CBSE Class 11 English Core Syllabus

READING COMPREHENSION 45 Periods

There shall be two unseen passages (including poems) with a variety of questions like

Objective Type Questions , Short Answer Questions and Multiple Choice Questions,

including 04 marks for vocabulary such as word formation and inferring meaning.

Multiple Choice Questions (1×6=6marks), Objective Type Questions ( 1×6= 6marks), 01

Short Answer Question (3×1=3marks), 01 Long Answer Question (5×1=5marks)

The range of the two passages including a poem or a stanza, should be 900-1000

words as per the following details:

1. The passage of 550-600 words in length will be used for note-making and

summarizing.

2. The passage of 350-400 words in length will be used to test comprehension,

interpretation and inference.

OR

3. An unseen poem of 28-35 lines to test comprehension, interpretation and inference.

The passages as given above could be of any one of the following types:

Factual passages, e.g., illustrations, description, reports / Discursive passages involving

opinion, e.g., argumentative, persuasive/Literary passages e.g. extracts from fiction,

biography, autobiography, travelogue, etc. In the case of a poem, the text may be

shorter than the prescribed word limit.

SECTION B (30 Marks)

WRITING SKILLS AND GRAMMAR 60 Periods

Writing

1. One Short Answer Question: Based on notice/ poster/ advertisement- 4 Marks

Two Long Answer Questions: Letters based on verbal/visual input. – (6×2=12 Marks)

It would cover all types of letters. Letter types may include:

(a) business or official letters (for making enquiries, registering complaints, asking for

and giving information, placing orders and sending replies)

(b) letters to the editor (giving suggestions/opinions on an issue)

(c) application for a job with a bio-data or résumé

(d) letter to the school or college authorities, regarding admissions, school issues,

requirements / suitability of courses, etc.

3. Very Long Answer Question: Composition in the form of article/speech/report writing or

a narrative- 8 Marks

GRAMMAR ( 6 Objective Type Questions)

Different grammatical structures in meaningful contexts will be tested. Item types will

include gap filling, sentence re- ordering, dialogue completion and sentence

transformation. The grammar syllabus will include determiners, tenses, clauses, modals

and Change of Voice. These grammar areas will be tested through 6 objective type

questions on the following:

A. Error Correction, editing tasks

B. Re – ordering of sentences,

C. Transformation of sentences

SECTION C (30 Marks)

LITERATURE 70 Periods

Questions from the prescribed texts to test comprehension at different levels, like literal,

inferential and evaluative will be asked.

1. Two Objective Type Questions out of three – Based on an extract from poetry to test

reference to context comprehension and appreciation. – (1×2=2 Marks)

2. Five Short Answer Questions out of six (3 questions should be from Hornbill) –

Based on prose, poetry and plays from both the texts. (2×5=10 marks))

3. One Long Answer Question out of two from Hornbill (to be answered in 120-150

words) Based on prescribed texts to test global comprehension and extrapolation

beyond the texts. 6 Marks

4. One Long Answer Questions out of two from Snapshots (to be answered in 120-150

words) -Based on theme, plot, incidents or events to test global comprehension and

extrapolation beyond the texts. 6 Marks

5. One Long Answer Question out of two from Hornbill (to be answered in 120-150

words)-Based on understanding appreciation, analysis and interpretation of the

characters/events/episodes/incidents . 6 Marks

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT

Assessment of Listening and Speaking Skills 45 Periods

Assessment of Listening and Speaking Skills will be for 20 marks. It is recommended

that listening and speaking skills should be regularly practiced in the class.

Download CBSE Class 11 English Elective Syllabus for 2019-2020

SECTION –A 20 marks

Reading

An unseen passage and a poem 35 Periods

1. The section will have 12 questions including 6 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ),

i.e. 6 MCQs from a Literary or Discursive passage of about 900-950 words, and 6 Objective Type questions (1×12=12marks)

2. 04 Short Answer Questions to be answered in 50-60 words. It shall be asked from a poem of about 20-24 lines to test interpretation and appreciation. (2×4=8marks)

SECTION –B 20 marks

Creative Writing Skills 35 Periods

1. One Very Long Answer Question out of two to be answered in 150-200 words.

An essay on an argumentative/discursive/reflective/descriptive topic. (10×1=10marks)

2. One Very Long Answer Question out of two to be answered in 150-200 words.

A composition such as an article / a report /a speech. (10×1=10marks)

SECTION – C 30 marks

Literature 75 periods

1. Eight Objective type Questions out of 09 to test comprehension, literary appreciation and drawing inferences in poetry and prose.

(1×8=8marks)

2. Three Short Answer Questions out of 04 to be answered in 50-60words to test understanding, appreciation and analysis. (2×3=6marks)

3. One Long Answer Questions out of 02 to be answered in 120-150 words to test literary appreciation and drawing inferences. (1×6=6marks)

B. Arms and the Man – [Drama] (10marks)

25Periods

Two Long Answer Questions out of three to be answered in 80-100 word to test the evaluation of characters, events and episodes. (5×2=10marks)

C. Fiction (10marks) 25Periods

1. Two Short Answer Questions out of three to be answered in 50-60 words to test analysis of characters, events, episodes and interpersonal relationships and understanding of content, events and episodes (2×2=4marks)

2. One Long Answer Question out of 02 to be answered in 120-150 words to test literary appreciation and drawing inferences. (6×1=6marks)

Seminar (20 marks)

• Presentation – book review /a play /a short story/a novel/novella (tale, table, and parable) to be followed by a question-answer session. ]
• Poetry reading to be followed by interpretative tasks based on close reading and literary analysis of the text. Critical review of a film or a play.
• Conducting a theatre workshop to be followed by a discussion