DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

The technical work of the engineer requires him to write notes, letters, and reports in a clear, correct, and concise manner. He must be able to read both technical and non-technical writing quickly and accurately. His advancement will depend upon the impression which he makes upon his superiors. Consequently the spoken English which he uses in conversation and in meetings will affect his professional progress. The reading of good literature will help him to understand how different sorts of people will act and feel under various conditions, and so will aid him in solving problems involving personal relations.

As the engineer advances in his profession his contacts are more and more with men who do not have a technical background. With these men he cannot use scientific language, the terminology and formulas of chemistry or mathematics. If he is to make himself clear, he must be able to use the English language in a way which will make his hearers understand his facts and ideas. If he is to persuade his hearers that what he advocates is the proper thing to do, he must speak or write so that they feel that he is a competent, trustworthy man.

During the first two years of his course, the student is trained in writing, speaking, and reading. The training consists largely in practice: in writing on assigned subjects, in speaking before a group of about a hundred, and in reading selections from literature which have interest to an engineer. Practice in writing and speaking continue during the last two years of the course: the student prepares and presents reports in his various professional courses.

Concurrent with the work of the first two years in English is a series of lectures on the history of industrial civilization. These are intended to give the student an appreciation of the broader aspects of engineering development and particularly of its social results. They also furnish material for the written work of the student in his study of English.

SUBJECTS OF INSTRUCTION
in the
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

Eng 10 English.

The aims of this course are to train the student to express ideas in writing and speech, and to read rapidly and accurately. He learns to write by writing, by having his mistakes pointed out, and by correcting them. He learns to speak by speaking before a group of about a hundred, and by being criticized by the group and by the instructor.

(a) Selections from literature which have engineering interest are read, some of them being abstracted. Translations from foreign classics are included with excerpts from English literature.

(b) Two hours per week are given to the writing of themes, based in general on the material gathered in (a) and in Course Eng 50. One hour per week is spent in class work on the principles of English composition, particularly as applied to technical writing.

(c) One hour per week is applied to practice in oral English. At first the students read before the class themes which they have written; later they speak without notes on current topics of engineering interest.

Texts: Giesy and Arnott, “Technical English Composition”; Park, “English Applied in Technical Writing”; Cullimore, “Selections for Engineering Students”.

Eng 20 English.

The work of course Eng 10 is continued throughout the second year.

(a) During the summer preceding this course each student is required to read and report on five books of general engineering interest. The reading and abstracting of literature selections is continued.

(b) Composition work is continued, two hours per week. Some practice is given in the abstracting of technical articles, and in the writing and dictation of business letters.

(c) Practice in speaking continues throughout the year.

Texts: Giesy and Arnott, “Technical English Composition”; Park, “English Applied in Technical Writing”; Cullimore, “Selections for Engineering Students”.

Eng 50 History of Industrial Civilization.

Lectures on the history of civilization from earliest times to the Industrial Revolution. Particular attention is paid to the developments of science, technology, and industry, to the social influences affecting these developments, and to their social results.

Eng 60 History of Industrial Civilization.

A continuation of the lectures of Course Eng 50, through the Industrial Revolution and down to the present. Special consideration is given to technological unemployment and the other social problems connected with the development of labor-saving machinery.