American University Department of Language and Foreign Studies Advanced Grammar and Composition Spring 2009

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1 American University Department of Language and Foreign Studies SPAN Advanced Grammar and Composition Spring 2009 Instructor: Maria Tamayo Office hours: McKinley 258 By appt M 6:00 7:00pm. Emergencies only cell Class hours: Ward 5 Tues 5:30-8:00pm. I. General Course Information This course aims to improve your communicative skills in Spanish by focusing on understanding and practicing Spanish grammar. We will cover aspects of the Spanish language structure that are essential for speaking, listening, reading and writing in the language. Since this is a 300-level topics course, we will be using the language to discuss different topics. The course requires an advanced level of fluency and understanding of the Spanish language, as well as good knowledge of grammar in the student s own language in order to be able to follow the class. This course uses Blackboard academic software via Problems? Call Center for Teaching Excellence ext II. Course Outcomes Practice speaking skills to express yourself more accurately. Improve writing abilities in short but substantive essays. Increase listening and understanding of video footage and news items. Expand reading and comprehension of key elements from various texts. III. Course Requirements A) Class attendance, participation and homework (20 20%) Students are expected to prepare the required material and participate actively in class. Class performance is essential to the learning experience and will be evaluated accordingly. You are expected to attend every class. In case of an absence, you must give me advance notice and an acceptable justification. If you miss a class, you are responsible for getting the notes and the assignments in on time. Please do not send me late homework without consulting with me previously. You are expected to bring your text and materials to class every week. Late arrivals disrupt a class and will not be accepted. You are responsible for completing the work at the pace required by the course. Most homework will be reviewed in class. Assignments must be typewritten and turned in on the marked date.

2 B) Oral presentations (20%) and essays (20%) During the semester, you will be expected to prepare and make two (2) oral presentations in class (10 minutes) on a topic that will be discussed ahead of time so that you can get prepared. I strongly encourage you to use visual aids, such as Power Point or posters. You are expected to speak for the required ten minutes and not read your presentation. The exercise should serve to display your oral proficiency and ability to use the language in conversation. Work will be graded for clarity, fluency, vocabulary, grammatical accuracy and adequate treatment of topic. In addition, the week after your oral presentation you should submit a written essay at least two pages long (typewritten and double spaced) on the topic of your oral presentation. These assignments will be graded separately on the use of correct grammatical structures and vocabulary and should serve as an opportunity to experiment in written Spanish with the grammar that you are practicing. C) Reaction Papers (10%) You will be expected to submit two reaction papers in Spanish to the content of two oral presentations of special interest to you with your comments on the topics discussed. These should also be submitted typewritten and double spaced. D) Mid-Term and Final Exams (30%) The Mid-Term Exam (March 3) and Final Exam (May 5) are cumulative. No make-ups will be given. IV. Academic Matters Academic and Disability Support Services: If you have any questions on this course, please let me know. In addition to the resources of the department, a wide range of services is available to support you in your efforts to meet the course requirements. Academic Support Center (x3360, MGC 201) offers study skills workshops, individual instruction, tutor referrals, and services for students with learning disabilities. Counseling Center (x3360, MGC 201) offers counseling and consultations regarding personal concerns, self-help information, and connections to off-campus mental health resources. Disability Support Services (x3315, MGC 120) offers technical and practical support and assistance with accommodations for students with physical or psychological disabilities. If you have a disability and might require accommodations in this course, please notify me with a letter from DSS or LS early in the semester so that we can make arrangements to address your needs. Academic Integrity All courses in the Department of Language and Foreign studies adhere strictly to the Academic Integrity Code of American University. Dishonesty in exams, quizzes, homework and plagiarism (presenting the words or ideas of others as yours) will not

3 be tolerated. Your can visit the Academic Integrity web site at V. Grading Scale A C A C B C B D B F 59 and below VI. Course Materials Required text: Isolde Jordan et al. Curso de gramática avanzada del español: Comunicación reflexiva, Prentice Hall, May, ISBN Copies of short stories and articles will be distributed in class. Video material is available in AU Library. Any other additional material will be distributed in class or posted in Blackboard. Suggested aid material Elsa Pittman, 575+ Spanish verbs, Wiley Publishing, Inc., Diccionario del Estudiante, Real Academia Española, Santillana, 2005.

4 Date Classwork Course Calendar Homework Assignments Jan 13 Presentación y administración del curso. Capítulo preliminar. Lee Capítulo 1. Escribe esquema pp , Prepara ejerc. 7 (29-31), 1 (35), 8 (31-32). Jan 20 NO HAY CLASE FERIADO INAUGURACION Jan 27 Discusión del esquema. Puesta en común de ejerc 1 (24), 5 (28-29), 7 (38-39). Otros ejerc. Disc. 3,4 Lee Cap. 9. Escribe esquema Prepara ejerc. 1 (273), 2, 3 ( ). Lee Paso del Norte de Juan Rulfo. Feb 3 Comentario de Paso del Norte. Discusión del esquema. Puesta en común de ejerc. 6 ( ), 7 ( ), 8 (279). Pp ideas para primera composición. Feb 10 PRESENTACIONES ORALES Prepara 1ª PRESENTACION ORAL y borrador de 1ª COMPOSICION. Prepara 1ª Reacción y VERSION FINAL DE COMPOSICION. Feb. 17 Entrega de 1ª COMPOSICION y 1ª Reacción. Lee Cap. 2. Escribe esquema pp Prepara ejerc. 1 (57), 4 (59-60). Feb 24 Discusión del esquema. Puesta en común de ejerc. 2,3,8 y 10 (57-65). Grupo ejerc. 3 (66). Mar 3 MID TERM Mar 10 NO HAY CLASE Lee Cap. 3. Escribe esquema pp Prepara Disc. 1 (75), 2 (77-78). Ejerc. 1 (91-92). Prepara tu Currículum Vitae en español. Lee Dia Domingo de Mario Vargas Llosa. SPRING BREAK Mar 17 Entrega de CV. Comentario escrito de Dia Domingo. Lee Cap. 4. Escribe esquema pp. Escribe esquema pp Prepara ejerc. 5 (125), 9 (127) Prepara ejerc. 1,3 (122,23,24)

5 Mar 24 Puesta en común de ejerc. Grupo 4, 5 ( ) Mar 31 Puesta en común de ejerc 1 (148), 6 (154-56). Apr 7 Comentario escrito de Volver. Puesta en común de otros ejerc. Lee Cap 5. Escribe esquema pp Prepara ejerc 2 ( ), 3 ( ), 8 (151). Mira la película Volver de Pedro Almodóvar. Prepara 2ª PRESENTACION ORAL y borrador de 2ª Composición. Apr 14 PRESENTACIONES ORALES Apr 21 Entrega de 2ª Composición. Puesta en común ejerc. 1, 2 (180-82). Otros ejerc. Prepara versión final de 2ª Composición. Lee Cap 6. Prepara esquema Prepara ejerc. Disc 1, 3, 6 (193), 6 (197-9) Lee Cap 7 Prepara esquema Prepara ejerc. Disc. 3, Ejerc. 6 (222), 7 (223) Apr 28 Puesta en común de ejerc. 2 ( ), 4, 5 (221-22). May 5 EXAMEN FINAL Cap. 8 Prepara esquema pp Prepara ejerc. 1, 2 (246-7). PREPARA PARA EL EXAMEN FINAL. 5:30 8:00 WARD 5 11 Jan 2009

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