examination of the reasons for failures,
improvisation or new specifications of products or mechanisms. Sometimes a situation in
the industry may also demand a detailed analysis for rectification or modification of
system to increase the efficiency of the workplace. A report is also the source to know
and manage the happenings within the organization and its connection with world.

The technical report has to be brief, concise and written in a sequence. The facts in a
report should be written in simple language keeping the reader in mind. Simple sentences
with a single idea can make the report well understood. Sentences can be 15-20 words
long avoiding unnecessary adjectives and jargon. The use of appropriate transition words
will add clarity and coherence to the facts presented in the report.

The report should clearly state for what the purpose the work has been done. The
technical report should record the investigations and answer the questions: who, what,
when, where, why and how the facts have been collected and presented. This should be
pursued keeping in mind the important decisions that will be taken based on the report for
future procedures that would be followed by the organization.
The report has a formatted structure, written concisely so that it does not have any
ambiguity of the recorded facts and figures.

Format of the Report:

Title:
The title section of the technical report should contain the following information:
Title of the Report
Name of the Organization
Date and Report Number

 Submitted or Report Written by

Report Submitted to
Report Approved by
One complete page should be used to furnish all the above details in the title page of the
technical report.

Acknowledgements:
The information for a technical report cannot be compiled and written without consulting
various sources from different organizations and individuals. Every individual should be
thanked for their support and guidance by acknowledging sincerely using courteous
expressions like:
The committee is grateful for your assistance ..
Greatly overwhelmed by your willingness to share the industrial experiences, we would
like to acknowledge the guidance..
We cannot forget mentioning our gratitude to the busy skilled expert
Expression cannot be found to thank the impeccable support from an industrious and
resourceful person
Thank you for having guided us clearly ..

Table of Contents
The purpose of listing the contents in one single page is to show the reader the specific
sections as sub titles in the report. The subtitles and sub-subtitles should be numbered
with the decimal numbers like 1.2, and 1.2.1.
For example:
1.1 Energy Loss
1.2 Purpose of Energy Loss Detection
1.2.1 Energy Consumption
1.2.2 Detection Device and Costs Incurred

Abstract:

The abstract in the technical report should clearly state the purpose, the accomplishments,
the results and the significance of the results. The abstract is written in one paragraph in
about two hundred words. The technical or investigating committee, management who
are busy might need the facts for further action immediately. Though they have technical
knowledge but the information in the abstract should be brief, concise and simple with
less of technical jargon for quick implementation of the results.

Introduction:
The introduction should focus on the purpose and problem of the technical investigation
or the project. The complete background, data collection and analysis method, the scope
and limitations of the project should be described in the introduction. The importance of
the report should be stated clearly.
Description or Discussion of the Findings:
The main focus of this section is to describe the necessity of collecting the data and
presenting the technical report. So, the data will be discussed and analyzed in an
organized way, with appropriate tables or illustrations. All the findings will lead to the
construction of opinions with proper evaluation. Finally, this helps in suggesting remarks
for the conclusion and for the recommendations.
Conclusion:
The concluding remarks will show the complete form of the report assuring the reader
that the reported investigation has been accomplished in a smooth manner. It is necessary
to conclude the report even if the results and facts are not favourable to the organization.
The conclusion tells the reader that the report has come to an end because any report
cannot be left incomplete even if further investigation or research is required.

Recommendations:
The purpose of the recommendation in a technical report is to reiterate that the results
demand further investigation, need for further action, process or policy or programme to
be implemented within the organization.

Appendix:
This section is useful and informative for the report. Elaborate data and analysis,
illustrations, questionnaire, investigative interviews, manuals with description of
equipment or devices which cannot be included in the main sections of the report should
be included in the appendix.

List of References:
The report may require quotations from manuals or books. Such citations must be
included in the reference at the end of the report. Due credit has to given to the authors
concerned.

On the whole the information and data collected for a technical report should be
structured and presented in scientifically organized manner providing clarity in the
problem investigated. The logical structure should enable the audience to read the report
clearly for further action.

Exercise:
1. Write a technical report on the implementation of solar panels to generate
electricity for educational institutions. As the Deputy Director of Infrastructure
Development in the Department of Collegiate Education, Government of India,
Tamil Nadu you are vested with responsibility of submitting a report on the
evaluation of the existing electricity supply and need for solar power plant for
educational purposes in government schools, colleges, vocational training centers,
professional colleges and universities.

2. Write a technical report to check the feasibility of replacing all the computers and
laptops with tablets in your organization. The company deals with 30 IT
professionals working on telecommunication projects like developing designs for
cables and routers.

3. Complete the sections of the report in which details are left blank.

TITLE PAGE
Date and Project Number_____________________
A Technical Report
on the Feasibilty of Implementing
The Mineral Water Plant in Pondichery
Report Submitted to :_____________
Report Submitted by: _____________
Report approved by: ______________

Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the government of Pondicherry for giving me an
opportunity to investigate the need for implementing public mineral water
plants.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
______________________________

Table of Contents:

1. Acknowledgments
2. Abstract
3. Introduction
4.Description and Discussion
4.1 Description of the mineral Water Plant
4.1.1 Analysis of ____________
4.2 Findings
5. ____________________
6. ____________________
7. _____________________

Abstract:
There is a remote chance of getting any natural drinking water in the Pondichery
region because of the high level of iron contamination in the ground water level.
Therefore a decision has been made to install public mineral water plants to provide
drinking water to the residents.
Introduction:
_____________________________________________________________________
Conclusion:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Discussion and Findings:

The existing sources of water resources have high levels of iron. So the following
mineral water plants are feasible to implement
1. Mega H2O Purifier
2. _________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
The team members have suggested that the engineered design of mineral water
plant will be effective to supply purified water. But it requires a periodical
maintenance for every three months.

Conclusion:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Recommendation:
The Mega H2O Purifier is recommended for installation in various localities in the
Pondichery state. The purifier is effective in converting the contaminated water and it
is better than other mineral water plants in terms of maintenance and durability.

References:
Holandsworth. (2011), Mega H20 Water Purifier: Manual. U.K.
_____________________________________________________

RESUME WRITING
In the modern world of globalization, industrialization and competition it has become an
important aspect to write a winning resume. Resume writing is more of an art wherein
you can project your qualifications and skills in a manner which is appealing to the
interviewer. Hence, students must be guided in writing a good resume which can help
them secure a job.
What is a Resume?
A resume is a record of ones educational and professional achievements and at the same
time highlights the specialized skills and qualities of an individual. Kailash Agarwal
clearly defines resume as a resume is a one to two page summary of skills,
accomplishments and education written to capture the attention of the reader and its basic
purpose is to secure an interview. The details of the persons educational achievements,
work experience, any specialized skills achieved, or any other relevant information which
meet the job requirements are listed down. It basically highlights the persons ability to
meet the requirements of a particular job/position he is looking for.
Features of a Resume
Some of the characteristics features of a resume are as follows:

It is tailor made for a particular company or a job a person is looking for.

It is original and should focus towards a specific goal.

It is descriptive in nature and discusses the qualities of a person.

The contents should be true, interesting, relating to the objectives of a company.

The resume helps you to sell yourself by providing the details which makes you
stands out from the rest.

Guidelines for Writing Good Resumes

As already discussed your resume helps you to make the most viable candidate for the
job/position you are looking for. It is essential for you to remember the following
important aspects before you communicate your resume to the company for recruitment.

It is better to adhere to any one style of writing the resume.

It should be type written.

It should be free from any grammatical errors or spelling mistakes.

The career objectives should be clearly written and something which relates to
you.

It is better to write short and simple sentences.

It should be written in an objective style and unambiguous language.

All the information should be truly specified.

All the information relating to the job requirement should be provided.

See for any specific style depending upon the requirements of the company.

Proofread for any type of errors grammatical or informational.

Types of Resumes
There are basically two types of resume. First is the chronological resume and the second
is the functional resume. However, these days a combination of both are also used.
The Chronological Resume:
This type of resume focuses on work history starting from the current to the last one. The
employers find it easy to view as the information is cited in a traditional way. The parts
of a chronological resume are as follows:
Career objective
Summary (Optional)
Educational qualifications
Work History
Personal data
Sample Chronological Resume
Rajiv Garg
57, Himgiri Apartments
New Delhi
Mob: 91 8769 778 975
Email: rajiv@hotmail.com
Position Sought

Software Developer

Career Objective
To contribute towards the growth of the company by devoting my skills and knowledge
in developing computer programs which will simplify the life of the common human
being.

Summary of Qualifications

Three years experience as a software programmer

Independently headed a software development team

Dedicated and creative in any venture taken up

Education

Bachelors degree in Computer Science from J.P College, Punjab with 78%
marks in 2001

Intermediate in Science from CBSE Board, Delhi with 82% marks in 1997

Professional Experience

Working with Chennai Software Company, Chennai from 2005 till present as
Senior Software Engineer

Worked with Alpha Systems, Bangalore from 2001-2004 as Technical Assistant

Skills
Computer Skills: Certificate course in advanced HTML programming
Special Skills: Leadership skills, team worker, ability to work under stress and time
management
Interests
Playing cricket and table tennis
Listening to classical music

The Functional Resume

This type of resume focuses on skills and strengths. The aim of the resume is to focus on
the skills required for a particular job. The parts of a chronological resume are as follows:
Career Objective

 Personal data
Educational qualifications
Work Experience
Skills and Certifications

Sample Functional Resume:

Deepika Verma
1/9 West Avenue
New Delhi
Email: deepika@hotmail.com

Career Objective
To utilize my skills and qualifications in becoming an entrepreneur and extend my
services in child care
Skills and abilities
Summary

Creative, hardworking, and reliable worker

Strong oral communication skills, well organized, and ability to learn quickly

Computer skills

Proficient in using Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Outlook, and Excel
Certificate course in multimedia design

Leadership skills

Elected as Class representative for School Students Council

Planned and organized school dances and sports event
Selected to participate in youth leadership program in city

Marketing and promotion skills

Started my own baby care centre in 2000; created flyers and promotional material,
which attracted 100 working couples in the first month itself
Designed posters and banner for conducting Best Baby Show

Experience

Worked in Health Care baby Centre from 1990-95

Worked in Childrens Hospital from 1996-2000

Volunteer experience

Students Council
Yearbook Committee
National Service Scheme

Education

Course in Nursing & Child Care from Govt. Hospital, Chandigarh

DAV Higher Secondary School, Delhi

Interests

Playing cricket and table tennis

Listening to classical music

Parts of a Resume

The general parts of a resume include the following:

Heading
It includes name of the person, contact details with complete postal address, phone
number and email address.
Position Sought
It tells the position one has applied for or seeking the job for example Project Associate,
Software Programmer etc. It helps the company to forward your resume to the
concerned department for review.
Career Objective
It is a very integral part of a resume. It briefly summarizes your skills for the particular
job and tells the employer your short term and long term objectives of your career. The
objectives should be highly original and should directly relate to the persons personality.
Professional summary

It summarizes the persons job experience and skills which will make him suitable for the
particular job. For example, eight years of research experience with research and
development labs in India and Germany.
Educational Qualifications
Here the specific details of persons school and professional education are given. For
school education the details to be included are school board, year of passing, major
subjects studied, marks percentage achieved. In professional qualifications details such as
name of the college/university, name of the course undertaken, CGPA/marks percentage
and year of passing is included.
Work History
Work experience should be given in reverse chronological order starting from the latest
to the older ones. The details included are name of position held, company name and
specialized projects completed during your tenure.
Special skills and abilities
In this part of resume, special skills and abilities are listed down. Any specialized course
or a certificate program done can be cited here which has the direct relevance for the job.
For example, if your are applying for a job of a computer programmer, then besides your
engineering degree in computer application, one can specify about any special course
done in Java or HTML programming.
Extra curricular activities
Every company is interested to know from the applicant if he has been a part of any
extra-curricular activity during his study years which can be recognized participation in
any sports or cultural events or an active member of any club or a society.
Achievements/honours/awards
Any other accomplishments relating from academic or extra curricular activities can be
cited here. For example, winner of Maths Olympiad for four consecutive years, awarded
with research fellowship or received eminent citizen award.
Personal data
It includes your fathers name, date of birth, nationality, gender, linguistic abilities and
marital status.
References
Some companies require the names of at least two or three references of the persons with
whom you have worked in the previous organization or are recognizable person who can
provide a letter of recommendation for you. The references should be very well known to
you. Along with the name of the references their complete contact details like postal
address, position holding, name of the organization currently working, phone numbers,
fax and email address should be given.
Declaration

Towards the end of the resume a statement mentioning that the information given is true
to the best of my knowledge is specified and signed by the applicant with the date and
place.
Some more examples of Sample Resumes
Sample 1
Shilpa Garg
13, KVM Nagar
New Delhi
E-mail: shilpa@gmail.com
Phone: +91 8ooo 280888
09440988701

OBJECTIVE
Enable to use my knowledge and to bring best of my abilities to provide
comprehensive solutions and to utilize my skill set in a dynamic environment.
Qualification: Master of Computer Applications
ACADEMIC RECORD
University/Board

Degree

Year of
passing
April, 2009

Percentage

Jawaharlal Nehru
Technological University

MCA(Master of computer
Application)

S K M University
Board Of Intermediate
Education

BSc(Computer science)
Intermediate

April, 2006
April, 2002

76.5%
61%

Orissa State

SSC

April, 2000

63.5%

77%

TECHNICAL SKILLS
Operating Systems

Windows 9x/2000,XP, MS DOS 6.22

Back End

Oracle 8i

Programming Languages :

C, C++, COBOL, Java, PL/SQL

Web Technologies

HTML

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Received B Certificate in NCC (National Cadet Corps) and attended the

Combined Annual Training camp at Kurnool.

Participated as a volunteer in paper presentation program SYNTECH.

Academic Project(BSc level):

Project
Environment
Team Size
Description

: Bus Reservation through Agency

:JAVA, Oracle, Windows98
:3
The Project is to manage information easily available to passengers,

fast bookings. Advantages are easy modifying, updating and managing the
information like the fares, bus code, Agency code, Agency Name, agency Area etc.,
Online Cancellation facilities are provided. If cancellation is done
immediately the amount can be deducted from the total amount. New agency facility
is provided to add and work on different agencies.
Responsibilities

As Part of Academic project developments gathered requirements, designed

from scratch using structured design and object oriented design techniques
and developed the application.

The complete software life cycle development processes are followed during
the execution of the project.

Actively involved in Analysis, design and database design and coding.

Academic Project(MCA level):

Project
Environment
Team Size

: Company Information Tracking System(CITS)

: J2EE,Ms-Access, WindowsXP
:1

Description:

CITS is a powerful human resource tool for maintaining employee

and company information. It helps you to manage your employees. CITS
provides variety of reports that gives you the information as per your
requirement like payroll information or who is receiving company benefits etc.
CITS gives you the power of information with different report categories.

Responsibilities:

The complete software life cycle development processes are followed during
the execution of the project.

Actively involved in Analysis, design and database design and coding.

Strengths:

Hard working

Positive attitude

Highly enthusiastic

Good level of emotional intelligence

Aptitude to undertake any kind of difficult and challenging task

Personal Profile:
Name

Shilpa Garg

Fathers Name

Naveen Garg

Languages

English, Hindi

Permanent Address

12 2 891,
Sai Nagar II Cross,
Bhuvneswar
Orissa

I assert you that the information furnished above are true to my knowledge.
Date
Place
Shilpa Garg

Sample 2
Resume

Smita Kapoor
Mob: +91 9000129357

E-Mail: smita@gmail.com

Career Objective

To secure a challenging position where I can effectively contribute my skills for

the development of organization as well as for the improvement of me as an
individual in this global scenario.

Flair to learn new things and Adaptability to different demanding conditions.

Experience

Worked as a Lecturer in Meera Bai Engineering College for One Year.

As a engineer trainee in TF SOLAR POWER company from Oct 2008 to Feb 2009.

Educational Qualifications

Bachelor of Technology in Electrical and Electronics Engg (EEE) with 81.3%

from Kurukshetra University in the year 2007.

Intermediate with 96.1% from D.A.V School in the year 2003.

CBSE with 66.2% from D.A.V School in the year 2001.

Technical Skills

Operating System

Windows 98/2000/XP

Languages

C,C++

Hardware

Digital Electronics, VLSI

Project Details
Project Title

Digital Automatic Voltage Regulator For

Turbo Generators

Client
Environment
Duration
Description:

: Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited,Hyderabad

: Windows NT, 8086 microprocessor.
: Dec 2006 to Jan 2007

The alternator is run by a turbine and the output of the alternator is

Send to load through substation via infinite bus, if any load variations occur we
Will

observe these fluctuations across the alternator terminals. The function of

The regulator is to adjust the generator excitation automatically in response to

deviations in bus bar voltage detected by error detector circuit .
The main aim of the project is to compensate the voltage fluctuations
Which occur across the generator terminals by using Digital Automatic Voltage
Regulator. It contains necessary functionality to limit, control and protect a
generator from operating outside of the machines capability.

Personal Profile
Name
Fathers Name
Date of Birth
Gender
Marital Status
Hobbies
Languages known
Address

:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:

Smita Kapoor
Raghav Kapoor
10th June, 1986.
Female
Single
Meditation, Playing games.
English, Telugu and Hindi
C/O Dr Rajesh Sharma
H.No:1-147/1
Motinagar,
New Delhi

(Smita Kapoor)

Practice Exercise
1) Write a resume for the post of Project Manager in Cyber Software Company,
Bangalore. Invent necessary details.
2) Write a resume for the post of Research Associate in AVP University, Hyderabad.
Invent necessary details.

3) Write a resume for the post of Head, Sales Department in Zenith Technologies,
New Delhi. Invent necessary details.
References
M Ashraf Rizvi. Professional Communication for UP Technical University. New Delhi:
Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited. Ed. 2006
Kailash Aggarwal and M K Jain. Professional Communication. Delhi: Shubham
Publications. Ed.2006
Malti Agarwal. Professional Communication. Meerut: Krishna Prakashan Media (P) Ltd.
Ed. 2007
Sinha, K.K. Business Communication. New Delhi: Galgotia Publishing House. Ed. 2005

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Statement of Purpose generally known as SOPs is gaining more popularity in selection of
a candidate for pursuing higher education abroad or doing internship in a company. The
purpose of SOPs is to get a detailed summary of a candidates profile and at the same
time test the writing skills of the candidate. Thus it is important for the candidate to
understand the structure of a SOP and how to write a winning SOP to make him/her the
likely candidate for securing the seat in a particular course or getting selected for an
internship.
What is a Statement of Purpose?
A statement of purpose is a detailed essay about yourself where you specify in detail your
educational & technical qualifications, interests in the particular field, projects
undertaken during your study years and your reason for choosing a particular university
for pursuing the higher education. It is different from a resume as a resume is an
objective statement of the facts about yourself whereas a statement of purpose is kind of
essay that you are asked to write when you apply for admissions in a foreign university.
Statement of purpose is also a means to assess the ability of person to write good English
and creativity. It is not practically possible to attend in person interview in foreign
universities; therefore, it also acts as a proxy interview. Thus, statement of purpose
becomes a sole criterion apart from your score in the entrance examination to be selected
in the particular institution or not. It becomes important for a student to showcase their
abilities in the best possible way.
Aim of Writing Statement of Purpose
Based on the understanding of the components of a statement of purpose and its
importance in a students career, the aim of writing a statement of purpose can be
classified as:
It describes your intention of joining a specific program at a specific institution.

It has to be written keeping a particular institution in mind.

It shows your motivation and preparedness for joining a particular institution.

It also exhibits your potentials in ability to complete the chosen course

successfully.

Factors to keep in mind before beginning to write a statement of purpose

Before starting to write a statement of purpose one should look at the following points:
Audience: The statement of purpose is reviewed by eminent professors in that
filed so one can make use of technical vocabulary and description.

Check for specific format: Certain institutions specify their own format
mentioning specific details to be filled by the candidate. In that case, ensure that
you follow the same guidelines. If the institution specify the length of the essay
adhere to it else limit your essay to about 1000-2000 words.

Focus on achievements: It is important to focus on ones achievements rather

than failures. But if you secured poor grades at any level you can give your
reasons for the same.

Appropriate writing style: A good writing style should be chosen which projects
you as a confident person and not an overconfident one. Prove your worth but at
the same time one the tone should be highly moderate.

Seek Opinion(s): Before you start writing a statement of purpose you can seek
advice/opinion from your seniors or professors who has practical knowledge in
that field.

Checklist for writing statement of purpose

While writing a statement of purpose the following points should be included:
A startling statement that shows your passion for that particular field.
Give details of your educational qualifications.
Give background of your interest in joining the particular field.
Specify subjects studied relating to that field or area of further study.
Extra curricular activities relating to the field.
Mention the names of the eminent professors with whom you have studied
Give a brief description of the projects undertaken
Specify job experience, if any
Include research papers published, if any
Specify your aim of undertaking the particular course whether it is an extension
work or want to work on some hypothesis
Explanation of choosing the particular institutions
Explain the reason for choosing the particular course.

 Go through the institution website and mention about the eminent professors of
that field and any other commendable work done by the centre you wish to join
Important points to remember in writing statement of purpose
As mentioned earlier, statement of purpose is an important deciding factor for you being
chosen for a particular program in the foreign university so it is very important to ensure
the following points in the whole statement writing process:
The opening lines of the essay must catch the attention of the reader without
appearing to be trivial.

The statement should be well organized and concise.

Avoid colloquialisms, slang and abbreviations

It should be free of punctuation, grammatical and spelling errors.

Do not use language that sounds artificial or literary.

Avoid abstract statements and high-sounding clichs.

Revise your statement after writing it.

Proofread and edit to avoid any grammatical mistake.

Do not copy the content from the internet.

Give your statement to your senior or a professor for their comments before it is
sent to the concerned university.

Keep working on your statement even after you have communicated to the
concerned university.

If you don not receive a positive response for the statement of purpose you have
sent, it is advisable to start from the beginning.

Sample 1
In the recent years, the financial world has fascinated me a lot. Browsing through the
Nifty, Sensex and other stock exchanges has become a habit of mine. I often day dream
of being a high end corporate whose one decision changes the fortunes of various multinational companies.
I believe that the prestigious business school of Harvard University can not only help me
realize my dreams but also can give me the global exposure necessary to survive in this
tough world. The name of Harvard Business School speaks for itself. One needs a
calculator to count the number of alumni of HBS that have gone on to become world

beaters, not only in the field of business but also in other walks of life. It is not only the
knowledge but also the amazing work ethics that you instil within your students that
makes me a fan of your University. I have also heard that the facilities available over here
are so advanced that one can predict when the next recession is going to hit.
I have been working very hard for the past two years to get into the Harvard Business
School. I got a GMAT score of 2218 out of 2400 and have always kept a sound academic
record in my school as well as University life. I got 92% in my grade 10 examinations
and 82% in my grade 12 examinations. I did my graduation of B.Tech in mechanical
engineering from VIT University in Vellore, India. I graduated with a CGPA of 9.2. I got
placed into Honda after my graduation and after doing my job there for the past 2 years, I
have decided to pursue my masters in business administration from the Harvard Business
School.
Other than academics, I have always been involved in various cocurricular activities as
well as sports. I was the president of ASME-VIT as well as a core committee member of
the Society of Mechanical and Civil Engineers. I also represented the University in
quizzes of various kinds at national as well as international levels. I was also a part of the
Dance Club and got a number of certificates for performing bhangra, an Indian folk
dance. I have also done well in the field of sports. Tennis is something I have played for a
lot of time now and have done my University proud at various levels. Thus, you surely
wont get a book worm in me if you take me in.
In the school too, I was the school captain. Moreover, I have also mastered the language
of Spanish in school which will always help me to bridge any communication gap
between me and the Hispanic community. I have always participated in various debates
and dramas in my school life. This has all been capped by me getting the award of the all
rounder of the year, twice, from the school authorities.
My interest has always been to pursue an MBA in finance. I believe that I can do the
numbers game pretty well. My aim is to not only get good grades in it but also be part of
various researches so that I can make various new innovations in this field. Another
reason for me being interested in HBS is the presence of Dr. Miles Solper, who is said to
be one of the worlds greatest financial analysts. His studies in the Asian markets are
something of which I am a fan of. It would be a great honour to get to study the stock
exchange under him.
I am also a big fan of the student development programmes organized by HBS in
partnership with Goldman Sachs where the students get to visit their New York
Headquarters and see how the worlds best brokers and investors go about their business.
This really helps gear us for jobs that we are going to take up later. I was also really
impressed by the amazing internship opportunities that students had got not only in US
but also abroad.
I have also heard that the campus life of Harvard University is also world renowned. It
has one of the best living as well as research facilities. The close proximity to the
amazing city of Boston makes it one of the best places to live. I have also heard that the
university has a diverse population based on the nationalities which will also give me an
amazing chance to learn about various cultures.
Your research facilities are also commendable. I heard that they have been set up by
McKinsey and Co. and have the sample financial records of various companies for the
practice of students. I also heard that some of the faculties are so good that they act as the

part time financial advisors of various top brands. I have also heard that there a few extra
subjects in the curriculum such as currency analysis, float de evaluation, etc. which are
not taught by other universities but are equally important in the financial world.
This is an amazing opportunity for me to get selected in this amazing institution and if I
do get selected, I will try my level best to strive for excellence at each and every step.

Sample 2
Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun rays do not burn until
brought to a focus, Alexander Graham bell. For me, he is the first engineer and inventor
the world ever saw. In this rapidly developing world of change, engineering is an
indispensable part. Reflecting on the events of my life that have impacted on me, I
returned to the morning of August 8, 2008. It was then that I first sat for an Intra-School
computer competition. It was a spark; a spark that ignited my mind.I It gave me a whole
new definition to computers. Two years later I had participated in a plethora of
competitions and was a proud winner of various accolades. I was getting quite good in
using softwares to accomplish creative and challenging tasks, but my first acquaintance
with the programming language was later, and all thanks to a polite question: This
rotating bar in Windows 7 is Flash?. Stupid, right? That is the day, I remember vividly.
The day that I learned there is something called coding, and the day I met a person called
Karmanya Aggarwal, a senior and 2 years older to me. Yes, he taught me real stuff. The
stuff that mattered. He gave me my first (.iso)-image file containing Ubuntu 9.10, an
open source Linux distribution financially backed up by a company called Canonical.
Seven years later, my love for open source software hasn not decreased. For all that
matters, it has definitely increased moving from open-source Operating Systems to OpenSource web technologies and software development. Yes, that is what I love, Open
source software.
My love for computers is what urged me to pursue an undergraduate degree in Computer
Science and Engineering (B.Tech), in Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore,
Tamilnadu, India. As each semester progressed and my introduction to various computer
techniques and languages increased, I got more and more fascinated by the knowledge I
gained. Data-Structure and Algorithms along with Programming in C/C++ were the most
challenging and interesting courses I had. The 4th semester presented the best courses an
open-source software enthusiast could ever ask: Linux programming, Scripting in CSS/JS
and PHP/MySql, and some theory courses to teach us the basic understanding of BackEnd and Front-End programming. Due to my keen interest and knowledge in the field, I
was one of the 5 students selected from the University to finish an Indian-Government
funded project to create an easy online portal that allowed ease of registration and helped
Indian-Citizens to lodge complaints and grievances and difficulties faced in their
localities online so that quick action could be taken. The project was a success, earned me
recognition and helped in acquiring a 2 months internship with CODE-Weavers a webdevelopment startup based in New-Delhi, that designs websites for clients all over India
and in other parts of Asia. I was a core-member of the team, and in that period of 2
months, I worked on 5 websites all of them are up and running currently!

Pursuing a Masters Degree in computer science will allow me to fully develop my

knowledge in two areas of interest: Open Source Web Technologies and Artificial
intelligence. By studying these subjects in depth, I hope to resolve the disparity between
having a wide scope of computer science knowledge and having a more concentrated
understanding of a single computer science field.
Thinking towards the future, I would pursue a job which is challenging and continuously
demanding which provides ample opportunities for learning and development. I strongly
believe that computer engineering is such type of field where there is a continued demand
for innovation. Keeping in mind my aspirations and ambition, I firmly believe that The
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology will be the best institution to pursue
my educations. Moreover, the Universitys faculty, consisting of internationally
renowned scholars as well as the independent student club associations will provide a
challenging and practical level of teaching, mobilizing creativity and further enhancing
my ability to excel in the field of Computer Engineering in this ever competitive world.
Finally, Hong Kongs international metropolis possesses a solid employment
environment, apart from its rich heritage and history. Having studied the profiles of
students admitted and passed from your premier University, I believe, I too, like them,
wanted to have a competitive edge, a keen interest for practical knowledge and a belief in
holistic development. I also have a creative mindset and excellent organizing skills
gained from my participation in various competitions and events. I strongly believe that I
have the desired character qualities and abilities that portray me as a suitable candidate
for your University.
Although studying Engineering is a demanding task, keeping in mind my love for
Computers, Maths and Physics, I feel that it is a proper direction towards enhancing my
knowledge and skills for future career. Should I have the offer, I would make every
endeavour in achieving good progress and contributing valuable commitments during my
study in the university.
We can throw stones, complain about them, stumble on them, climb over them, or build
with them.
-William Arthur Ward

Sample 3

The ever increasing applications of computers in technological development demand

more efficient networking. Coming from a background of Electronics and
Communication Engineering, I have developed a fascination to probe into the arena of
Networking in general and Computer Networks in particular which posses a challenging
task in interconnecting PCs and Laptops. This cultivated my interest to take Computer
Engineering as my major in my graduate studies.
There is a saying, which says, The only thing permanent in life is change. This
perfectly holds true to the world of Computer Engineering where novel ideas are not a
novelty. It is this novelty that entices me to this field and gives me a deep sense of

professional pride. In this context, I would like to pursue my graduation in Computer

Engineering, which not only supplements the knowledge that I possess but also provides
a strong platform for my future career goals.
However, I found that I have no uncertainty in proceeding along a path that I have been
planning over the last 3 years. I have originated from a family where the highest priority
was always given to good education. Blessed with schooling from one of the premier
institutions of India, I was strongly motivated to pass my senior school exams with
honours.
After successful completion of my school studies, I got admitted to VELLORE
INSTITUTE OF TECHONOLOGY, which is one of the reputed universities at the global
level. I took Computer Science and Technology as my major in the undergraduate
program. During the course of the study, I was exposed to various subjects such as C,
Computer Networks, Java, Data Structures, etc.
My expertise in Computer programming could be seen from the fact that I got 93% in the
practical lab of Programming and Data Structures. I took additional courses in
programming languages like C, C++ and JAVA.
The inter connection, management and maintenance of networks helped me get
acquainted with the subject of Networking at high levels. Having acquired reasonable
knowledge about the OSI reference model, I am passionately eager to learn the subject in
depth. I was fascinated and got myself involved in this cyber world.
My prodigious appetite for knowledge started from the moment, I was trained to write the
series of English alphabet on the sands of the grounds of my kinder garden school. This
thrust spurred me to work assiduously till this part of my career, and this will perpetually
continue to stir me in achieving greater goals. I am fully aware of the fact that I have
miles to go in this long distance race for acquiring higher knowledge. Although I believe
that there is no substitute for hard work and strong working knowledge, training in a
reputed university like yours will give a big boost to my aspirations and academic
pursuits.
Coming from a family where everyone has excelled in academic achievements, I have
developed a keen desire to pursue my graduate studies and research in Computer
Engineering in a university of excellence, which will provide me an opportunity to work
with most modern and sophisticated equipment and intellectual environment by which I
would be able to realize my dreams of exploring and contributing new vistas in the
chosen field. Your institute, which is reputed to possess the above, besides having a host
of eminent professors on its faculty, gives me a wonderful opportunity to hone my skills
and acquire knowledge.
I believe that Accomplishments lie within the reach of those who reach beyond
themselves. I am confident of making my own humble contribution in enhancing the
image and reputation of your esteemed university in the years to come. Financial

assistance from your university will give me a tremendous morale boost in this long
pursuit to achieve excellence. I eagerly look forward to be a part of your academic
community.
Practice Exercise
1) Write a statement of purpose for pursuing a bachelors degree in MIT.
2) Write a statement of purpose for pursuing MS program in Harvard University.
References
A Rama Krishna Rao. Enjoying Everyday English. Hyderabad: Sangam Books(India)
Private Limited. Ed:2009. pp. 49-50

RESEARCH PAPER WRITING

In this era of progressive science and technology, research is not limited to the few
individuals confined to their laboratories but it has become an essential aspects in all
colleges and universities to undertake the research work and publish the outcome of the
research in journals of repute or do paper presentations in national and international
conferences. Research articles are essential in every field of science, technology and
management. It provides new paradigms to the already existing work.
It is very
important to know how to write a good research paper so that one can contribute in their
area of specialization and research.
What is research paper?
A research paper is a form of writing where the author presents the original research
work carried out by him/her. It may be the result of a particular research project
conducted in the laboratory or the result of a small scale study conducted in the field. It
might be theoretical study in the field of literature or any social sciences; or practical
involving development of certain equipments, procedures, systems etc. The main purpose
of writing a research paper is to give an extension to the already existing work or come to
new findings based on certain presumptions and findings. The final outcome of the
research paper is that either it is presented in some conference/seminar or published in a
journal relating to that field.
Elements of Research Paper
The research paper is written in a particular format which contains the title of the paper,
author(s) name and affiliation, abstract, key words, introduction, literature review,
methodology, discussion, findings, conclusion, suggestions (optional), references and
appendices.
Title of the Paper
A comprehensive title of the paper should be given which throws light on the content of
the research paper. The title should be clearly written containing no abbreviations and
short forms. An inadequate title may lead to confusion and doubts. Thus, it is important
to choose a specific and exact title which gives an understanding about what the contents
of the research paper.
Name of the Author
The authors complete name must be placed just below the title. The name(s) must be
followed by the authors institutional affiliation and address. The personal email id of the
author is also given so that the readers can contact the author for any clarifications,
suggestions and feedback.
Abstract
The abstract is the gist of a research paper. It contains the core essence of the paper. It is
different from a summary as it is free writing and abstract follows a particular structure.

The abstract starts with giving the aim of the study or a introductory lines about the topic,
followed by methodology adopted, findings and conclusion in brief. Any abstract may
follow all the aspects of the structure or more than two of the aspects but it adheres to a
structure so that a reader can arrive at a clear understanding of the contents of the
research paper. The abstract should always be written after the completion of the writing
of the research paper. It is written in about 150-200 words but may vary depending upon
the requirements of the specific journal.
Key words
Keywords refer to the important words occurring in the text which are directly related to
the research work. At least five to six keywords should be specified after the abstract.
Introduction
It is important to give the background of the topic being investigated so that the reader
can understand why the problem was considered worth investigating. A brief theoretical
background about the topic of research can be given. It shows the worth of the problem
and also discusses in brief the facts included by the researcher in the course of his study.
Literature Review
In literature review, we specify the brief review of the studies that has been done on that
topic. There must have been work done by others on the topic with some variations, it is
better to give a review of those works as it will give weightage to your work citing that
how your work is an extension or different from the already conducted research on the
same topic or phenomenon. One should always select the most recent studies done in that
field and give their findings. Here you can also specify that how your work is an
extension of the already done work in that topic.
Methodology
The methodology employed or the methods adopted in undertaking the research should
be clearly stated. While specifying the methodology one should try to answer the
following questions:
How, when and on whom the study carried out?
What is the research design?
How and under what conditions the experiment is conducted?
If it is based on data collection, then what is the sample size and with whom it
was administered?
What are the sampling procedures used?
What are the tools employed for statistical analysis?
Any limitations for experiments and sampling to be specified.

Discussions
A detailed presentation of the findings of the study should be given here. One can give
details explanation with supporting data in the form of tables, charts, graphs, illustrations
and diagrams so that it authenticates the research This is the main part of the research
paper having sections and sub-sections. It should give the statistical analysis of the
research study with detail explanation. It is better to give the interpretation of data
through tables, graphs and diagrams. If the research paper is lengthy, one can include
headings and sub headings for different sections to make it more readable.
Findings
In the findings, the results of the study are clearly and precisely given. The implications
and applications of the findings are also indicated since the reader is more interested in
understanding how the findings relate to solving a problem. At this stage, the researcher
should organize his ideas and the accumulated research into a logical, fluent and effective
way.
Conclusion
After stating the findings, towards the end of the article a short conclusion should be
given restating the main points of the study. Remember in the conclusion, no such points
should be discussed which is not the part of the study or something which is not
discussed before. It is the brief summary of the entire study. It should be related to the
hypotheses or assumptions which were mentioned in the introduction part. Moreover, it
may explore the possibility to conduct further research in the concerned areas.
Suggestions
This is an optional element in the research paper. One can give certain suggestion for the
readers based on the experience of undertaking the particular research work for
efficiently carrying out the technique or experiment. In that process the reader can avoid
those problems which were encountered by the original researcher.
References
During the period of research, the researcher must have referred and used material from
various books, journals, term papers, reports etc. All work cited in the research paper
must be listed in an alphabetical order to acknowledge the original author and to do away
with plagiarism. In citation, along with the name of the author, the book title, publishers
name, place and year of publication, edition and page numbers are also specified. The
format of giving citations could be as specified by APA (American psychological
Association) and MLA (Modern Language Association) depending upon the
requirements of the communicating journal. For details on the referencing style one can
refer the APA and MLA guide books.

Appendices
The appendices include technical information relating to the collection of primary and
secondary information, experiments and mathematical derivations, elaboration on
particular technique analysis, questionnaire, samples course design or may be graphs if
they are more in number and it disrupts the flow of the paper if given in the text.
Acknowledgements
The last section includes the writers thank to the people who have helped him in
conducting the present research.

Practice Exercise
1). The following sources are given below for references. Organize them
appropriately as per the APA format.
a) Paul Andrew Jackson. Technical Communication: Introductory Guide . New
Delhi: ABC Publications. (2007).
b) Kailash, Brij B. (1997). Using Web resources in teaching english. In Journal of
Applied Linguistics.
c) Kapoor, Sharmila (1991). Influence of culture in language teaching- the
background and its impact. In Review Journal on Language Teaching .
d) Sunita Lal and H. Muttusawamy. Introduction to Communication Skills. New
Delhi: ABC Education. (2008)
e)

http://www.quotesandidioms.com/quotes/keywords/feedback.html

f)

http://www.techlearningandenglish .com/default.aspx?tabid=67&entryid=509

g) J Brown. 1997. The application of VLSI. Electronics Today . 33-37

h) George Mathew. 1997 April 28. heart disorder. Health (magazine), 129. 69-70
2). Visit the university library and choose any research paper published in your specific
area of your study and focus on the following aspects:
a) Choosing the appropriate title
b) Writing the abstract

c) Identifying the key words

d) Giving headings and sub headings
e) Citations

References
M Ashraf Rizvi. Professional Communication for UP Technical University. New Delhi:
Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited. Ed. 2006
Kailash Aggarwal and M K Jain. Professional Communication. Delhi: Shubham
Publications. Ed.2006
Malti Agarwal. Professional Communication. Meerut: Krishna Prakashan Media (P) Ltd.
Ed. 2007

Project Proposal Writing

A kind of writing written to persuade someone to do something is called a
proposal. It is a systematic description of a course of action or recommendation or
suggestions to solve a particular problem. It has become mandatory for any professional
to write a proposal as a part of his/her career. It is generally written to initiate new
projects, novel ideas or give solution to existing problems.
In the corporate culture projects are the sources of outward funding for a company
or an institution. To get a project approved by a funding agency, one has to submit a
proposal. The quality of the proposal decides the sanctioning of the project. Hence a
project proposal has to be designed with utmost care to see to it that the project is
sanctioned. Acceptance or rejection of the proposal depends on the effectiveness of
persuasion.
Types of proposals:
Broadly speaking there are six different categories of proposals depending on
their structure, audience and source of origin. They are:
1. Formal Proposal
2. Non- formal proposal
3. Internal proposal
4. External proposal
5. Solicited proposal
6. Unsolicited proposal
Proposals that are short and are given in printed forms, letter formats, or memo
formats are called non formal proposals. Proposals that go for elaborate description and
discussion and are long are called formal proposals. They consist of several sub-titles and
can vary in length from a few pages to several pages.
A proposal that is written for the readers within an organization to clarify a doubt
or to study a problem or an issue within the organization is called an internal proposal.

Internal proposals are less formal and are short when compared to external proposals. A
proposal that is written to audience outside an organization to offer a course of plan or a
solution to a problem is called an external proposal. They are more formal and more
detailed when compared to internal proposals.
A proposal written in response to a request or an offer is called a solicited
proposal. Many companies which outsource their projects call for proposals from
deserving candidates. In such cases they specify their conditions and requirements. On
the other hand a proposal written by a candidate out of his own interest is called
unsolicited proposal. Most of the project proposals submitted by faculties interested in
research are unsolicited proposals.
In general most of the standard funding agencies give proper guidelines and
formats for candidates to submit project proposals. Though most of them are for the same
cause they differ from each other. For example the format of UGC (University Grants
Commission) for submitting a project proposal is different from that of ICSSR (Indian
Council For Social Science and Research) and it is different from that of DST
(Directorate of Science & Technology). Now we are going to focus on the general format
of writing a project proposal.
There are three things that characterize a good project proposal. They are:
1. The Problem
2. The Solution
3. The Cost
1. The Problem: The problem has to be stated convincingly and explained why it

is important.
2. The solution: The solution proposed for the stated problem decides the quality

of the proposal. The writer should convince his audience about the uniqueness
of the solution and its relevance to the problem.
3. The Cost: Though the above two factors are convincing, some proposals are

rejected for the sake of their cost. It is the duty of the writer to persuade the
readers that the cost of the project is worth the changes.

Basic Structure of a Project Proposal:

A project proposal has some or all the following features.
1. Title Page
2. Table of contents
3. List of figures
4. Abstract or executive summary
5. Introduction
6. Problem
7. Objectives
8. Solution or recommendation
9. Methodology or Plan of action
10. Advantages / disadvantages
11. Costs
12. Conclusion

A Proposal on

13. Appendices
1. Title page: The

title page consists of

the title of the

proposal, name of the

person

or

Submitted to

whom

the

ICSSR

submitted,

the

and the date of

organization

to

proposal

is

name of the proposer

Submitted by
Dr. Mahalakshmi

Date
20th March, 2013

proposal.
Sample Title Page:

Table of Contents:
1.

2.
.
3.

4.
.
2. Table

of

main

headings

the

proposal

numbers

5.

Contents: The list of

and sub-headings in
with

is

their

page

given in the table of

contents.
Sample table of contents:

3. List of figures: A list of tables, graphs, illustrations and figures used in the

proposal with their page numbers is provided in the list of figures.

List of figures:
1.

4. Abstract

or

A summary of
highlighting

the

provided for the

have no time to

2.
.
3.

executive summary:
the

proposal

important points is
busy executives who
go through the entire

4.
proposal. The difference between
the abstract and the executive summary is that
after reading the abstract the busy executive
. can decide whether to read the whole
proposal or not. But after reading the executive summary there is no need for the

5.

busy executive to read the whole proposal. The reason is an abstract introduces

the proposal whereas the executive summary summarizes the proposal.

5. Introduction: The background of the problem, the purpose and scope of the

proposal are given in the introduction.

6. Problem: The problem or the situation the proposal wishes to address is

described in this section. The writer has to persuade his readers that the problem
is significant to them. To do this he has to present the problem from the readers
point of view. While talking about the problem, there are three different types of
problem. They are:
a. Pre-defined problem: It is a condition where both the writer and the readers
are aware of the existing problem. It is very easy for the writer to handle this
situation as his job ends in showing his readers that he understands the
problem.
b. Narrowing down the problem: It is a situation where the readers are aware
of the problem in its vague sense. It is the duty of the writer to narrow down
the problem to a specific point.
c. Defining the problem: It is a situation where the readers are not aware of the
existing problem. They do not consider it a problem at all. It is the duty of the
proposer to make the readers realize the importance of the problem.
7. Objectives: The link between the problem and the action comes under objectives.

In this section the proposer has to explain how the action will solve the problem.
8. Solution or recommendations: In this section the plans for achieving the

objectives and the solutions are to be discussed. It is the longest section where the
solution addresses each of the objectives and the desirability of the solution is
discussed.
9. Methodology or plan of action: In this section the method of data collection or

the procedure of investigation need to be explained. The writer has to show his
readers his plan for carrying out the research. Hence he should talk about the
equipments and the expertise needed to carry out the project. The duration of the
project and its schedule has to be explained in this section.
10. Advantages / disadvantages: In this section a realistic comparison of the

advantages and disadvantages of the project is discussed. The aim of this section

is to convince the readers that the project has more advantages than the
disadvantages.
11. Costs: In this section a clear picture of the costs to be incurred is given. The aim

of this section is to convince the readers that the costs are reasonable and to
persuade them to invest their money in the project.
12. Conclusion: In this section the final summary of the project with emphasis on the

key benefits and advantages is given. It gives a final appeal to the readers.
13. Appendices: Secondary materials if any are given as appendices to the proposal.

There should be logical flow in the appendices without any distraction.

Plan of writing a project proposal:
Like any other piece of writing, even project proposal writing goes through the
three stages of pre-writing, writing and re-writing.
1. Pre-writing Stage: During the pre-writing stage the writer has to identify the
purpose of the proposal, analyse the project, its audience and the action desired
from the aaudience, determine the scope of the project, and collect the data
required for the purpose.
To do this he can ask the following questions before beginning to write the project
proposal:
1. Why is the project proposal being written? (Purpose identification)
2. What are the objectives of the project? (Objectives)
3. Who are going to read the proposal? (Audience analysis)
4. What information should be furnished in the proposal? ( Scope determination)
5. What does the writer expect the reader to do after reading the proposal? (Action
desired)
After answering these questions the writer can start collecting the data and organize
them in a logical order to write the proposal.
2. Writing Stage: In this stage, the writer has to jot down the outline the contents of
the proposal and write the first draft.

3. Post writing stage: In the post writing stage , the has to revise his first draft,
edit it, proof-read it and try to modify its layout and structure. During this stage,
even the content can be modified. The writer can give the proposal to someone to
critically examine it and evaluate the proposal. Once everything is ready, he can
send the proposal to the concerned funding agency for approval. It is generally
observed that pre-writing stage takes 25% of the time, writing stage consumes
25% of the time whereas it the re-writing stage that consumes 50% of the time.
Sample Project Proposal

A Project Proposal on
Yrast and near-yrast spectroscopy of nuclei around shell closure in medium
mass region

Submitted to
Government of India
Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS)
Submitted by
Dr. V. RAMASUBRAMANIAN
Professor in Physics
&
Dr. C. Anu Radha
Assistant Professor (Senior) in Physics
VIT University
Vellore
Date
20th March, 2013

2. Abstract or executive summary:

Nuclei around a shell closure remain always a potential source of nuclear
structure information for many theoretical and experimental investigations. Yrast and
near-yrast spectroscopy of nuclei near a shell closure are important to understand the
underlying nuclear structure, in particular, the nature of proton-proton, neutron-proton
residual interaction, the role of single particle excitations and particle alignment in
development of high spin structure. The nuclei with few valance particles or holes outside
a closed core offer a fertile ground to study the single particle excitations involving pure
configurations and therefore ideal to test the predictive power and validity of large scale
shell model calculations. The main aim of this project work is the possibility of observing
accurate quadrupole and hexadecupole deformations in nuclei in the ground states and
high spin states, occurring shape transitions, shell effects, pairing correlations and
wobbling bands of odd-odd isotopes of medium mass region nuclei.
3. Introduction:
In atomic physics molecular motion can be decoupled into the intrinsic motion of
the electrons plus the vibrational and rotational motion of the entire molecule. In a similar
fashion, the motion of a nucleus can be seen as a combination of the intrinsic motion of
the valence nucleons and the vibrational and/or rotational motion of the entire nucleus.
Though it is difficult to decouple the motion of nuclei into the distinct motions, the
collective rotational and vibrational motions of nuclei overshadow the single particle
effect and give better information about nuclear structure for middle and heavy mass
nuclei at low excitation energies which are of the order of MeV. The spins and parities,
for example, of low level spectra of these nuclei are accurately predicted by collective
motion models. A Collective nuclear model assumes a nucleus to be a drop of
incompressible nuclear fluid, though slightly compressible at high energy. The vibration
and rotational motion of a nucleus is taken to be similar to that of a drop of liquid subject
to a force small enough not to invoke large amplitude vibration or high angular
momentum rotation which lead to disintegration of the nucleus.
4. Problem:

The quadrupole mode is the most well known and fundamental surface mode of
vibration of even-even nuclei. The Strutinskys formalism of shell corrections has been
successfully used in calculations of the nuclear deformation energy with the concept of
dividing the total binding energy into a smooth liquid-drop energy and an oscillating shell
correction energy. To calculate the shell corrections, the triaxially deformed Nilsson
model together with the Strutinskys prescription is employed. The single-particle
energies and the single particle spin projections can be obtained by diagonalizing the
triaxial Nilsson Hamiltonian in cylindrical representation upto first twelve major shells.
The role of pairing fluctuations on the equilibrium properties of hot rotating nuclei will
also be investigated. Landau theory provides an easier way to study the effect of thermal
and orientation fluctuations on the observables. However in this method the high angular
momentum properties are calculated in a macroscopic way. The quadrupole deformations
due to the surface oscillations are not stable; rather they involve a periodic shift in shape
between prolate, spherical and oblate forms. In nuclei where shell structure prohibits
quadrupole vibration at low excitation energy, such as in some nuclei with double magic
numbers, the octupole mode is often the dominant mode of excitation.
Theory predicts that n-p pairing effects are likely to be quite strong for N=Z nuclei
and diminish rapidly as one moves away from N=Z. Ground state deformations will be
obtained from Moller-Nix and Skyrme-Hatree-Fock -Bogolyubov frameworks and it will
be compared with the available cranked Nilsson Strutinsky code which will be developed
for microscopic calculations. The main aim of this project work is the possibility of
observing band structure alignment, shape transitions, deformations, shell effects and

pairing correlations of medium mass region. For interpretation of shape structures the
potential energy surfaces plots will be used.
At high excitation energy, a nucleus has different rotational bands which differ in
their intrinsic state of motion. Members of different bands may have the same total spin,
but different energy because of the band head positions. A state with the lowest energy
for each total spin is known as the yrast state, and the different yrast states together form
a yrast band. Since most of the energy of the yrast states is due to a high speed rotation,
the intrinsic shape of the nucleus remains almost the same among the different members
of the yrast band, and nearly the same as the shape in the ground state. The most common
method to produce a high spin yrast band is using a fusion-evaporation reaction. In this
reaction, an incident nucleus fuses with a target nucleus to form a compound nucleus.
The fast spinning compound nucleus cools itself by emitting a number of light particles
until it reaches the yrast line. Once the excited nucleus is at such a level, it preferentially
decays to the yrast level below it by E2 -ray emission. This process continues
successively, and a cascade of E2 -rays starting from very high spin states will be
emitted until the rotational band terminates at, or near, the ground state.
5. Objectives:
(a) Probable nuclei within the medium mass region will be chosen.
(b) Exhaustive theoretical fully fledged calculations using cranked Nilsson
Strutinsky method will be performed. Program will be developed accordingly.
(c) Ground state deformation values will be obtained from Moller-Nix mass table.
(d) Open access codes (Relativistic Mean Field, Nilsson-Strutinsky) will be
studied thoroughly.
(e) Ground state deformation values will be obtained by running Skyrme
HartreeFockBogolyubov code.

(f) Calculated ground state deformation will be compared with the above values.
(g) Shape transitions of the nuclei within the medium mass region will be
investigated. To detect oblate prolate and super deformed shapes through
potential energy surfaces by using total energy.
(h) To evaluate high spin states and yrast states efficiently.
(i) Coexistence of different shapes is one well known effect in this region, in
which several different deformations of the nucleus will be analyzed at nearly
the same excitation energy and spin
(j) To identify band structure alignment of the chosen nuclei and comparison will
be made with other theoretical outputs and experimental determinations.
Wobbling bands of odd-odd isotopes of nuclei will be studied.
6. Methodology:
I Year:
Once the project is sanctioned work will be promoted. For JRF, advt. will be
given in the leading Newspapers and within stipulated time the selection
committee will do the recruitment. Equipments will be purchased through
purchase committee. The probable fertile nuclei in the medium mass region will
be chosen. Computer calculations can be made on the properties of nuclear high
spin phenomenon and it will be related with experimental outputs for comparison.
Nilsson standard code will be purchased for comparison. SkyrmeHartreeFock
Bogolyubov code will be downloaded and will be executed without any error.
Ground state deformation values for chosen will be taken from Moller-Nix table.
SkyrmeHartreeFockBogolyubov code outputs will be checked. Clarifications
and discussions will be done with investigators active in this field.
Related software will be purchased and made available for interpretation.
The JRF candidate can also be asked to attend the nuclear structure physics
workshop / seminars / SERC School to have a good interaction with field experts.
IInd Year:
The RMF formalism will be developed and ground state deformation values will
be calculated.
The calculated values will be tabulated with Moller-Nix, SkyrmeHartreeFock
Bogolyubov code and it will be compared with other theoretical and experimental
values from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, Inter University
Accelerator Centre, New Delhi, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Calcutta and
other leading Universities.
The standard results will be presented in the International /National symposia.
IIIrd Year:

Nuclei in the medium mass region will be analysed thoroughly with various
comparisons and presentations.
The outcoming results will be finalised and communicated to refereed journals
and national/international conferences. The results will be consolidated at the end
and the final report will be prepared.
Some recent results obtained from in-beam heavy ion induced fission reactions
using Indian National Gamma (INGA) facility will be studied. The role of nuclear
shell structure as well as importance of shape deformations in the fission fragment
mass distribution will be learned.
Experimental component will be planned by using IUAC Pelletron and TIFR
Pelletron with the help of Scientists at the respective places. Therefore highintensity primary beams at around 100-150 MeV/nucleon or proton-rich
radioactive beams are needed. Production rates of the order of a few per minute
should be enough to significantly improve our knowledge on nuclear structure
effects.
7. Costs:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Particulars
I Year
II Year
III Year
Total
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Equipment:
3,50,000
--3,50,000
Salaries
JRF1:
6,00,000

1,92,000

SRF:
NIL
RA:
NIL
Technical Assistance:60,000
1,80,000
Consumables:
60,000
1,00,000
Travel PI:
20,000
PC/DC:
Contingencies:
40,000
1,20,000
Overheads:
1,00,000
3,00,000
--------------Total
8,22,000
17,20,000
---------------

1,92,000

2,16,000

60,000

60,000

30,000

10,000

25,000

25,000

40,000

40,000

1,00,000

1,00,000

------------4,47,000
------------

--------------

70,000

---------

4,51,000
---------------

---------

Equipment and Cost (Please provide here the name of the equipment and cost only):
Workstation:
LGA 1366 Intel Core i7 quad Core,
3.06 GHz, 16MB L3 Cache
Memory 24 GB
HDD 500 GB
Rs.1,50,000
Software
Nodes (Three)
Pentium IV
2.4GHz
845G Intel shipset
512 MB RAM
100 GB HDD
Laser Color Printer
& Scanner
Switch & Cable
UPS 3KVA
Total

Rs.1,20,000 (3 X Rs.40000.00)

Rs. 30,000
Rs. 10,000
Rs. 40,000
--------------Rs.3,50,000
---------------

1. Staff Salary:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Staff Number s
Monthly Salary
I Year II Year
III Year
Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JRF

1
6,00,000

I & IIyr. 16000 x 1 1,92,000 1,92,000

III yr
18000 x 1

2,16,000

SRF
RA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tota 1
1,92,000 1,92,000
2,16,000
6,00,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Details of budget for consumables to be procured by the PI (Amount in

Rupees):
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sl.No.
Item
Ist year
IInd year
IIIrd year
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1.
Air conditioner
30,000
2.

Packages
Exptl. Or Theoretical codes

20,000

3. Sony removable disk & computer

5,000
Consumables
4.

Almirah (2)

20,000

5. Miscellaneous
10,000
10,000
5,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Total
60,000
30,000
10,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2.

Details of travel:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amount in Rupees
Total

Ist year

IInd year

IIIrd year

---------------------------------------------------------------------3. Proposed number of visits

of PC/DC to PI's institute
--

--

--

--

Duration of stay during each vi --(No. of days)

--

--

--

--

4.

5.

Total funds required

--

--

6. Proposed number of visits

-of PI to PC/DC's institute

--

--

--

7. Duration of stay during each visit--(No. of days)

--

--

8. Total funds required

--

--

--

--

9. Funds required by PI for travel to

attend conferences within India. 10,000
45,000

15,000

20,000

10. Funds for Other visits

JRF candidates to attend
Conferences and other DAE
10,000
10,000
5,000
25,000
Nuclear Physics Institutions
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Total
20,000
25,000
25,000
70,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BUDGET JUSTIFICATIONS

1. Equipment:
The project work contains heavy computation and it will be compared with other
theoretical model codes and experimental outputs. Three nodes are necessary to run the
code for different nuclides at a time and simultaneously program will be developed. The
server will handle tremendous data flows.
2.

Staff:

Manpower is required to carry out the calculations, for computation, plotting,

development of new program and analyze the data. Team work will make the results with
perfection. One JRF candidate is required for full time tenuous work which will be
required for promoting the cranked Nilsson Hamiltonian program with HFODD results
calculations along with the experimental routhians in the chosen nuclei. This will need
young research scholars to get involved in nuclear structure field.

3. Technical assistance:
To do secretarial job during purchasing, installation of the equipments and daily file
works. The generated data base will be stored in proper places and necessary
consumables will be procured through the institution.
4. Consumables:
The amount will be used for continuous computational work.1.5 Ton Air conditioner will
be purchased. Removable disk is required for transferring data and for presentation.
5.

Travel:

Grant will be useful for discussion with field experts regarding research paper
communication and presentation. To participate and present project work outputs or
research contribution in international/national conference/symposia/workshops within
India, travel expenditure is highly essential.
6. Contingencies:
To meet the expenditure towards advertisements for JRF, stationary, purchase of urgently
required computational items (papers, printer cartridge, etc) and for buying standard
nuclear structure books.
References:
Mishra, Sunita, C. Muralikrishna. Communication Skills for Engineers, New Delhi:
Pearson Education, 2008.
Exercise:
Imagine you are an engineer working in an MNC. Write a project proposal to an external
funding agency explaining him the project you are working on for your PBL courses.