Syllabus Information

5.1. Methodological overview

See "Learning activities " and "Syllabus".

More information will be provided on the first day of class.

5.2. Learning tasks

Reading and understanding different types of Media texts written in English (headlines, news stories, reports, news features, interviews, feature articles, editorials, personal columns, literary, film and theatre reviews).

Analysis of some lexical, linguistic and discourse aspects of writings in different types.

Written and spoken summaries of previously read texts.

Writing in English media-style texts for different media (print journalism –newspapers and magazines-, radio and television) and belonging to different genres (headlines, news stories, press releases, reports, news features, interviews, feature articles, etc.).

Translation of some informational media texts highlighting the linguistic and pragmatic discourse of the original English texts so as to learn how to translate them in the most appropriate way into the target language (Spanish). In this way the student will deal with the most important translational problems and will learn how to solve the linguistic, lexical and discourse aspects of translation of different genres in Media Writing.

Vocabulary exercises to reinforce lexical items seen in a range of media genres and topics.

Putting together a folder with all tasks, exercises and activities carried out during the course.

Preparation of 10 minutes long oral presentations and delivery in front of peers.

Debating news and current events in English where the student will choose his/her topic(s) according to their own interests from a variety of social,  financial, political and cultural aspects and analysing sociolinguistic characteristics of English speaking countries.

5.3. Syllabus

                 Unit 1: Newspapers.

                  1.1 Writing Headlines

1. Analysing newspapers. Understanding bias in texts

2. Interviews. Writing Interviews. Notes from an interview Practising interviews skills

3. Newspapers Articles. Types of Articles.

4. Planning and writing a newspaper article

   Unit 2: Radio

   2.1. Introducing radio programmes

   2.2 Understanding the language of radio presenters

   The language of radio production. Understanding the production process

   2.3. Radio commissioning brief

   2.4. Planning a news list. 24-hour schedule of a radio producer

   2.5. Giving post-production feedback

    

   Unit 3: Magazines

   3.1. Composing magazine covers. The language of magazine covers. An editorial meeting

   3.2. Planning the contents of a magazine. Stylistics devices

   3.3. Giving instructions for a photo shoot

   3.4. The language of email correspondence. The language of answerphone messages

   3.5. Planning and writing a true-life story

    

   Unit 4: Television

    

   4.1. Understanding the pre-production process. The language of television production.

   4.2. Organising a filming schedule. Planning the making of a TV documentary.

   4.3. Vocabulary of filming procedures and equipment

   4.4. Filming on location.

   4.5. Editing a TV documentary. Vocabulary of editing a TV documentary.

5.4. Course planning and calendar

See the academic calendar of the University of Zaragoza (http://academico.unizar.es/calendario-academico/calendario) and the website of the Faculty of Philosophy and Arts (Schedule of classes: https://fyl.unizar.es/horario-de-clases#overlay-context=horario-de-clases; Examination schedule: https://fyl.unizar.es/calendario-de-examenes#overlay-context=)

More information will be provided on the first day of class.

5.5. Bibliography and recommended resources

[BB: Bibliografía básica / BC: Bibliografía complementaria]

• [BB] Biber, Douglas. Student grammar of spoken and written english / Douglas Biber, Susan Conrad, Geoggrey Leech. - 1st ed., 4th impr. Harlow : Longman, 2005
• [BB] Carter, Ronald. Cambridge Grammar of English : a comprehensive guide : spoken and written English, grammar and usage / Ronald Carter, Michael McCarthy . - 1st ed. Cambridge ; Madrid : Cambridge University Press, 2006
• [BB] Ceramella, Nick. Cambridge English for the media / Nick Ceramella and Elizabeth Lee. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2008
• [BB] Collins COBUILD advanced dictionary Glasgow : Harper Collins ; Boston : Heinle Cengage Learning, cop. 2009
• [BB] Hewings, Martin. Advanced grammar in use : a self-study reference and practice book for advanced learners of English : with answers / Martin Hewings . - 2nd ed. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2005
• [BB] Longman dictionary of English language and culture / [editorial director, Della Summers] . - 1st publ. Harlow, Essex, England : Longman, 1992
• [BB] Swan, Michael. Practical English usage / Michael Swan . - 3rd. ed. Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2005
• [BC] Beaman, Jim. Programme Making for Radio New York: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, 2006
• [BC] Bell, Allan. The language of news media / Allan Bell . - [1st ed., repr.] Oxford ; Cambridge, Mass. : Blackwell, 1996
• [BC] Durant, Alan and Lambrou, Marina. Language and Media: A Resource Book for Students New York: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, 2009
• [BC] Hennesay, Brendan and Hodgson, F. W.. Journalism Workbook: A Manual of Tasks, Projects and Resources Oxford Focal Press, 1995
• [BC] Hudson, Gary and Rowlands, Sara. The Broadcast Journalism Handbook Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education Limited, Longman, 2007
• [BC] Reah, Danuta. The language of newspapers / Danuta Reah . London, New York : Routledge, 1998
• [BC] Sanderson, Paul. Using newspapers in the classroom / Paul Sanderson . - 1st ed. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1999