Professional Writing

Training objectives of the course

After completing the course and passing the exam, students should:

- know the principles of how to write different types of professional texts for internal and external corporate communication;
- be able to use style and register appropriate to oral/written texts in relation to purpose, audience and content
- be able to draft texts conceived as "problem-solving";
- be able to form reasoning and to check its rational soundness, articulating it in written form;
- know how to use effective discursive strategies to communicate with the media.

Course programme

In line with the objectives described above, the essential content of the course is aimed at enabling students to recognize and apply discursive practices, formats and linguistic registers that are appropriate to the different text types used in internal and external corporate communication.
These will include:

- press release
- internal communication: memos, minutes following a meeting
- correspondence: good news, neutral, bad news; asking for/giving feedback
- persuasive letters
- company profile
- bibliographic references, document design and copy-editing.

The approach is based on an in-depth knowledge of the pragmatics of written communication in the English language and politeness theory.

Didactic Methods

In line with learning objectives, classes will include:
- interactive lectures based on the analysis and discussion of authentic materials,
- individual workshop activities based on the different text types listed above
brainstorming and commentaries on the assignments
- seminars

A syllabus will be made available at the beginning of the course.

Students will be divided into two groups (A-L, M-Z) to attend interactive lectures based on the analysis and discussion of authentic materials.
Each group will be further divided into two subgroups to participate in workshop activities based on the different text types listed above, as well as brainstorming and commentaries on the assignments. Alternatively, lectures or workshops will be held every week.
Participants in groups and subgroups will be notified at the beginning of the course.

Learning assessment procedures

During the workshops, students will be given assignments. About half of the assignments will be corrected and commented on in class. Responsibly, those students, who did not get the assignment revised, will proceed with a self-assessment.
At the end of each class cycle, all attending students will be allowed to take a written examination, which will be graded. The average of the marks will count as the final grade.

The final grade will be out of 30.