Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Written Expression
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
Teaching staff
Email.
Introduction
The ability to write clearly, accurately, and creatively is essential for any communication professional. This course provides a solid foundation in grammar and writing techniques, combined with continuous practice in text production.
Pre-course requirements
None.
Objectives
- Encourage reading and writing to improve oral and written expression
- Learning to generate content, to relate it to other knowledge and to structure ideas appropriately within a text
- Offer a theoretical base on the narrative tools that allow the student to make the most of the language for effective communication according to the objective established in each case
- Experiment with different narrative genres and communicative registers and understand the particularity and potential of each one
- Write with correctness and precision
- Improve the style of writing itself and understand the effect of certain stylistic and narrative decisions.
- Know how to analyze texts in a well-argued way
- Incorporate self-correction as part of the process of writing the written text.
- Encourage the critical attitude and reflective capacity of the student as a consumer and creator of texts.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CN01 - Recognise the different roles within artistic and technical production teams.
- CP02 - Critically examine contemporary social developments and contextualise audiovisual works appropriately.
- CP03 - Communicate information and original ideas effectively, both orally and in writing, in Spanish, Catalan and English.
- CP04 - Apply professional ethical principles and standards of academic rigour in the audiovisual field, respecting the fundamental right to equality between women and men, promoting human rights, a culture of peace and democratic values, including the use of inclusive, non-discriminatory and stereotype-free language.
- HB01 - Use a range of media research and documentation resources.
- HB02 - Apply professional techniques in body language and voice presentation to create impactful audiovisual content.
- HB03 - Critically analyse contemporary audiovisual genres and formats using professional aesthetic and narrative criteria.
- HB04 - Use bibliographic resources, specialised terminology and linguistic structures in English effectively for professional communication in the audiovisual field.
Learning outcomes of the subject
Students will be able to:
- Express ideas and communicate information clearly and persuasively, using effective techniques in both oral communication and written composition, while adapting to the context, audience, and purpose of the message.
- Master verbal and non-verbal communication in front of a camera, an audience, or a public setting, applying professional voice and presentation techniques to communicate effectively and make a lasting impact.
- Propose innovative and effective solutions to communication challenges by using narrative, persuasive, and stylistic resources appropriate to different media formats.
Syllabus
BLOCK 1: Fundamentals of communication and writing
- Topic 1: Communication: foundations and functions
- Topic 2: Reading comprehension
- Topic 3: Text types
- Topic 4: Writing styles
- Topic 5: Narrators and points of view
- Topic 6: Narrative structures
- Topic 7: Editing and rewriting
- Topic 8: Rhetoric and orality
- Topic 9: The technological environment and written communication
BLOCK 2: Creative process and search for personal style
- Topic 1: The writing process
- Topic 2: Story and idea
- Topic 3: The composition process
- Topic 4: Personal style
- Topic 5: Conflict in a story
- Topic 6: Substance and form: figurative language (telling vs. showing)
- Topic 7: Figures of speech
BLOCK 3: Rules and linguistic correction
- Topic 1: Good writing: grammar, cohesion, punctuation, rhythm, vocabulary, style rules
- Topic 2: Citation and plagiarism
Bibliography and resources
Aleza, M. et al. (2006) Lengua española para los medios de comunicación: usos y normas actuales. Barcelona: Tirant lo Blanch.
Camps, O. (2013) Editat per Amadeo, I. Llibre d’estil de la corporació catalana de mitjans audiovisuals. Barcelona: Generalitat de Catalunya.
Cassany, D. (2006) La cocina de la escritura. Barcelona: Anagrama.
Cassany, D. (1989) Describir el escribir. Barcelona: Austral.
De Bono, E. (1991). Pensamiento lateral. Buenos Aires: Paidós.
Eco, U. (1996) Seis paseos por los bosques narrativos. Barcelona: Lumen.
Fuentes, C. (2011) Guia práctica de escritura y redacción. Barcelona: Espasa Libros.
García Márquez, G. (1995) Cómo se cuenta un cuento. Madrid: Ollero y Ramos.
Goldberg, N. (2004) El gozo de escribir. Madrid: La liebre de marzo.
Goldberg, N. (2003) El rayo y el trueno. Barcelona: La liebre de marzo.
King, S. (2012) Mientras escribo. Barcelona: Plaza y Janés.
Lázaro, F. (2015) El dardo en la palabra. Barcelona: Debolsillo.
Martínez Sousa, J. (2001) Manual de estilo de la lengua española. Gijón: Ediciones Trea
Páez, E. (2006) Manual de técnicas narrativas. Editorial SM. Madrid:
Queneau, R. (1989) Ejercicios de estilo. Madrid: Cátedra.
Rodari, G. (2002) Gramática de la fantasía: introducción al arte de contar historias. Madrid: Editorial del Bronce.
Spang, K. (2005) Persuasión. Fundamentos de retórica. Barcelona: Eunsa.