Instructor's Info / Schedule

Instructor's Bio Note

Honor Code

Attitude (doc.)

SPAN 3335: CALENDAR

Syllabus Agreement

Student Information Sheet

But, Dr. Suazo, if you'd just ...!

Grade Calculation Sheet

Texts

Description

General Outcomes

Student Outcomes

Course Material

General Policies

Classroom Behavior

Classroom Disruption

Attendance/Participation

EXIT EXAM: Spanish Majors

Quizzes / Short Tests

Informal Talks: La Bolsa

Written Assignments / Composiciones

LATINOAMÉRICA: Companion Website

Homework

Final Exam

Course Grade Components

Grading Scale

Responsibility

Civility

Academic Dishonesty

Commitment

Special Needs Students Disclaimer

GSU Academic Calendar

Dates to Remember

Final Exam Schedule

How to Type in Spanish

Online Dictionaries

Free Tutoring

Spanish Club

Mesa de Conversación

Sigma Delta Pi

Study Abroad in Segovia

REQUIRED TEXT AND OTHER MATERIALS

• Fox, Arturo A.  Latinoamérica: Presente y pasado, 3/E, Prentice Hall, 2007.

• Access to Companion Website for Latinoamérica: Presente y pasado.

OTHER MATERIALS

• Class PPPresentations or other materials on GeorgiaVIEW (if available).

• Spanish-English Dictionary or Spanish-Spanish Dictionary.

• Spanish Dictionaries, Grammars and Primers.  This site has a list of the Top 500 most-popular/best selling Spanish dictionaries...check it!

DESCRIPTION

GSU Catalog:

SPAN 3335: Spanish American Culture (3 semester hours). Focuses on improving linguistic and cultural proficiency within the context of Spanish American cultural content. Course content varies; may include film, music, art, literature, history, etc. Emphasis will be placed on helping students achieve consistency with paragraph formation, narration, detailed description, and resolving a situation with a complication. The linguistic goal of the course is to help students approach the point at which they can communicate at ease with a native speaker of Spanish who is unaccustomed to speaking with non-Spanish speakers. Prerequisite: A minimum grade of "C" in SPAN 2002 or SPAN 2060 or permission of instructor.

Other:

During this semester, this course will concentrate in the Southern Cone countries; that is,  Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.  However, as deemed appropriate, there will be references to pre-Columbian cultures, Spain, Colonization, Independence and contemporary issues, such as politics, economy, etc.

GENERAL OUTCOMES

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

• assess and appreciate with much insight the Southern Cone countries' culture and civilization studied in this course,

• understand that language is an integral part of a national heritage,

• analyze the interrelationship between geography, history, literary and cultural achievements of the Southern Cone countries,

• understand and appreciate with empathy cultural values and patters different from the United States,

• experience a broader perspective of your own culture,

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

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COURSE MATERIAL

  Los países del cono sur: Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile

•   Latinoamérica a vista de pájaro

•   Civilizaciones precolombinas

•   Europa en la época del descubrimiento de América

•   La conquista de la América Hispana

•   El sistema colonial

•   Sociedad, vida y cultura en el mundo colonial

•   El siglo XIX: La independencia y sus consecuencias

•   El siglo XX. Panorama latinoamericano

•   La escena cultural hasta la Segunda Guerra Mundial

•   La escena cultural desde la Segunda Guerra Mundial

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GENERAL POLICIES

Your success in this class will depend on your active participation in the various class activities. Therefore, this is what I expect of you:

• to prepare all lesson materials before coming to class,

• participate actively and with a positive attitude, and

• speak in Spanish with your instructor and your classmates.

In order to accomplish this task, students should plan to spend at least one hour a day working on assignments ( of two being recommended as the optimum). This should include reviewing material covered in class, completing homework assignments, and studying for the next day's class. Plan your schedule accordingly!

This class will be conducted entirely in Spanish. If you have any questions which you would like to ask in English, ask them after class or during my office hours (feel free to make an appointment if necessary). You are invited to discuss your questions and concerns with me in my office. Please, do not hesitate to come by. You and I are both active partners in learning and teaching Spanish, and we must work together as a team!

This is a participation class! If you are absent and you are to be evaluated that day (pop quiz, announced quiz, written test, etc.), you will receive a 0 for that day's activities. Although, an occasional absence will not affect your grade, but habitual or prolonged absence will devastate your progress as well as your grade.

NO MAKE UP TESTS/QUIZZES, PRESENTATIONS, or HOMEWORK WILL BE GIVEN.

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CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR

I strongly recommend that students should:

• address me, your instructor, in and outside of class as Dr. Suazo,

• be respectful to one another at all times (toward classmates and instructor) in class discussions even if we disagree,

• turn-off all cellular phones before class starts,

• since the FD Bldg. is now wired for WiFi, please, turn-off all laptops while in class (unless instructed otherwise),

• refrain from text messaging while in class,

• refrain from eating and drinking in class;

• avoid wearing any type of hat which could obstruct eye contact with instructor or classmates while in class;

• avoid chewing gum while in class;

• refrain from disruptive behavior or talking in class, except for normal classroom activities;

• arrive on time to class. To be tardy (see attendance policy below) is disrespectful to both your instructor and your classmates. Please let me know about conflicts with your other classes. If you arrive after the roll has been checked, you are responsible for letting me know so that I can make the necessary corrections.

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CLASSROOM DISRUPTION

What is disruptive behavior?

• The Georgia Southern Student Conduct Code Policies and Procedures defines classroom disruptions as any conduct that seriously interferes with the ability of the professor to teach or the student's ability to learn.  The lawful and civil expression of a disagreement with the professor or other students is not in itself disruptive.  The free exchange of ideas is encouraged in the academic setting.  Students who display disruptive classroom behavior may be subject to disciplinary action by the Office of Judicial Affairs.

Examples of Disruptive Behavior in the Classroom:

• Sleeping in class.

• Routinely entering class late or departing early.

• Repeated talking without being recognized or talking while other are talking.

• Dominating class discussion.

• Arguing that is perceived as "crossing the civility line."

• Threatening faculty members.

• Physical display of anger (throwing books, notes, chairs, etc.).

• Physical violence directed at a student or faculty member.

ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION

Class work is essential when learning a foreign language; therefore, perfect attendance is expected in this class!. In addition, attendance also affects a student's participation in the typical activities that take place in a foreign language class: listening and understanding, speaking, reading and writing.  The student is given 5 points credit towards the final grade, however, two (2) absences, either excused or unexcused, are permitted.  In addition, two (2) **tardies (see note below) are the equivalent of one (1) absence.  After two (2) absences, your 5 point credit will be reduced as follows:

Letting me know in advance that you are going to be absent does not constitute an excuse. For example, that you are leaving town early for the week-end is not an excuse, neither attending your cousin's wedding.

I will only accept a written doctor's emergency treatment or prescribed recovery period or death of immediate family as a valid excuse. The student MUST BRING a valid excuse within 2 days after a missed class if he/she wants an absence excused.  If a student missed a TEST,  HOMEWORK/WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT, and if he/she presented a legitimate valid excuse to the instructor, and the instructor deemed it to be acceptable, the student will be allowed to take a make-up Test or Assignments, not later than five (5) days after the student returns to class. The date and time for the make-up is up to the instructor's earliest convenience. Failure to comply with this regulation or no show will result in a grade of 0 for the missed work.

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Students will be evaluated by quizzes/short tests, a speaking test/class presentation, homework, and a final exam.  Because you are also responsible for extra vocabulary added to the chapters, it is recommended that you keep a vocabulary notebook so that you can find the new vocabulary words and use them.

QUIZZES/SHORT TESTS

INFORMAL TALKS: LA BOLSA!

• Students will prepare several "informal talks" (LA BOLSA) on a topic of the student's choice throughout the semester.  Keeping in mind the nature of the course, the presenter may create visual aids, audio, etc, including realia, (such as food samples, costumes, etc.). 

 WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS or "COMPOSICIONES"

• There will be several Written Assignments or "Composiciones" assigned (more or less every two weeks) based on unit themes and/or chapter topics.  These essays should be at least 1 1/2 to 2 pages but no more than 2 pages total.

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Latinoamérica Text: Companion Website.

It is recommended that students visit the textbook companion website for additional practice.

HOMEWORK

• I will collect all homework (from textbook or from assigned Latinoamérica Text: Companion Website.) at random.  However, all assignments must be turned in together at the end of each chapter or at the time of your quiz. Please keep all assignments in a loose-leaf binder for easy review and collection. Please note: I will not accept loose paper assignments. (Organize all assignments chronologically, that is, from the most recent to the oldest assignment.

FINAL EXAM

The FINAL will include selections from all lessons (based on all quizzes/short tests), and it may be exempted under two (2) conditions:

• the student has an A average (90% average exactly - no exceptions!) computed before the final grade, and

• the student DID NOT MISS more than two (2) classes or does not have more than two (2) excused/unexcused absences.

GRADE COMPONENTS

RESPONSIBILITY

The university considers students to be individuals responsible for their own behaviors.  Students are expected to make decisions with an awareness of the consequences that are likely to result from these decisions.  Decision making without considering possible consequences is not justifiable behavior should the consequences, put the student's academic efforts at risk.

CIVILITY

Students are expected to communicate in a civil manner in their professional interaction at all times, both in and out of the classroom.  This means that student interaction, including discussion and argumentation, is to be carried out in a polite, courteous, and dignified manner that is respectful and understanding toward both peers and professors.  Failure to behave in a civil manner may result in disciplinary actions as described by the Georgia Southern Student Conduct Code Policies and Procedures (2008-09).

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY / PLAGIARISM  / STUDENT CONDUCT CODE POLICY

Cheating, in any of its forms, is a serious offense to the university that compromises the learning process of the violators as well as their classmates.  Ultimately, the reputation of the institution is at risk. For these reasons, the university expects students to UPHOLD the ACADEMIC HONESTY HONOR CODE as published in Section III of the Georgia Southern Student Conduct Code Policies and Procedures (2008-09).  that address academic dishonesty and the penalties for it, and to conduct themselves with integrity in their academic efforts.  To that end, students are expected to follow both the letter and the spirit of academic honesty and to consult with their instructors in advance whenever they feel that those ethical standards may be at risk.  All provisions of the student code apply to this class. Any incidents will be reported to the Judicial Affairs Office.

COMMITMENT

All members of the community understand that to succeed in classes, students must be active participants in their education while understanding and complying with each course syllabus.  Students should plan on spending at least two hours of study for every one hour in class.  Outside preparation and class attendance alone do not guarantee success or the highest grades; rather, mastery of the material and acquisition of necessary skills determine success and grades.

SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS

American with Disabilities Act

"This class complies with  the American with Disabilities Act (ADA)."

Students with disabilities needing academic accommodations must:

• Register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Center (SDRC) and,

• Provide a letter to the instructor from SDRC indicating what your need may be for academic accommodation. This should be done within the first week of class.

SDRC

Knight Dr., Hampton Hall, Building # 5

912-871-1566,

TDD912-681-0666

This syllabus is available upon request in alternative formats fro individuals with print related disabilities.

DISCLAIMER

The instructor reserves the right to make modifications to the syllabus, calendar, exam/quiz dates, compositions and grading system if deemed necessary.  Any changes will be previously discussed with the students.