Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Written Communication I

Written Communication I
6
8479
1
First semester
FB
Language proficiency
Comunicación escrita
Main language of instruction: Spanish

Other languages of instruction: Catalan

Teaching staff


Dr. FIGA VAELLO, Jaume - jaumefv@uic.es

Prior appointment.

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. Students will learn to produce different types of journalistic texts (news, chronicle, interview, opinion article, feature report) and to develop their own writing style, with linguistic accuracy and critical thinking. Mandatory readings and a language exam ensure a strong basis for their future career in journalism.

Pre-course requirements

No prerequisites are necessary.

Objectives

  • Develop the ability to write correctly and with a personal style in academic and journalistic contexts.
  • Consolidate basic grammar and spelling knowledge, essential for the profession.
  • Foster the habit of reading as a source of language, culture, and inspiration.
  • Learn to produce different types of journalistic and communicative texts.

Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme

  • 06 CG - The ability to read, analyze and synthesize
  • 17 CE - The ability to produce spoken and written texts for journalistic projects
  • 29 CE - The ability to understand and apply different journalistic genres and formats
  • 38 CE - Knowledge and mastery of concepts, data, statistics and economic graphs
  • 40 CE - Knowledge and mastery of the use of language
  • 45 CE - The ability and capacity to give a creative form to a journalistic message

Learning outcomes of the subject

  • Writes short, structured texts with correct grammar and spelling.
  • Knows and applies basic rules of written language.
  • Shows critical and creative capacity in relation to literary and journalistic texts.
  • Produces a personal portfolio with different types of revised texts.

Syllabus

Block I – Norms and correction

  • Basic grammar and spelling rules.
  • Textual cohesion and coherence.
  • Frequent mistakes and Catalan-Spanish interferences.
  • Proper use of punctuation.
  • Review and self-correction.

Block II – Fundamentals of writing

  • The writing process: planning, drafting, revising.
  • Types of texts: description, narration, exposition, argumentation.
  • Style and clarity: how to avoid empty language and repetitions.
  • Rhetoric and figures of speech applied to communication.

Block III – Basic journalistic genres

  • The news: structure, headline, lead and body.
  • The chronicle: narrating with context and style.
  • The interview: techniques and types.
  • The profile or journalistic portrait.
  • The opinion article: argumentation and personal tone.
  • The short feature report.
  • The cultural review.

Block IV – Reading and literary writing as training for journalists

  • Critical reading of three literary works (Las ratas, Casi, El coronel no tiene quien le escriba).
  • Relationship between literary language and journalistic language.
  • Inspiration and style: from text analysis to journalistic practice.

Block V – New writing formats

  • Narrative journalism and New Journalism (Capote, Wolfe, Kapuscinski).
  • Digital writing: social media, blogs and microtexts.
  • Adapting style to medium and audience.

Teaching and learning activities

In person



  • Practical classes: most sessions are dedicated to in-class writing and to working on journalistic genres.
  • Corrections and review: texts are delivered, corrected, and returned with feedback.
  • Mandatory readings: three books with written exam and subsequent debate.
  • Theoretical language exam: compulsory to pass (it can be retaken until passed).
  • Final portfolio: selection and revision of three texts written during the course.

Evaluation systems and criteria

In person



Theoretical language exam → Pass/Fail

  • Must be passed in order to average the final grade.
  • Based on the mandatory manuals (Casado Velarde, Jiménez-Yáñez or Nogué Serrano).

Reading exams and debates → 30%

  • Three exams on Las ratas, Casi and El coronel no tiene quien le escriba.
  • Participation in the following debate will also be assessed.

Portfolio of exercises → 30%

  • Three mandatory texts: short news piece, short interview/profile, and opinion article/review.
  • Each text must include a draft, a revised version, and a brief reflection.
  • Both the final product and the improvement process will be evaluated.

Final practical exam → 30%

  • Written test with 1–2 real journalistic writing tasks (e.g., news + short article).
  • Allows to verify competence under exam conditions, without external aids.

Participation and continuous work → integrated into each component

  • Especially reflected in the portfolio and in the reading debates.

Optional activities to improve grade → up to +1 point

  • Extra tasks (e.g., recording the Pomar story in audio format).
  • May add up to 1 additional point to the final grade (not exceeding 10/10).

***

Assessment criteria

  • Spelling and grammar: -0.2 penalty per mistake. More than 20 mistakes will automatically result in the failure of the assignment (or exam).
  • Clarity and structure: 30% of each text grade.
  • Content and originality: 40%.
  • Capacity for improvement (comparing initial and revised versions): 30%.

Other calls:

  • Second call: If the student suspends the first call, must be submitted to the exam of the two parts of the subject.The note of the approved part will be kept, if applicable. The final grade will be the weighted average of each part.
  • Third call: If the student suspends the subject in the second call, will have to register again for the whole subject and take it. The student will have to attend the classes of the two parts of the subject and pass it.
  • Fourth call: The student will have to examine and / or do the corresponding work to pass the subject.
  • Fifth call: If the student suspends the subject, they will have to take advantage of the conditions established by the extraordinary calls.

Bibliography and resources

Basic

  • Casado Velarde, M. El castellano actual: usos y normas.
  • Jiménez-Yáñez, R. M. Comunicación escrita y oral en la Universidad y en la profesión.
  • Nogué Serrano, N. La nova normativa a la butxaca (opcional per a qui triï l’examen en català).
  • Delibes, M. Las ratas.
  • Bustos, J. Casi: Una crónica del desamparo.
  • García Márquez, G. El coronel no tiene quien le escriba.

Complementary

  • Cassany, D. La cocina de la escritura.
  • Sunyol, V. Escriptura creativa.
  • García Márquez, G. La bendita manía de contar.
  • Kapuscinski, R. Los cínicos no sirven para este oficio.
  • Wolfe, T. El nuevo periodismo.

Teaching and learning material


Print version