RBI Grade B English (Writing Skills) Syllabus

English (Writing Skills) syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for English (Writing Skills) in RBI Grade B, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Comprehension and Analysis

   3 topics

   • Reading Comprehension
     • Identifying central theme and tone
     • Inference and conclusion
   • Critical Reasoning in Passages
     • Author's argument and assumptions
   • Vocabulary in Context
     • Synonyms and antonyms
     • Contextual word meaning
2. 2

   Essay Writing

   3 topics

   • Structure of an Essay
     • Introduction, body, conclusion
     • Thesis statement and coherence
   • Argumentation
     • Building balanced viewpoints
     • Supporting with evidence and data
   • Topics on Economy and Society
     • Current affairs based themes
     • Banking and finance themes
3. 3

   Precis and Summary Writing

   3 topics

   • Precis Technique
     • Condensation to one-third length
     • Retaining essential meaning
   • Summarisation
     • Paraphrasing in own words
   • Titling
     • Choosing an apt title
4. 4

   Business and Formal Writing

   3 topics

   • Report Writing
     • Format and objectivity
   • Letter and Memo Writing
     • Formal and official correspondence
   • Grammar and Usage
     • Sentence correction
     • Subject-verb agreement and tenses

English (Writing Skills) flashcards for RBI Grade B

21 of 50 cards from the English (Writing Skills) deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In reading comprehension, what is the difference between skimming and scanning?

   Skimming is reading quickly to grasp the overall gist or main idea of a passage; scanning is searching rapidly for specific information such as a name, date, or keyword without reading everything.

2. What is the 'main idea' of a passage, and where is it most often located?

   The main idea is the central point the author wants to convey. It is most often stated in the topic sentence, usually at the beginning (sometimes the end) of a paragraph.

3. In comprehension questions, what distinguishes an 'inference' question from a 'fact/detail' question?

   A fact/detail question can be answered directly from explicit text; an inference question requires drawing a logical conclusion from implied information not stated outright.

4. What is meant by the 'tone' of a passage, and give three example tones.

   Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject conveyed through word choice. Examples: critical, sarcastic, optimistic, objective, nostalgic, persuasive.

5. How do you determine the meaning of an unknown word using context clues?

   Use surrounding clues: definition/restatement, examples, contrast words (but, however, unlike), synonyms nearby, or the overall sense of the sentence to deduce meaning.

6. In Critical Reasoning, what is a 'premise' versus a 'conclusion'?

   A premise is a statement offered as evidence or support; the conclusion is the claim the argument is trying to establish, supported by the premises.

7. What is an 'assumption' in a critical reasoning argument?

   An assumption is an unstated premise the argument takes for granted and needs to be true for the conclusion to hold.

8. How can an argument be 'strengthened' versus 'weakened' in critical reasoning?

   Strengthen by adding evidence supporting the conclusion or confirming an assumption; weaken by providing evidence against the conclusion, attacking an assumption, or offering an alternative explanation.

9. What is a logical fallacy, and name three common ones tested in passages.

   A logical fallacy is a flaw in reasoning that undermines an argument. Examples: ad hominem (attacking the person), straw man (misrepresenting the argument), and correlation-causation confusion (false cause).

10. What does it mean for a critical reasoning argument to contain a flaw of 'circular reasoning'?

    Circular reasoning (begging the question) occurs when the conclusion is assumed within the premises, so the argument proves nothing new.

11. In vocabulary in context, what are 'denotation' and 'connotation'?

    Denotation is a word's literal dictionary meaning; connotation is the emotional or cultural association the word carries (e.g., 'thrifty' vs 'stingy' share a denotation but differ in connotation).

12. What is a synonym and what is an antonym?

    A synonym is a word with a meaning similar to another word; an antonym is a word with the opposite meaning.

13. What is a homonym, and how does it differ from a homophone?

    Homonyms are words with the same spelling/sound but different meanings (e.g., 'bat'). Homophones sound alike but differ in spelling and meaning (e.g., 'their/there/they're').

14. What does the prefix 'circum-' mean, and give an example word.

    'Circum-' means around. Example: circumnavigate (to travel around), circumference (the distance around a circle).

15. What does the root 'bene' mean, with two example words?

    'Bene' means good or well. Examples: benevolent (well-meaning/kind), benefactor (one who does good/gives help).

16. What are the three basic parts of an essay's structure?

    Introduction, body, and conclusion.

17. What is a thesis statement and where is it placed in an essay?

    A thesis statement is a single sentence expressing the essay's central argument or main claim; it is usually placed at the end of the introduction.

18. What is the function of a topic sentence in a body paragraph?

    A topic sentence states the main idea of that paragraph and links it to the thesis, guiding the reader on what the paragraph will discuss.

19. What does the PEEL structure for a paragraph stand for?

    Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link (back to the thesis or next point).

20. What should an effective essay conclusion accomplish?

    Restate the thesis in fresh words, summarise the key points, and provide closure or a final insight—without introducing new arguments.

21. What is the purpose of a 'hook' in an essay introduction?

    A hook grabs the reader's attention at the very start using a question, statistic, quotation, or striking statement, encouraging them to keep reading.

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