University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese
Spanish 350: Introduction to Literary Analysis
Spring 2015 SYLLABUS
Section 002/ Meets: MW 12:30-1:45pm Classroom: Lubar S165
Instructor: Dr. Nancy Bird-Soto E-mail:
Office hours: M W 3:30 -4:30 PM Office: 705 Curtin (229-5234)
This course presents an overview of literature in Spanish through different genres: narrative, essay, poetry, and theater. It is designed to introduce students to literary analysis and for them to gain perspective on a variety of authors and their works. Through this panoramic overview of literary genres students will be in contact with a variety of cultural and artistic expressions in the Spanish-speaking world. Moreover, through analytical skills, students will be able to reflect on the sociocultural values that inform literary texts. These skills will allow them to pose relevant inquiries that will underscore the relevance of the literary corpus in focus as well as to relate assigned readings with meaningful contexts in our present-day global perspective.
Objectives:
-To gain a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of each genre
-To become familiar with authors, trends, and significant literary works in the Hispanic world
-To expand on reading skills in Spanish
-To foster a critical approach to literature
-Related to the previous objective, to hone critical and analytical skills when reading literature and to apply those skills to relevant social and cultural discussions.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
* Aproximaciones al estudio de la literatura hispánica, 7ma edición,
Friedman, Valdivieso & Virgillo, 2011.
* Te besaré toda la vida - José Luis Figueroa
Recommended: a good Spanish-English/ English-Spanish dictionary
GRADE BREAKDOWN/ Componentes de la nota final:
EXAMS: (50%) There will be two exams: a midterm and a final (25% each). These will include: identifications of key concepts, text analysis/commentary, essay questions, and any other exercise deemed appropriate by the instructor (e.g. true or false, matching, etc).
INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATION: (10%) Each student will present on one of the poets and poems assigned for class discussion. The purpose of this activity is to allow the student to have a “hands-on” experience with analyzing poetry while also considering the literary period and/or context of the autor. It is required to consult at least one academic critical source about the poem/autor and cite it properly. The presentation should include: a) context of poem and/or autor, b) a brief analysis and identification of poetic/rhetorical figures, c) what the academic source says about the poem and/or author, and d) 2-3 questions for the group. The presentation should engage the group and it should last between 10-15 minutes.
Compositions: (20%) There will be two compositions in which the student will analyze a topic pertinent to the class readings. This will enable the student to expand on their writing abilities and it will foster a critical approach to literary analysis, which is one of the main objectives of the course. For each composition, the student must consult at least two critical sources about the topic/text/autor they are writing about. Each composition should be between 3-4 pages long, excluding the bibliography.
Grading criteria will consider: implementation of analytical skills, research requirements (bibliography, sources, etc), and language use at the appropriate level. Remember to revise and proof-read before submitting your work.
#1 Para el 25 de febrero: OPCIONES: a) Allende, Tema 5 p. 101, b) Unamuno, Tema 1, p. 135
#2 Para el 15 de abril: OPCIONES: a) Analizar “Dos patrias” (p. 201),
b) Analizar “Yuntas” (p. 217)
Participation (15%) Successful participation means coming to class with the assigned readings done, volunteering answers, working on activities and remaining on task, using Spanish all the time. Short quizzes may be included in the participation grade. OJO: NO TEXTING DURING CLASS!
Attendance (5%) There will be two “free absences” during the semester. Subsequent unexcused absences will impact the attendance percentage, 1% per each pair of absences.
Credit Hour Policy
For this 3-credit course, students are expected to dedicate at least six hours weekly outside the classroom to course assignments, i.e.: homework, readings, class-related projects and preparing for exams. Of the minimum six hours per week, the following time allotments are recommended:
50% homework and readings
30% class-related projects (e.g. presentations, research, etc.)
20% preparing exam
It should be noted that time allotments for course assignments may vary per individual, so these are intended as recommendations only.
Special Needs: Students with special needs should discuss their situation with the instructor the first week of classes. They should also contact the Student Accessibility Center, Mitchell Hall 116, (414) 229-6287 Voice/TTY if they have not done so already.
Grading Scale: B+ 87-89 C+ 77-79 D+ 67-69
A 93-100 B 83-86 C 73-76 D 63-66
A_ 90-92 B_ 80-82 C_ 70-72 D_ 60-62
F 0-59
PLAGIARISM IS UNACCEPTABLE! You must ALWAYS cite your sources.
Friendly note: At times during a semester, personal circumstances interfere with a student’s ability to keep on track with the course work. Should any such situation arise in your life, you are encouraged to, and responsible for, discussing the circumstances with the instructor as soon as possible, so that a plan may be developed for you to be able to complete all the required tasks.
E-mail: When contacting the professor, please follow these guidelines:
-Address your instructor as “Professor” or “Doctor”
-In closing the message, you may choose to write:
“Hasta la clase/ Hasta el lunes/ Atentamente/ Saludos”
Please note that if you e-mail the professor the night or morning before class, or during the weekend, she might not be able to respond right away. If you are absent, keep in mind that you are responsible for the material covered in that session.
Appointments: If you need to meet with the instructor and the office hours listed for the semester are not convenient for you, please e-mail your instructor to arrange for a meeting.
Other Resources: Spanish Writing Center: Stellia Jordán, the director of the Spanish Writing Center, can help undergraduates in Spanish with the mechanics of writing. Her e-mail address is . For more information please go to: http://www4.uwm.edu/letsci/spanish/undergrad/writingcenter.cfm
Club Ñ (for conversation)
NOTES:
CALENDAR/PROGRAM (subject to change)
IN CLASS: DUE THAT DAY:
1/26 Introducción
1/28 Narrativa/ Don Juan Manuel Read pp. 10-14, 43-45
2/2 Palma/Borges Read pp. 47-49, 59-60
2/4 Rulfo Read pp. 69-72
2/9 Cortázar Read pp. 62-67
2/11 Allende Read pp. 95-101
2/16 Unamuno Read pp. 110-121
2/18 Unamuno Read pp. 122-134
2/23 Matute Read pp. 80-81
2/25 filme/ Entregar comp. #1
3/2 filme
3/4 Repaso
3/9 Examen parcial
3/11 Poesía Read pp. 138-143
SPRING BREAK
3/23 Poesía Read pp. 152-157
3/25 Santa Teresa/San Juan de la Cruz/Lope Read p. 180, 183, 187
3/30 Góngora/ Quevedo/Sor Juana Read p. 185, 189, 191
4/1 Espronceda/Bécquer/ Martí/Darío Read p. 193-194, 199, 201, 207-209
4/6 Machado/Jiménez/Mistral Read p. 212, 214, 215-216
4/8 Vallejo/Huidobro Read p. 218, 22
4/13 Guillén/Neruda/ Morejón Read p. 230, 232, 248-249
4/15 TEATRO/ Entregar comp. #2
4/20 Te besaré toda la vida Read Te besaré toda la vida
4/22 Te besaré toda la vida Read Te besaré toda la vida
4/27 Bernarda Alba Read pp. 335-350
4/29 Bernarda Alba Read pp. 351-370
5/4 Bernarda Alba
5/6 Bernarda Alba/ Repaso
FINAL EXAM: Thursday, May 14th, 2015, 12:30-2:30 pm.
1. Students with disabilities
http://www4.uwm.edu/sac/SACltr.pdf
2. Religious observances
http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S1.5.htm
3. Students called to active military duty
Students: http://www4.uwm.edu/current_students/military_call_up.cfm
4. Incompletes
http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S31.pdf
5. Discriminatory conduct (such as sexual harassment)
Discriminatory conduct will not be tolerated by the University.
http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S47.pdf
6. Academic misconduct
Cheating on exams or plagiarism are violations of the academic honor code and carry severe sanctions, including failing a course or even suspension or dismissal from the University.
http://www4.uwm.edu/acad_aff/policy/academicmisconduct.cfm
7. Complaint procedures
Students may direct complaints to the head of the academic unit or department in which the complaint occurs. If the complaint allegedly violates a specific university policy, it may be directed to the head of the department or academic unit in which the complaint occurred or to the appropriate university office responsible for enforcing the policy.
http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S49.7.htm
8. Grade appeal procedures
A student may appeal a grade on the grounds that it is based on a capricious or arbitrary decision of the course instructor. Such an appeal shall follow the established procedures adopted by the department, college, or school in which the course resides or in the case of graduate students, the Graduate School.
These procedures are available in writing from the respective department chairperson or the Academic Dean of the College/School.
http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S28.htm
9. Other
The final exam requirement, the final exam date requirement, etc.
http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S22.htm
10. Selected Academic and Administrative Policy 24.5, Firearms and Dangerous Weapons Policy.
Spanish 350: Introduction to Literary Analysis