Class 11th Elective English Syllabus 2024-25: Download Revised PDF for ISC Class 11 Elective English

Paper I - Theory: 3 hours

80 Marks

Paper II - Project Work

20 Marks

PAPER I (THEORY): 80 Marks

There will be one paper of three hours duration of 80 marks with questions set from the prescribed textbooks. Candidates will be required to answer five questions on any three of the prescribed textbooks.

1. The questions in the paper will be broadly based on the following categories: 

(i) Prose 

(ii) Drama 

(iii) Poetry 

The question may be character-based, incident-based, general broad-based, theme based or require critical evaluation. 

2. Students will need to study and have a knowledge of the following: 

(a) Prose and Drama 

(i) Life of the playwright and novelist and important events therein. 

(ii) Evaluation of characters and the roles played by them in the text. 

(iii)Description of each incident in the play or novel and its significance. 

(iv) Important themes and motifs of the text. 

(v) Relationships between characters and incidents. 

(vi) Patterns and nuances of the text. 

(vii) Fantasy and the supernatural. 

(viii)Stylistic and narrative devices. 

(ix) Students’ personal response to and assessment of the novel/play. 

(x) Humour, pathos, tragedy, sarcasm and so on in the texts. 

(xi) The novel/play in the context of contemporary society.

(b) Poetry 

(i) Different types of poems with their characteristics and features:  

• lyric  
• sonnet – both Petrarchan (Italian) and Shakespearean  
• ballad  
• elegy  
• blank verse  
• free verse  
• narrative poetry  
• pastoral poetry  
• dramatic monologue  
• romantic poetry 

(ii) All literary devices in detail and how to recognize them:  

• simile  
• metaphor  
• personification  
• Apostrophe
•  alliteration  
• assonance  
• repetition  
• irony  
• imagery  
• enjambment  
• pun  
• contrast  
• climax and anti-climax  
• onomatopoeia  
• hyperbole  
• oxymoron  
• litotes  
• symbolism 

(iii)A thorough knowledge of the poets’ lives and styles of writing. 

(iv) Important themes of the poems. 

(v) Patterns and nuances of the poems. 

(vi) Fantasy and the supernatural if present in any poem. 

(vii) Symbolism and Imagery.

(viii)How to write a proper Critical Evaluation / Appreciation, which must contain the following components:  

• Life of the poet and how it has impacted his/her style of writing  
• Autobiographical element in the poem  
• Type of poem  
• Setting  
• Theme  
• Mood and atmosphere  
• Different levels of meaning in the poem, if any 
• Rhyme scheme and its significance  
• Symbolism  
• Imagery  
• Literary devices  
• The student’s own personal response to the poem.

Note: Credit is given for textual detail and for the candidate’s own response. Candidates are advised to exercise their options with great care, keeping in view their knowledge and understanding of the question(s) chosen. Candidates are also expected to be precise and to avoid unnecessary details.

The candidates will produce original, creative, critical/ analytical, insightful perspectives on any TWO of the texts (novel/ poetry/ drama – to be taken only from the syllabus to be covered in Class XI) that they have chosen to study. 

Project Work in Class XI (only from the syllabus to be covered in Class XI) is to be assessed internally by the school.

Candidates will be required to complete two projects: 

A. One written assignment (800 to 1000 words) 

and 

B. One Audio-visual (PPT) presentation (15 to 20 minutes duration) 

A. The written assignment should be organised in the following manner:

1. The title of the assignment/ presentation should be in the form of a question that allows the candidate to explore and critically analyse the specified text(s). 

2. The assignment should follow the structure given below: 

• An introduction that states the reason for choosing that particular topic/ question and text. Teachers could assist by suggesting a list of questions. 

• A brief description of the methods adopted – what did the candidate do to answer the research question? 

• Results – What was the answer to the question? What were the candidate’s findings? • Conclusion – A brief discussion on the significance of the project and the candidate’s own perspective/views on the question. 

• Candidates should include a bibliography that mentions ALL the material that they referred to.  

Assessment Criteria 

Candidates should be able to: 

Marks

Process 

-Choose topic/question. 

- Plan a detailed assignment. 

- Submit a written outline for approval.

2

Content 

- Give an interesting introduction that presents a clear explanation and scope of the topic 

- present information in a cohesive wellstructured manner 

- display a knowledge of the topic by referring to other sources 

- sum up main points in conclusion

4

Presentation and References 

Prepare a document of 800 to 1000 words The document should have: 

- a title page stating the topic/ question 

- an introduction - appropriate headings and sub-headings 

- a well worded conclusion that ties together all the main points made

4

Total

10 Marks

Assessment Criteria

Candidates should be able to

Marks

Organisation/ content

• state topic and scope of presentation in the introduction 
• explain what s/he intends to cover within the allotted time
• display a knowledge of topic by referring to other sources 
• sum up main points in conclusion

4 Marks

Presentation 

• display confidence and maintain eye contact 
• speak clearly, correctly, distinctly and confidently 
• maintain the interest of the audience 
• explain thoughts and ideas 
• not read from a paper/ off the slides 
• use visual/audio clips/ pictures/ effects and animation, etc. effectively

2 Marks

Discussion 

• use appropriate strategies to initiate discussion handle questions/ comments from the class 
• deal confidently with question posed by teacher 
• effectively raise a question and increased the class’ knowledge of the topic through the presentation

4 marks

Total

10 Marks