• Description

Information and communication technology (ICT) professionals, in addition to knowing how to program a system, manage a telecommunications network or design an interactive application, need to communicate effectively with the users and managers they work with. A computer or telecommunications engineer must write project proposals, submit reports, describe systems and compose different types of texts. This all should be done as efficiently as possible.

In this subject our aim is to equip students with the language tools to write specialized texts in the field of ICT. The theoretical underpinnings of the course are to be found in text linguistics and discourse analysis, which view the text as the main focal point for the study of language use and communication needs. Transcending the sentence level, the text is considered, along with the elements that shape it: e.g. the objective, the recipients and, in general, the circumstances in which the communicative situation is embedded. It is about knowing how to use the language in specific situations.

Based on the main problems detected in student texts, we have structured a program adapted to the communicative needs of future ICT professionals. The purpose of the subject is not to learn grammar, but to take advantage of the most useful knowledge of language to meet the challenge of producing specialized texts. The subject is organized around three thematic cores: basic concepts related to the text, characterization of some of the most significant texts in ICT-related fields and practical techniques for writing specialized texts. The contents are presented in a clear, simple and concise way, and allow for reflection on the composition of texts. The concepts are introduced and explained with real, practical examples and discussed in order to reinforce the main points.

• The subject within the syllabus as a whole

This is a optional subject that is taught in various degrees of Computer Science, Multimedia and Telecommunications Studies in several languages. It is offered in English within the Bachelor's degree in Techniques for Software Application Development.

• Prior knowledge

To study this subject, students should have a B2 level of competency in English.

• Learning objectives and results

This course aims to familiarize students with the main techniques of production of specialized texts, based on adaptation to the communicative context, coherence in the organization of information (macrostructural level) and cohesion between the units that make up the text (microstructural level). These techniques can only be mastered through continuous practice, knowledge of the different types of text and genres, and reflection on one's own experience. Thus, the fundamental objective of the subject is for students to reach a basic level in the transversal competence called Capacity for written communication in the academic and professional field, essential in the workplace for graduates in any ICT-related area.

1. In order to improve the above competence, it is important for students to be aware of the following:
2. Texts comply with a series of rules, which are determined by textual properties, to achieve communicative effectiveness.
3. In human communication various types of text and genres have evolved and these conform to certain models and are governed by certain conventions.
4. The essential characteristics of texts produced in ICT-related fields.
5. The main mechanisms used to render texts that are appropriate for ICT-related fields: mostly written, formal and objective.
6. Ideas must be grouped, selected, ordered hierarchically and sorted in a given structure to make a written text coherent: chapters, sections and paragraphs.
7. The traits that characterize specialized lexicon: accuracy and use of terms.
8. Cohesive syntactic style, the use of connectors and lexical cohesion constitute the main mechanisms of cohesion of specialized texts.
9. The importance of punctuation as an essential element of text structuring and organization.

In addition, all UOC students are expected to demonstrate competence in Ethical and Moral Commitment, for which it is necessary to act in an honest, ethical, sustainable, socially responsible and respectful way with human rights and diversity, both in academic and professional practice.

• Content

The materials start with an introductory module (module 1) in which the basic concepts of text linguistics are presented in order to provide a background to the contents that will be treated in the later modules (modules 2 to 5), in which the techniques of production of specialized texts are covered. These five modules are accompanied by an overarching module that explains, step by step, the process of producing texts.

Module 1. Communicative competence and the written text
Module 2. Writing for your audience
Module 3. Aspects of coherence
Module 4. Aspects of cohesion
Module 5. The formal elements of style
Overarching module. The process of producing texts

• View the UOC learning resources used in the subject

• Additional information on support tools and learning resources

The course material consists of five content modules and the synthesis module, which can be consulted in the classroom resources area. For the practical tasks a case study document will be provided. In addition, students have access to the the evaluation rubric with the marking criteria that determine the quality of a good text. This document is also very useful for students to self-evaluate their texts and to know in advance the evaluation criteria that will be applied.

From the virtual classroom, it is also possible to access complementary materials, such as texts, reinforcement activities and other support tools which, in distance learning, are fundamental resources to offer students a personalized study experience, adapted to the communicative needs of each student.

• Guidelines on assessment at the UOC

The assessment process is based on the student's personal work and presupposes authenticity of authorship and originality of the exercises completed.

Lack of authenticity of authorship or originality of assessment tests, copying or plagiarism, the fraudulent attempt to obtain a better academic result, collusion to copy or concealing or abetting copying, use of unauthorized material or devices during assessment, inter alia, are offences that may lead to serious academic or other sanctions.

Firstly, you will fail the course (D/0) if you commit any of these offences when completing activities defined as assessable in the course plan, including the final tests. Offences considered to be misconduct include, among others, the use of unauthorized material or devices during the tests, such as social media or internet search engines, or the copying of text from external sources (internet, class notes, books, articles, other students' essays or tests, etc.) without including the corresponding reference.

And secondly, the UOC's academic regulations state that any misconduct during assessment, in addition to leading to the student failing the course, may also lead to disciplinary procedures and sanctions.

The UOC reserves the right to request that students identify themselves and/or provide evidence of the authorship of their work, throughout the assessment process, and by the means the UOC specifies (synchronous or asynchronous). For this purpose, the UOC may require students to use a microphone, webcam or other devices during the assessment process, and to make sure that they are working correctly.

The checking of students' knowledge to verify authorship of their work will under no circumstances constitute a second assessment.

• View the assessment model