STORYTELLING FOR HOSPITALITY

The course aims to provide students with skills in academic and - especially - professional writing by means of frontal teaching and practical exercises. Students will acquire narrative and rhetorical techniques that can be used in tourism communication and marketing. Storytelling about the city of Venice is a particular focus of the course.

- Know the main applications of storytelling in business and tourism.
- Promote the link with socio-territorial aspects such as historical, artistic and cultural heritage, with particular reference to the city of Venice.
- Recognise the theoretical elements of the analysed texts (narrative and non-fiction).
- Master different styles and registers of expression for clear and effective writing.
- Use narrative and rhetorical techniques to convey persuasive messages.

B2 level English knowledge

The course combines lectures with writing exercises.
The first part of the course will be an introduction to the theoretical framework of narrative writing and its main areas of application, with particular reference to business and tourism.
The second part will analyse the features of different writing genres suitable for tourism communication (review, short story, short film storyline, promotional writing, artistic description, tourist itinerary) and will include writing exercises. The subject of these writings is mainly the city of Venice.

Introduction to Storytelling:
- Christian Salmon, "Storytelling: Bewitching the Modern Mind"; London; New York: Verso, 2010, (or ebook version): Introduction and chapters 1, 2, 4.

Texts on Venice:
- Ian Littlewood, "A Literary Companion to Venice", London: John Murray, 1995 (or later editions).
- Tiziano Scarpa, "Venice is a Fish", London : Serpent's Tail, 2009 (or later editions).

Additional materials will be provided during the lectures and on the Moodle platform.

50% through the correction of practical exercises (done in class and at home) and a final paper; 50% through an oral exam with the professor in class, consisting of open and broad questions on the papers and on the main topics of the course.

oral

To achieve a grade between 27 and 30 with distinction, students are expected to demonstrate a comprehensive and integrated understanding of the topics covered in class and studied in the texts listed in the bibliography; an excellent ability to express and develop arguments in written exercises and in the final paper; and a high level of linguistic accuracy and clarity of exposition in the oral exam.
A grade between 23 and 26 corresponds to a good knowledge of the program, a solid though not flawless ability to express and structure written arguments, and a good command of language in oral presentations, albeit with some uncertainties.
A grade between 18 and 22 indicates an acceptable but limited and superficial knowledge of the program, only a partial understanding of the texts, and a reduced capacity for analysis. Written argumentation may appear weak or insufficiently structured, while both written and oral expression may not always be appropriate.
Insufficient knowledge of the texts and topics covered in the course, inadequate analytical skills, and incorrect or inappropriate expression will result in a failing grade.

Frontal teaching, exercises, seminar discussions