Degree | Type | Year |
---|---|---|
Science, Technology and Humanities | FB | 1 |
You can view this information at the end of this document.
As a basic subject, it has no prerequisites.
PART 1 – Spanish
PART 2 – English
PART 1 – Spanish
Topic 1.1.
Current Spanish language norms and their impact on specialized language and scientific discourse
This topic focuses on the most recent normative changes in Spanish, as proposed by the Association of Academies of the Spanish Language (ASALE) based on the academic norms in force since 2010 (Ortografía de la lengua española and Nueva gramática de la lengua española).
The approach will concentrate on specialized texts—particularly scientific, technical, and academic texts—where lexical and terminological precision, expository clarity, and adherence to the standard Spanish norm are essential.
The main changes and updates in syntactic, orthographic, and grammatical aspects will be examined, analyzing how they influence the writing, editing, and standardization of specialized discourse in Spanish.
Additionally, the course will include reflections on the role of academic norms in scientific communication, especially in terms of language standardization, terminological transparency, and the reliability of content in international contexts.
Topic 1.2.
Production and analysis of specialized texts in Spanish
The main objective of this module is to develop discourse and textual competence in the field of languages for specific purposes, with special focus on scientific discourse in Spanish.
The course will address the key structural, linguistic, and communicative features of specialized texts, with emphasis on aspects such as lexical precision, expository clarity, argumentative coherence, and adequacy to the scientific-academic context.
Students will work with real examples of genres typical of scientific discourse (academic articles, abstracts, introductions, results, conclusions, oral scientific communications, etc.) and will develop strategies for textual analysis and production in these fields.
PART 2 – English
Topic 2.1.
Language in the history of science
Topic 2.1. will be devoted to the evolution of language choice, notably English as a lingua franca, in scientific publication and public communication in crises. We will draw on both historical and contemporary documents to examine specific strategies to disseminate scientific findings.
Topic 2.2.
Scientific discourse
Topic 2.2. will examine the power of language in the production of scientific knowledge under specific sociohistorical conditions. Inspired by Michel Foucault’s theories, we will use Critical Discourse Analysis tools to analyse how linguistic, narrative and visual resources construct scientific knowledge in the biomedical sciences.
Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|
Type: Directed | |||
Classroom practice and text commentary | 16 | 0.64 | 1, 2, 10, 4, 5, 15, 8, 14, 6, 7, 9 |
Theoretical lessons | 33 | 1.32 | 1, 2, 3, 10, 4, 5, 13, 14, 6, 7, 9, 12, 11 |
Type: Supervised | |||
Tutoring and work supervision | 4.25 | 0.17 | 10, 4, 7, 9, 12 |
Type: Autonomous | |||
Study and preparation of work | 84.75 | 3.39 | 2, 10, 4, 5, 13, 12, 11 |
The course is structured around a combination of guided, autonomous, and supervised learning activities, aimed at promoting active and progressive student engagement.
In-person sessions include theoretical lectures delivered by the teaching staff, practical exercises involving text analysis and commentary, and classroom discussions designed to foster critical thinking and argumentative skills. Student participation is considered an essential component of the learning process.
Independent work is a key aspect of the course and includes reading texts, preparing materials, completing exercises, individual study, and consulting normative and documentary sources. Students will be expected to read assigned texts and engage with audiovisual materials in preparation for class discussion and analysis (flipped classroom methodology).
Tutorials and supervised activities are intended to guide students in the completion of their assignments, clarify doubts, and provide individual follow-up throughout the learning process.
The course schedule and learning materials will be made available on the Virtual Campus. Additionally, in accordance with the official academic calendar, 15 minutes of one class session will be reserved for students to complete teaching and course evaluation surveys.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Part 2 exam (key concepts, text commentary) | 20 % | 1.5 | 0.06 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14, 6, 7, 9, 12, 11 |
Part 2 portfolio (practical exercises, Academic Reading Circles, reflections) | 30 % | 7.5 | 0.3 | 1, 2, 3, 10, 4, 5, 15, 8, 13, 14, 6, 7, 9, 12, 11 |
Questionnaire on rules and technical Spanish language | 25 % | 1.5 | 0.06 | 1, 2, 10, 4, 5, 15, 8, 14, 6, 7 |
Questionnaire on Spanish text production and analysis | 25 % | 1.5 | 0.06 | 1, 2, 10, 4, 5, 15, 14, 6, 7 |
Continuous assessment:
Students will be evaluated through four continuous assessment tasks, two corresponding to the Spanish section and two to the English section, each with a weight of 25 % of the final grade.
The activities are designed to develop students’ linguistic and discursive competence in academic, technical, and scientific contexts, with particular attention to current language norms and the conventions of specialized discourse.
Writing proficiency will be assessed as part of the evaluation process (spelling and grammatical errors may negatively affect the final grade). All assessment tasks are compulsory and will be completed on the dates scheduled at the beginning of the course (these will be announced on the subject’s Virtual Campus in the first weeks of the semester).
Resits:
All assessment tasks are resit-eligible, provided that the student has obtained a minimum average mark of 3.5 out of 10.
Plagiarism:
If a student engages in any irregularity that significantly affects the grade of an assessment task, that task will be graded with a 0, regardless of any disciplinary procedure that may follow. If multiple irregularities are detected in the assessment tasks of a single subject, the final grade for that subject will be 0.
Artificial Intelligence (AI):
The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools is not permitted at any stage of academic work in this subject. Any task that includes AI-generated content will be considered a case of academic dishonesty and will be awarded a non-recoverable 0,or more serious sanctions in cases of greater severity.
Part 1 – Spanish language
Part 2 – English language
The student's command of English and the use of gender inclusive language will be considered when marking coursework.
Single assessment:
The portfolio must be submitted on the same day as the in-person exams. The exam date for students opting for single assessment will coincide with the date scheduled for the last continuous assessment exam. Please contact Maria Rosa Garrido for more information about the portfolio tasks.
Resit procedure:
The same resit conditions apply as for the continuous assessment system.
INCOMING MOBILITY STUDENTS:
Students requesting to reschedule an exam or assessment to an earlier date must present the instructor with a written document from their home university justifying their request.
PART 1 – Spanish
PART 2 – English
The lecturer will provide a reading list and complementary material on Moodle. More specific references will be provided at the onset of each topic.
Audiovisual resources:
BBC Radio 4: Word of Mouth [selected episodes]
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qtnz
Language on The Move [selected blog entries]
https://www.languageonthemove.com/
No specific software is required.
Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.
Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
---|---|---|---|---|
(PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | English | first semester | morning-mixed |
(TE) Theory | 1 | Spanish | first semester | morning-mixed |