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PL50586: Précis writing for the United Nations

[Page last updated: 29 January 2021]

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2020/1
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
Further information on credits Credits: 6      [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 120
Further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Semester 2
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 60%, EX 40%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework 1 (CW 20%)
  • Coursework 2 (CW 20%)
  • Coursework 3 (CW 20%)
  • Examination (EX 40%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Description: Aims:
This unit is designed to equip students with the skills and techniques in précis writing that are required for professional work. The aim is to maximise each student's potential so that as many as possible of the group achieve the necessary standard. After completing the unit, students should be able to deal with a range of complex linguistic issues in both a systematic and creative way, so as to produce competent summary records of the type required by the United Nations agencies.
They will also have developed the ability to make sound judgements, on their own initiative, on questions of content and analysis, with an awareness of the practical implications of their decisions.
Students will have acquired a comprehensive knowledge of the context in which professional précis writers operate and of their role in documenting the proceedings of different bodies.
They will be able to act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional level. They will be able to demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems.

Skills:
This unit develops the sophisticated mental and analytical processes required for successful spoken-language activities such as interpreting and précis writing, in which the key skills of listening and analysing information are crucial. By applying these in practice, students are able to build up the techniques required for professional work.
Précis writing also involves an element of teamwork, and by operating in teams at simulated conferences, students are equipped to cope with actual working conditions and therefore able to demonstrate more effectively the techniques they have been taught.
The teaching, learning and assessment methods are based throughout on realistic professional scenarios. Theory is consistently integrated with practice to ensure that students understand the rationale for what they are doing.
After completing the unit students will have the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring: the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility, decision-making in complex situations and the independent learning ability.

Content:

* Students will first be introduced to the role of the précis writer and the function of summary records in the United Nations system.
* The next stage focuses on developing listening, note-taking and analytical skills similar to those used by consecutive interpreters, initially using English-only materials.
* Students will then work on a range of examples of actual summary records produced for UN agencies, with the benefit of audio recordings of the original speeches. Particular attention will be given to the decisions made on which elements of the speeches to include, and to the specific requirements of UN in-house usage.
* As well as using further recordings of UN meetings for practical exercises and coursework, students will operate in teams at the regular simulated conferences organised for the MA/Diploma in Interpreting and Translating. Complete summary records will be produced to a deadline immediately after these events.
* For the final assessment, students will prepare a summary record from authentic UN recordings in 18 hours, as is done in actual practice.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

PL50586 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (French)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (French & German)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (French & Italian)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (French & Russian)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (French & Spanish)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (German & Spanish)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (Italian & Spanish)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (Russian)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (Russian & German)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (Russian & Italian)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (Russian & Spanish)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (Spanish)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2020/21 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2021/22 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2020/21.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.