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Linguistic Tools and Resources for Journalistic Language in Spanish

Code: 107553 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Journalism OT 3
Journalism OT 4

Contact

Name:
Maria Teresa Cantillo Nieves
Email:
teresa.cantillo@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

A C1 level is necessary to be able to follow the subject.

 

 


Objectives and Contextualisation

The objective of this course is to present different linguistic tools and resources, both digital and on paper, that help students to improve their knowledge of the Spanish language. At the end of the course, students must be able to apply the knowledge acquired to the detection and solution of linguistic errors present in texts extracted from oral and written media in an efficient manner, as well as the composition and improvement of their own texts.


Competences

    Journalism
  • Express oneself fluently and effectively in the two official languages, both orally and in writing.
  • Manage time effectively.
  • Research, select and arrange in hierarchical order any kind of source and useful document to develop communication products.
  • Students can apply the knowledge to their own work or vocation in a professional manner and have the powers generally demonstrated by preparing and defending arguments and solving problems within their area of study.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Take sex- or gender-based inequalities into consideration when operating within one's own area of knowledge.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Build texts in the two official languages that adapt to the structures of journalistic language.
  2. Communicate using language that is not sexist or discriminatory.
  3. Demonstrate a command of the official languages and their communication resources in order to produce oral and written texts fluently, efficiently and accurately.
  4. Express oneself correctly, both orally and in writing.
  5. Find the substance and relevance in journalistic texts, in the two official languages, in any format to detect correct forms of oral and written expression.
  6. Manage time effectively.
  7. Research, select and arrange in hierarchical order any kind of source and useful document to develop communication products.
  8. Students can apply the knowledge to their own work or vocation in a professional manner and have the powers generally demonstrated by preparing and defending arguments and solving problems within their area of study.
  9. Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.

Content

1. Introduction to paper and digital linguistic tools and resources. Wich and why

2. Grammars, dictionaries and style books. Other lingüistic tools and resources

3. The main doubts in the use of oral and written spanish language


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Oral exercises 17.5 0.7 7, 3, 4, 6, 9, 8
Theoretical classes 18 0.72 7, 1, 9, 8, 5
Written exercises 18 0.72 1, 4, 9, 5
Type: Supervised      
Resolution of doubts 4.5 0.18 4, 6, 9
Tutorials 13 0.52 7, 1, 8
Type: Autonomous      
Personal study 25 1 7, 6, 8, 5
Preparation of texts 34 1.36 2, 1, 3, 4, 9, 8
Selected readings 14 0.56 3, 6, 9, 8, 5

The methodology used combines theoretical classes with different practical activities, which require the active participation of the students individually and in groups. In the supervised activities, students must read and analyze texts and reading documents, as well as prepare and carry out the activities assigned by the teacher. The students will have support materials in the Moodle of the subject and with face-to-face tutorials. 
 
A detailed schedule outlining the content of each session will be presented on the first day of the course and will be available on the course’s Virtual Campus, where students will find all teaching materials and necessary information for eƯective course monitoring. Should the teaching modality change for reasons of force majeure according to the competent authorities, the teaching staƯ will inform students of any modifications to the course schedule and teaching methodologies.
 
Note: The course content will be sensitive to issues related to gender perspective and the use of inclusive language.

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.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Exams 90 4 0.16 7, 2, 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 8, 5
Specific activities 10 2 0.08 2, 3, 4, 9, 8, 5

Assessment

The evaluation will be based on three evidence types:

1) Attendance and active participation in class (10%)

2) Two written tests (35% + 35%)

3) Oral presentation (20%)

At the beginning of each evaluation activity, the teacher will inform the students about review of grade procedure and date. The minimum grade to pass the course is 5.

If a student has been evaluated of less than 2/3 of the total grade of the course, he will receive the consideration of “non-assessable”.

To qualify for the second-chance test, two conditions must be met: (1) the student must have been evaluated of at least 2/3 of the total grade of the course and (2) he must have a continuous evaluation mark between 3.5 and 4.9. The maximum second-chance test rating is 5. The second-change text will consist of a global test on the contents of the subject.

In the event that the student commits any irregularity that may lead to a significant change in the grade of an assessment act, this assessment act will be graded as 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be conducted. If several irregularities occur in the assessment acts of the same subject, the final grade for that subject will be 0.

In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not permitted at any stage. Any assignment containing content generated by AI will be considered a breach of 5 academic integrity and may result in a partial or total penalty to the assignment grade, or more serious sanctions in severe cases.

Single assesment

The evaluation will be based on three evidence types:

1) Written tests (40%)

2) Practical activities test (40%)

3) Written work (20%) 

To qualify for the second-chance test, two conditions must be met: (1) the student must have been evaluated of at least 2/3 of the total grade of the course and (2) he must have a continuous evaluation mark between 3.5 and 4.9. The maximum second-chance test rating is 5. The second-change text will consist of a global test on the contents of the subject.

In the event that the student commits any irregularity that may lead to a significant change in the grade of an assessment act, this assessment act will be graded as 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be conducted. If several irregularities occur in the assessment acts of the same subject, the final grade for that subject will be 0.

In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not permitted at any stage. Any assignment containing content generated by AI will be considered a breach of 5 academic integrity and may result in a partial or total penalty to the assignment grade, or more serious sanctions in severe cases.


Bibliography

AGENCIA EFE (2024): Nuevo libro de estilo urgente. htpps://recursos.efe.com/objetos_app/libroestilo/libroDelEstiloUrgente.pdf

BOSQUE, Ignacio y Violeta DEMONTE (1999): Gramática descriptiva de la lengua española. Madrid: Espasa-Calpe.

CLAVE (2002): CLAVE. Diccionario del uso del español actual, 5ª ed., dir. Concepción Maldonado González. Madrid: SM.

DEA (1999): Manuel Seco, Olimpia Andrés y Gabino Ramos, Diccionario del español actual. Madrid: Aguilar. https://www.fbbva.es/diccionario/

DPD (2025): Real Academia Española y ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas. Madrid: Taurus. https://www.rae.es/dpd

DLE (2014): Real Academia Española, Diccionario de la lengua española, 23ª edición. Madrid: Espasa-Calpe. https://dle.rae.es/

REAL ACADEMIA ESPAÑOLA (2009-2011): Nueva gramática de la lengua española. Madrid: Espasa-Calpe. https://www.rae.es/gramática/

REAL ACADEMIA ESPAÑOLA (2010): Ortografía de la lengua española. Madrid: Espasa. https://www.rae.es/ortografía/

REAL ACADEMIA ESPAÑOLA (2018): Libro de estilo de la lengua española. Madrid: Espasa. https://www.rae.es/libro-estilo-lengua-española/

Specific bibliography Throughout the course, the obligatory and complementary fundamental bibliographical references will be provided to make it possible to follow the subject.


Software

Microsoft Office suite or similar.


Groups and Languages

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
(SEM) Seminars 11 Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 Spanish first semester morning-mixed