Category: Osmania University Syllabus (Sem 2)
Academic Year: 2025-26
Prescribed Textbook: English Edge (Orient BlackSwan, 2025)
Welcome to the ultimate guide for the Osmania University (OU) Degree 2nd Semester English Syllabus.
As you move from Semester 1 to Semester 2, the curriculum shifts focus towards more diverse literary forms—ranging from Russian literature (Gogol, Chekhov) to Indian classics (Tagore, Basheer). This post provides the complete Semester 2 breakdown, including unit-wise chapters, grammar topics, and the exact keywords you need to search for to ace your exams.
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Semester 2 Syllabus Overview
- Course: English (First Language)
- Credits: 4 Credits
- Instruction: 4 Hours per week
- Textbook: English Edge (Units 5-8)
Detailed Semester 2 Syllabus Table (Units 5-8)
This table is designed for smart study. The “Exam Study Focus” column highlights the most frequently asked themes and topics.
| Unit | Category | Topic / Title | Author | Exam Study Focus (Keywords) |
| 5 | Poetry | Where the Mind Is Without Fear | Rabindranath Tagore | Search for Where the Mind Is Without Fear summary (Patriotism/Freedom). |
| Prose | The Overcoat | Nikolai Gogol | The Overcoat Gogol themes (Bureaucracy & Isolation). | |
| Grammar | Concord | – | Subject-Verb Agreement rules (High scoring). | |
| Vocab | Homonyms | – | Words with same spelling/sound but different meanings. | |
| Skills | Motivation & Discipline | – | Self-improvement essay topics. | |
| 6 | Poetry | The Highwayman | Alfred Noyes | The Highwayman poem summary (Love & Sacrifice). |
| Prose | The Blue Light | Vaikom M. Basheer | The Blue Light Basheer summary (Supernatural/Humor). | |
| Grammar | Adjectives | – | Types and placement of adjectives. | |
| Vocab | Homophones | – | Words sounding same, different spelling (e.g., See vs Sea). | |
| Writing | Diary & Journal Writing | – | Personal reflective writing format. | |
| 7 | Poetry | Mending Wall | Robert Frost | Mending Wall Robert Frost analysis (Barriers/Neighbors). |
| Prose | How It Feels to Be Colored Me | Zora Neale Hurston | How It Feels to Be Colored Me summary (Identity/Race). | |
| Grammar | Determiners | – | Articles (a, an, the) and Quantifiers. | |
| Vocab | Homographs | – | Same spelling, different sound/meaning. | |
| Writing | Essay Writing | – | Structure of an essay (Intro, Body, Conclusion). | |
| 8 | Poetry | Praise Song for My Mother | Grace Nichols | Praise Song for My Mother summary (Tribute/Parenting). |
| Prose | Swan Song | Anton Chekhov | Swan Song Anton Chekhov summary (Old age/Artist’s life). | |
| Grammar | Adverbs | – | Modifying verbs and adjectives. | |
| Vocab | Heteronyms | – | Words with same spelling, different sound (e.g., Tear). | |
| Skills | Emotional Intelligence | – | Understanding empathy and self-awareness. |
Top 3 Study Tips for Semester 2
Semester 2 introduces slightly longer prose and more complex poetry. Here is how to handle it:
1. Understand the “Human Condition” (Literature)
The prose lessons in this semester are deep.
- The Overcoat: Don’t just read the story; understand the pain of the main character (Akaky). Search for “The Overcoat Gogol themes” to understand why his coat matters so much.
- Swan Song: This is a one-act play about an old actor. Search for “Swan Song Anton Chekhov summary” to grasp the themes of regret and memory.
2. Master the “Confusing Words” (Vocabulary)
Units 5, 6, 7, and 8 systematically cover similar-sounding words.
- Unit 5: Homonyms
- Unit 6: Homophones
- Unit 7: Homographs
- Unit 8: Heteronyms
- Exam Tip: Be ready to distinguish between these in the objective section (Section B).
3. Writing Skills: Essays & Diaries
You will be asked to write longer pieces this semester.
- Unit 7 introduces Essay Writing. Focus on the standard structure: Introduction $\rightarrow$ Body Paragraphs $\rightarrow$ Conclusion.
- Unit 6 covers Diary Writing. Remember to use the first-person perspective (“I felt…”, “I saw…”).
Looking for Study Notes?
We are working on chapter-wise summaries for The Blue Light and Mending Wall.
- Subscribe to get notified when the “Semester 2 Important Questions PDF” is live!
Next Step: I can create a “Quiz Tool” concept for your website where students can practice the confusing vocabulary (Homonyms vs Homophones) from Units 5-8. Would you like to see how that code would look?