B2531 - Written and Oral Communication in English (Second Language) I

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student is able to understand and produce complex written texts in English; they possess sufficient linguistic competence to handle complex communicative situations.

Course contents

PLEASE NOTE: This module is taught only at the Forlì Campus.

The lessons will take place during the first semester (at the Forlì Campus) and will be conducted in the format of lectures, but active participation by the students will be strongly encouraged.

The module will focus on written communication and will include the following topics:

- Different forms of written communication (genres and objectives)
- Creative writing
- Understanding audience/readership and purpose
- Adapting content for different audiences (simplified language)
- How to communicate professionally about ourselves (LINKEDIN, cover letter, CV)
- Argumentative writing

• Planning and organizing writing
  
• Crafting effective paragraphs
• Writing with clarity and precision
• Paraphrasing
• Research and citation skills
• Editing and proofreading
  

Readings/Bibliography

A specific bibliography and a reader will be provided during the course and will be published on the module’s Virtuale.

Teaching methods

All the lessons are lectures and encourage students to actively and critically participate in all planned activities. Additionally, there is an attendance requirement of 70%.

Lessons will utilize methods and tools aimed at creating opportunities for discussion, reading, and writing in lectures, language and computer lab sessions, and oral argumentation (debates). The module adopts an approach based on interaction between the lecturer and students, group work, and the development of critical skills. The materials used in class include academic articles, newspaper articles, and audiovisual material.

Assessment methods

The exam of the module will consist of a written in-class exam involving an individual argumentative essay (about 1000 words) and a simplified version of the same text for a children’s audience in the format agreed upon with the students. Submission will take place on the module’s Virtual platform according to the procedures described there.

The grade for module CSO I corresponds to the average between the grade obtained for the essay and that related to the simplification.

The final grade of the Integrated Course is calculated by averaging the grade obtained in the first module (1st semester) and that of the second module (2nd semester).

Learning Assessment Scale
30-30L
Essay: Excellent work demonstrating outstanding skills in argumentation and content organization, complete mastery of the language and culture studied, and excellent writing ability.
Simplification: Excellent work demonstrating excellent acquisition of strategies and methods for simplifying complex texts and synthesizing.

27-29
Essay: Above-average work with minor errors or errors compensated by more than sufficient demonstration of the required knowledge, language skills, writing, and argumentation.
Simplification: Accurate and complete use of strategies and methods for simplifying complex texts and synthesizing.

24–26
Essay: Valid work but with some obvious errors indicating partial acquisition of required knowledge and skills, as well as language, writing, and argumentation abilities.
Oral test: Fair ability to apply strategies and methods for simplifying complex texts and synthesizing, but with some problems related to the structure of the simplified text and the choice of informational units.

21-23
Essay: Sufficient work but with glaring limitations in knowledge and skills to be acquired and inaccuracies in form and content. Weak argumentation or overly descriptive text.
Simplification: Sufficient work but with significant limitations in the application of simplification strategies and methods; demonstrates limited critical ability in selecting informational units.

18–20
Essay: Work meeting only the minimum criteria for knowledge and skills to be acquired.
Simplification: Barely sufficient work meeting minimum criteria; many knowledge and skills still to be acquired. Uncertainty in applying simplification strategies and methods; sufficient but limited critical ability in selecting informational units.

FAIL
Essay: Basic knowledge has not been acquired; the exam must be repeated.
Simplification: Basic knowledge has not been acquired; the exam must be repeated.

Students with specific learning difficulties (SpLD) or with disabilities that can affect their ability to attend courses are invited to contact the University service for students with disabilities and SLD at the earliest opportunity -- ideally before the start of the course: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students. The University service will suggest possible adjustments to the course work and/or exam, which must then be submitted to the course leader so they can assess their feasibility, in line with the learning objectives of the course. Please note that adjustments to the exam must be requested at least two weeks in advance.

Teaching tools

Language laboratory, web sites, electronic resources. The printed/audiovisual material used will gradually increase in difficulty and become more specific. Assignments and activities will be carried out both in class and at home.

All printed and audiovisual material used in class, as well as resources for the specific topics tackled in class will be made available on the module's Virtuale (the access key will be provided during the first lesson).

Office hours

See the website of Rachele Antonini