SPANISH 8 (69710)– FALL 2005 RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY COLLEGE MW 3:05 - 4:50 Lovekin C1
DR. KATHRYN E.KELLY
Table Of Contents Page Essential Information Materials............................................. Your Grade.......................................... Deadlines............................................ Special Needs...................................... About the Class Prerequisites..................................... Course Objectives................................ Class Procedure................................... Student Responsibilities Homework/Presentations....................... Quizzes............................................... Final Exam........ ................................ Class Participation................................ Participation Scale......................... Attendance ................................. Code of Conduct.................................. Communicating with your Instructor...... Academic Integrity................................ Tentative Class Schedule.......................... Contract................................................
Office Location: Lovekin A5b Office Hours: MW 205 – 305 TTh 1250 – 150 445 – 545 Telephone: (951)222-8284 Website:
http://faculty.rcc.edu/kelly/
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E-Mail Address: Kathryn.Kelly@rcc.edu
Essential Information
Materials
Book: Optional:
*En mi Familia, by Carmen Lomas Garza *Other materials will be distributed in class A good English/Spanish, Spanish/English dictionary
Note: The book is required for the class. Xeroxing or otherwise duplicating the textbook is a violation of the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976 and is prosecutable under federal law. This act provides for the assessment of civil and/or criminal penalties for copyright infringement.
Your Grade
Criteria
Class Participation............................................... Presentations..................................................... Quizzes............................................................. Final Project........................................................ 25% 30% 30% 15%
Grading Scale
90-100 percent.......................A 80-90 percent.........................B 70-80 percent.........................C 60-70 percent.........................D 59 percent and below...............F add classes................... drop without a "W"...... elect Credit/No Credit.. drop with a "W"........... September 16 September 28 September 28 November 21
Admissions Deadlines Last day to Last day to Last day to Last day to
Be advised that it is your responsibility to officially drop classes you have stopped attending. Failure to withdraw in this instance will result in a failing grade.
Special Needs
If you have a physical, psychiatric/emotional, medical or learning disability that may impact on your ability to carry out assigned course work, please contact the staff in Disabled Student Services, ADM. 121, 222-8060, or 222-8062 TDD. DSP&S will review your concerns and determine, with you, what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential. 2
Course Prerequisites
In order to succeed in this class, you need to have completed a minimum of two semesters of college Spanish or the equivalent. You should already be able to communicate (this includes listening, speaking and writing) and read at a basic level.
Course Objectives
To enhance the ability to communicate in Spanish at the intermediate level by reinforcing and expanding previously-acquired vocabulary; improving listening and speaking skills; and developing and refining conversational techniques and strategies. To begin the acquisition of the vocabulary necessary for discussion of concrete and abstract ideas within the context of Hispanic society and culture. To increase understanding of the Hispanic world and peoples through the discussion of cultural and literary readings and audio-visual materials.
Class Procedure
This course is designed to help you improve your ability to communicate in Spanish Obtaining knowledge about and a better understanding of Spanish-speaking countries and their people is also a very important goal of the course. Classroom time will be devoted to activities that will allow you to practice your skills of understanding and communicating in Spanish. We will discuss cultural topics from our textbook, express ideas and opinions about our readings, and converse with our classmates about subjects of interest. When you are speaking, remember to relax and concentrate on making your point, rather than on speaking with perfect grammar. When listening, concentrate on the key words. And don't worry if you don't understand everything that is said. Make educated guesses about what is being said, ask questions, ask for repetitions, and trust your instincts. The required text is En mi familia, by Carmen Lomas Garza. We will be using the paintings in this book as the basis for acquiring the vocabulary represented in them. Additional related cultural and conversational materials (articles, short readings, Internet pages, instructor-produced activities, conversational gambits, “tricky words”) will be distributed in class.
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STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Homework/Presentations Spanish 8 is worth three units and meets for a total of 54 hours per semester. All RCC course outlines state that 2 hours of homework should be assigned for every hour students spend in class. Please be aware of this time commitment. Homework in the class will involve: preparing individual and group oral presentations, doing Internet research, studying vocabulary and culture, preparing for quizzes. GRADING CRITERIA Class Participation 25% This course is designed as a course in which students participate. It is a CONVERSATION course. The fact that you may already speak Spanish at a satisfactory level does not exempt you from the participation requirement. In order to acquire and perfect your ability to speak and comprehend Spanish, you must be exposed to it. This means being in class, hearing Spanish, and constructively and actively participating in Spanish in pairs, small groups and whole-class activities. Class participation will be counted as 25% of your overall class grade. It will be determined by evidence of daily preparation and by the quantity and quality of your contributions in Spanish. Clearly, regular attendance is crucial to successful participation. Late arrival to class, late return following the break or leaving early will affect your participation grade. If you are not in class, your participation score for the day will be “0.” In special circumstances, I may allow you to make up a session by going to Tutorial Services. This will be reserved for verified illnesses or emergencies, not for routine failure to participate. Please contact me by phone or see me in person in my office to discuss your situation. I will use the rubric on the following page to assess your participation in class.
Participation Scale Grade A Point range 20 18 Description of qualities B 17 16 Speaks and asks questions only in Spanish during class. Initiates conversations with classmates and professor. Always comes well prepared and answers readily when called upon. Elaborates on answers. Volunteers frequently without dominating conversation. Speaks clearly and understandably. Participates equally with classmates in all collaborative activities. Always stays on task. Always greets fellow students and professor in Spanish. Participates in at least 26 out of 28 class sessions. Usually speaks and asks questions in Spanish during class. Sometimes initiates conversations with classmates and professor. Usually comes well prepared and answers readily when called upon. Often elaborates on answers.
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C 15 - 14
Shows willingness to participate. Usually speaks clearly and understandably. Participates equally with classmates in all collaborative activities to the best of her/his ability. Usually stays on task. Usually greets fellow students and professor in Spanish. Participates in at least 26 out of 28 class sessions. Speaks in Spanish when called upon, but infrequently initiates conversation or volunteers. Comes well prepared about 75% of the time. Participates more passively than actively in collaborative activities. Usually attempts to speak clearly and understandably. Sometimes strays from task. Occasionally greets fellow students and professor in Spanish. Often resorts to English. Participates in at least 25 out of 28 class sessions. Rarely speaks in Spanish. Frequently comes unprepared. Participates grudgingly in collaborative activities. Rarely speaks clearly and understandably. Often strays from task. Usually resorts to English. Participates in at least 23 out of 28 class sessions. Almost never speaks in Spanish. Always comes unprepared. Refuses to participate in collaborative activities. Rarely speaks clearly and understandably. Disrupts other students and is disrespectful of classmates and instructor. Never stays on task. Participates in fewer than 22 class sessions.
D
13- 12
F
11 - 0
Presentations: 30 % You will give 4 - 10 presentations throughout the semester. Some of these will be informal individual presentations, such as, but not limited to, presenting results from Internet research. Others will be group presentations, such as interviews, role-playing, skits and debates. You will be graded on the thoroughness of your preparation, your use of chapter vocabulary, appropriate understanding and execution of assignment, enthusiasm and creativity, and your comprehensibility. In the case of group presentations, you will be graded on your contribution to the presentation and your individual performance. At the end of the semester, the scores will be averaged and converted into a percentage for your presentation score. If you are not present in class for the group work leading up to the presentation, your presentation score will be automatically reduced by a minimum of 5 percentage points. Since many presentations are done in group, if you are absent you leave your group with a “hole” in their skit. In emergency situations, please contact me before the class so I can advise your classmates of your absence and make arrangements to have someone fill in for you. If you miss a presentation for a verified illness or emergency, you may make it up by doing an individual presentation (limited to one presentation). Additionally, your lowest presentation score will be dropped at the end of the semester before calculation of your 5
final presentation percentage. I will use the following rubric to grade your presentations.
Oral Presentation Rubric : Oral Presentations
ENTHUSIASM APPROPRIATE- AND POINTS PREPARATION VOCABULARY NESS CREATIVITY COMPREHENSIBILITY 10 - 9.5 Completely Incorporates and Shows a complete Shows great Mostly correct structure prepared and uses accurately understanding of enthusiasm and with few errors on known well-rehearsed; an amazing the assignment generates grammar points; totally speaks rather quantity of and executes it strong interest comprehensible to a than reads chapter accurately. about the topic native speaker. presentation. vocabulary. Responds in others. Refers to notes appropriately to Extremely rarely. instructor or creative and student comments unique or questions. presentation.
9 - 8.5
Well-prepared, but could have rehearsed a bit more. Speaks, does not read. Refers to notes occasionally.
Uses appropriately an above average amount of chapter vocabulary.
Shows an above Shows above Some errors with known average average grammar points, but the understanding of enthusiasm and presentation is still more the assignment generates than 3/4 comprehensible and executes it strong interest to a native speaker. accurately. At about the topic least threein others. quarters of Above average responses to creativity and instructor or presentation. student comments or questions are accurate.
8 - 7.5
Average preparedness, but rehearsal lacking. Does more reading than speaking.
Uses an average Shows an Shows average Enough errors with known amount of average enthusiasm and grammar points that they chapter understanding of generates would make the vocabulary, but the assignment, moderate presentation only about could have used but perhaps interest about 2/3 comprehensible to a more. Usage misses the point the topic in native speaker generally slightly. Twoothers. Average accustomed to talking to accurate. thirds of creativity and learners of Spanish. responses to presentation. instructor or student comments or questions are accurate.
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ENTHUSIASM APPROPRIATE- AND POINTS PREPARATION VOCABULARY NESS CREATIVITY 7 - 6.5 Preparation Uses occasional Shows a flawed Basic incomplete. chapter understanding of presentation Reads almost vocabulary, but the assignment, with little added entirely. shows a lack of but perhaps gets creativity. understanding of a few points right. Generates only usage more Less than one-half slight interest in often than not. of responses to others. questions or comments from instructor or students are accurate.
COMPREHENSIBILITY Numerous errors with known grammar points. Only about 1/2 comprehensible to native speakers accustomed to listening to Spanish language learners.
6 - 5.5
Poor preparation. Uses few vocabulary words from chapter or uses words overwhelmingly in an inappropriate manner.
Shows a faulty understanding of topic. Responses to questions or comments are mostly inappropriate. .
Bare-bones presentation; next-to-no creativity. Little enthusiasm for topic and consequently generates little in listeners.
Enough errors with known grammar points that they would make the presentation less than 1/2 comprehensible to a native speaker accustomed to talking to learners of Spanish.
5-0
Poor preparation. Very poor or no use of vocabulary from chapter.
Totally misses the Absolutely no point. Can't enthusiasm or answer questions creativity. appropriately.
Almost unintelligible.
Quizzes 30% There will be approximately 5 quizzes. They will test vocabulary and cultural knowledge acquired from the course work. You may make up one quiz, but only if you call me with a legitimate and verifiable reason before the quiz. If you do not call, you will not be allowed to make up the quiz. Note: Cheating will result in an automatic F in the course. Final Project 15% The final project, which functions in lieu of a final exam, will be a group presentation, with each student graded individually on his or her contribution according to the presentation rubric. Specific instructions regarding the project will be given during the last week of class. You may not miss the presentation if you wish to be considered for credit in the course. Please check the final exam date now and arrange to be in town on that day. It is VERY DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, to arrange different 7
presentation times to accommodate early vacation schedules. MAKE-UP presentations are given only if you call sometime on the day of the presentationto arrange for a make-up and must be made up WITHIN TWO WEEKS. Make-ups are given only in emergency situations and not for routine failure to prepare adequately for the presentation. NOTE: CHEATING WILL RESULT IN AN AUTOMATIC F IN THE
COURSE.
ATTENDANCE You are responsible for attending all class meetings. The College Catalogue states that "All students are expected to attend every session of every course in which they are enrolled. Failure to do so may indicate lack of serious purpose." Additionally, the Student Handbook states that "Your instructors reserve the right to administratively withdraw students who do not regularly attend." I reserve the right to drop students who miss more than 2 class sessions, whether or not these absences are consecutive. In special circumstances, I may allow you to make up a session by going to Tutorial Services or completing an agreed-upon assignment. This will be reserved for verified illnesses or emergencies, not for routine failure to participate. Please contact me by phone or see me in person in my office to discuss your situation. CODE OF CONDUCT All members of this class have the responsibility to join together to create an effective academic community. This includes treating each other courteously; exhibiting a positive attitude; demonstrating standards of ethical behavior and academic integrity in class, on homework and on tests; respecting the health and safety of others; refraining from the use of offensive language; and refraining from any conduct which might interfere with or obstruct the functioning of the class. In short, class members are expected to demonstrate a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect at all times. Any student who does not demonstrate appropriate behavior will be asked to leave the class for the day. The Dean of Students will be informed and appropriate action will be taken. NOTE: Set all cell phones and beepers to OFF before coming to class and keep them in your backpack or purse. You may not keep these devices on your desk.
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COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR INSTRUCTOR During class time, your professor is engaged in teaching the entire class or in helping individual pairs or groups with an activity. This is not the time to ask the instructor about other matters, such as your grade, a missed assignment, or homework activity that is due that day. Please handle these issues during your instructor's office hours or at another pre-arranged time. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Be aware that in this class you must follow acceptable standards of academic honesty. Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated. You may work in study groups to help you prepare homework and to study for exams. This can be a very effective manner of learning the material. However, when working in groups, each member must vary his/her answers so that the homework turned in reflects individual work. Copying another student's answers is considered plagiarism. Also, since you will be using the Internet to complete research in this course, I want to be sure that you understand that COPYING ANYTHING (e.g., reviews, articles, summaries, etc.) in total or in part is PLAGIARISM. You can quote using quotation marks and reference the article or review, but you cannot simply copy what someone else has written. Please remember that a serious academic penalty can be applied to cases of cheating including being dropped from the course, receiving a failing grade in the course, and/or suspension from the college. TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE Date Theme Material / Painting
August 31 September 7 September 12, 14 September 19, 21 September 26. 28 October 3, 5 October 10, 12 October 17, 19 October 24, 26
Introducción El arte y la artista La niñez La niñez La comida La comida La medicina tradicional La medicina tradicional Fiestas/Celebraciones
Actividades para conocerse Carmen Lomas Garza / ¿Qué es ser artista? Una tarde Los camaleones Empanadas Limpiando nopalitos Ventosa Curandera Barbacoa para cumpleaños Cascarones Baile en el jardín
October 31, November 2 Fiestas/Celebraciones November 7, 9 Fiestas/Celebraciones 9
November 14, 16 November 21, 23 November 28, 30 December 5, 12 December 16
Fiestas/Celebraciones Creencias Creencias Creencias Final Project Presentation
La bendición en el día de la boda La virgen de Guadalupe El milagro La llorona 2:00 – 4:30
Contract
I have read the syllabus for Spanish 8 at Riverside Community College and I agree to abide by the guidelines set forth. I understand that class participation/ homework and presentations, together with quiz scores and final project grade are the basis for my final class grade. I also understand the code of conduct and agree to demonstrate a spirit of cooperation and respect in class at all times. If I am not interested in receiving a grade, I am aware that it is my responsibility to sign up for the course on a Credit/No-credit basis and I understand that I will need 70% overall in order to get credit for the course. I understand that grades cannot be changed after they have been assigned and that incompletes are given only under emergency situations, not for routine failure to complete the requirements of the course. Print name______________________________________ Signature_____________________________________ Date __________________
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