SYLLABUS

 

Course Description

In this first course of the Intermediate 103-104 sequence, students review and expand all communication skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) through grammar exercises and materials reflecting the history, literature, and cultures of the Hispanic world.

 

Student Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

 

1. handle successfully, orally and in writing, most       

uncomplicated communicative tasks and social situations    

dealing with: descriptions, perceptions, emotions, the family, 

relationships, immigration and exile;                                          

 

2. initiate, sustain and close a general conversation in Spanish

with a number of strategies appropriate to a range of          

circumstances and topics;                                                

                                   

3. meet most practical writing needs and limited social       

demands, including the ability to describe and narrate in     

simple paragraphs, in the present, preterit and imperfect;                                       

 

4. read consistently with full understanding of simple texts     

dealing with basic personal and social needs;         

 

5. apply correctly, orally and in writing, all fundamental       

grammar points from SPA 101 through SPA 103     

                                                                                               

6. demonstrate continued progress in all of the above aspects,     

as well as a developing understanding of the many different     

Hispanic cultures through the literary and cultural readings.    

 

Assessment (See “Major Assignments” for more detailed descriptions)

Participation:                                    20%

Homework:                                       20%

Compositions:                                   15%                

Chapter Tests:                                  15%    

Midterm Exam:                                 15%

Final Exam:                                       15%

 

 

100-98 (A+); 93-97.9 (A); 90-92.9 (A-); 88-89.9 (B+); 83-87.9 (B); 80-82.9 (B-); 78-79.9 (C+); 73-77.9 (C); 70-72.9 (C-); 68-69.9 (D+); 63-67.9 (D); 60-62.9 (D-); below 60 (F)

 

Major assignments

Participation in class discussions and activities, in Spanish, is the single most important aspect of the course, and this grade must be earned on a daily basis.

Students are expected to spend 1-2 hours on homework and studying for each class. Students will demonstrate in each class whether or not they have conscientiously completed the homework assignments. Homework will consist of: reading and studying in the text, taking notes on those readings; grammar review; cultural and literary readings; compositions; and film viewings. Homework will be assigned at the end of each class, and is due at the beginning of the following class. In the event of an absence, students are still responsible for anything covered in that class, as well as that night’s homework assignment. Students must contact a fellow student to get that information and any photocopies.

There will be several brief compositions of two versions each. I will mark the errors on the first version of each composition using abbreviations that will indicate the type of error made. Each essay is graded according to: (1) meeting minimal requirements: title, length, timely submission; (2) content: clarity and relevance to the thesis question; (3) organization: structured in a logical and coherent manner; (4) expression: verbal accuracy and use of Spanish structures; and (5) grammatical correctness, especially on certain featured grammar points. The second versions will be assessed differently, focusing on the corrections made to improve on the first version. Students must do their own work on these compositions, without the help of a native Spanish speaker or any sort of computer translator. However, I encourage that students help one another by proofreading each others’ papers whenever possible. Late compositions will receive a deduction of 50%. 

 

Exams: There will be chapter exams at the end of each grammar topic and at the end of each literature reading, as well as a midterm, and a final exam. The final exam is cumulative on all the material covered in the course. Students will be expected to master all the material covered, including all of the vocabulary, readings and grammar points. Students will also be expected to have memorized all verb forms covered, and they should be able to critically discuss any supplemental readings and film viewings.

Binder/Folder: Students are strongly encouraged to keep an organized folder or binder for all materials for this class. 

 

Attendance Policy

Attendance is mandatory for this class, and the policy is intrinsically included in the participation grade; simply put, a participation grade cannot be earned without attending class. As per the attendance policy for John F. Kennedy High School, a student is not allowed unexcused absences. In the event of any absence, it is the student’s responsibility to get the class notes and the homework assignment for the next class, including any photocopies.

 

Academic Integrity

Academic honesty - being honest and truthful in academic settings, especially in the communication and presentation of ideas - is required to experience and fulfill the mission of Niagara University.  Academic dishonesty - being untruthful, deceptive, or dishonest in academic settings in any way - subverts the university mission, harms faculty and students, damages the reputation of the University, and diminishes public confidence in higher education.

All members of the university community share the responsibility for creating conditions that support academic integrity.  Students must abstain from any violations of academic integrity and set examples for each other by assuming full responsibility for their academic and personal development, including informing themselves about and following the university's academic integrity policy.

Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to the following categories: cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, falsification or sabotage of research data, destruction or misuse of the university's academic resources, alteration or falsification of academic records, academic misconduct, complicity, and copyright violation.  This policy applies to all courses, program requirements, and learning contexts in which academic credit is offered.