News terminology: The Guardian Front Page - skyline, masthead, headline, byline, standfirst, body text, standalone, caption, turn, edition dots, crosshead (see the Appended Materials section of the Course book).

Analysing the front page of British popular and quality papers: deducing the stylistic features of the front page by comparing and contrasting the front page of a quality and a popular newspaper by answering the questions on page 14 of the English for the Media Course book transcribed below. 

Choose what you think is the lead story on each of the front pages. Give reasons for your choice.

1. What comments can you make about headline sizes and types on the two front pages?
2. How are the front pages different from or similar to each other? 
3. Compare the number and size of advertisements and pictures, the amount of space given to national vs. international news, etc.
4. What kind of news do editors think it worthy of the front page?
5. Comment on the ways in which front-page editors tempt readers to buy the two papers.

English for the Media C2 (Mastery) 

 ENG3.12220

S1 (TP1) - 2023/2024

Lecturer: Isabel Maria Ferro Mealha

Email address: isabelmealha@edu.ulisboa.pt

AIMS

The course follows the general objectives for the Mastery Level (C2) outlined in the Council of Europe document Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF) but has specific objectives connected with the language of the media. By semester completion, the student will have learned some aspects of a style of writing and of a specific language used in the written press. These aspects include the vocabulary and grammar as used by the printed press. 

Classes will involve the reading and analysis of newspapers, comparison and contrast of the stylistic features typical of popular and quality British newspapers, and the studying of examples of English language change and development in newspaper texts. Additionally, students will be encouraged to produce different types of newspaper texts (e.g. editorials, features, opinion columns, and letters to the editor).

ASSESSMENT AND GRADING SYSTEM

In accordance with Regulamento de Avaliação dos Estudantes da Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa (RAE), students will be assessed on oral and written work throughout the semester. Weighting will be as follows: 

• Writing test - 40% ( 12 December 2023)
• Oral presentation - 25%: individual press review presented throughout the semester; presentation dates will be agreed upon with the teacher at the beginning of the semester
• Oral and written assignments - 30%
• Attendance - 5%. 

Since assessment will be conducted on a regular basis, any task that is not submitted when due and/or any form of plagiarism (including “using text written by a generation system as one’s own, e.g., entering a prompt into an artificial intelligence tool and using the output in a paper)” will be given a zero. Any student who fails to do one of the above-mentioned tests/tasks will be given a zero. If needed, an assignment submission extension may be granted as long as it is requested by email in advance of the submission deadline. In exceptional cases, students may apply for an extension retrospectively.  

Worker students may, if they so wish, opt for continuous assessment (in which case they will have to comply with all the assessment criteria set for regular students) OR sit the Época Especial de Avaliação examination. The examination will focus on the contents of the syllabus adopted for the course English for the Media (C2).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

English for the Media Workbook 2023-2024 (compulsory – please bring your workbook to every class). Additional materials will be sent by email and/or posted on the E-Learning platform.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance of classes is compulsory. For exceptions, please check the Regulamento de Avaliação dos Estudantes da Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa (RAE).

Absence from class does not excuse you from submitting work or actively participating in the following class. If absence is due to illness or other emergency, please submit a doctor’s note or any other appropriate documentation within the following ten working days ((see RAE, Artigo 3º, 3).

Please be punctual and do not use mobile phones in class. Texting, emailing, 'surfing' the web in class, posting on social media is extremely disrupting to other students, and a waste of your time in class. Students who are found disruptive of other students' learning will be asked to leave the room.

You are welcome to use your own laptop, tablet, etc. for in-class assignments when not otherwise specified.

TEACHER/STUDENT COMMUNICATION

Teacher and students will communicate via institutional email addresses only. You should make sure that you check your institutional email on a regular basis so as not to miss out on any important information related to the class.

OFFICE HOURS & TUTORIAL - Wednesdays, 9.30-10.30, room C213.A

There will be a weekly one-hour tutoring session which can be used to answer individual students’ questions, review any materials students need to review, or provide extra practice, etc. 

REQUIREMENTS

Having successfully completed English Strong Proficiency (C1.2) or having been placed in English Mastery (C2) as a result of a placement test done at the beginning of the academic year.