SPA 311: Conversation & Composition
Course Syllabus
Prerequisite: Completion of Spanish 212 or its equivalent, or placement exam
Course Description
This class is designed to meet the individual needs of advanced Spanish students who have completed two or more years of college level Spanish. The goal is for students to enrich their vocabulary and improve fluency and facility through oral and written practice in correct expression. Basic grammar structures will be reviewed and more complicated structures introduced and practiced so that students may improve their overall fluency in the language. Emphasis will be placed on learning to express abstract ideas while correctly using complex grammatical structures.
Students will be expected to read the local newspapers and watch local news in order to become informed of key issues in Mexico and the rest of Latin America. In class they will also watch films that address contemporary issues that they will then discuss. The experience of living with host families provides many additional hours of practice for students.
All students will take a written and oral pre-test at Universal during their first week in Cuernavaca. At the end of the semester, they will take an ungraded post-test in order to assess their improvement. The pre-test will not serve as a placement exam but rather as an assessment measure and a way for the Spanish instructors to determine students' strengths and weaknesses. That information will then be used to: 1) tailor some of the class sessions to address problem areas; 2) recommend special tutoring for students who are behind others in the class; and 3) divide the group into smaller classes or sub-groups when there are more than six students registered for the same course.
*This course counts toward the major or minor in Spanish at Augsburg College and is a prerequisite for all upper division courses except for SPA 316: Advanced Conversation.
Required Text and Other Materials
Carbón, Lynn and Finneman, Michael D. De lector a escritor: El desarrollo de la comunicación escrita, 2a edicion, Heinle, 2001. ISBN: 0838416500
Learning Objectives
Students will:- Improve their written and oral expression of Spanish.
- Master the use of complex grammatical structures.
- Express abstract ideas effectively in Spanish.
- Expand their vocabulary, particularly with regard to contemporary events and issues in Latin America.
- Master four types of written and oral expression: a) description, b) narration, c) argumentation, and d) exposition.
Course Requirements (100% = 100 points)
15% (15 points): Active class participation. Class participation includes punctuality, presence in class, active engagement in class sessions, and completion of all assignments and required readings or listening assignments on time. (See grading criteria listed below.)
15% (15 points): Homework (tareas) from the Workbook (Cuaderno de práctica). Each is worth five points and these are only due during Week #1.
40% (40 points): Four Compositions: Students will write four short compositions, each of which will involve a different style of written expression and will be graded on the criteria listed later in this syllabus. Students will write and submit two drafts/revisions before completing the final version of each composition. The first draft will be submitted for peer review and discussion in class and the second will be submitted to the instructor. The drafts will not be graded. However, final versions of the composition will NOT be accepted without at least two drafts that demonstrate the student's progress. Each final composition should be 1½-2 typed pages in length and is worth 10 points.
- Composition #1: Description
- Composition #2: Narration
- Composition #3: Argumentation
- Composition #4: Exposition
- Presentation #1: Description (5 points)
- Presentation #2: Narration (5 points)
- Presentation #3: Argumentation (10 points)
- Presentation #4: Exposition (10 points)
Grading Criteria for Class Participation
- Full participation involves speaking only Spanish in class, completing assignments on time, coming to class prepared and on time, participating in all class activities with enthusiasm and interest, collaborating with the instructor and other students (as applicable), and demonstrating effort at improving Spanish abilities. Because all Universal classes seek to assist the students in becoming conversational in Spanish, class participation is extremely important.
- Students must be punctual. One-half of a point will be deducted each time you are more than five minutes late to class. Two points will be deducted per unexcused absence. Excused absences are for religious holidays, emergencies, and illness when the student has called the Universal Spanish director Irma Salazar (318-2904) and asked her to advise the instructor of her or his absence prior to the start of class and later documented with a doctor's note.
- You may miss one class during the entire course for a reason other than illness without being penalized if you clear this absence in advance with your teacher or the director (Irma Salazar) and if the reason for missing class is acceptable. Examples of an acceptable absence include the following: a visit from friends or family, an especially heavy workload in other courses at that moment, or extenuating emotional circumstances. You may NOT miss class simply because your alarm clock didn't go off and you slept in! For any UNEXCUSED absences in your Spanish classes, you will be docked two points per absence, regardless of your progress in the course.
- Students are responsible for talking with the instructor about what they missed in class, getting notes or handouts from other students, and for making up any assignments that were completed in class.
Grading Criteria for Compositions
- Structure: Introduction; organization, sequence, and development of ideas; and conclusion
- Content: Clarity and complexity of ideas
- Grammar: Correct use of complex forms studied in class
- Style: Effective use of appropriate style for given assignment (description, narration, argumentation, or exposition)
- At least two drafts: Demonstration of clear improvement from first two drafts
Grading Criteria for Oral Presentations
- Structure: Introduction; organization, sequence, and development of ideas; and conclusion
- Content: Clarity and complexity of ideas
- Grammar: Correct use of complex forms studied in class
- Style: Effective use of appropriate style for given assignment (description, narration, argumentation, or exposition)
- Oral Expression: Pronunciation; articulation; volume; and tone
- Written Outline: Organization of ideas and main points
Note about Portfolios: You must prepare a portfolio of all your work from this course and present it to your instructor in order to receive a final grade. In the case of Augsburg students, CGE staff will send a copy of the portfolio to Professor Susana Sandmann. The portfolio should include:
- Oral Presentations (At least six)
a. An outline of each of your oral presentations
b. A written evaluation of each oral presentation by the course instructor (with the grade)
- Any other documents that demonstrate your achievement of the course objectives.
