Language and Opinion Genres  (21323)

Degree/study: Journalism
Year: 1st
Term: 3rd
Number of ECTS credits: 4 credits
Hours of studi dedication: 100 hours
Teaching language or languages: catalan/spanish
Teaching Staff: Lluís Bonada, Oriol Llop, David Caminada 

1. Presentation of the subject

 

This is a subject that the students take during the third term of the first year of the degree, and it is the evident continuation of the subject Language and Informative & Interpretative Genres, taken in the two previous terms.

 

This subject is part of a very detailed plan of studies, and it is situated on the first year. This fact allows the students to identify the basic concepts of the journalistic argumentation and to develop certain technological and social abilities in order to produce actual argumentative texts, in the real-life situation they will have to adapt to.

 

The practical part of the subject will be, mainly, writing texts based on the expression of an opinion, such as editorials, reviews, column articles or journalistic essays, in all their modalities.

 

The subject includes the essential concepts, techniques and methods to succesfully learn how to write in the different argumentative genres in press (both printed and digital), radio and TV, as for the basic formal knowledge and for the learning of the technical and procedural requisites.

 

It is, nonetheless, a key subject in order to understand the importance of language in the communication media (and of the clarity, conciseness and precision criteria that define it), and, at the same time, to discover its current tendencies.

 

2. Competences to be attained

General competences

Specific competences

Instrumental   1. Understand, analyse and interpret adequately and logically written texts of an academic level about any relevant subject 2.  Be able to communicate properly, both speaking an writing, in the two official languages in Catalonia - Catalan and Spanish -, in front of expert and inexpert audiences 3. Ability to work with the computer tools and knowledge of their essential applications to regular academic activities     Interpersonal   4. Ability to work in groups, participating actively in the assigned tasks, making decisions and discussing your opinions with others until you come to an agreement 5. Ability to think autonomously and critically when talking about controversial subjects 6. Be self-disciplent, self-demanding and rigorous when doing academic tasks, and organise your time correctly   Systemic   7. Ability to apply and adapt the acquired knowledge to new contexts and situations, with flexibility and creativity   8. Ability to progress in the learning process autonomously and continuously

Specific of the degree   1. Ability to communicate in the language of each communication medium   2. Ability to use the informative and communicative technologies and techniques   3. Ability to use the computer systems and resources, and knowledge of their interactive applications   4. Ability to look for, choose and organise any source or document (written, audible or visual) useful to elaborate and process information   5. Ability to retrieve, organise, analyse and process information with the purpose of being broadcasted or disseminated   6. Ability to intelligently expose ideas, considering the fundamentals of rethoric and the contributions of the new theories of argumentation   Specific of the subject   7. Knowledge of the Journalistic Genres' Theory   8. Ability to perform the main journalistic tasks, especially those of writing, with absolute spelling and grammatical correction (in the argumentative genres' context)   9. Ability to work against time and under the pressure of ever-changing informations

3. Contents

-          Part 1

  Main principles of the argumentative genres

§  Features of the argumentative style.

§  The origins of the opinion journalism. The article.

§  The classical rhetoric.

§  The "new rhetoric".

§  Argumentation and persuasion.

§  Types of journalistic argumentative texts.

§  The titles in the argumentative journalism.

§  The argumentative genres in press, radio, TV and the Internet.

 

-          Part 2

Analysis of the different argumentative texts' features

-          Editorials

§  Definition and features.

§  Types.

§  The value judgements in an editorial.

§  Structure.

§  Specific features of the editorial depending on the medium (press, radio, TV or the Internet).

 

-          Articles

§  Definition and features.

§  Types.

§  Technique, language and writing.

§  Stylistic resources for a good argumentation.

§  The article on written press.

 

-          Column articles

§  Definition and features.

§  Types.

§  Technique, language and writing.

§  The columnist. Features and preparation.

§  Classical and contemporary models of column articles in the Spanish and Catalan media.

§  Specific features of the column articles depending on the medium (press, radio, TV or the Internet).

 

-          Reviews

§  Definition and features.

§  Types.

§  Classic themes for a review: books, cinema, theatre, art & music.

§  New themes for a review: gastronomy, architecture, journeys or cars.

§  Attitude and preparation of a reviewer.

§  Specific features of the reviews depending on the medium (press, radio, TV or the Internet).

 

-          Other argumentative genres: letters, essays, graphical humour

§  The letter: definition and features.

§  The essay: definition, features and types.

§  The graphical humour: definition, features and functions.

 

-          Part 3

Learning the necessary techniques in order to write properly argumentative texts, in all their different formats

§  Specific aspects of syntax and spelling in the argumentative texts' structure.

§  The elements of the argumentative texts (titles and text). Organisation of the arguments within the structure of the text (body).

§  The internal rhythm of the story. Architecture. The resources of continuity and articulation. Ways of starting.

§  Analysis of journalistic argumentative texts in today's media. Study and research of how to express an opinion in the media.

 

4. Assessment

Continuous assessment, based on the marks obtained from the correction of the tasks. The evolution and improvement in the acquisition and application of the subject's competences will be also considered.

Some tasks will be worth double in relation with other tasks less important. This way, the final mark of the term will be the average of all tasks.

 

5. Bibliography and teaching resources

5.1. Basic bibliography

CANTAVELLA, Juan; SERRANO, José Francisco [coords.] (2004). Redacción para periodistas: informar e interpretar. Barcelona: Ariel.

ARMAÑANZAS, Emy; DÍAZ NOCI, Javier (1996). Periodismo y argumentación: géneros de opinión. Bilbao: Servicio Editorial de la Universidad del País Basco.

GOMIS, Llorenç (1989). Teoria dels gèneres periodístics. Barcelona: Generalitat de Catalunya.

MARTÍNEZ ALBERTOS, José Luis (1992). Curso General de Redacción Periodística. Madrid: Paraninfo.

SANTAMARÍA SUÁREZ, Luisa; CASALS CARRO, María Jesús (2000). La opinión periodística. Argumentos y géneros para la persuasión. Madrid: Fragua.

 

5.2. Complementary bibliography

 

ARMENTIA VIZUETE, José Ignacio; CAMINOS MARCET, José María (2003). Fundamentos de periodismo impreso. Barcelona: Ariel.

BENAVIDES LEDESMA, José Luis; QUINTERO HERRERA, Carlos (2004). Escribir en prensa. 2a. ed. Madrid: Pearson.

CASASÚS, Josep Maria; NÚÑEZ LADEVÉZE, Luis (1986). Estilo y géneros periodísticos. Barcelona: Ariel.

CASASÚS, Josep Maria (1986). Lliçons de periodisme en Josep Pla. Barcelona: Destino.

(1988). Iniciación a la periodística. Barcelona: Teide.

 (1996). Periodisme català que ha fet història. Barcelona: Proa.

DIEZHANDINO, Pilar (1994). El quehacer informativo. Bilbao: Universidad del País Vasco.

FRIEDLANDER, Edward Jay; LEE, John (1993) Feature Writing for Newspapers and Magazines: the Pursuit of Excellence, 2ª. ed. New York: Harper Collins.

GRIJELMO, Álex (2001). El estilo del periodista. Madrid: Taurus.

MACDOUGALL, Curtis D.; REID, Robert D. (1987). Interpretative Reporting. 9ª ed. New York: Macmillan.

MARTÍN VIVALDI, Gonzalo (1987). Géneros periodísticos. Madrid: Paraninfo.

MISSOURI GROUP, The (2005) News Reporting and Writing. 8a ed. New York: St. Martin's Press.

NÚÑEZ LADEVÉZE, Luis (1991). Manual para periodismo. Barcelona: Ariel.

(1995). Introducción al periodismo escrito. Barcelona: Ariel.

RANDALL, DAVID (1999). El periodista universal. Madrid: Siglo Veintiuno.

SANTAMARÍA SUÁREZ, Luisa (1990). El comentario periodístico. Madrid: Paraninfo.

 

5.3. Teaching resources

o   Slides, as a support material for the lectures: Compilation of the main contents of the subject, which will be always available for the students in Moodle.

o   Examples of journalistic texts, to analyse and comment in class: Compilation of examples of texts published in press or disseminated in any audio-visual communication media, which will be available for the students in Moodle. These examples will help the students do the tasks.

o   Instructions for the tasks: Key information that the students will need for each task, which will be always available in Moodle.

 

6. Metodology

 

This subject will basically follow a deductive methodology, in three phases:

Lectures: Understanding and learning of the theory and of the argumentative texts' techniques.

Supervised analysis of texts: Compilation, analysis and comment of examples and models of argumentative texts that can be now found in the information media.

Individual exercises and later meeting: Practical application of the theoretical and technical knowledge acquired, by means of exercises on how to write an argumentative text. The students will elaborate journalistic texts following the instructions and features given by the teacher. There will be a later meeting and an individual correction of these texts.

Teamwork: The students will work in groups in the analysis of argumentative texts that can be now found in the communication media. They will have to elaborate and present together the research and conclusions; they will use the audio-visual material and the adequate computer programmes in the presentations.

Individual work: The majority of the writing exercises will be done individually, simulating the conditions of a real editorial office (with limitations of time and space). Moreover, the correction and comment of the students' tasks and the supervision of their progress will also be individualised.

 

7. Planning of activities

 

The details and organisation of the following activities can change, depending on the groups. Each teacher will inform the students of any modifications made in this programe.

 

 

Week	Activities in class	Activities at home
Week 1	SESSION 1: Presentation of the subject. The argumentative language. SESSION 2: Lecture: The editorial. Exercise 1: editorial	Revision of basic bibliography.
Week 2	SESSION 1: General comment and revision of exercise 1. Exercise 2: editorial SESSION 2: General comment and revision of exercise 2. Lecture: The opinion article.	Research and analysis of examples of argumentative texts.
Week 3	SESSION 1: Comment of argumentative texts. Exercise 3: article SESSION 2: General comment and revision of exercise 3. Exercise 4: article	Reading and watching materials usually reviewed. Research and analysis of examples of argumentative texts.
Week 4	SESSION 1: General comment and revision of exercise 4. Lecture: The column. SESSION 2: Comment of interpretative texts. Exercise 5: column	Reading and watching materials usually reviewed. Research and analysis of examples of argumentative texts.
Week 5	SESSION 1: General comment and revision of exercise 5. Exercise 6: article SESSION 2: C General comment and revision of exercise 6. Lecture: The review.	Reading and watching materials usually reviewed. Research and analysis of examples of argumentative texts.
Week 6	SESSION 1: Comment of interpretative texts. Exercise 7: review SESSION 2: General comment and revision of exercise 7. Exercise 8: review	Reading and watching materials usually reviewed.
Week 7	SESSION 1: General comment and revision of exercise 8. Lecture: Other argumentative genres: letter, graphical humour, essay. Exercise 9: letter SESSION 2: General comment and revision of exercise 9. Exercise 10: review	Reading and watching materials usually reviewed. Research and analysis of examples of argumentative texts.
Week 8	SESSION 1: General comment and revision of exercise 10. Comment of interpretative texts. SESSION 2: Exercise 11: column	Reading and watching materials usually reviewed. Research and analysis of examples of argumentative texts.
Week 9	SESSION 1: General comment and revision of exercise 11. Exercise 12: letters/answers SESSION 2: General comment and revision of exercise 12. Exercise 13: review	Reading and watching materials usually reviewed.
Week 10	SESSION 1: General comment and revision of exercise 13. SESSION 2: Revision and comment of the students' texts.