Spanish 211
Fall 2009
Syllabus
MTh


Welcome to Spanish 211, the first course in Ohio University's three-quarter, second-year Spanish sequence.

What to expect of the program:  Our textbook, Mas alla de las palabras, takes a culture-based approach to second-year Spanish.  Each unit focuses on a broad cultural theme about which students will read, write, speak, and listen.  These language skills, in addition to grammar and vocabulary, are integrated with the culture and history of the Spanish-speaking world in the textbook, the Activities Manual, many classroom activities, and the exams.  The Mas alla... program will familiarize you with the diversity of Hispanic cultures and help you acquire the language skills necessary to engage with those cultures both in the classroom and in the real world.  In addition, as you learn about the Hispanic world, Mas alla... asks you to reflect on characteristics of your own culture, compare it to the cultures studied, and thus increase your understanding of the nature of culture.

Your Role and Responsibilities:  You should expect to spend an average of 8 hours per week practicing and completing homework assignments (two hours for each hour spent in class).  The syllabus indicates due dates for formal writing assignments and video activities, but most of your homework will involve reading cultural and literary passages and studying grammar explanations in the text in addition to logging on to the WileyPlus website to complete exercises from the Activities Manual.  WileyPlus gives you instant feedback on your answers and will help you acquire skills and learn content.  Activities reinforce verb forms and grammar concepts, cultural content, writing skills and listening proficiency.

A Note on Required Classes:  The College of Arts and Sciences requires its students to study the equivalent of two years of college language in recognition of the essential role that language and culture play in a liberal arts education.  The ability to communicate in another language, analytical skills, proficiency in reading and writing, familiarity with the products and practices of other cultures, and an awareness of one's own culture in relation to those others are all defining characteristics of the liberally educated individual and are all goals of the 200-level Spanish curriculum.  Language study is so much more than an inconvenient requirement for graduation; in language classes you will enhance your Ohio University education through new knowledge, connections to Arts and Sciences disciplines across campus, as well as acquisition of language skills.
Prerequisites:  Two or more years of high school Spanish or completion with a passing grade of Spanish 113 or Spanish 199 at OU.  Students must complete Spanish language courses in sequence.  If you've already taken and passed a Spanish class at a higher level than 211, you may not enroll in 211 this quarter.  If you plan to repeat Spanish 211 to improve your grade, you may not move on to 212 and later return.

Materials:  Mas alla de las palabras (second edition). (Student Edition and Accompanying Audio CD, Binder Ready Version with WileyPLUS Premium Set.)  John Wiley and Sons.  ISBN: 9780470539217.  (Includes text w/ 2 CDs and a code for accessing the on-line text, Activities Manual for homework, and supplementary activities.)  Please note that this binder-ready version of the text is less expensive than the bound book, but cannot be sold back to bookstores.  You should also purchase an English/Spanish Spanish/English dictionary to help you complete daily homework assignments.

Please note that if you purchase Mas alla de las palabras from a bookstore and open the cellophane package, you cannot return the book or the WileyPLUS registration code to the bookstore.  You might sell the book to another student, but the registration code is non-transferable.  If there is a chance you will drop Spanish 211 this quarter, you should check out the CDs and photocopy the book and Activities Manual pages from course reserves in Alden Library during the first week of the quarter until you are sure you will stay with the class.  Or, click here for electronic copies of the text, AM and audio files.

Graduate Credit:  If you are taking this course for graduate credit (511, 512, 513), a CR will appear on your transcript if you earn a grade of B or higher.  The letter grade will appear for B- or below.

Extra Practice: If you would like more practice in preparation for exams or if you would benefit from extra help, please consult the tutoring policy on the course homepage.

EVALUATION

  • 2 exams covering reading, writing, listening, grammar, and culture on Unidad 1 and 2
 30%
  • quizzes
  6%
12%
12%
10%
 6%
24%

* You will receive a mid-term evaluation of your participation/preparation during the 5th week of classes.

** The final exam for all sections of Spanish 211 is Friday, November 20 at 7:00 p.m.   NOTE:  This time conflicts with the final exams for several other classes.  Please check this day and time against your other scheduled exams.  If you have a conflict, consult the OU policy at http://www.ohiou.edu/registrar/info/fall2009-10/combined.htm (see "Note" at the bottom of the page).  If the policy requires SPAN 211 to reschedule, speak to your instructor, who will give you further instructions.

GRADING SCALE


 B+  87-89 C+  77-79 D+  67-69
A   93-100 B    83-86 C    73-76 D     63-66 F   0-59
A-  90-92 B-   80-82 C-   70-72 D-    60-62

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

The OU academic misconduct policy applies to students enrolled in Spanish 211, 212, and 213.  The OU undergraduate catalog details the definition and consequences of academic misconduct.  Text from the catalog that may apply to Spanish 211, 212, and 213 reads, "All forms of academic misconduct are prohibited by the Student Code of Conduct.  Academic misconduct refers to dishonesty in assignments or examinations (cheating); presenting the ideas or the writing of someone else as your own (plagiarism); or knowingly furnishing false information to the University....  Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, permitting another student to plagiarize or cheat from your work; submitting an academic exercise... that has been prepared totally or in part by another; acquiring improper knowledge of the contents of an exam; (or) using unauthorized material during an exam..."  See the catalog for possible consequences.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Because meaningful interaction in class leads to successful acquisition of language skills, attendance is required.  Certain circumstances may arise that prevent you from attending class, and therefore you are allowed two absences.  Beginning with the third absence, and for each subsequent absence, your instructor will deduct 1% from your final grade.  If you accumulate a total of ten absences, you will fail the course.  The attendance policy does not distinguish "excused" from "unexcused" absences; all absences count towards the maximum of ten.  If you are experiencing symptoms of the flu, please do not attend class and risk infecting others.  If you miss more than three days due to flu, please discuss the situation with your instructor.
 

SCHEDULE

DATE
IN CLASS
HOMEWORK 
 Thurs. 9/10
 Capitulo 1
Introduction to Spanish 211, Texto pp. 1-9.
Homework assignments are found in the online activities manual (AM) unless otherwise noted.  Complete assignments after attending class each day.
"MisPaginas.com" reading  in text; AM 1.1-1.10


WEEK 2
Mon. 9/14 Texto pp. 10-16: Gramatica, Vocabulario para conversar, Curiosidades, Miniconferencia
Last day to add a Fall Quarter class without instructor's approval.
 Listen to Miniconferencia on WileyPLUS, AM 1.11-1.17
Video activity due Thursday
Thurs.
 9/17
 Texto pp. 17-22:  Gramatica, Vocabulario para conversar, Curiosidades
AM 1.18-1.23


 BACK TO 211 HOME  


 WEEK 3
Mon. 9/21 VERB QUIZ: Present indicative
Texto pp. 23-29: Lectura, Gramatica
Introduction to Composition Process
 "Deporte, literatura..." reading in text; AM 1.24-1.29, begin "Redaccion/Composition
p. 40-41 in text
Tues.
 9/22
 Last day to register for Fall Quarter.  Last day to remove a Fall Quarter class from  student's academic record.  Fall Quarter classes dropped Wed., Sept. 23 - Monday, Oct. 8 will remain on student's academic record with WP/WF grade.
Thurs.
 9/24
 Texto pp. 29-38: Gramatica, Vocabulario para conversar, Color y Forma, Introduction to Tego Calderon
 Tego Calderon reading in text, AM 1.30-1.35
Composition Folder Due Monday


WEEK 4
Mon. 9/28 Texto pp. 38-42: Ven a conocer, El escritor tiene la palabra AM 1.36-1.40, Isabel Allende reading and 1.59 in text
Thurs.
 10/1
 Oral exam (click for instructions)
Review for written exam (2nd hour)


BACK TO 211 HOME


WEEK 5
Mon. 10/5 Written exam (click for review sheet)
Capitulo 2
Texto pp. 45-53: Lectura, Gramatica
part/prep this week
"Familias" reading in text, AM 2.1-2.10
Thurs. 10/8 Texto pp. 53-59: Vocabulario para conversar,  Curiosidades, Miniconferencia, Introduction to Preterit/Imperfect
AM 2.11-2.16, Listen to Miniconferencia on WileyPLUS,
Video activity due Monday


WEEK 6


BACK TO 211 HOME
Mon. 10/12 VERB QUIZ: Preterit
Texto pp. 59-66: Gramatica (pret/imperf), Gramatica (comparatives), Vocabulario para conversar, Curiosidades
Last day to drop a class from Fall Quarter schedule.  Course remains on student's academic record with WP/WF grade.		 2.17-2.24
Thurs. 10/15 Texto pp. 67-76:  Lectura, Gramatica, Vocabulario para conversar, Color y forma
Introduction to Composition 2
"Pasando el rato" reading in text, AM 2.25-2.33


WEEK 7
Mon. 10/19 Texto pp. 77-85: Lectura, Ven a conocer, Introduction to Pablo Neruda
In-class video
 "Laura Esquivel" reading in text, AM 2.35-2.39, Pablo Neruda poem and 2.54 in textbook (pp. 85-86)
Composition Folder Due Thursday
Thurs.
 10/22
 Oral exam (click for instructions)
Texto pp. 85-86: El escritor tiene la palabra
Review for written exam (2nd hour)


WEEK 8
Mon. 10/26 Written exam (click for review sheet)
Capitulo 3
Texto pp. 89-94: Lectura, Introduction to subjunctive
 "Ser hispano" reading in text, AM 3.1-3.5
Thurs.
 10/29
 Texto pp. 94-103: Gramatica, Vocabulario para conversar, Curiosidades
 AM 3.6-3.12


BACK TO 211 HOME


WEEK 9
Mon. 11/2 VERB QUIZ: Subjunctive
Texto pp. 104-111: Miniconferencia, Gramatica, Vocabulario para conversar, Curiosidades
Listen to Miniconferencia on WileyPLUS, AM 3.13-3.21
Video activity due Thursday
Thurs.
 11/5
 Texto pp. 112-121: Lectura, Gramatica, Vocabulario para conversar, Color y Forma, In-class video
 "Espanglish" reading in text, AM 3.22-3.31


WEEK 10
Mon. 11/9 Texto pp. 122-128: Lectura, Ven a conocer, Introduction to Composition 3
"Beneficios" reading in text, AM 3.32-3.36, Composition Folder Due Thursday
Thurs. 11/12 Texto pp. 129-132: El escritor tiene la palabra
Alonso S. Perales reading and 3-46 in text, AM 3.37-3.38

Fri.
11/13
Last day to withdraw (drop all classes).  Courses remain on student's record with WP/WF grades.




Mon.
 11/16
 Oral exam
Last Class Meeting.  Listening comprehension for final exam (2nd hour)


BACK TO 211 HOME
Fri. 11/20 FINAL EXAM 7:00 p.m. (LOCATION TBA)