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SYLLABUS SPNS 202 FALL 2014
SPNS 202 Sec: 01
CRN: 72724
Intermediate Spanish II
MWF 12:10-1:00, LA 342
Alicia Gignoux
Dept. MCLL, Spanish, Office LA 439
Office hours: MTRF 4pm andby appointment
Course Description:
This is a 4-credit intermediate level course designed for those who have had the equivalent of three semesters of college Spanish. Intermediate Spanish courses aim to improve proficiency in the areas of reading, listening, speaking and writing, and to deepen understanding of Spanish-speaking cultures. In the course we will go into more detail with the grammatical structures studied at the introductory level while working toward a more sophisticated understanding of Spanish grammar. Students should already be familiar with the present, preterite and imperfect indicative tenses, present and past subjunctive tenses, el ‘se’ pasivo/impersonal/accidental, and the commands or plan on doing remedial work on these verb tenses before or while in SPNS 202.
You will write 3 short 5-paragraph essays. You will get a rubric that will help you learn to write a concise essay. The first draft will be read in class by classmates and may be handed in. The final draft for each essay will most likely be written in class. You will be allowed to use your rough draft, rubric, and a dictionary for the in-class final version. I will look for improvement in the final drafts. Both the rough draft and final version will be handed in for points when the final version is completed in class. Each rough draft and final essay is worth up to 100 points. DO NOT use online translators.
This is a 4-credit course offered 4 days a week, 12:10 to 1:00, MTRF.
There is a free, drop-in tutoring service available (Study Jam) in the UC Commons. Use it as much as you like any time you need clarification, etc., of any language questions.Also, sign up with Tom Batridge for tutoring through the UM writing center website.
Required materials:
- Text: Chapters 6-10, Rumbos, Pellettieri, López-Burton, Hershberger, Navey-Davis, Gómez., Second Edition. (2011) ISBN-13: 978-1-4282-6226-3 (textbook) and handouts from the workbook. I will give the workbook handouts to you in class.
- BINDER YOU WILL NEED A BINDER TO KEEP THE CLASS HANDOUTS NEATLY. THEY MUST BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERY CLASS AND IN ORDER.
- You will need to use/check your official UM email for class notices (umconnect/umontana). I use this email to let you know if class is cancelled, of other news, and to send links and PDFs etc.
WEBSITES:
- Rumbos Student Website (Review & Practice, Test Prep):
Extra Practice and review:
- Barbara Nelson’s Site
- Online Advanced Spanish Grammar Book
From time to time we may use some of these sites for class practice and review.
- Dictionary:
- 123 Conjugation
- Brain Rules, John Medina: BrainRules
GRADING:
• Final Exam (cumulative): See the schedule online for the time and date 20%
• Chapter Quizzes/Pruebas 35%
This will include 3 in-class final essays.
You will be allowed to use your rough drafts for the first two of
these and use a notecard with 20 words for the third in-class
essay. Important: always double-space.
• Oral Presentation 10%
• Class Participation/Homework 25%
This includes 3 rough drafts of essays.
• Latin American Week Piñata etc. Activity 10%
Write a brief to post at the table and spend at least one hour between 5pm and 8pm at the piñata, chocolate, cookie, cultural, and Spanish class information tent on September 18th. Please make arrangements to attend. Plan ahead to avoid conflicts with work or other classes. I will provide a sign up sheet for this day today. See the details later in this syllabus.
COURSE FORMAT / EXPECTATIONS:
Our class will operate almost entirely in Spanish. Everyone is expected to communicate in Spanish with everyone else during class to the best of your abilities. The principal reason for taking intermediate Spanish is to practice writing, reading, understanding, and speaking Spanish so all of our activities will contribute to that purpose. You learn best what you do the most= Study and practice concepts, vocabulary, etc. outside of class.
To succeed in this class you have the responsibility of studying new grammar points or learning new vocabulary on your own before we go over it in class. Class time will be used to answer questions and practice but not to reiterate what is explained in the book.We will view one or two films, which may contain adult and/or disturbing content. You must contact your instructor before if there is a concern. Depending on your previous experience with Spanish, you can expect to study 2-3 hours per class period to pass this course satisfactorily. Five minutes of explanation of the grammar in English might be provided if and when needed. Read the grammar at least twice before it is presented in class. This class is designed for you to practice Spanish in the Spanish language.
HISPANIC CULTURAL EVENTS
Students are encouraged to attend one cultural events outside of class. This might include the Spanish conversation table, a Spanish language or culture film, or other community cultural events. Note: There are many Spanish language and cultural films on Netflix, PBS, and Youtube.You receive 1 extra point on your final for each event. Write 5 sentences on a piece of paper and hand it to me for each event. You can only submit up to 5 extra points for the final. Attending the Latin American weekactivity will count towards 4 extra pts on the final as well. Try to attend the Spanish conversation table at least once this semester.
GRADING SCALE as per UM policy:
A 94-100 A- 90-93 B + 87-89 B 83-86 B- 80-82 C+ 77-79 C 73-76 C- 70-72 D+ 67-69 D 63-66 D- 60-62 F 0-59
ATTENDANCE:
Attendance is mandatory and will be recorded. You may miss up to 4 classes during the semester without affecting your final grade. After the first 4 absences, each additional absence will result in a 1% reduction of your overall course grade[1]. Please do not contact the instructor regarding your absence(s) unless you have a documented excuse indicating serious illness or an emergency. Please write the contact information of two classmates that you may contact to find out what you missed in case of an absence. Attendance is required and highly recommended. Daily homework will be recorded for credit and is not available for makeup. Any in-class exercises will count toward your participation grade as well as your participation in all class activities.
EXAMS : There will be a Prueba [test/quiz] after each chapter and a cumulative final. The oral presentations will be scheduled between Nov. 13-25 .
CHAPTER Pruebas (Quizzes): There will be no make-ups. However, if you have a documented excused absence, one Prueba may be missed and the average Prueba grades will be substituted in its place. See course schedule for dates. Our everyday work during the course of the semester ––will often constitute oral or written quiz materials that will count as part of the Participation grade. Your spoken proficiency is evaluated from your oral participation in class over the semester as well as your presentation.
HOMEWORK: Homework/class preparation is to be completed before coming to class in order to prepare for the day’s work. It may consist of: textbook exercises, workbook exercises, readings, compositions, etc. To prepare for each day’s class, work through each exercise in the sections of the text and workbook assigned for that day so that you can use the material with ease. Any homework assigned to he handed in is due on the day assigned and may be collected at random to be counted as part of the participation and/or homework grades. I will often go around the room to do a quick check of the work to make sure that it has been completed. This is also recorded as homework grades.
PARTICIPATION: The participation grade includes the following: daily class work, active engagement in class activities, and evidence of preparation for the class. You are expected to come to class prepared and actively engage in all class activities each day, using Spanish as best you can. Participation is all about learning from mistakes, so lose inhibitions.
Participation in Latin American Week: Share cultural information for one hour on Sept. 18th between 4:30pm-8:30pm and prepare by reading about the history of piñatas, Mexican chocolate, and or the history of baking and food in Mexico. Make a one page document to paste on the table top or tent. This can include a picture with an informative caption or a 16 pt font short informative brief on the topics mentioned above. Brief: 50pts due Sept. 15th and Attendance: 50pts Sept. 18th in the oval at our tent
PRESENTATION:
Topic Options:
• An extension of some of the themes that relate to the topics within the Rumbos text chapters 6-10 are encouraged and preferred. This way your classmates will be able to comprehend the vocabulary better. Teach key vocabulary, when needed, before the presentation.
• Environmental or sustainability topics that relate to the Spanish speaking countries are encouraged as well.
Expectations
You may use a note card with 20 words.
You may not read full sentences unless it is a short quote.
You must practice your presentation and keep within the time limit.
Include at least one question or thought related to your presentation topic for the audience to answer or engage in for 1 or 2 minutes.
Duration: 5 to 7 minutes for the main presentation. Practice so that you do not go over 7 minutes.
Time for questions: 3 minutes. This is required. Be prepared to answer questions.
The total time is not to exceed 12 minutes.
Audience: Be prepared to ask questions after each presentation.
Hand in a 5-sentence description of your topic for 50 points by Friday, the 31st of October.
TUTORING: Study Jam free tutoring sessions are held in the UC Commons. Some private tutors advertise on the MCLL bulletin boards. The writing center on the first floor in LA is also offering help for students of Spanish mainly for writing assignments. Sign up ahead of time online for ‘By-appointment tutoring hours for students of Spanish’.Disability Services for Students (DSS): If you have a documented disability that may require assistance, contact the Disability Services for Students (DSS), located in the Lommasson Center, Room 154, x2243. The University of Montana assures equal access to instruction through collaboration between students with disabilities, instructors, and Disability Services for Students (DSS). Please bring a letter from DSS verifying your right to reasonable accommodations. I will be more than happy to make any necessary arrangements.
UM required notifications: ACADEMIC HONESTY: Academic misconduct is subject to penalty. All students need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. The Code is online:
STUDENT CONDUCT: “Faculty members have the independent authority to exclude a student from any class session in which the student displays disruptive behavior that threatens the learning environment or safety and well-being of others in the classroom.”
Additional Information:
• A grade of I (Incomplete) is unlikely unless UM-mandated conditions are met.
• There is no extra credit offered in this course. Just plan on completing the assignments.
• For help with any personal situations please see the instructor during office hours or after class.
PUNTOS DE PARTIDA SPNS 101 NOTE: QUIZZES WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THE BOARD (pts vary)Day / Pages / Self-quizzes are unannounced and worth 5pts
M / 8/25 / Repaso y Capítulo 6
T / 8/26 / 6
Th / 8/28 / 6
F / 8/29 / 6
M / 9/1 / No class – Labor Day
T / 9/2 / 6
Th / 9/4 / 6 y repaso
F / 9/5 / Quiz 6
M / 9/8 / Capítulo7
T / 9/9 / 7
Th / 9/11 / 7
F / 9/12 / 7
M / 9/15 / 7 y repaso
T / 9/16 / Quiz 7
Th / 9/18 / Capítulo 8
F / 9/19 / 8
M / 9/22 / 8
T / 9/23 / 8
Th / 9/25 / 8
F / 9/26 / 8 y repaso
M / 9/29 / Quiz 8
T / 9/30 / Película
Th / 10/2 / Película
F / 10/3 / Borrador Ensayo
M / 10/6 / Capítulo 9
T / 10/7 / Ensayo en clase
Th / 10/9 / 9
F / 10/10 / 9
M / 10/13 / 9
T / 10/14 / 9
Th / 10/16 / 9 y repaso
F / 10/17 / Quiz 9
M / 10/20 / Capítulo 10
T / 10/21 / 10
Th / 10/23 / 10
F / 10/24 / 10
M / 10/27 / 10
T / 10/28 / 10
Th / 10/30 / Repaso 10
F / 10/31 / Quiz 10
M / 11/3 / Lectura o Película
T / 11/4 / No class – Election Day
Th / 11/6 / Lectura o Película y Una página con el tema de tu presentación (50pts)
F / 11/7 / Borrador
M / 11/10 / Ensayo en clase
T / 11/11 / No class – Veterans’ Day
Th / 11/13 / Presentaciones y repaso (ensayos posiblemente 11/13-11/25)
F / 11/14 / Presentaciones y repaso
M / 11/17 / Presentaciones y repaso
T / 11/18 / Presentaciones y repaso
Th / 11/20 / Presentaciones y repaso
F / 11/21 / Presentaciones y repaso
M / 11/24 / Presentaciones y repaso
T / 11/25 / Presentaciones y repaso
W-F / 11/26-28 / No class – Thanksgiving Break
M / 12/1 / Lecturas y repaso
T / 12/2 / Lecturas y repaso
Th / 12/4 / Lecturas y repaso
F / 12/5 / Lecturas y repaso
12/8-12/12 / FINAL EXAM Incluye capítulos 6-10, un ensayo, y lecturas
SEPTEMBER 18TH Sign up for one hour 4:30-8:30pm
4:30-5:30pm Two students meet at my office to help set up the table in the oval or UC.
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5:00-6:00pm Meet at the table to help visitors make piñata cones etc.
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6:00pm-7:00pm Meet at the table to help visitors make piñata cones etc.
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7:pm-8:pm Meet at the table to help visitors make piñata cones etc.
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7:30pm-8:00pm Meet at the table to help visitors make piñata cones etc. and help take supplies back to my office.
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Note:All due dates and other dates on this syllabus are subject to change.
[1] If your overall final grade is 88%, it will be lowered to 87% for the 5th absence, 86% for the 6th absence and so on.