Module: German Advanced Writing Skills

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	German Advanced Writing Skills
Module Code	GER1033 (ITS: GE485)
Faculty	SALIS	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module, conducted in the target language, is aimed at advanced learners who wish to further develop their writing and analytical skills for academic purposes. Learners work with texts on current affairs from the target language media. They learn to understand and summarise them and produce a critical analysis while gaining accuracy and fluency on linguistic, sociolinguistic and pragmatic competences. Learners explore and develop writing techniques through specific writing activities in the target language with a view to improving fluency, accuracy and range of expression in written production in the target language.

Learning Outcomes

1. Extract information, ideas and opinions from a wide range of written registers drawn from a variety of sources (for example journalistic, literary, artistic).
2. Produce well organised and structured written discourse of various text types on complex current affairs subjects, showing a controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices in the foreign language.
3. Recognise a wide range of idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms, appreciating register shifts.
4. Express ideas with accuracy and fluency, using a broad lexical repertoire.
5. Develop critical analysis and cultural awareness.
6. Demonstrate the ability to use a variety of online contacts and social networks to find out information.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Seminars	24	Focus on the development of all skills, in particular writing skills.
Independent Study	56	Students are expected to engage in any learning activity that is likely to foster their proficiency.
Directed learning	45	Students will be given regular written homework for practice.
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	20506	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale		Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category		Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Jennifer Bruen	Module Teacher	Christina Krug

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Formal Examination	Students are asked to write a 500 word commentary in the target language (that is, an argumentative commentary of a journalistic article on a social or cultural issue related to current affairs).	100%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

The materials used in this module are drawn from level C1 of the CEFR.

Creative and formal writing
This module is task-based and involves two hours a week. All tasks lay emphasis on critical analysis, linguistic accuracy and pragmatic competence. Taking into account the needs and interests of the class, tasks include: (a) the study and use of contemporary vocabulary, advanced grammar and styles related to genres and registers encountered in a variety of current affairs texts and media; (b) the exploration and guided discussion in small groups of social, political and cultural issues related to the target language context; (c) the production of writing tasks (such as summary, argumentative essay, commentaries etc.) for individual feedback.

Coursework involves individual written assignments and group in-class oral and written tasks.

Students are expected to practise all skills outside the classroom, using all available resources (provided by the teacher, LanguaCulture Space, library, film festivals and other cultural events).

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None