The University of Texas at Tyler
Department of Literature and Languages
SPANISH 2312.002 – SPRING 2014
INTERMEDIATE SPANISH II
TR 12:30-1:45
Instructor: Gregory Utley, PhD.
Office: BUS. 246
Office Hours: MWF: 12:00-1:00; TR: 11:00-12:00or by appointment.
E-Mail:
Telephone Numbers: Office: 903.566.7464; Department: 903.566.7373;
Home: 903.565.4729
Recommended prerequisite: SPAN 2311 or equivalent.
Required materials: González-Aguilar, María y Marta Rosso-O’Laughlin. Atando
cabos. 4th ed. Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2011. Packaged with access
code to MySpanishLab.com. Package ISBN: 0205989810.
Please note: The text and access code for MySpanishLab are sold as a package in the Barnes and Noble UT Tyler Bookstore. Access codes may also be purchased separately. Students enrolled in SPAN 2311.002 during fall 2013 may use the same access code to register. MySpanishLab course ID: CRSKLRF-4027308.
Course Description: This course, a continuation of SPAN 2311, is designed to reinforce and expand the Spanish language skills that you have already acquired during the first three semesters of college-level study at UT Tyler or elsewhere. The general expectation is that the course will push you to a more sophisticated level of understanding and expression. The course is conducted mostly in Spanish, with practice given to all language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Interwoven with this work will be the examination and discussion of literature, art, geography, and other events that have emerged in the Hispanic world.
Learning Outcomes: The student will further develop his or her capacity to:
- Comprehend the speech of an educated Spanish speaker conversing onday-to-day topics at a moderatespeed.
- Speak about everyday topics so that a native speaker accustomed to speaking
with non-natives can understand you without difficulty.
- Read passages in Spanish on non-technical subjects, looking up only a limited
number of unknown words.
- Communicate in writing on familiar topics without frequent syntactic and
semantic errors.
Course Requirements
Attendance: Because language learning is a cumulative process, regular attendance is essential. You are given five (5) unexcused absences, however, to use at your discretion for such things as non-severe illness, travel, etc. Each additional unexcused absence will result in the lowering of your final course grade by three percentage points. An absence will be excused if it is due to severe illness, jury duty, verifiable emergency situations, religious holidays/observances, or participation in a UT Tyler sponsored event. If at all possible, please let the instructor know ahead of time when you plan to miss class. Leaving class early without informing the instructor beforehand counts as an absence.Arriving to class more than 15 minutes late counts as ½ of an absence.If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get in touch with a classmate to find out what went on in class. Your instructor is under no obligation to accept late work except inthe instances cited above.
Examinations: There will three examinations given during the semester along with some quizzes. Examination dates are indicated in the class calendar. Quizzes will announced in class. Please note that this course does not have a written final examination but rather an oral interview given during the week of final examinations (see below).
Homework: Homework exercises will consist primarily of activities from MySpanishLab.com for the indicated chapters. Completion of these exercises will be valuable preparation for the exams. In addition, it is expected that you will read the assigned pages in the textbook prior to coming to class. The instructor may also assign other homework exercises. These will be announced in class and on Blackboard.
Compositions: There will be two formal writing assignments to complete during the semester based upon themes derived from the textbook and announced in class (please see course outline for the dates the compositions are due). Each composition should be about 250 words in length. In each composition I will look for:
- Complete sentences.
- Logical organization.
- A paper free from misspelled words (including appropriate uses of accents) and serious grammatical errors.
- A paper neatly presented with such traditional formatting as double-spaced lines, one inch margins, and a standard-size and easily legible typeface (e.g. 11 or 12 point New Times Roman).
- A paper that addresses and develops appropriately the chosen theme.
Please note that each composition will receive a numerical grade of up to 100. If the student receives less than 100, he or she may turn in a corrected second version of the composition for an additional 7 points beyond the first grade; the overall grade for each composition cannot be greater than 100.
Oral Interview: There will be an oral interview during finals week. Students will meet in groups with the instructor to answer questions over topics covered during the course. A list of possible questions will be distributed about mid-way through the semester. More details as the term progresses.
Final grades are based on the following percentages and grading scale:
Examinations and Quizzes...... 40%
Compositions ...... 20%
Oral Interview ...... 15%
Homework ...... 20%
Class Participation and Effort ...... 5%
100%
Grading Scale:
90-100%: A
80-89%: B
70-79%: C
60-69%: D
Below 60%: F
Important Information:
This course is enrolled in BLACKBOARD. The instructor will use the site for posting the syllabus and for making announcements. The instructor reserves the right to make small changes to the syllabus at his discretion and according to how the course develops during the term. Any such changes will be announced in class and posted on BLACKBOARD. Not reading or understanding the syllabus does not excuse a student from course deadlines and obligations. Please direct all questions about the syllabus to the instructor.The last day to withdraw from this course is 26 March 2014.
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Student Rights and Responsibilities To know and understand the policies that affect your rights and responsibilities as a student at UT Tyler, please follow this link:
Grade Replacement/Forgiveness If you are repeating this course for a grade replacement, you must file an intent to receive grade forgiveness with the registrar by the 12th day of class. Failure to do so will result in both the original and repeated grade being used to calculate your overall grade point average. Undergraduates will receive grade forgiveness (grade replacement) for only three course repeats; graduates, for two course repeats during his/her career at UT Tyler.
State-Mandated Course Drop Policy Texas law prohibits a student who began college for the first time in fall 2007 or thereafter from dropping more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career. This includes courses dropped at another 2-year or 4-year Texas public college or university. For purposes of this rule, a dropped course is any course that is dropped after the 12th day of class (See Schedule of Classes for the specific date). Exceptions to the 6-drop rule may be found in the catalog. Petitions for exemptions must be submitted to the Registrar's Office and must be accompanied by documentation of the extenuating circumstance. Please contact the Registrar's Office if you have any questions.
Disability Services In accordance with federal law, a student requesting accommodation must provide documentation of his/her disability to the Disability Support Services counselor. If you have a disability, including a learning disability, for which you request an accommodation, please contact Ida MacDonald in the Disability Support Services office in UC 282, or call (903) 566-7079.
Student Absence due to Religious Observance Students who anticipate being absent from class due to a religious observance are requested to inform the instructor of such absences by the second class meeting of the semester.
Student Absence for University-Sponsored Events and Activities If you intend to be absent for a university-sponsored event or activity, you (or the event sponsor) must notify the instructor at least two weeks prior to the date of the planned absence. At that time the instructor will set a date and time when make-up assignments will be completed.
Social Security and FERPA Statement: It is the policy of The University of Texas at Tyler to protect the confidential nature of social security numbers. The University has changed its computer programming so that all students have an identification number. The electronic transmission of grades (e.g., via e-mail) risks violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act; grades will not be transmitted electronically.
Emergency Exits and Evacuation: Everyone is required to exit the building when a fire alarm goes off. Follow your instructor’s directions regarding the appropriate exit. If you require assistance during an evacuation, inform your instructor in the first week of class. Do not re-enter the building unless given permission by University Police, the Fire department, or Fire Prevention Services.
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COURSE OUTLINE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Enero14Introducción al curso
16, 21, 23, 28Cap. 7
30Quiz 1 / Cap. 8
Febrero4, 6, 11, 13Cap. 8
18EXAMEN I / COMPLETAR EJERCICIOS DE
MYSPANISHLAB
20, 25Cap. 9
27Entregar El Primer Ensayo/ Cap. 9
Marzo4, 6Cap. 9
11-13Vacaciones de primavera
18Quiz 2 / Cap. 10
20, 25Cap. 10
27No hay clase. El instructor estará participando
en una conferencia literaria en la Universidad
de Cincinnati.
Abril1, 3Cap. 10
8EXAMEN II / COMPLETAR EJERCICIOS
DE MYSPANISHLAB
10, 15Caps. 11
17Entregar el segundo ensayo / Cap. 11/12
22, 34, 29Cap. 12
Mayo1EXAMEN III / COMPLETAR EJERCICIOS
DE MYSPANISHLAB
8Oral Interviews --12:30-3:00
1