The University of Texas at Tyler s3

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLER

Department of Literature and Languages

SPAN 2611.001—Fall Semester 2014

Accelerated Intermediate Spanish

MWF 12:20-2:20

Instructor: Gregory Utley, PhD.

Office: BUS. 246

Office Hours: MWF 2:30-3:30 or by appointment.

E-Mail:

Telephone Numbers: Office: 903.566.7464; Department: 903.566.7373;

Home: 903.565.4729

Recommended prerequisite: SPAN 1414 (Beginning Spanish II) or equivalent.

Required material (available at the Barnes and Noble UT Tyler Bookstore): Access card for: González-Aguilar, María y Marta Rosso-O’Laughlin. Atando cabos. 4th ed. Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2011. This includes access to MySpanishLab.com. ISBN: 9780205978687.

Course Description: This course is designed to reinforce and expand the language skills that you have already acquired during the first two semesters of college-level

Spanish (or the equivalent) at UT Tyler or elsewhere. THIS ACCELERATED INTERMEDIATE LEVEL COURSE COVERS THE MAJORITY OF TOPICS TYPICALLY SEEN IN A TRADITIONAL TWO SEMESTER SEQUENCE. The general expectation is that the course will push you to a more sophisticated level of understanding and expression. The course is conducted mostly in Spanish, with practice given to all language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Interwoven with this work will be the examination and discussion of literature, art, geography, and events pertinent to the Hispanic world. The course goals/learning outcomes are as follows:

· comprehend the speech of an educated Spanish-speaker conversing on

day-to-day topics at a moderate speed;

· speak about everyday topics so that an educated native speaker accustomed to speaking with non-natives can understand you without difficulty;

· read passages in Spanish on non-technical subjects, looking up only a relatively limited number of unknown words;

· communicate in writing in Spanish on familiar topics with fewer syntactic and

semantic errors.

Methodology: Students will be expected to actively participate in a variety of interactive small and large group activities. The course is not based on lectures, but rather on active learner participation in multiple tasks that require students to use Spanish.

Course Requirements

Attendance: Because language learning is a cumulative process, regular attendance is essential. You are given three (3) unexcused absences, however, to use at your discretion for such things as non-severe illness, travel, etc. Each additional unexcused absence will result in the lowering of your final course grade by three percentage points. An absence will be excused if it is due to severe illness, jury duty, verifiable emergency situations, religious holidays/observances, or participation in a UT Tyler sponsored event AND IS DOCUMENTED. If at all possible, please let the instructor know ahead of time when you plan to miss class. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get in touch with a classmate to find out what went on in class. I DO NOT EXCEPT LATE WORK except in the case of the instances mentioned above.

Examinations: There will be four examinations given during the semester. Examination dates are indicated in the class calendar. Examinations will be given in class and will consist of vocabulary, grammar, and writing exercises.

Homework: Homework exercises will mainly consist of activities from MySpanishLab.com for the indicated chapters. Completion of these exercises will be valuable preparation for tests and they will improve your Spanish! In addition, it is expected that you will read the assigned pages in the textbook prior to coming to class. The instructor may also assign other homework exercises. These will be announced in class and on Blackboard.

Semester Project and Oral Presentation: Each student will develop a “newspaper” that contains at least three separate sections (i.e. noticias locales, noticias internacionales, farandula, deportes, etc.). Each section must contain at least two articles of a minimum of one-half page each. An image should be included with each article. The “newspaper” must be at least 6 pages in length, but no more than 10 pages total. During the last week of classes each student will present his or her project in the form of a newscast employing a PowerPoint presentation. More details to follow on the oral presentation. In addition to creativity, the following will be taken into account for a written project grade:

· Complete sentences.

· Logical organization.

· A project free from misspelled words (including appropriate uses of accents) and serious grammatical errors.

· A project neatly presented with such traditional formatting as one inch margins and 12 point New Times Roman typeface. Please use single spacing.

The following will guide me in the determination of your final grade:

Examinations ...... 40%

“Newspaper” ...... 20%

Oral Presentation ...... 15%

Homework ...... 20%

Class Participation and Effort ...... 5%

100%

Grading Scale:

90-100%: A

80-89%: B

70-79%: C

60-69%: D

Below 60%: F

Students Rights and Responsibilities

To know and understand the policies that affect your rights and responsibilities as a student at UT Tyler, please follow this link: http://www2.uttyler.edu/wellness/rightsresponsibilities.php

Grade Replacement/Forgiveness and Census Date Policies

Students repeating a course for grade forgiveness (grade replacement) must file a Grade Replacement Contract with the Enrollment Services Center (ADM 230) on or before the Census Date of the semester in which the course will be repeated. Grade Replacement Contracts are available in the Enrollment Services Center or at http://www.uttyler.edu/registrar. Each semester’s Census Date can be found on the Contract itself, on the Academic Calendar, or in the information pamphlets published each semester by the Office of the Registrar. Failure to file a Grade Replacement Contract will result in both the original and repeated grade being used to calculate your overall grade point average. Undergraduates are eligible to exercise grade replacement for only three course repeats during their career at UT Tyler; graduates are eligible for two grade replacements. Full policy details are printed on each Grade Replacement Contract.

The Census Date is the deadline for many forms and enrollment actions that students need to be aware of. These include:

· Submitting Grade Replacement Contracts, Transient Forms, requests to withhold directory information, approvals for taking courses as Audit, Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit.

· Receiving 100% refunds for partial withdrawals. (There is no refund for these after the Census Date)

· Schedule adjustments (section changes, adding a new class, dropping without a “W” grade)

· Being reinstated or re-enrolled in classes after being dropped for non-payment

· Completing the process for tuition exemptions or waivers through Financial Aid

State-Mandated Course Drop Policy

Texas law prohibits a student who began college for the first time in Fall 2007 or thereafter from dropping more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career. This includes courses dropped at another 2-year or 4-year Texas public college or university. For purposes of this rule, a dropped course is any course that is dropped after the census date (See Academic Calendar for the specific date).

Exceptions to the 6-drop rule may be found in the catalog. Petitions for exemptions must be submitted to the Enrollment Services Center and must be accompanied by documentation of the extenuating circumstance. Please contact the Enrollment Services Center if you have any questions.

Disability Services

In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) the University offers accommodations to students with learning, physical and/or psychiatric disabilities. If you have a disability, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, PTSD or ADHD, or you have a history of modifications or accommodations in a previous educational environment you are encouraged to contact the Student Accessibility and Resources office and schedule an interview with the Accessibility Case Manager/ADA Coordinator, Cynthia Lowery Staples. If you are unsure if the above criteria applies to you, but have questions or concerns please contact the SAR office. For more information or to set up an appointment please visit the SAR office located in the University Center, Room 3150 or call 903.566.7079. You may also send an email to

Student Absence due to Religious Observance

Students who anticipate being absent from class due to a religious observance are requested to inform the instructor of such absences by the second class meeting of the semester.

Student Absence for University-Sponsored Events and Activities

If you intend to be absent for a university-sponsored event or activity, you (or the event sponsor) must notify the instructor at least two weeks prior to the date of the planned absence. At that time the instructor will set a date and time when make-up assignments will be completed.

Social Security and FERPA Statement:

It is the policy of The University of Texas at Tyler to protect the confidential nature of social security numbers. The University has changed its computer programming so that all students have an identification number. The electronic transmission of grades (e.g., via e-mail) risks violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act; grades will not be transmitted electronically.

Emergency Exits and Evacuation:

Everyone is required to exit the building when a fire alarm goes off. Follow your instructor’s directions regarding the appropriate exit. If you require assistance during an evacuation, inform your instructor in the first week of class. Do not re-enter the building unless given permission by University Police, Fire department, or Fire Prevention Services.

Important Information: Students’ academic work will be held to the highest standards of integrity in this course. Cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty will be pursued by disciplinary actions. If there is any question about what is explicitly allowed for specific assignments, please do not hesitate to ask. You may consult with your classmates and/or friends about compositions and homework, but you may not copy someone else’s work or have them do any part of it for you. All tests must be completed on your own. All sources in written work must be properly acknowledged.

This course is enrolled in BLACKBOARD. The instructor will use the site for

posting the syllabus, grades, and for making announcements. Please check this site for next-class activities and assignments due. It may take the instructor up to one week to grade and return assignments or tests. The instructor reserves the right to make small changes to the syllabus at his discretion and according to how the course develops during the term. Any such changes will be announced in class and posted on BLACKBOARD. Not reading or understanding the syllabus does not excuse a student from course deadlines and obligations. Please direct all questions about the syllabus to the instructor.

The last day to drop this course is 27 October 2014.

Calendar / Course Outline (SUBJECT TO MODIFICATION.)

August 25 Introduction to course

27, 29 Chapter 1

September 1 Labor Day Holiday

3, 5 Chapter 1 / 2

8-12 Chapter 2 / 3

15 Exam 1 / Finish corresponding MySpanishLab activities

17, 19 Chapter 4

22-26 Chapter 4 / 5

29 Chapter 5

October 1-3 Chapter 5 / 6

6 Chapter 6

8 Exam II / Finish corresponding MySpanishLab activities

10 Chapter 7

13-17 Chapter 7 / 8

20-24 Chapter 8 / 9

27 Chapter 9

29 Exam III / Finish corresponding MySpanishLab activities

31 Chapter 10

November 3-7 Chapter 10 / 11

10-14 Chapter 11 / 12

17-19 Chapter 11 / 12

21 Exam IV / Finish corresponding MySpanishLab activities

24-28 Thanksgiving Recess

December 1-5 PRESENTATIONS

Useful Website: