Spanish 5: Language and Literature

Amherst College, Spring 2008

Spanish 5: Language and Literature

MWF 10-10:50 AM, 11-11:50 AM

Merrill Science Center 314

Lecturer: Patricia Ferrer-Medina

office: Grosvenor 20

office hrs: MW 12:30-2 PM

I. Course Objectives

The main objective in this course is for the student to develop the fundamental reading and analytical skills necessary in order to produce critical essays of literary texts in Spanish. The student will be introduced to stylistic figures, the study of literary genres and literary history. Close attention will be paid to class discussion, vocabulary building, and written analysis for which a separate weekly grammar review will be held.

Éste es un curso umbral a los estudios literarios hispánicos. Juntos llegaremos a hablar, pensar y soñar en español.

II. Course Philosophy

As any course whose objective is literary study, this course will rely heavily on class discussion which sometimes will be lead by the professor and sometimes by the students themselves. Students are therefore responsible for reading and studying texts before each class meeting.

III. Materials

·  Manual de gramática: Grammar Reference for Students of Spanish
by Zulma Iguina and Eleanor Dozier. Heinle: Fourth edition (2007)

Aproximaciones al estudio de la literatura hispánica

by Carmelo Virgillo, Teresa Valdivieso, and Edward Friedman. McGraw-Hill: Sixth edition (2008)

IV. Course Requirements

Grading Scale
A+ / 100-97
A / 96-94
A- / 93-90
B+ / 89-87
B / 86-84
B- / 83-80
C+ / 79-77
C / 76-74
C- / 73-70
D / 69-60
F / 59-0
Grade Distribution
Attendance & Participation / 25%
Oral Presentations (2x6%) / 12%
Compositions
(4 x 7%) / 28%
T.A. Sessions / 20%
Final Project / 15%
100%

A) Attendance and Participation

Attendance is mandatory and essential. Absences will be justified only if official and valid documentation is provided. One point will be taken off for every two unjustified absences. Each unexcused tardiness of 10 mins or more will be counted as an unjustified absence. Absent students are responsible for inquiring after any material and class discussion missed.

Attendance is also mandatory in the instance of two lectures by invited speakers on the following dates: February 25 at 4:30PM and March 24 at 5PM. Absences to these lectures will only be excused if official documentation is provided.

Class participation is of utmost importance. Students should prepare for class having read and studied the texts assigned. To “study” a text means to read it at least twice, look up any words that impede understanding and to formulate specific ideas or questions about the overall meaning of the text and/or its structural components. Students will be expected to share these ideas and/or questions with the rest of the class- participation is essential. Students do not have to speak perfectly or wisely but they do have to exhibit a willingness to make a case for, discuss, and engage with the text as well as with the professor’s and other student’s comments.

B) Oral Presentations

Each student will lead class discussion twice in the semester. Each presentation should last from 7 to 10 mins and will be organized in two parts. During the first and longer part the student will present what s/he perceives to be the central theme of the text and explain its treatment and development. In the second part the student will present the class with 2 questions designed to bring about a discussion.

C) Compositions

Students will hand in a total of 4 compositions. Brief brainstorming sessions will be held in class and a first draft will be due in class for peer editing a week before the final draft is due. Peer editing will take place following specific guidelines that will be explained and distributed later on the semester. Final drafts should be handed in together with the first draft and the peer editing evaluation sheet that will be provided. Final drafts will be due on: February 22, March 26, April 11, and May 2. No late compositions will be accepted unless official documentation proving illness or disaster is produced. Compositions should be handed in hard copy- no emailed compositions will be accepted. The format and topics for the compositions will be specified later on the semester.

D) T.A. Sessions

These are essential to the course as they provide an intensive grammar review. Attendance is mandatory and participation is required. The T.A.s Maria Twardy and Azhara López will also administer 6 quizzes (pruebas) testing the material covered. The quizzes will be “take-homes” posted online the Friday before the Monday they are due. Students are responsible for printing the quizzes out, answering the questions, and bringing the quizzes to class on Monday. No late quizzes will be accepted unless official documentation proving illness or disaster is produced. Students are held by the Amherst College Honor Code and as such they are expected to submit their own work, not to consult any materials or persons, and to follow instructions honestly. Questions concerning quizzes’ material or grading should be directed to the T.A.s.

E) Final Project

Students will be divided in groups by the professor and together they will work on producing a literary analysis of a text of their choosing. Specific guidelines for the literary analysis will be distributed later on the semester. Two workshops, scheduled for April 16 and 18, will be held during class so that students can do some work on class time. However, it is expected that students do most of the work together outside of the classroom.

V. Schedule (subject to change)

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FECHA / ANTES DE CLASE / EN CLASE / PARA ENTREGAR
L / enero / 28 / Presentación de syllabus
M/J / TA / Presentación de la clase
M / 30 / Leer págs. 2-8 en Aproximaciones / Cómo leer y pensar la literatura
V / febrero / 1 / Leer págs. 134-5 (intro)
y 148-154 / Introducción a la poesía
L / 4 / Leer págs. 170-1 / Anónimo: “El enamorado y la muerte”
M/J / TA: Leer de 60 a 75 en Manual de gramática / Ejerc.: 3.5, 3.6, 3.8, 3.14, 3.15
M / 6 / Leer págs. 177-9 / San Juan de la Cruz: “ Noche oscura”
V / 8 / Leer págs.186-8 / Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz: “A su retrato,” “A una rosa”
L / 11 / Ver película “Yo la peor de todas” / Discusión “Yo la peor de todas”
M/J / TA: Leer de 77 a 88 en Manual de gramática / Ejerc.: 3.20, 3.21, 3.24, 3.28.
M / 13 / Leer págs. 196-7, 202-3 / José Martí: “Dos Patrias”
Rubén Darío: “El cisne”
V / 15 / Taller de escritura y análisis II: La poesía / Borrador composición #1
L / 18 / Leer págs. 225-6 / Nicolás Guillén: “Sensemayá (Canto para matar una culebra)” / Prueba 1
M/J / TA: Leer de 99 a 108 en Manual de gramática / Ejerc.: 3.39, 3.40
M / 20 / Leer hoja suelta / Marjorie Agosín: “Lo más increíble”
V / 22 / Leer hoja suelta / Marjorie Agosín: “La desaparecida” / Composición #1
L / 25 / Leer hoja suelta / Marjorie Agosín: “Memorial de las locas en la Plaza de Mayo”
CHARLA: Marjorie Agosín
4:30PM
M/J / TA: Leer de 112 a 129 en Manual de gramática / Ejerc.: 4.2, 4.9, 4.16.
M / 27 / Leer págs. 13-19 / Introducción a la narrativa
V / 29 / Leer págs. 89-92 / Elena Poniatowska: “El recado”
L / marzo / 3 / Elena Poniatowska: “El recado” / Prueba 2
M/J / TA: Leer de 189 a 199 en Manual de gramática / Ejerc.: 6.4, 6.6, 6.13.
M / 5 / Leer págs. 92-97 / Cristina Peri Rossi: “El museo de los Esfuerzos inútiles”
V / 7 / Cristina Peri Rossi: “El museo de los Esfuerzos inútiles”
L / 10 / Leer págs.79-89 / Gabriel García Márquez “La mujer que llegaba a las seis”
M/J / TA: Leer de 200 a 211 en Manual de gramática / Ejerc.: 6.20, 6.22, 6.25.
M / 12 / Gabriel García Márquez “La mujer que llegaba a las seis”
V / 14 / Taller de escritura y análisis: La narrativa / Borrador composición #2
L / 17
M / 19
V / 21
L / 24 / Leer págs. 248, 251-257 / Introducción al drama.
CHARLA: Doris Sommer
5PM / Prueba 3
M/J / TA: Leer de 212 a 221 en Manual de gramática / Ejerc.: 6.29, 6.34b, 6.35b.
M / 26 / Leer págs. 313-30 / Griselda Gambaro: “Antígona furiosa” / Composición #2
V / 28 / Griselda Gambaro: “Antígona furiosa”
L / 31 / Griselda Gambaro: “Antígona furiosa”
M/J / TA: Leer de 222 a 233 en Manual de gramática / Ejerc.: 6.40, 6.43, 6.45.
M / abril / 2 / Leer págs. 330-338 / Paloma Pedrero: “Resguardo personal”
V / 4 / Taller de escritura y análisis: El drama / Borrador composición #3
L / 7 / Paloma Pedrero: “Resguardo personal” / Prueba 4
M/J / TA: Leer de 237 a 246 en Manual de gramática / Ejerc.: 6.55, 6.56, 6.61.
M / 9 / Leer págs. 376-383 / Introducción al ensayo
V / 11 / Rosario Castellanos: “Y las madres, ¿qué opinan?” / Composición #3
L / 14 / Rosario Castellanos: “Y las madres, ¿qué opinan?”
M/J / TA: Leer de 247 a 260 en Manual de gramática / Ejerc.: 6.70, 6.72, 6.73, 6.74.
M / 16 / Taller proyecto final
V / 18 / Taller proyecto final
L / 21 / Leer págs.436-442 / Rosario Ferré: “La auntenticidad de la mujer en el arte” / Prueba 5
M/J / TA: Leer de 261 a 264
y de 268 a 276 en Manual de gramática / Ejerc.: 6.79, 7.5.
M / 23 / Rosario Ferré: “La auntenticidad de la mujer en el arte”
V / 25 / Taller de escritura y análisis- El ensayo / Borrador composición #4
L / 28 / Leer págs. 417-428 / Arturo Uslar Pietri: “Notas sobre el vasallaje”
M/J / TA: Leer de 277 a 286 en Manual de gramática / Ejerc.: 7.12, 7.13, 7.16.
M / 30 / Arturo Uslar Pietri: “Notas sobre el vasallaje”
V / mayo / 2 / Arturo Uslar Pietri: “Notas sobre el vasallaje” / Composición #4
L / 5 / Presentaciones proyecto final / Prueba 6
M/J / TA / Clase especial
M / 7 / Presentaciones proyecto final
V / 9 / Presentaciones proyecto final

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