IT301 Modern Italian Language III: Writing
Module Tutor: Dr Mila Milani
Group A: Tuesdays, 11-12, H4.03
Group B: Tuesdays, 12-13, H3.57
Course aims and description
The course aims to help students develop their writing skills.
This goal will be achieved through the following fundamental steps:
1) a systematic revision of basic grammar and structures (mainly syntactic), in order to obtain written formal accuracy;
2) the regular use of various types of dictionaries and background texts, the study of the basic elements composing an efficient and effective writing process: planning, drafting, revising and editing.
According to the language writing stage, different types of compositions such as Controlled Composition, Composition with Paragraph Pattern Approach, and Free composition will be proposed.
By the end of the year students should be fluent in different styles (direct/indirect speech, formal/informal register) and types of writing, such as narrative (reports), descriptive (descriptions, story telling) and argumentative writing (essay).
NB: The exam at the end of the year will be based on topics and activities taken from the course. Attendance and active participation are essential. Absence from classes and failure to submit written work will be taken into consideration when deciding final results.
Examination
The examination will take place in June in written form: 3 hour paper consisting of 1 essay of 500-600 words and 1 summary in Italian of an Italian newspaper article about 200 words plus one 'blog post' (100 words).
Textbooks (recommended)
- Marcel Danesi, Using Italian Vocabulary, Cambridge University Press 2003
- Italiano-Marchegiani, Crescendo, 2nd edition, Heinle
- Proudfoot-Cardo, Modern Italian Grammar, Routledge or Maiden-Robustelli, A Reference Grammar of Modern Italian, Arnold
- Ragazzini 2008 bilingual dictionary and Collins-Sansoni monolingual dictionary
Syllabus 2016/17
LIST OF CULTURAL TOPICS
TERM 1: Ital(ies): within and beyond Italy
• Italy, Multiculturalism and Migration
• Italy and the EU
• The Italian Constitution (1947-2017)
• Reforms in Italy (e.g. legalisation of cannabis)
TERM 2: Italian Society: Rights and Practice
• Women in the Italian Society
• Italian Famil(ies) and Civil Unions
• Jobs in Italy
• Italy, Biotechnologies and the Environment
TERM 1
- All the photocopies and materials are uploaded in the lecture notes page
- All homework activities should be returned IN PRINT (typed, double-spaced, 3-cm margins, word count) (electronic copies will NOT be accepted).
- Deadlines are shown below for each week.
WEEK 1: Induction: Wednesday 5 October 2016, 10-12 in S0.19
WEEK 2:
• Introduction to the Module component: Outline of the syllabus and exam. Discussion on what an argumentative text is and essay writing practice.
• Cultural Topic: Italy From Abroad (Italy: The extraordinary Commonplace)
WEEK 3:
• Cultural Topic: Italy, Multiculturalism and Migration
• In-class activities: Discussion on how to structure an Introduction and a Conclusion.
- Homework due in week 3:
1) Homework due in class in week 3 - Read the article 'Oltre i luoghi comuni' and answer the questions. How is the introduction structured?
2) Homework due in class in week 3 - Read the article 'Mezzo milione di nuovi italiani' and answer the questions. How would you structure the conclusion? - Draft one conclusion (max 100 words) for in-class discussion and peer-review.
Write an introduction for the following essay title (max 150 words). You can write down one grammar/syntax or vocabulary question for your tutor.
Essay title: ‘Pizza e mandolino, pasta e spaghetti, mafia e campanilismo’: come gli stereotipi influenzano i rapporti tra gli italiani e gli stranieri?
Deadline for both groups: Thursday 20 October 2016, noon (purple folder in the tray outside H4.12).
All homework activities should be returned IN PRINT (typed, double-spaced, 3-cm margins, word count) - electronic copies will NOT be accepted.
WEEK 4:
• Cultural Topic: Refugee Crisis and the Role of EU
• In-class activities: Feedback on introduction. Discussion on how to plan an essay
- Homework due in class in week 4:
1) Read the article 'Immigrati: la lezione americana' and answer to questions.
2) Choose two articles from the Reading List on 'Italy and Migration' for in-class discussion. Be prepared to summarize them orally.
WEEK 5:
• Cultural Topic: Italy, Brexit and the EU
• In-class activities: Discussion on Paragraph Writing and Textual Cohesion
- Homework due in week 5:
1) Homework due in class in week 5: Read the article 'L'effetto Brexit sulle matricole born in Italy'. Answer the questions and complete the blanks (paragraph writing).
2) Homework due in class in week 5: Read another article on Brexit/EU (according to the list below). Answer the questions and be prepared to discuss the article with you peers.
a. L'Italia ha un nuovo ruolo dopo la Brexit (Group A: Nelly; Matea; Manon; Kathi. Group B - Fin; Steph; Lucy)
b. Il futuro incerto dell'Europa e l'Italia (Group A: Nina; Gianluca; Cicely; Hannah; Solène. Group B - Ellie; Laura H.; Cécile)
c. I britannici di Roma (Group A: Juliette; Abi; Astrid; Lukas. Group B - Rosie; Kerry; Emma; Anita)
d. Brexit, la delusione degli Italiani in UK (Group A: Michela; Marta; Asha; Eloise. Group B - Katya; Harry; Laura McC.)
Write an essay on Multicultural Italy (max 600 words). You can write down one grammar/syntax or vocabulary question for your tutor.
Essay title: L'Italia affronta con difficoltà la crisi dei migranti. In che misura l'immigrazione può rappresentare per l'Italia un fattore di sviluppo economico e sociale?
Deadline for both groups: Thursday 3rd November 2016, noon (purple folder in the tray outside H4.12).
All homework activities should be returned IN PRINT (typed, double-spaced, 3-cm margins, word count) - electronic copies will NOT be accepted.
WEEK 6: Reading week
WEEK 7:
• Cultural Topic: The Italian Constitution
• In-class activities: Feedback on essays. Discussion on Summary Writing.
- Homework due in week 7:
1) Homework due in class in week 7: read 'A mosca cieca con il referendum' and its summary - be prepared to discuss it in class
Write an essay on Italy and the EU (max 600 words). You can write down one grammar/syntax or vocabulary question for your tutor.
Essay title: Dopo la Brexit, cambieranno le relazioni economiche, politiche e/o culturali tra l’Italia e il Regno Unito?
Deadline for both groups: Thursday 17 November 2016, noon (purple folder in the tray outside H4.12).
All homework activities should be returned IN PRINT (typed, double-spaced, 3-cm margins, word count) - electronic copies will NOT be accepted.
WEEK 8:
• Cultural Topic: The Italian Constitution
• In-class activities: Feedback on essays. Peer-review on summaries (see below)
- Homework due in class week 8: Read and answer questions on 'Referendum: sindacati spaccati in due': how would you summarize this article in 200 words? Draft it for peer-review exercise in class
WEEK 9:
• Cultural Topic: Reforms in Italy
• In-class activities: Blog Posts
- Homework due in week 9:
1) Please refine your draft summaries (due in week 8, see above)
2) Homework due in class in week 9: read an article on Reforms in Italy and answer to questions according to the list below:
a. Da San Patrignano un appello contro la legalizzazione della cannabis
(Group A: Nelly; Matea; Manon; Kathi; Nina; Gianluca; Cicely; Hannah; Solène; Group B - Fin; Steph; Lucy; Ellie; Laura H.; Cécile; Gabriella)
b. Legalizzazione cannabis: così può indebolire mafie e terrorismo
(Group A: Juliette; Abi; Astrid; Lukas; Michela; Marta; Asha; Eloise. Group B - Rosie; Kerry; Emma; Anita; Katya; Harry; Laura McC.; Peter)
Write a summary on 'Referendum: sindacati spaccati in due' (max 200 words) + one short piece (100 words) to answer the following question: con quale posizione sul referendum costituzionale ti trovi più d'accordo e perché?'. Please ensure to use this Summary Checklist before submission
You can write down one grammar/syntax or vocabulary question for your tutor (one for each piece).
Deadline for both groups: Thursday 1st December 2016, noon (purple folder in the tray outside H4.12).
All homework activities should be returned IN PRINT (typed, double-spaced, 3-cm margins, word count) - electronic copies will NOT be accepted.
WEEK 10:
• Cultural Topic: Reforms in Italy
• In-class activities: Feedback on Summaries. Discussion on textual cohesion on short pieces of writing.
- Homework due in class in week 10: read 'Legalizzazione cannabis, pro e contro' and answer to questions.
- Additional materials: please read at least two texts/examples for the section 'testo argomentativo' and two texts/examples for the section 'riassunto'
- Worksheet
TERM 2
All the photocopies and materials are uploaded in the lecture notes page
Deadlines are shown below for each week.
WEEK 1: Revision (language and structure). Please see above 'Christmas break' (worksheet + additional materials)
WEEK 2:
• Cultural Topic: Women in Italy
• In-class activities: Discussion on Women in Italy. Paraphrasing/Shrinking + sentence combining.
- Homework due in week 2: Read the article '2 giugno: non solo avanzamenti, i conti non tornano' and answer to questions.
Write a summary (max 200 words) of 'Legalizzazione della cannabis: obiettivo quasi raggiunto' + answer to the following question: Considerando i pro e i contro della discussione sulla legalizzazione della cannabis, qual è a tuo avviso la posizione più forte (a favore o contro la legalizzazione) e perché? (100 words)
Deadline for both groups: Please email your homework to the module tutor by Thursday 19 January, noon and please make sure to follow these guidelines:
> email subject: IT301 Formative
> file name: YOUR SURNAME_IT301 formative
WEEK 3:
• Cultural Topic: Women in Italy
• In-class activities: Feedback on summaries. In-class discussion.
- Homework due in week 3: read an article on 'Women in Italy' and answer to questions according to the list below:
a. Fertility Day, le donne non sono (per forza) madri
(Group A: Nelly; Matea; Manon; Kathi; Nina; Gianluca; Cicely; Hannah; Solène; Group B - Fin; Steph; Lucy; Ellie; Laura H.; Cécile; Gabriella)
b. Donne e diritti: dalla legge 194 alla fecondazione assistita
(Group A: Juliette; Abi; Astrid; Lukas; Michela; Marta; Asha; Eloise. Group B - Rosie; Kerry; Emma; Anita; Katya; Harry; Laura McC.; Peter)
WEEK 4:
• Cultural Topic: Italian Famil(ies) and Civil Unions
• In-class activities: Discussion/Brainstorming. In-class essay plan.
- Homework due in class in week 4:
1) Read 'La famiglia che cambia non è una novità' and answer to questions.
2) Draft your essay plan in Italian for in-class peer-review. You can choose the essay title that you prefer:
Essay title 1: 'Samantha Cristoforetti è la prima donna europea a volare nello spazio. Fabiola Gianotti è la prima donna a dirigere il CERN (Consiglio Europeo per la Ricerca Nucleare). In che misura questi esempi sono rappresentativi delle pari opportunità in Italia?' (Summer exam question 2014)Essay title 2: 'La famiglia tradizionale in Italia: stereotipo o realtà?'
WEEK 5:
• Cultural Topic: Italian Famil(ies) and Civil Unions
• In-class activities: Structures.
- Homework due in week 5: Read 'Unioni civili: oggi scatta la rivoluzione?' and answer to questions.
Write ONE essay (max 600 words). Choose ONE of the following essay titles:
Essay title 1: 'Samantha Cristoforetti è la prima donna europea a volare nello spazio. Fabiola Gianotti è la prima donna a dirigere il CERN (Consiglio Europeo per la Ricerca Nucleare). In che misura questi esempi sono rappresentativi delle pari opportunità in Italia?' (Summer exam question 2014)
Essay title 2: 'La famiglia tradizionale in Italia: stereotipo o realtà?'
> email subject: IT301 Formative
> file name: YOUR SURNAME_IT301 formative
WEEK 6: Reading week
WEEK 7:
• Cultural Topic: Job(s) in Italy
• In-class activities: Feedback on essays. In-class discussion.
- Homework due in week 7:
1) Read 'Il lanificio più importante del Regno d’Italia è diventato un incubatore di startup' and answer to questions.
2) Read at least another article on Job(s) in Italy (Reading List) to discuss in class the following question: 'quali sono le tendenze attuali del mondo del lavoro italiano?'
WEEK 8:
• Cultural Topic: Job(s) in Italy
• In-class activities: Summary writing techniques.
- Homework due in class week 8: Read the article 'La riforma del welfare del governo' and briefly summarize its paragraphs.
WEEK 9:
• Cultural Topic: Italy, Biotechnologies and the Environment
• In-class activities: Discussion/brainstorming
- Homework due in week 9: Read the article Terremoto: priorità alle politiche ambientali and be prepared to discuss it in class.
Write a summary of 'L'altra faccia del precariato' (max 200 words) + one short piece (100 words) to answer the following question: Sei d'accordo con l'opinione del giornalista riguardo al precariato dei giovani di 18-24 anni? Perché?. Please ensure to use this Summary Checklist before submission
Deadline for both groups: Please email your homework to the module tutor by Thursday 9 March, noon and please make sure to follow these guidelines:
> email subject: IT301 Formative
> file name: YOUR SURNAME_IT301 formative
WEEK 10:
• Cultural Topic: Italy, Biotechnologies and the Environment
• In-class activities: Feedback on Summaries. In-class essay plan.
- Homework due in week 10:
- a. Prepare the article 'Biotecnologie: la miniera d'oro che l'Italia non sfrutta' for in-class discussion.
- b. Read another article of your choice from the Reading List and be prepared to summarize it orally in class
EASTER BREAK
After your grammar revision (please go through Lecture Notes and Individual Feedback on formative assignments), you can complete - if you wish, under exam conditions (3 hours, no dictionary) - ONE essay and ONE summary from ONE of the following Summer Exam Papers:
Finalists: Summer Exam Paper 2016
Non-Finalists: Summer Exam Paper 2016
Deadline for both groups: Please email your homework to the module tutor by Monday 24 April, noon and please make sure to follow these guidelines:
> email subject: IT301 Formative
> file name: YOUR SURNAME_IT301 formative
Late copies won't be accepted.
All the photocopies and materials are uploaded in the lecture notes page
Deadlines are shown below for each week.