Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Written Communication 2
Teaching staff
A meeting with the professor can be arranged by email (rnolla@uic.es).
Introduction
Deepening the study of a language allows one to develop one's own linguistic and communicative competence. It is, therefore, an essential exercise to more fully satisfy the need to communicate, to enrich interpersonal relationships and to mature personality and intellectual life.
On the other hand, reading literature is an unbeatable opportunity to improve reading fluency, to know the historical and literary context of the authors, to appreciate the value of literary creations and to reflect on the great themes of literature, which are the great questions of human life.
The mastery of the linguistic code –and especially of the new Gramàtica de l'Institut d'Estudis Catalans– and the reflection on four strictly contemporary books will be the two pillars of this subject, which aims to contribute to the enrichment of expressive skills and to the broadening of the stylistic and communicative repertoire of future professionals in the Humanities.
Pre-course requirements
To certify a C1 or equivalent level of Catalan under the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Students unable to certify this level must agree with the teacher the itinerary they will have to follow in order to acquire a sufficient level of Catalan.
Objectives
- Understand the importance of language as a cultural and communicative tool, both within and outside the academic world.
- Strengthen the competence of the students to interpret, analyze and produce oral and formal texts appropriate from both the normative and communicative point of view.
- Consolidate and expand the linguistic knowledge of the students to ensure that they become competent users of the Catalan language in professional practice.
- Develop the critical thinking of the students through the judgment of several proposed argumentative texts.
- Enhance the positive attitudes of the students towards the use of the Catalan language.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CN01 - Students will be able to analyse and interpret imaginary and iconic, symbolic and representational language in the context of humanistic disciplines.
- CP05 - Students will be able to analyse socio-cultural, historical and artistic structures, from a respect for the fundamental rights of equality between men and women, using language that avoids androcentricity and stereotypes.
- HB02 - Students will be able to convey information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- HB03 - Students will be able to develop a coherent understanding and expression of ideas and arguments, both orally and in writing.
- HB06 - Students will be able to plan tasks and projects in an organised and structured manner.
- HB12 - Students will be able to adequately and effectively apply methods and techniques specific to different humanities disciplines when problem solving and when elaborating critical and well-founded arguments.
- HB18 - Students will be able to present the results of their research in a narrative way, following the critical standards of each discipline.
- HB19 - Students will be able to analyse original texts or documents in their mother tongue and in other languages, with appropriate summaries and categorisation techniques.
- HB20 - Students will be able to use sources of information in an international context.
Learning outcomes of the subject
The main learning outcomes for the students are:
- Improvement of their first languages: Spanish and Catalan.
- Application of the acquired linguistic skills to oral and written expressions.
- Writing of narrative and descriptive texts in their first languages.
- Correct use of reference works such as specialized dictionaries.
- Acquisition of vocabulary and key concepts of each subject.
- Search and selection of information in specific documentary sources.
- Development of arguments and synthesis in debates and oral statements.
- Ability to summarize diverse and complex information.
- Ability to analyze and synthesize a range of texts used in different subjects.
- Application/transfer of theoretical and abstract concepts to real situations.
- Practice of learning strategies developed either autonomously or in team.
- Reading and analyzing classic works and essays as a way to enrich his/her knowledge and vital experience.
Syllabus
1. Introduction
1.1 Linguistic prejudices and misconceptions about Catalan
1.2 Online linguistic reference tools
2. Language, culture and communication
2.1 Language and languages
2.2 The relationship between language and culture
2.3 The orality-writing dichotomy
3. Norm and use of the Catalan language
3.1 Essential grammatical issues
3.2 New criteria in the GIEC
3.3 Diatopic, diaphasic and diastratic variation
4. Writing and proofreading of written texts
4.1 Text morphology
4.2 Textual properties and text types
4.3 Essential stylistic issues
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
Assessment
It is mandatory to pass all four parts of the assessment in order to pass the course, both in the first and second examination periods. Part of the final grade will be based on in-class activities; therefore, students’ attitude and continuous engagement with the course will be especially taken into account.
Practical exercises (50%)
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Text writing and completion of exercises in class (20%
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Regular practical assignments (30%)
Final exam (50%)
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Writing a text based on a quotation (25%)
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Linguistic correction of several excerpts (25%)
The final exam will take place on 28 May 2026, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Spelling mistakes will be penalized in all assessable activities. Any assignment in which plagiarism is detected will receive a grade of zero.
Students who have not been schooled in Catalan will follow the same assessment system; however, both the in-class practical exercises and the final exam will be adapted to their level and needs. Instead of completing several regular practical assignments, they will be required to complete the “Basic 1” course on the Parla.cat virtual platform.
Bibliography and resources
Basic bibliography
Acadèmia Valenciana de la llengua (2014). Diccionari normatiu valencià. En línia: https://www.avl.gva.es/lexicval/
—(2016). En línia: Gramàtica normativa valenciana. https://www.avl.gva.es/gnv/buscador.jsp
Alcover, Antoni Maria; Francesc de Borja Moll (1930-1962). Diccionari català-valencià-balear. 10 vol. Palma: Moll. En línia: https://dcvb.iec.cat/
Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals. ÉsAdir. En línia: https://esadir.cat/
Generalitat de Catalunya (2008). Optimot. En línia: https://aplicacions.llengua.gencat.cat/llc/AppJava/index.html
Ginebra, Jordi; Anna Montserrat (2019 [1999]). Diccionari d’ús dels verbs catalans. Barcelona: Educaula.
Grup Enciclopèdia (1998). Gran diccionari de la llengua catalana. En línia: https://www.diccionari.cat/
Institut d’Estudis Catalans (2007). Diccionari de la llengua catalana. En línia: http://dlc.iec.cat/
—(2016). Gramàtica de la llengua catalana. Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Catalans. En línia: https://giec.iec.cat/inici
—(2017). Ortografia catalana. Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Catalans. En línia: https://oiec.iec.cat/inici
—(2019). Gramàtica bàsica i d’ús. Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Catalans. En línia: https://gbu.iec.cat/inici
López del Castillo, Lluís; Bernat Cormand (2000). Gran diccionari 62 de la llengua catalana. Barcelona: Edicions 62.
Pujol, Josep Maria; Joan Solà (2011 [1995]). Ortotipografia. Barcelona: Educaula.
Solà, Joan; Gemma Rigau (2008). Gramàtica del català contemporani. 3 vol. Barcelona: Empúries.
Termcat. Centre de terminologia. Cercaterm. En línia: https://www.termcat.cat/ca
Softcatalà (2014). Diccionari de sinònims. En línia: https://www.softcatala.org/diccionari-de-sinonims/
Other resources
Written texts
Amadeo, I. i J. Solé (2004), Curs pràctic de redacció, Barcelona, Columna.
Bordons, G.; Castellà, J.M. i E. Costa (1998), TXT. La lingüística textual aplicada al comentari de textos, Barcelona, Edicions UB.
Cassany, D. (1993), La cuina de l’escriptura, Barcelona, Empúries.
Castellà, J. M. (1992), De la frase al text. Teories de l’ús lingüístic, Barcelona, Empúries.
Castellanos, J. A. (1998), Quadern de normativa, Barcelona, ICE de la UAB.
Comelles. S. (1989), Exercicis autocorrectius d’ampliació de vocabulari, Vic, EUMO.
Cuenca, M. J. (2008), Gramàtica del text, Alzira, Bromera.
Vilagrasa, A. i M. Mas (2012), Gramàtica catalana de la A a la Z, Barcelona, Publicacions de l’Abadia de Montserrat.
Oral texts
Bau, M.; Pujol, M. i A. Rius (2007), Curs de pronunciació. Exercicis de correcció fonètica, Barcelona, Publicacions Abadia de Montserrat.
Castellà, J. M. (2002), «La llengua oral formal: un espai intermedi entre oralitat i escriptura», dins Didàctica de la llengua oral formal, Barcelona, Graó, pàg. 19-30.
Castellanos, J. A. (1993), Manual de pronunciació, Vic, Eumo, 2a. reimpressió, 1994.
Rubio, J. i F. Puigpelat (2000), Com parlar bé en públic, Barcelona, Pòrtic.