Español: Nivel Intermedio I

3580-201-

COURSE INFORMATION

Dept. 3580 Course 201 Section

Instructor

Office Office hours Tel 972- or 972-7486 (dept.)

Texts:

En Contacto: Lecturas intermedias. (Séptima Edición) Gill, Wegmann y Méndez-Faith,

Harcourt Brace.

En Contacto: Gramática en acción (Séptima Edición), Gill, Wegmann y Méndez-Faith, Harcourt Brace.

En Contacto: Cuaderno de ejercicios y laboratorio (Séptima Edición), Gill, Wegmann y Méndez-Faith, Harcourt Brace.

Course description :

This course is designed to teach you conversation and communication skills, writing skills, and reading strategies. During the semester we will also constantly review grammar in a communicative framework.

Objectives:

—to understand spoken Spanish in predictable contexts, on familiar topics as spoken by native speaker,

—to speak about personal interests and experiences, describe, narrate and express ideas both in the Indicative (present, imperfect, preterit),

—to write compositions,

—to read and understand documents, short stories, interviews and essays and develop advanced reading strategies.

—to develop an awareness of the culture of Spanish-speaking people.

Method:

New material will be presented and practiced through oral questions and answers, (English will not be used or allowed in class ) and you will be responsible for preparing the new material before it is presented. Homework is assigned on your syllabus and will be collected regularly. You will also have pop-quizzes at the beginning of the class period on the vocabulary or the grammar that is being covered. Your pop-quiz grades will constitute part of your total homework grade.

Reading, writing and listening to the lab tapes will be done mainly as homework. You will be expected to complete your written workbook exercises (in the first half of your workbook) on your own and self-correct your answers using the answer key available on the web. You will not be handing these in to me. Even though you are responsible for the oral workbook activities, you will be tested on this material via listening comprehensions on each examination.

Testing: There will be 3 exams, a final exam and two oral tests or charlas. Exams include an oral component, a listening comprehension, cultural questions from the readings, grammar sections and often a composition.

The charlas are role-play activities on an assigned topic, prepared in advance and done at the instructors office on the day that is indicated on the syllabus.

Homework: is 20% of your grade, therefore completing homework assignments is a vital part of your course. Since your participation also depends on the appropriate preparation the night before via homework, work not done directly affects your participation grade. The pop-quizzes are also part of your homework grade. If you are absent on the day the quiz is given you will miss the points since make-ups are not permitted for pop-quizzes.

Participation comprises 10% of your grade. In this class participation means interacting with the class in Spanish, and participating voluntarily. Coming to class every day and answering when called on does not constitute participation.

Participation grades will be assigned after every chapter, using the following criteria:

• positive contributions to class

• use of the target language in the classroom

• regular use of new vocabulary and grammar

• attendance

• grammatically and phonetically correct answers

• frequency of volunteering in class

Attendance: Will be taken regularly. You will be allowed to miss two classes during the semester. Any further absences will lower your final grade by two percent for the final grade for each absence.

If you have to miss class you should not call the instructor. Please write down the names and phone numbers of three other students and call them to get the assignment when you are absent. Being absent is not a valid excuse for not being prepared for the next class or not having the assignment ready.

________________________________________________teléfono_________________

Academic Dishonesty

The Department of Modem Languages has no tolerance for violations of the Student Code of Conduct, among which plagiarism in particular is one of the most serious offenses. As an academic institution, The University of Akron encourages students to learn from and build upon the work of others. However, when a student creates a work that incorporates the words or ideas of another, he or she must properly acknowledge the source of that information. Failure to do so is plagiarism and is prohibited by University Rule 3359-42-01 <http://www.uakron.edu/ogc/rules/Rules4O/42-01f.pdf>. Under University Rule 3359-41-02 <http://www.uakron.edu/ogc/rules/Rules4O/42-02f.pdf>, plagiarism constitutes a type of student misconduct that is punishable by formal disciplinary probation, suspension, or dismissal from the University. It is the responsibility of all University of Akron students to know what plagiarism is and how to avoid it. For more information see: <http://www.uakron.edu/studentaff/osd/stu> and <http://www.uakron.edu/ogc/PreventiveLaw/plagiarism.php>.

Make-ups. I will permit make-up for exams or charlas ONLY IF YOU GIVE ADVANCE NOTICE AND A DOCUMENTED EXCUSE. You can not retake any test. No individual extra credit is available.

Incomplete:

A grade of Incomplete will not be given unless you have completed 75% of the course work with a passing grade and sign the Incomplete Documentation form as required by the College of Arts and Sciences.

Withdrawals:

You are allowed to drop up to mid-term without my permission but you should consult with me before making that decision. Withdrawals between mid-term and the end of the 12^th week of class require the instructor’s signature. I will sign as long as you have been attending regularly up to the time you drop. No withdrawals are possible after the 12^th week (or equivalent date for accelerated and summer classes).

Appeal Process:

If you find yourself in a situation where you have a problem or a disagreement with your Instructor about any of the policies stated in this syllabus, it is very important to follow these steps, in the order given:

1. Discuss with your Instructor the nature of your concern.

This is where 99% of any disagreements are resolved, so give this your full attention and cooperation.

2. If, after talking to your Instructor, you feel that the situation has not been resolved you should then talk to the Section Coordinator M. Laura Lenardon. You can contact her by e-mail at mlenard@uakron.edu or by phone at (330) 972-7491.

The Section Coordinator will first determine that the Instructor has had the opportunity to discuss your situation with you. The coordinator then will make a determination only after having heard about the situation from all the parties involved. This is where virtually all remaining conflicts will be resolved.

3. In the highly unusual case that you are still not satisfied, the next step is to contact the Modern Language Department Chair. Again, the Department Chair will ensure that both the Instructor and Section Chair have discussed your situation with you before proceeding with your complaint.

GRADE DISTRIBUTION

Exams(3) 45%

Charlas(2) 10%

Final 15%

Participación 10%

Homework/pop quizzes 20%

Grading Scale

A 93-100 B+ 87-89 C+ 79-77 D+ 69-67

A- 90-92 B 86-83 C 76-73 D 66-63

B- 82-80 C- 72-70 D- 62-60