University of Delaware
Span 107
Fall 1997

I. Course Goals

This third course of the basic Spanish series at the University of Delaware is designed to consolidate your knowledge of Spanish grammar while increasing your general vocabulary and comprehension skills. At the end of this course, you should b e able to handle basic conversations on familiar topics, write diverse kinds of compositions, and read and understand a wide range of authentic materials. Spanish 107 will also provide students wishing to continue developing their language skills in adva nced Spanish classes with a solid foundation on the structural, lexical, conversational, and literary aspects of this language.

Students at this level are expected to be familiar with basic Spanish vocabulary and to have a good grasp of most basic grammar concepts (subject/verb agreement; conjugation of the present, preterit, imperfect and future indicative tenses; subj ect and direct object pronouns), as well as some control over certain of the more complicated concepts (adjective/noun agreement; preterit vs. imperfect tenses; use of direct object pronouns; use of indirect object pronouns; por and para; co njugation of the conditional tense; the conjugation of gustar and similar verbs; the use of formal and informal commands; the use of ser and estar). Students are strongly urged to use the Tú dirás CD-ROM electro nic tutorial for additional practice with these grammar topics.

*Siempre adelante, Jorge H. Cubillos. Heinle & Heinle

*Siempre adelante: Cuaderno de ejercicios, Martínez-Lewis & McCone. Heinle & Heinle

*Siempre adelante: Reading Assistant (CD-ROM), Jorge H. Cubillos. Heinle & Heinle

*Tú dirás (CD-ROM), Sandra Rosenthal. Heinle & Heinle

*English - Spanish / Spanish - English Dictionary

*The SPAN 107 home page (http://www.udel.edu/cubillos/span107.html). This interactive resource allows for free, additional reading and listening, and contains links to:

-Lecturas simplificadas: simplified and abridged versions of several readings in the textbook.

-Tareas: a chapter theme page, which will be the source of various class assignments.

-Para tu información: cultural background information for each chapter in the textbook.

-Conexiones: on-line newspapers, magazines, and actual radio broadcasts from Spain and Latin America; the home pages of Hispanic countries which provide political, cultural, historical, geographical and tourist informa tion; the course syllabus; and a Spanish/English dictionary.

4. Grades: The plus/minus grading system is used.

B. Determining Components:

1. Class participation (15%) *involvement in class activities

*completion of homework assignments

Class participation grades will be assigned as follows:

- A (90's) - participates actively in class and small group discussions; prepares homework well;

often volunteers answers and speaks with few mistakes.

- B (80's) - participates actively in class and small group discussions; usually prepares homework

well; sometimes volunteers; makes some mistakes with more advanced grammar concepts.

- C (70's) - answers correctly when called upon; homework not always prepared well or on time;

unsure of some basic grammar concepts; makes frequent mistakes with advanced grammar.

- D (60's) -not able to answer when called upon, homework poorly prepared or not at all;

shows little interest in class; makes frequent mistakes with basic grammar concepts.

- F (50s) -shows no interest in speaking Spanish; does not prepare homework or discussion topics;

rarely answers when called upon or repeatedly gives incorrect answers and makes frequent mistakes with basic grammar concepts.

2. Oral exams (20%) There are two 15-minute oral exams, done in pairs, which will consist of an interview and a role-play. Speaking skills will be evaluated on the basis of the following scale:

Communication of Message 20%

Comprehension of Message 25%

Content and Vocabulary 20%

Grammatical Accuracy 20%

Pronunciation and Fluency 15%

3. Reading exams (15%) There are two exams which will test reading comprehension. One exam will test comprehension of a literary reading while the other will test comprehension of authentic journal articles. Dictionaries can be use d.

4. Exams (10%) Two exams covering Spanish culture, grammar, and vocabulary.

5. Final exam (10%) The final exam on support skills (culture, grammar, and vocabulary) will be comprehensive except for vocabulary and will be similar in format to the previous exams.

6. WWW Assignments (5%) By designated dates, students are to visit the Span 107 home page

on the WWW and complete an assignment, which will be discussed in class. The goal is to provide

students with additional cultural information and to develop fluency in writing. Grades will be based on content, using the following scale:

100-90 Thorough answer to question. Well-supported personal opinions.

89-80 Adequate answer to question. Some support of personal opinions.

79-70 Acceptable answer to question. Little or no support of personal opinions.

<70 Inadequate answer to question. No personal opinions.

7. Compositions (20%) Accuracy in written communication will be evaluated on the basis of four

compositions that should be written using "Atajo: Writing Assistant Software for Spanish"

which is available at a limited number of stations at 105 Harrington, 111 McDowell, 005 Morris Library, 116 Pearson, 211 Smith (Foreign Language Media Center), and 004 Smith. All

compositions will be graded on the basis of 3 drafts. Up to 90% will be given for writing and

organizing (1st. and 2nd. drafts). Up to 10% will be given for editing (3rd. draft). The second

draft will be evaluated by instructors according to the following categories and point values:

8. Food/Music Activity (5%) Chapters 4 and 5 have special activities about food and music. Students choose between bringing in a sample of Hispanic food or a tape of Hispanic music. Those who choose the food activity will find and prepa re a recipe for the class to sample. Information about the dish and the recipe must be submitted for grading. Those who choose the music activity will find a song with a Hispanic rhythm. Students must bring the tape, copies of the lyrics, and backgr ound information on the music (origin, instruments) and the artist. This information is to be submitted for a grading. Grades will be based on content (30%), speaking ability (30%), grammar (20%), and creativity (20%).

A. Absences

Spanish 107 is a 68-hour course in intermediate Spanish. Successful completion of the course

presupposes 68 class-hours of direct contact with the Spanish language much the same way a

laboratory course or any skill-licensing course presupposes a predetermined number of contact or

practical hours. Nevertheless:

*the first 5 class hours absent will be excused.

*Any and all absences after the first five, regardless of the reason (illness, accident, etc.) will require proper written documentation to be presented no later than one week after the absence; otherwise, y our final grade will be lowered by 1% for each unexcused absence.

*There are no make-ups for any unexcused absences.

Penalties for late arrivals are at the discretion of the individual instructors.

The University of Delaware’s policy on academic dishonesty states, in part, that "copying, or allowing another student to copy, a computer file that contains another student’s assignment, and submitting it, in part or in its entirety, as o ne’s own" constitutes plagiarism. "Working together on an assignment, sharing the computer files and programs involved, and then submitting individual copies of the assignment as one’s own individual work" also constitutes plagiarism. The sanctions for such acts range from "a written reprimand or a requirement that the student repeat the work" to "removal of the student from the course." Whatever the sanction might be, the official policy on academic dishonesty req uires that "all acts or attempted acts of alleged academic dishonesty be reported to the Dean of Students Office for disposition within the University Undergraduate Student Judicial System." It is important that all students, for the ir own protection, be aware of the consequences of such acts.

Exam 1.....................T 9/30 F 9/19 W 9/17-R 9/18 Food T 10/28

Mid-term Reading.....M 10/13 W 10/8 W 10/22-R 10/23 Music F 11/7

Mid-term Oral...........R 10/9; F 10/10 M 11/3 W 11/19-R 11/20 Film F 11/14

Exam 2......................R 11/13 W 11/26 M 12/1-T 12/2 M 11/17

Final Reading.............F 12/5 W 11/19