Syllabus for SPA 356:  Latin American Literature

 

Prerequisite: Completion of Spanish 311 or its equivalent.

 

Course Rationale

Latin America is rich in literature and has produced many famous writers who use literature as an important means of social, political and cultural expression, thus forming part of the movements about which they write. The students who take this course will find that it complements both the theoretical and experiential aspects of the semester program.

 

Course Description

This course will provide a survey of Latin American literature from the sixteenth century to the present, with particular attention given to the 20^th century and the relationship between literature and social change. Students will read poetry, short stories, plays, testimonial literature, and one short novel. They will learn about these different genres of literature and how to analyze each of them using literary terminology. They will also learn about Latin American history, politics, human rights, social activism, and gender roles through the lens of fictional and non-fictional characters, including the voices of women writers representing diverse class and ethnic backgrounds.

 

The instructor will encourage introspection in the analysis of literary texts through class discussions, occasional lectures, and written and oral assignments. In addition to engaging in literary analysis, students will be asked to imagine the context in which the author wrote and the author’s thinking at that time. In this manner, the student will be able to understand the literature more clearly, as well as the relationship between language and the socio-political reality represented in the works studied.

 

*This course counts toward the major or minor in Spanish at Augsburg College.

 

Learning Objectives

Students will:

1.      Become familiar with important authors and common themes in contemporary Latin American literature.

2.      Identify different literary periods and movements in Latin American literature.

3.      Demonstrate an understanding of the different literary terminology employed in the analysis of different types of narratives, such as poetry, short stories, and plays.

4.      Use literary terminology in their own analysis of contemporary Latin American literature.

5.      Articulate a basic understanding of Latin American history, politics, human rights, social activism, and gender roles, as seen through the lens of fictional and non-fictional characters.

6.      Discuss the social and political impact of Latin American writers in the struggle for social change.

7.      Improve their written and oral expression in Spanish.

8.      Expand their Spanish vocabulary.

Course Design

Unit I:     Introduction to Latin American Literature

Unit II:    Short Stories and Testimonial Literature:  A sampling of short stories and testimonial literature about historical events and key themes: land distribution, human rights, political autonomy, women's rights, and the rights of  indigenous peoples

Unit III:   Poetry: Poems that focus on love, death, beauty, and time

Unit IV:   Plays: An exploration of plays as extensions of daily life

Unit V:    The Latin American Novel: A sampling of novels of different kinds and lengths

 

Required Readings

Students should buy the following texts in the U.S. or make arrangements with Julie Rogers at JulieCGE@gmail.com  to buy one of the limited number of used copies we have.

1. Virginio, Carmelos, Friedman, Edward H. and Valdivieso, Teresa L. Aproximaciones al estudio de la literatura hispánica, 4ª edicion. McGraw-Hill, 1998. ISBN 0070123322

3. Novel:  To be announced.

3. Spanish/English dictionary.

In addition, students will be expected to buy at least one additional book (most likely a novel) and a small supplementary reading packet after arrival in Cuernavaca. Therefore, they should plan on bringing about $30 (US).

 

Course Requirements (100% = 100 points)

20%     (20 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.)

30%     (30 points)       Two formal oral presentations in which the student discusses her or his literary analysis of an assigned text, accompanied by a written outline. Each presentation is worth 15 points.

30%     (30 points)       Two essays analyzing different required texts. Each essay should be approximately 2-3 pages in length and is worth 15 points.

20%     (20 points)       A written exam that demonstrates the student’s ability to conduct literary analysis.

 

Weekly Assignment Schedule for SP A 356

	Mon.	Tues.	Thurs.
Week 1	1st day of class.		Oral Presentation #1 in class
Week 2			Essay #1 due in class
Week 3			Oral Presentation #2 in class
Week 4			Essay #2 due in class & Exam

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.

• Comprehension and description of a work (main characters, main topic, etc.)

• Deepness and analysis skills (interpretation, key message, significant values, etc.)

• Application of knowledge of literary figures such as rhyme, hyperbole, etc.

Grading Criteria for Essays

• Structure: Introduction; organization, sequence, and development of ideas; and conclusion

• Content: Clarity and complexity of ideas

• Literary Analysis: Application of literary terminology to the analysis of the literature being discussed

• Grammar: Correct use of complex forms studied in class

• Style: Effective use of appropriate style for given assignment (description, narration, argumentation, or exposition)

 Grading Criteria for Oral Presentations

• Structure: Introduction; organization, sequence, and development of ideas; and conclusion

• Content: Clarity and complexity of ideas

• Literary Analysis: Application of literary terminology to the analysis of the literature being discussed

• Grammar: Correct use of complex forms studied in class

• Oral Expression: Pronunciation, articulation, volume, and tone

• Written Outline: Organization of ideas and main points

Oral presentations are not considered complete (and will be graded down significantly) if they are not accompanied by an outline.