MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

Translation Studies Unit (TranSU)

Study Guide 20132014

Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

Table of Contents
1. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 3 Academic Staff ............................................................................................................ 3 Administrative Staff..................................................................................................... 4 2. Responsibilities of staff and students ............................................................................. 5 3. Programme structure ..................................................................................................... 6 3.1. Part-time study ........................................................................................................... 7 3.2. Module descriptions .................................................................................................... 7 3.3. Registering for optional modules ................................................................................. 9 3.4. Attendance ................................................................................................................. 9 4. Assessment .................................................................................................................. 10 4.1. Assessment deadlines ............................................................................................... 10 4.2. Penalties for late submission ..................................................................................... 11 4.3. Extensions of deadlines and extenuating circumstances ............................................ 11 4.4. Award of MSc ............................................................................................................ 11 4.5. Re-assessment .......................................................................................................... 12 5. Presentation, submission and return of work .............................................................. 12 5.1. General guidelines for the presentation of written work ........................................... 12 5.2. Respecting word limits .............................................................................................. 13 5.3. Submission of work ................................................................................................... 13 5.4. Plagiarism ................................................................................................................. 13 5.5. Feedback and return of coursework .......................................................................... 14 6. MScTrans marking scheme........................................................................................... 15 6.1. Grades ...................................................................................................................... 15 6.2. Marking procedures .................................................................................................. 15 7. Communication and consultation ................................................................................ 15 7.1. Course materials on Moodle ..................................................................................... 15 7.2. Communication via e-mail: Distribution list ............................................................... 15 7.3. Information on PORTICO ........................................................................................... 16 7.4. Communicating your views ....................................................................................... 16 8. Facilities........................................................................................................................ 17 8.1. The Trans Lab and other PC clusters .......................................................................... 17 8.2. The Library ................................................................................................................ 17 9. Additional courses and activities .................................................................................. 17 9.1. SELCS Writing Lab ...................................................................................................... 17 9.2. Getting Started in the Translation Profession ............................................................ 18 9.3. Saturday Courses ...................................................................................................... 18 9.4. Public lectures and events ......................................................................................... 18 9.5. Translation Technology: E-course on Localisation ...................................................... 18 10. Academic and Administrative Support ......................................................................... 19 10.1. Careers Service.......................................................................................................... 20 APPENDIX 1: MScTrans objectives and learning outcomes ..................................................... 21 APPENDIX 2: Marking Criteria .................................................................................................. 22 APPENDIX 3: General advice on writing assignments .............................................................. 26 1.1. 1.2.

Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

1. Introduction
The purpose of this document is to provide you with some important information about the MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology (MScTrans for short) and to tell you a little about the Translation Studies Unit and UCL. It will also give you information about what we expect of you on the course and what you can expect of us. The information contained here is as accurate as we can make it at this stage: we shall inform you of any alterations or corrections as soon as possible.

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This is an important document which you will need to refer to throughout the year. Once you have familiarised yourself with its contents, please remember to keep it in a safe place.

1.1. Academic Staff Coordinators & members of staff

Dr Jorge Daz-Cintas Head of the Translation Studies Unit and MSc Academic Coordinator TRANG099 and TRANG11 Convener Telephone: 020 7679 9363 Office room: 206, 50 Gordon Square E-mail: j.diaz-cintas@ucl.ac.uk Dr Roco Baos Piero TRANG003, TRANG012 and TRANG014 Convener Telephone: 020 7679 9361 Office room: 206, 50 Gordon Square E-mail: r.banos@ucl.ac.uk Ms Mara Benetti English > Italian Practical Translation Tutor Telephone: 020 7679 9371 Office room: 206, 50 Gordon Square E-mail: m.benetti@ucl.ac.uk Mr Christophe Declercq TRANG002 Convener Telephone: 020 7679 9362 Office room: 206, 50 Gordon Square E-mail: c.declercq@ucl.ac.uk Dr Juan Lalaguna English > Spanish Practical Translation Tutor Telephone: 020 7679 9372 Office room: 206, 50 Gordon Square E-mail: j.lalaguna@ucl.ac.uk

Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

Ms Marga Navarrete TRANG010 Convener Telephone: 020 7679 9373 Office room: 206, 50 Gordon Square E-mail: m.navarrete@ucl.ac.uk Ms Adriana Tortoriello TRANG001 Convener Telephone: 020 7679 9365 Office room: 206, 50 Gordon Square E-mail: a.tortoriello@ucl.ac.uk Dr Mark Shuttleworth Senior Lecturer in Translation E-mail: m.shuttleworth@ucl.ac.uk

Ms Soledad Zrate TRANG013 Convener Office room: 206, 50 Gordon Square E-mail: uclzsza@ucl.ac.uk

1.2. Administrative Staff

MScTrans Administrator Naomi Anderson-Eyles Lab Assistant Emmanouela Patiniotaki E-mail: emmanouela.patiniotaki08@imperial.ac.uk

Telephone: 020 7679 9370

Office room: 206, 50 Gordon Square E-mail: n.anderson-eyles@ucl.ac.uk

Other tutors Module TRANG002 TRANG010 TRANG012 TRANG013 TRANG014 Tutor

Daniela Ford Dr Elsa Huertas Barros Professor Frederic Chaume Louise Fryer Dr Bettina Bajaj

Language-specific tutors You will have other tutors depending on your language combination (language-specific tutors) in TRANG003, TRANG011 and TRANG012. Details about these tutors will be provided by the module convenors.

Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

2. Responsibilities of staff and students

Staff on the course aim to: give full information on the aims, structures, organisation and assessment methods of its courses; be available, as personal tutors, module conveners or the Programme Coordinator, at regular hours during semester time to advise students individually, discuss their academic progress and provide reasonable guidance and counsel; undertake assessments impartially and strive for consistency in assessment standards; mark and return written work as quickly as possible; advise on bibliographical materials; seek student feedback, in both oral and especially written form, from student representatives and by other means, and to be responsive, over both the short and longer terms, to the views which students express. Students on this MSc programme are expected to: attend all lectures unless unavoidably prevented (should you not be able to attend a specific session, always notify the tutor/lecturer and the course administrator); work diligently throughout the academic year, and to present all written work by the dates prescribed; work independently, and avoid any form of plagiarism; give serious attention to improvement in their style and presentation where weakness has been identified; contribute to class discussions, and offer oral presentations as required; learn, and utilise appropriate research skills and methodologies to undertake their work at Masters level; inform their personal tutors, module conveners or the Programme Coordinator promptly of any circumstances which may affect their attendance, performance or punctuality; familiarise themselves with the use of computers and information technology generally, and to make the best use of word processing skills for presenting their written work; use the UCL e-mail account as their prime source of contact and information. For information on UCLs Code of Conduct, please refer to www.ucl.ac.uk/dean-of-students/conduct

Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

3. Programme structure
The academic year is structured in three terms: Term 1, Term 2 and Term 3. Induction week Mon 23 Sep - Fri 17 Sep Term 1 Mon 30 Sep - Fri 13 Dec Reading week Mon 4 Nov - Fri 8 Nov Term2 Mon 13 Jan - Fri 28 Mar Reading week Mon 17 Feb - Fri 21 Feb Term 3 Mon 28 Apr Fri 13 Jun (Teaching will finish on 23rd May) The programme is divided into core modules (TRANG001, TRANG002, TRANG003 & TRANG099) and optional modules (TRANG010, TRANG011, TRANG012, TRANG013 and TRANG014). Brief descriptions of the modules are provided below. In order to be awarded the MSc, students must gain 180 credits in total. You must take all core modules, plus three of the five optional ones. The modules are distributed over the academic year as shown in the table below.

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Module

Please check Appendix 1 for detailed information about the learning outcomes and objectives of the programme. You must choose one or two optional modules in Term1 and one or two modules in Term2 (you cannot choose 3 modules in Term2). Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Summer (12 weeks) (12 weeks) (4 weeks) Language and Translation (2 hours/every other week) Translation Technology (2 hours/week) Practical Translation (2 hours/week) Dissertation Although the dissertation is usually started after (three the exams, the module commences with tutorial sessions with sessions in Term 1. supervisor) Publishing Skills (2 hours/week) Subtitling (2 hours/week) Translating for Voiceover & Dubbing (2 hours/week) Accessibility to the Media(2 hours/week) Language & Automation (2 hours/week) Credits (total 180) 15 30 30 60

TRANG001 TRANG002 TRANG003

TRANG099

TRANG010 TRANG011 TRANG012 TRANG013 TRANG014

15 15 15

15 15

Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

3.1. Part-time study If you are studying part time, you will take TRANG001, TRANG002 and TRANG003 in the first year and three optional modules in the second year. The dissertation (TRANG099) will be written in the second year of the course. As a first-year part-time student you will generally have to attend classes on two days per week: Tuesdays and another day depending on your language pair. Most of the modules that you need to attend in year two currently take place on Monday or Wednesday (optional modules). During both years you will also need to schedule in some extra time on campus in order to access the specialist software that you will need to use (this applies to both full-timers and part-timers). In addition to your weekly commitments you will also be expected to attend at other times on an occasional basis (e.g. for exams and one-off seminars). 3.2. Module descriptions TRANG001 - Language and Translation In this module you study aspects of linguistic theory that are relevant to translation, and also theoretical ideas about translation that have a direct impact on translation practice. By incorporating the study of language with a close look at various more specifically translationrelated topics this module aims to focus on some of the theoretical issues that translators need to confront. Topics include terminology, grammar and meaning, translation and culture, translation theory and descriptive translation studies. Assessment: Essay (100%). TRANG002 - Translation Technology In this module you apply your theoretical and conceptual background of translation to a very practical approach of using many current tools at the disposal of a translator. These range from terminology management and translation memory tools to advanced file formats and software localisation. The module includes hands-on experience with a wide range of translation tools in a Translation Lab with state-of-the-art facilities. Packages to be covered include the following: Wordfast Anywhere, SDL Trados Studio 2011, OmegaT, memoQ, and Alchemy Catalyst. Assessment: Individual project (50%), group project (50%). TRANG003 - Practical Translation This module provides training in translation methods and techniques in specific language pairs and fields of specialisation. It is taught through an introductory lecture and through interactive, practical seminars. You are expected to translate into your mother tongue. The module is divided into three distinct blocks: 1) Scientific Translation (to include popular science articles, scientific journal papers, scientific reports, proposals, etc.) 2) Medical Translation (to include healthcare documents, medical reports, clinical case studies, pharmaceutical reports, etc.) 3) Technical Translation (to include user guides, product documentation, patents, technical specifications, etc.) Assessment: 3 take-home assessed translations (3x20%= 60%), Test (40%).

Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

TRANG099 Dissertation Once the teaching finishes in May, you will spend the remaining part of the course (to the beginning of September) researching and writing a 12,000 word dissertation. For this you will be assigned a supervisor. Research areas might include aspects of translation theory, translation technology, audiovisual translation, corpus linguistics, textual analysis and XML. TRANG010 - Publishing Skills This module provides you with useful skills for publishing digital documents. It offers you an overview of different formats for publishing on the web, working with a range of commonly used software. The module is split into three blocks. The first one focuses on website design using industry-standard software Dreamweaver. You learn to design websites and to create webpages, considering issues such as usability, interactivity, and the integration of other technologies. The second block covers topics such as Photoshop, accessibility, and localisation. The final block provides an insight into how to build XML applications and how to validate them using DTDs. Assessment: Project (70%), Project (30%). TRANG011 Subtitling This module will help you to develop subtitling skills in a variety of registers and styles by translating texts and programmes that will be consumed by the audiovisual and media world. Through a range of carefully chosen examples and exercises, you will not only develop confidence and skills in subtitling, but also broaden your awareness of the idiomatic and syntactic features specific to the languages at work as well as your knowledge and perception of socio-cultural referents. The course will help you develop sophisticated ICT skills thanks to the use of industry standard subtitling software. Assessment: Test (50%), Project (50%). TRANG012 - Translating for Voiceover and Dubbing This module introduces you to the professional activity of translating audiovisual material for voiceover and dubbing. During the lectures and seminars, you will cover areas such as history and present situation of voiceover/dubbing, semiotics, conventions used in the profession, translation strategies for revoicing, and economic and professional aspects of voiceover/dubbing. You will develop voiceover and dubbing skills in a variety of registers and styles by translating texts and programmes of an audiovisual nature drawn from various sources (films, corporate videos, documentaries, series, animation) and covering a broad range of specialised genres and media issues. You will produce your own translations with appropriate software and equipment. Assessment: Test (50%), Project (50%). TRANG013 - Accessibility to the Media This module introduces you to the fascinating professional practice of making audiovisual material accessible to people with sensory impairments. You will learn about audio description for the blind and the partially sighted (AD) and subtitling for the deaf and the hard-of-hearing (SDH). You will cover areas such as legislation, history and present situation of AD and SDH, audio describing and subtitling for children and adults, live versus pre-recorded AD and SDH, economic and professional aspects, and the conventions used on screen. The module is taught in English and all the activities are carried out in English. Assessment: Project (50%), Project (50%). 8

Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

TRANG014 - Language and Automation This module is designed to cover a variety of topics concerning the use of computer systems to present, manipulate, extract or translate information expressed in natural (i.e. human) language. Areas likely to be covered include machine translation, controlled language and terminology extraction. You will acquire a basic understanding of the technology behind language engineering applications, and learn to use and evaluate different tools and technologies. Once again, this module has a strong hands-on focus. Assessment: Project (50%), Project (50%). 3.3. Registering for optional modules If you are a full-time student, or a part-time student in the second year of MScTrans, you will need to register for the optional modules you would like to take. When making your choice you may like to refer to the Timing of Assessments table on page 14 for information on when the key assessment dates for the various modules fall. You register for individual courses using the online PORTICO system , www.ucl.ac.uk/portico. The system has been set up so that you will be automatically entered for the compulsory modules, but you will need to select your optional modules and submit your choices. For more information, please see the User Guide: https://evision.ucl.ac.uk/hts/ucl/module_registration_student_userguide.pdf. 3.4. Attendance In view of the intensive nature of the programme it is essential that students aim for 100% attendance at all lectures, seminars and classes. Warning of unavoidable absences should be conveyed to the tutor concerned as far as possible in advance. In the case of illness or any other factor likely to affect a students performance the student should ensure that the relevant tutors (and the Programme Coordinator, if it is sufficiently serious) are aware of it. The Programme Coordinator should also be provided with a medical note where appropriate.

4. Assessment
4.1. Assessment deadlines
In putting the assessment schedule together we have done our best to avoid excessive bunching of deadlines. However, it is your responsibility to organise your time. Date w/c 18 November Monday 9 December Wednesday 11 December Coursework TERM 1 TRANG003: Block 1 Assessment TRANG010: Web Design Project TRANG011: Subtitling Test 14.30-17.30 TERM 2 TRANG011: Subtitling Project TRANG010: XML Project TRANG002: Individual project TRANG003: Block 2 Assessment TRANG012: Voiceover Test 16.00-19.00 TRANG013: SDH Project TRANG003: Block 3 Assessment TRANG014: Term Extraction Project TRANG001: Essay EASTER: 16 April 23 April SUMMER TERM TRANG012: Dubbing Project TRANG013: AD Project TRANG014: MT Project TRANG003 Test- 9.30-12.30 All language combinations but En > Chinese TRANG003 Test - 9.30-12.30 English > Chinese TRANG002: Group Project END OF TEACHING TRANG099: Dissertation Exams & Tests

CHRISTMAS BREAK: 16 December 10 January

Monday 13 January Monday 20 January Monday 27 January w/c 27 January Monday 10 February Wednesday 12 March w/c 17 March Monday 24 March Friday 11 April

Wednesday 30 April Wednesday 7 May Monday 12 May Wednesday 21 May

Thursday 22 May Tuesday 27 May Monday 8 September

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In all cases, coursework must be submitted by 4 pm on the relevant day.

Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

4.2. Penalties for late submission The rules concerning the late submission of assessed coursework may be summarised as follows: - If you submit a piece of coursework after the deadline but within 24 hours of the deadline, your mark will be reduced by 5 percentage points. If you submit a piece of coursework during the following six days, your mark will be reduced by a 15 percentage points. - Coursework submitted later than seven days after the deadline, providing that it is submitted during Term 3, will be awarded a mark of zero but will be considered to be complete, provided the coursework contains material that can be assessed. - In the case of coursework that is submitted late and is also over length, only the lateness penalty will apply. If you are granted an extension without penalty for a piece of coursework, a new deadline for that piece of work will be set. The penalties described above will come into effect if you overshoot this revised deadline. 4.3. Extensions of deadlines and extenuating circumstances Deadlines will be extended in exceptional circumstances only, and never retrospectively. Applications should be addressed in writing (email is acceptable in this case) to Dr Roco BaosPiero as Chair of the Board of Examiners, together with an Extension Request Form (see www.ucl.ac.uk/selcs/masters), well before the deadline expires. Extenuating circumstances: If there are circumstances that prevent you from performing academically as well as you might, you should inform Dr Roco Baos-Piero as Chair of the Board of Examiners as soon as possible. The problems may be health, bereavement or some serious personal upset. Put your case in writing, enclose evidence (e.g. medical certificates) and mark the envelope Confidential. 4.4. Award of MSc The assessment and awarding of the MSc is overseen by the Examination Board, which meets in November and consists of the Programme Coordinator, key tutors teaching on the programme and external examiners. The possible outcomes are Distinction, Merit, Pass and Fail. For the award of the degree of MSc all individual modules need to be passed , an average mark of at least 50% is needed, as well as a mark of at least 50% on the Dissertation. Condoned fail marks of not less than 40% are permitted on individual components, as long as no more than 25% of the taught elements have marks below 50%. Award of Degree with Distinction An award of Distinction will be made where the overall mark is 70% or greater and where the mark for the dissertation is 70% or greater. For an Award with Distinction to be made mark of at least 50% should have been achieved in all other elements of the programme. There must be no condoned marks, no re-sits, and all marks must be first attempts. Award of degree with Merit An award of Merit will be made where the overall mark is 60% or greater, and where the mark for the dissertation is 65% or greater. For an Award with Merit to be made there must be no marks below 50%, no condoned marks, no re-sits, and all marks are based on first attempts. 11

Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

If a student fails to complete the dissertation, a Postgraduate Diploma could be awarded. For an award of a Postgraduate Diploma students must have completed 120 UCL credits or the equivalent 1200 learning hours and obtained an overall average mark of 50% or greater. Examination regulations can be found here: www.ucl.ac.uk/ras/acd_regs/2013-2014/PG_Section_3_2013-2014.pdf Release of marks and graduation ceremony
Boards of Examiners are permitted to release unconfirmed provisional marks to students, prior to the formal publication of results by UCL. Students will be informed when their examination results have been published on Portico. Graduating students will be sent an official transcript with their certificate within three months of their date of award. The Graduation Ceremonies are normally held in late August or the first half of September of the following year

4.5. Re-assessment Students who, at their first entry, do not successfully pass an examination may re-enter for the examination or other forms of assessment on one more occasion. Students who fail an examination with a mark that cannot be condoned will be required to reenter that examination at the next normal occasion. For instance, a dissertation that is not awarded a pass can be resubmitted the following September. A mark cannot be condoned if it is below 40 or if more than 25% of the taught elements have marks below 50, or if the Board of Examiners decides not to condone the mark. If a student fails the dissertation and resubmits by the end of the first term of the following academic year, the Board would then reconsider the award for these students in January.

5. Presentation, submission and return of work

During your stay on MScTrans you are asked to submit different assessment components. This section refers to most of these, except for the dissertation. Requirements for the dissertation are very similar in most respects but are dealt in the separate dissertation handbook that will be distributed during the Term 1.

For general information on writing assignments (exams, essays, write-ups, etc.), please see Appendix 3.

5.1. General guidelines for the presentation of written work Please follow the guidelines below for the presentation of written work: Use font size 12 All written work should be accurately typed and neatly laid out on A4 paper, with adequate margins and consecutive page numbering, and with clear titles and subdivisions. Make sure files are named and saved using the following convention: Name_surname_assignment.doc: e.g. Alex_Turner_TRANG001Essay.doc Make sure your work is proofread: up to three percentage points may be deducted for work which is expressed in poor English. Non-native speakers of English should get their English checked by a native speaker before submitting. 12

Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

5.2. Respecting word limits For each piece of written work a particular word limit will be specified. All assessed work must not exceed the prescribed word limit at all. If you go over the word limit, you give yourself an unfair advantage over other people who have taken pains to adhere to it. Consequently, credit will be deducted for excessive length according to the following scale of penalties: Work that exceeds the upper word limit by less than 10% Work that exceeds the upper word limit by more than 10% The mark will be reduced by 10 percentage marks The penalised mark will not be reduced below the pass mark, assuming the work merited a pass. The assessment will be considered complete, but a mark of 0% will be awarded.

You should use the word counting facility in Microsoft Word or similar to keep an eye on the length of the essay as you are writing it and you must state the final word count on the file that you submit. The number cited must be no greater than the word limit and must be honest. There is no penalty as such if you write significantly less than the required number of words. However, in this case you are simply not giving yourself the chance to develop your argument as fully as would otherwise be the case and so you work will probably be marked correspondingly lower. Whats excluded from the word count? When calculating the number of words we will not count bibliography, footnotes, appendices, annexes or excessive quoted material. Excessive can be taken to mean multiple extended quotations from academic sources or any passages taken from other sources (e.g. novels, newspapers, etc.) to provide examples of translation strategies or other linguistic points etc. As a rule of thumb, quotations should occupy an absolute maximum of one quarter of your text.

5.3. Submission of work All written work should be submitted by the advertised deadline in the manner required. In the case of work being submitted in paper copy you must hand in the required number of copies of all material submitted. For many modules, however, you will be asked to submit work through Moodle (or sometimes on CD or DVD). Submission via email or fax is not acceptable, unless it is a specific requirement of the course in question. A policy of anonymous marking is followed. You will shortly be receiving a candidate number which you will need to use to identify your exam coursework and to distribute grades to ensure anonymity. Please put your candidate number on the assessed piece of work, but NEVER your name or student number. 5.4. Plagiarism Plagiarism in written submissions is taken extremely seriously in the TranSU and within UCL. Plagiarism is defined as the presentation of another persons thoughts or words as though they were your own. Any quotation from the published or unpublished works of other persons must therefore be clearly identified as such by being placed inside quotation marks, and all sources must be identified fully and accurately. A series of quotations from different sources, 13

Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

if not clearly identified as such, constitutes plagiarism as much as an unacknowledged long quotation from a single source. Equally, if you summarise or adopt someone elses id eas, judgements, figures, diagrams or software, appropriate reference must be made, and the work referred to must be included in the bibliography. If your source of information is the Internet, you must give the full address of the relevant site. Plagiarism in any form is intellectual theft and is taken extremely seriously. As the assessment for the MSc programme consists largely of work written in your own time, you will be required to sign a declaration for each part of the assessment that the work is your own and that you are aware of the rules concerning plagiarism. UCL employs the sophisticated JISC detection system to investigate suspected plagiarism called Turnitin. When you submit your essay via Turn-it-in, the software will generate an originality report and will provide an estimated percentage of how much of the wording is taken from other sources. You need not be alarmed by percentages of 10-25% if these are derived from using technical terms or if you have referenced quotations from secondary sources. However, if the report determines that you have taken sentences or passages from other sources without referencing them, then this will instigate further investigation. You must not use substantially the same material in different parts of the assessment. Failure to observe the provisions of this policy constitutes an examination offence. Students found to have committed an examination offence may be excluded from all further examinations of the College and/or the University. For further guidance on plagiarism, please see www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/guidelines/plagiarism. 5.5. Feedback and return of coursework Essays and other work submitted via Moodle will normally be returned to you via Moodle as well. Results of assessments and examinations will sometimes be distributed via email, with individual students being identified by candidate number. Work submitted in hard copy can be collected from the department (please contact the MSc administrator for more information). You can expect to be given feedback on assessed work as well as on coursework within approximately four weeks of submission. The type of feedback and frequency with which it is provided varies from one course to another. Any feedback on the dissertation will have to wait until after the meeting of the Board of Examiners. Once the marks have been confirmed by the exam board, the UCL Registry will make your marks available on Portico. You will receive a full transcript with your degree certificate.

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Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

6. MScTrans marking scheme

6.1. Grades Results for all individual pieces of work will be communicated to you in the form of letter grades. Your percentage scores in individual assessments will be communicated to you by the College Registry after the Examination Board. The mark awarded will reflect the following levels of attainment: A B C D 70-85% 60-69% 50-59% 25-49% Distinction Merit Pass Fail The pass mark for all work at MSc level is 50%. The threshold for a distinction is 70% and for a merit 60%. The highest possible mark is 85% and the lowest 25% (except in the case of non-submission where a mark of 0% will be awarded).

6.2. Marking procedures Assessment components are marked by the first marker and moderated by a second marker. Tutors will not be able to enter into any kind of negotiations with you or anyone else concerning your marks; once awarded, marks can only be revised by the relevant External Examiner, to whom any serious disagreement will be referred. The fairness of individual marks and the general comparability of standards across different UK universities are ensured by the external examiners appointed from other universities. Normally there is no discrepancy between the marks awarded internally and the e xternal examiners assessment, but occasional disagreements do arise. Consequently you cannot be formally told what you have scored on a given assessment until that assessment has been seen by an external examiner and the score has been officially ratified by the Examination Board.

7. Communication and consultation

Incoming paper mail, both internal and external, is forwarded to the Administrator. The notice board on the second floor of 50 Gordon Square (outside room 206) serves as a general information point. The MSc Trans student pigeonholes (i.e. your mailboxes) are in 3335 Torrington Place, outside Room 1.2. You should check the notice board and your pigeonhole on a regular basis. 7.1. Course materials on Moodle Most handouts and reading assignments can be downloaded from Moodle, our Virtual Learning Platform, which can be accessed from www.ucl.ac.uk/moodle using your usual username and password. 7.2. Communication via e-mail: Distribution list Once the course is underway we will create an e-mail discussion group to which all students and some members of staff will be subscribed. You can use this for communication amongst yourselves but please bear in mind that we will also use it in order to pass important information on to you. Email messages will be sent to your UCL email address only. We will not send emails to private email addresses, e.g. gmail or hotmail accounts. 15

Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

7.3. Information on PORTICO PORTICO at www.ucl.ac.uk/portico/ provides password access to central student information in an easy-to-use format. You can take ownership of your own personal data held by UCL on your central record. The system offers a range of services to students: update personal details; update contact addresses; view Module Results; view Module Directory; course and module choices; etc. 7.4. Communicating your views Staff-Student Consultative Committee We organise Staff-Student Consultative Committee meetings once every term to discuss any and all matters of relevance to the MSc. Although all students and staff connected with the programme are invited to the meetings, we would like you to appoint three student representatives by the end of Week 4 Term1 to sit on the Staff-Student Committee. They will liaise between the MScTrans students and the Programme Coordinator and Committee, collecting items from the MScTrans students for the agenda of future Staff-Student Committee meetings. They will also meet with members of staff informally to report on how the programme is progressing and to identify areas of concern. Following each Staff-Student Committee meeting, the student representatives will report back to the MScTrans students with any relevant feedback. The role of class representative is a very important and rewarding one that contributes to good practice, enabling problems to be relayed to the MScTrans StaffStudent Committee at the earliest opportunity and facilitating the dialogue between MScTrans staff and students. The dates for the meetings of the Staff-Student Committee will be circulated by the Administrator as soon as the representatives have been appointed. Evaluation Questionnaires You will be asked to complete questionnaires electronically at the end of each taught course. The questionnaires give you a chance to evaluate the effectiveness of individual courses and the quality of the educational experience involved. You will be asked to fill in a further questionnaire about the programme as a whole in September. The comments you make in these questionnaires are treated as strictly confidential. The use of course evaluation questionnaires is in line with UCLs policy of constantly monitoring and improving teaching quality. Informal feedback Please feel free to approach any member of staff to provide informal feedback on the course. Complaints and grievances Complaints and grievances can be taken up in the first instance with your Personal Tutor, the Course Conveners or the Programme Coordinator. Should you feel the need to take the matter further, you can contact the Faculty Tutor in the Arts and Humanities Faculty Office.

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Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

8. Facilities
TRANG001, TRANG099, TRANG003 and some optional modules will be taking place in a range of teaching rooms. Campus maps and specific information can be found here: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/maps 8.1. The Trans Lab and other PC clusters TRANG002 sessions and some of the optional modules with heavy use of computing facilities will take place in the MScTrans Lab, a dedicated cluster in 220 Foster Court where a wide range of translation software is available. As a general rule, students on the MSc have the largely exclusive use of the Lab when it is not being used for classes. However, we might allow other groups to use the Lab on an occasional basis, and the Lab will also be unavailable on a number of Saturdays throughout the year and for much of the day during a three or four-week period over the summer. However, we will endeavour to give you as much notice as possible whenever it needs to be reserved for another activity. Networked PC cluster rooms are dotted around UCL and some halls of residence. Contact the Information Systems Division's Helpdesk for maps and authorization forms (Helpdesk tel. 25000). The UCL computing system is backed up every evening and protected by firewalls, offering a secure environment for your work. Store your coursework and drafts on the UCL system! 8.2. The Library The MScTrans library contact is Sarah Burn (s.burn@ucl.ac.uk). The UCL Library should meet most of your requirements, and nearly all the items included in the bibliographies you will receive during the course are available there. You may also want to use other London University libraries or specialist collections, particularly when working on your dissertation. Ask the Information Desk in the UCL Main Library for details. The University of London Library in Senate House (Malet Street) serves as a back-up library, with various specialist collections. The British Library (Euston Road) is five minutes walk from UCL. The catalogues of all these libraries can be consulted via the Web. The library provision in central London is world-class, so make the most of it.

9. Additional courses and activities

9.1. SELCS Writing Lab The SELCS Writing Lab is a free service for undergraduate and MA students within SELCS and CMII, and affiliate students in the Faculties of Arts & Humanities and Social & Historical Sciences and the School of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies (SSEES). The Lab runs workshops and offers one-to-one support for academic writing, with four knowledgeable and trained tutors. In Terms 1 and 2, 2013-14, a series of workshops will be offered in the four weeks prior to Reading Week. The Writing Lab will then be open for tutorials after Reading Week on Mondays to Fridays from 12 pm to 6 pm. See the SELCS Writing Lab schedule for further details: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/selcs-writing-lab/schedule. Further information is also available on Moodle: https://moodle.ucl.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=14661. Students visiting the Writing Lab are reminded to bring relevant materials (essay titles, instructions from course tutors, etc.) to show the tutors. This will allow tutors to help you more efficiently. 17

Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

9.2. Getting Started in the Translation Profession Every year for the past few years, we have run a short, non-assessed course of lectures and seminars for our students on various aspects of becoming professionally active in translation. The speakers, who are drawn from the profession, focus on a range of topics of direct relevance to the kinds of position that you will probably be applying for after completing MScTrans. This year the course is scheduled to run during the summer term.

Placements and work experience We are not able to offer every participant the opportunity of an extended period of work experience with a translation company. However, a few openings may become available. As and when opportunities arise, you will be informed by e-mail. All job/placement information presented should be taken as impartial information and does not in any way, represent endorsement or quality assurance by UCL.

9.3. Saturday Courses The Translation Studies Unit offers a wide range of stand-alone courses in translation technology and audiovisual translation which take place on Saturdays. MScTrans students can register in these courses at a discounted price. More information will be available soon. 9.4. Public lectures and events In addition to the seminars and guest speakers organised by TranSU as part of the Dissertation module (TRANG099), the Centre for Multidisciplinary & Intercultural Inquiry (CMII) also organises lectures and events on topics related to Comparative Literature, European Culture & Thought, European Studies, Film Studies, Gender Studies and Translation Studies. The Translation in History Lecture Series is an example of such events. This series of public lectures investigating the role of key figures and movements in the historical development of the theory and practice of translation is organised with the support of the UCL Faculty Institute of Graduate Studies (FIGS). For further information, please visit http://www.ucl.ac.uk/translationstudies/translation-in-history. Public lunch-hour lectures on a broad range of topics take place during Terms One and Two on Tuesdays from 1.15 pm to 1.55 pm in the Darwin Theatre. Watch the UCL website, noticeboards and public displays. 9.5. Translation Technology: E-course on Localisation For the past few years we have been running an e-learning course on software localisation. Although not actually part of MScTrans, it covers material that is quite close in nature to much of what you will be doing on the Translation Technology module. Administered by the School of Professional Development (SPD) at Imperial College, it is principally designed for external delegates who want a serious introduction to this area. The course runs three times per year, to coincide with university terms, and it will be possible for you to request a place for Term 2 if you are interested. In order to cover costs the SPD make a charge of 150 for this, which as you will see from the website represents a massive discount on the normal fees that are charged. Participation is not compulsory, nor will you gain an unfair advantage over your classmates should you decide to register. If you decide to register, make sure you mention that you are a UCL student doing the 18

Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

MScTrans when you complete the online registration. Full details of the course can be found at www3.imperial.ac.uk/cpd/courses/subject/other/localisation.

10.Academic and Administrative Support

Depending on the kind of help you need, you will be asked to consult different people as specified below If you need Administrative support Refer to MScTrans Administrator Naomi Anderson-Eyles is acting as Translation Administrator. She has general administrative responsibility for MScTrans. Please refer any administrative problems to her in the first instance. Unless you are otherwise instructed by course tutors in individual departments, all written coursework as well as assessed work and the dissertation, should be submitted to the Administrator. 1) The appropriate lecturer, tutor or coordinator Please do not approach the MScTrans Administrator on such matters as s/he will only be able to refer you to the relevant member of staff. Re: Exams and assessments. If you're writing in relation to an already marked exam or assessment, you should first go and see the tutor who marked that work. If you are dissatisfied with any answers, then we will ensure that the matter is brought to the attention of the relevant external examiner. 2) Your personal tutor You will shortly be assigned a personal tutor, who will be a member of staff who lectures on MScTrans, whose task is to discuss any questions or problem you may have regarding your academic work and general well-being. Tutors are being asked to set aside some time in which they will be available for consultation by their tutees. You can discuss these with your personal tutor. Various other forms of support are available to ensure your personal well-being. For detailed information, please visit http://www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/support. Advice on budgeting and debt management: - You can contact the UCL Students Unions Rights and Advice Centre (020 7679 2507/2533), or the Student Helpline, 0800 328 1813, (weekdays 8 am to 8 pm). 19

Help with academic matters

Help with personal matters (including budgeting and debt management)

Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

UK and EU students who encounter financial hardship can apply for assistance through the Access to Learning Fund. The Student Finance section in the UCL Registry will advise on all matters of a financial nature.

Help with IT

MScTrans Lab Assistant (see contact details on page 5) The Information Services Division (ISD) provides a number of services and support for students. Refer to http://www.ucl.ac.uk/isd/students/new-students for essential IT information for new students. ISD Helpdesk telephone: 25000

Before asking for advice/information, please make sure the information is not already available in the handouts provided and e-mails sent to all students.

For matters that concern a number of students, you should contact the student representative and ask them to bring them up at the next Staff-Student Committee meetings (see above). 10.1. Careers Service UCL Careers Service provides a varied and comprehensive careers guidance, information and vacancy service for students and alumni. The purpose of this service is to help students with planning their career and provide advice on many aspects of finding a job such as researching opportunities and making applications. For more information, visit their website: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/careers/students/aboutus. Please come and see us if you have any queries you wish to raise about the programme. We hope that you find MScTrans both stimulating and profitable, and that you enjoy your time at UCL.

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Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

APPENDIX 1: MScTrans objectives and learning outcomes

The objectives and learning outcomes are a set of formally-defined benchmarks which are designed to define what a particular programme of study is meant to achieve. They are usually put together when the programme is in the planning stage, but may be modified on an on-going basis to reflect developments in the course itself. While obviously very closely interrelated they are meant to reflect slightly different kinds of criteria. MScTrans Objectives To introduce students to the theory and practice of translation with a focus on the language of science, technology and medicine. To familiarise students with the techniques and methodologies of machine translation, computer-assisted translation and terminology management. To widen students' appreciation of language in general and to sharpen their awareness of syntactical, semantic and stylistic differences between languages and discourses. To assist students in realising their individual potential by building on previous experience in writing or translating and to encourage self-directed improvement. To develop a degree of specialisation in the fields of language processing and translating in particular languages and specific subject domains.

MScTrans Learning Outcomes After successfully completing the proposed course students will have: An extended knowledge of a wide range of translation techniques, lexical aids and computational tools now widely available to the translator. The capacity to analyse and evaluate text and published material with a view to selecting appropriate methods for the task in hand. The skills to enable them to produce work of a professional standard in a wide range of fields. The ability to manipulate language and to communicate efficiently and clearly within the professional environment in a variety of modes and linguistic contexts and to work independently to the very highest standard. The ability to evaluate critically current research in the field of translation and make discerning choices about their own area of research and development and systems best suited to resolve them.

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APPENDIX 2: Marking Criteria Marking criteria for translations

A 80-85% Distinction
1. The translation is extremely accurate and entirely fit for the purpose specified, with no need for revision. 2. Student has fully understood all nuances of source text. 3. Reads like natural target language in appropriate register with no signs of linguistic interference. Rare minor lapses do not detract at all from the quality of the whole. 4. Relevant translation techniques and strategies have been successfully implemented. 5. Superlative grammar and syntax, underlining an excellent command of the style. 6. The translation is of a very good professional standard in content as well as presentation.

70-79%

Distinction

1. Accurate translation and student has understood all nuances of source text. 2. Reads like natural target language in appropriate register with no signs of linguistic interference. Occasional minor lapses do not detract from the quality of the whole. 3. Relevant translation techniques and strategies have been successfully implemented. 4. Excellent grammar and syntax, underlining an excellent command of the style. 5. The translation is of a good professional standard in content as well as presentation. 6. Top: will have inspired translation ideas and solutions. 7. Low: occasional minor misreading of the original but maintaining overall coherence.

60-69%

Merit

1. Convincing and accurately translated on the whole. Very few instances of unusual expression or word order. 2. The occasional sentence or phrase has not been (fully) understood. 3. Student has been able to recognise and solve most of the translation problems involved. Some relevant translation strategies have been implemented successfully. 4. Most of the target text reads smoothly, with very few signs of linguistic interference. Errors, when present, probably occur as a result of a tricky translation/terminology problem. 5. Some further polishing/revision may be necessary in order to make the translation fit for its purpose. 6. Top: will display a good choice of appropriate vocabulary and syntactic structures. 7. Low: the odd lapse, along with a more limited range of expression.

50-59%

Pass

1. The TT version reflects the content of the original reasonably well, with a significant number of successful attempts at difficult constructions. Nonetheless, some misunderstandings are evident in places. 2. Student has recognised and solved some of the translation problems involved. 3. Some relevant translation strategies have been implemented, although not always successfully. 4. Most of the target text reads smoothly, although there are few signs of linguistic interference. 5. Student may have forgotten to translate a small part of the source text, without serious impact on the whole. 6. Considerable revision is needed at most levels of the translation. 7. Top: has significant redeeming features; low: may have patches which suggest guesswork. 8. Low: the expression is inauthentic, or inappropriate, at times. Subjects and tenses of verbs are not always correctly identified.

25-49%

Fail

1. Student has misunderstood many ideas of the ST. 2. Student has been able to recognise and solve some of the translation problems involved, although not always successfully. 3. The meaning of the TT language requires some effort to follow it; some parts of the original have been misconstrued. 4. Little control is evident over the original and the style of the TT suffers from it. 5. Grammar and syntax are not adequate and clear signs of linguistic interference are present. 6. Few relevant translation strategies and techniques have been implemented. 7. Mis-renderings of large parts of the ST. 8. The translation has significant problems with coherence and cohesion and numerous errors.

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Marking criteria for essays/commentaries and write-ups

A 80-85% Distinction
1. Evidence that student has an extensive, thorough and perceptive knowledge of the topic researched, has understood the issues covered and can make links between them. 2. Clear evidence of an ability to critically evaluate existing research on the object of study as the basis for identifying and defining new fields of research. 3. Clear evidence of having found relevant and up-to-date materials. 4. The work demonstrates considerable originality and independent thought. It is of publishable or nearpublishable quality, making a significant contribution to the discipline. 5. Ability to identify, engage and organise ideas clearly and logically. 6. Material is very well-organised, has a clear structure and a high standard of presentation. 7. The principles applicable to academic writing in the humanities have been perfectly understood. 8. Ability in evaluating, criticising and producing well-reasoned arguments in defence of a point of view. 9. Ability to identify interesting aspects of the research and their implications for future research projects.

70-79%

Distinction

1. Evidence that student has a thorough and perceptive knowledge of the topic under analysis, has understood the issues covered and can make links between them. 2. Evidence of an ability to critically evaluate existing research on the object of study as the basis for identifying and defining new fields of research. 3. Evidence of having found some relevant and up-to-date materials. 4. The work demonstrates considerable originality and independent thought. It is of near-publishable quality, making a contribution to the discipline. 5. Ability to identify, engage and organise ideas clearly and logically. 6. Material is well-organised, has a clear structure and a high standard of presentation. 7. The principles applicable to academic writing in the humanities have been understood very well. 8. Ability in evaluating, criticising and producing reasoned arguments in defence of a point of view. 9. Ability to identify interesting aspects of the research and their implications for future research projects.

60-69%

Merit

1. Evidence that student has a very good knowledge of the topic under analysis, has understood the issues covered and can make links between them. 2. Evidence of an ability to evaluate existing research on the object of study as the basis for identifying new fields of research. 3. Evidence of having made their own literature search and possibly having found some relevant and up-todate materials. 4. An understanding of the requirements of the question answered or of the title the student is responding to. 5. Ability to identify, engage and organise ideas clearly and logically. 6. Material is well-organised, has a clear structure and a good standard of presentation. 7. The principles applicable to academic writing in the humanities have been well understood. 8. Ability to produce work which is stimulating and thought-provoking.

50-59%

Pass

1. Evidence that student has good and reasonable understanding of the topic and has understood the important issues covered. 2. Evidence of an ability to evaluate some existing research on the object of study. 3. A clear attempt to meet the requirements of the question answered or of the title the student is responding to. 4. Work is mainly descriptive but demonstrates an adequate coverage of relevant issues appropriate to the task, although the approach is generally unambitious. 5. Evidence of an ability to produce arguments relative to the issues under discussion but with limited evidence of an analytical, critical or evaluative response. 6. Ability to organise ideas in a reasonably clear and logical way. 7. The task is completed satisfactorily and the material is presented with reasonable care and has a discernible structure. 8. The principles applicable to academic writing in the humanities have been understood.

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25-49%

Fail

1. Little evidence that student has knowledge of the topic or has understood some of the most important issues covered. 2. Little evidence of having read and understood some key texts on the issue. 3. Little understanding of the requirements of the question answered or of the title the student is responding to. 4. Work provides a superficial discussion, is descriptive and covers only some of the relevant material but lacks depth and offers little evidence of an analytical, critical or evaluative approach. 5. Little attempt to organise ideas in a reasonably clear and logical way. 6. Material is not particularly well-presented or well-structured, and there is little evidence that the principles applicable to academic writing in the humanities have been understood. 7. Little evidence that the student has related the work to personal ideas and views. Work lacks originality. 8. References to secondary material are superficial, inaccurate or non-existent. 9. Material is poorly presented and poorly structured.

Marking criteria for presentations

A
1.

80-85%

Distinction

The presentation has been thoroughly researched and shows a strikingly original approach to the subject. 2. The presentation is inventive, well organised and has an exceptionally clear structure. 3. The candidate is a superlative communicator who speaks clearly and fluently, maintains good eye contact with the audience and is audible at all times. 4. The candidate has an extensive range of general and specific vocabulary, the register is perfect for the topic and situation. 5. The candidate makes strikingly original and imaginative use of handouts and audiovisual aids (computers, videos, tapes, etc). 6. The candidate responds to questions in an easy, imaginative and informative way and involves the audience in discussion and/or other activities.

A
1. 2. 3.

70-79%

Distinction

The presentation has been thoroughly researched and shows an original approach to the subject. The presentation is inventive, well organised and has an extremely clear structure. The candidate is a very effective communicator who speaks clearly and fluently, maintains good eye contact with the audience and is audible at all times. 4. The candidate shows a high degree of accuracy and resorts to a wide range of general and specific vocabulary, the register is perfect for the topic and situation. 5. The candidate makes original and imaginative use of handouts and audiovisual aids (computers, videos, tapes, etc). 6. The candidate responds to questions in an easy, imaginative and informative way and may involve the audience briefly in discussion and/or other activities.

B
1. 2. 3.

60-69%

Merit

The presentation has been well researched and shows an intelligent approach to the subject. The presentation is well organised and has a clear structure. The candidate is an effective communicator who speaks clearly and with fluency, maintains good eye contact with the audience and is audible at all times. 4. The candidate displays a good range of structures and resorts to a wide range of general and specific vocabulary, the register is very good for the topic and situation. 5. The candidate makes effective use of handouts and audiovisual aids (computers, videos, tapes, etc). 6. The candidate responds to questions in a helpful and informative way.

C
1. 2. 3.

50-59%

Pass

The presentation has been adequately researched and shows a sensible rather than imaginative approach to the subject. The presentation has a clear structure. The candidate speaks clearly and with some fluency but may have a tendency to read from fully writtenout notes, and consequently may have some difficulty in maintaining eye contact with the audience. The candidate may not be audible at all times.

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Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology 4. The candidate uses an adequate range of structures and of general and specific vocabulary, the register is appropriate for the topic and situation. 5. The candidate makes use of handouts and audiovisual materials but they are not always an effective aid to comprehension. 6. The candidate sometimes finds it difficult to respond to questions in a helpful and informative way.

D
1. 2. 3.

40-49%

Fail

The presentation needs further research and shows an unimaginative approach to the subject. There are times when the structure of the presentation is not clear. The candidate sounds fluent in some situations but is prone to hesitation, does not always speak clearly and may read from fully written-out notes, finding it difficult to make eye contact with the audience. The candidate is not audible at all times. 4. The candidate lacks variety and range, over-relies on elementary constructions and displays a limited range of vocabulary. Occasional use of inappropriate register. 5. Handouts and/or audiovisual aids are clear but unhelpful. 6. The candidate does not always respond to questions in an helpful and informative way.

D
1. 2. 3.

25-39%

Fail

The candidate is ill-prepared and the presentation needs a lot more research. The structure of the presentation is not clear. The candidate is hesitant and lacking in fluency, does not speak clearly and reads from fully written-out notes, finding it impossible to make eye contact with the audience and to communicate. 4. The candidate uses very basic constructions and a very limited range of vocabulary, usually of a general nature. Often uses inappropriate register. 5. Handouts and/or audiovisual aids are not exploited at all or in an unhelpful way. 6. The candidate does not respond to questions and does not understand some of the questions.

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APPENDIX 3: General advice on writing assignments

General advice on writing a write-up A write-up is a relatively informal piece of academic writing, a description in your own words of a specific task. Writing this kind of account usually does not involve much research, or referencing, but is rather a question of reflecting thoughtfully on your experiences with a piece of software or something similar. General advice on writing essays When preparing essays, you should bear the following points in mind: An essay that covers a small number of points in detail is usually preferable to one which touches on a large amount of material superficially. Having said that, it is better to be concrete than abstract: always flesh out what you are saying with plenty of examples. Include plenty of signposting (e.g. The essay contains three main points. The first of these concerns ...; Let us now turn our attention to the question of realia. As I mentioned in my introduction, ...). This makes your argument much easier to follow and hence more convincing. Do not keep repeating the assertion made in the title; instead, try to analyse it. Likewise, it is not sufficient simply to reproduce (even with due referencing) material that you have read or that has been covered in the programme without making a serious attempt to demonstrate that you understand its significance, for example in terms of why it is important or relevant in the context of the essay question, or how it fits into the overall body of knowledge and insights that MScTrans seeks to convey. Avoid colloquialisms; e.g. talk about conveying rather than putting across a meaning. Also, use full forms (do not) rather than contractions (dont). If citing an example in another language make sure it is accessible to the reader; this will probably mean providing a literal translation so that the reader will know approximately what it says. Do not make any new points in the conclusion; if you are saving up your most perceptive comment for the end, it probably means you should rewrite your essay! A conclusion should in fact be just that: a review of the points contained in your essay, and a briefy summary designed to make what you have said more persuasive and to show what new thoughts or insights it contains. Refer to your reading to give your essay added authority; in doing so, remember that it is usually better to refer to a few sources in depth than to pepper your essay with one-off references to large numbers of articles and books. Items in the bibliography should be referred to or cited in your essay by year of publication and page number, as follows: Example 1 The purpose of covert translation is to produce a TT which is as immediately and originally relevant as it is for the source language addressees (House 1986:188). Example 2 House (1986:188) argues that the purpose of covert translation is to produce a TT which is as immediately and originally relevant as it is for the source language addressees. 26

Study Guide 20132014 MSc in Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology

Example 3 House (1986:188) argues that the purpose of covert translation is to produce a TT which is just as relevant for a target audience as the original was for the SL addressees. Do not put quotations in italics, unless you feel you need to emphasis something which they contain. If you do find you have to do this then it should be indicated as follows: The purpose of covert translation is to produce a TT which is as immediately and originally relevant as it is for the source language addressees (House 1986:188, emphasis added). NB: If you quote material which already contains italics, then you should say emphasis original. Bear in mind that your essays will be assessed with reference to the following general categories: o Organisation: Is your argument easy to follow? Is there logic in the way in which you present your material? o References: Do you refer intelligently and relevantly to articles and books which you have read? Do you use quotations as launching-pads rather than landing-strips? Is your bibliography an accurate and full reflection of the works you quote from or refer to in the course of your essay? NB Bear in mind that write-up-style assessments will probably not need a bibliography. o Analysis (NB Generally the most important criterion): Have you grasped the implications of the title? Are you able to use relevant material from across the module? Have you internalised the material in such a way that you are able to construct an intelligent argument? Do you use telling, interesting examples? Can you be creative and original? o Relevance: Does everything you say have a direct bearing on the topic under discussion? Do you cover all the ground required by the question? Does your essay contain any material recycled from previous work of yours? Have you altered the title of the essay in any way? o Presentation: Is your work well presented? Is it free of spelling mistakes, bad grammar or unclear English?

General advice on writing exams Try to avoid reproducing general information about a topic that you have learnt off by heart; once again, what we are looking for is understanding of a particular subject and the ability to use your knowledge to answer a specific question.

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General advice on writing your bibliography Your bibliography should contain only works which you refer to or quote from (and all of these). All the works listed in your bibliographical list should contain the following information: authors last name(s), authors first name(s), date of publication, full title, place of publication, and publisher. The important thing is consistency whichever method of presentation you choose. Examples are given below: Book Austermhl, Frank. 2001. Electronic Tools for Translators.Manchester: St Jerome. Somers, Harold (ed). 2003. Computers and Translation. A Translators Guide. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins. Book with 2 or more authors Article in journal or collection Article in work of reference or collection of articles Daz-Cintas, Jorge and Aline Remael. 2007. Audiovisual Translation: Subtitling. Manchester: St Jerome. Mayoral Asensio, Roberto. 2000. Official (sworn) translation and its functions. Babel 46(4): 300-331. Lindquist, Hans. 1999. Electronic corpora as tools for translation, in Gunilla Anderman and Margaret Rogers (eds). Word, Text, Translation. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters, 179-189. N.B. Such works should NOT be listed with Anderman and Roger as authors, neither in the course of your essay nor in the bibliography. Web pages Pavel, Silvia & Diane Nolet. 2001. Handbook of Terminology, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, available at http://www.translationbureau. gc.ca/pwgsc_internet/english/notes/handbook.pdf. Last accessed 20/04/2012 Note that it is not always possible to supply such full information; since many pages are not permanent it is usual to state the date when the page was accessed. Always try to work out a date if possible; otherwise write n.d. (= no date). Also, try to identify the smallest group of people possible to whom to attribute authorship; if no individuals are named you should cite the work under the name of the organisation or under the title of the text. Since we are working electronically a nice touch is to turn URLs in your bibliography into hyperlinks (select the URL, right-click and choose Hyperlink).

You can find more information on citing and referencing in the Dissertation Handbook (TRANG099).

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