FALL 2006

SPAN 4533 A: Business Through Literature
[ GENERAL INFORMATION ]

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Autor: Berni, Antonio 

Título: Manifestación

Fecha: 1934

Técnica: Temple sobre arpillera

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SYLLABUS and CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES

12:30 pm - 01:45 pm

Tue. - Thu.

Forest Dr. Bldg. - Room 1223

August 14, 2006 - December 07, 2006

[ Syllabus Agreement ][ Grade Calculation Sheet ][ Honor Code ]

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[Texts| Description| Objectives| Course Material| General Policies| Classroom Behavior| Classroom Disruption| Attendance| Assessment: Exams, Quizzes, Oral Presentations, Written Assignments, Homework, Final Exam] Responsibility | Civility | Academic Dishonesty Honor Code| Commitment| Homework| Final Exam| Grading| Grading Scale| Special Needs Students| Disclaimer ]

Note: EXIT EXAM for Spanish Majors

[Fall 2006 - GSU General Class Meeting Dates & Final Exam Schedule ]

Final Exam Conflicts Policy (PDF)

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES and OFFICE HOURS FALL 2006   TIME Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 08:00 - 09:15 Research SPAN 2002 B FD #1225 Research SPAN 2002 B FD #1225 Research 09:15 - 11:00 Research Office Hours Research Office Hours Research 12:30 - 01:45 Research SPAN 4533 A FD #1223 Research SPAN 4533 A FD #1223 Research 01:45 - 02:30 Research Office Hours Research Office Hours Research 06:30 - 09:15 X X X SPAN 6233 A FD #1225 X

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS

Coria-Sánchez, Carlos M. and Germán Torres.  VISIONES: Perspectivas literarias de la realidad social hispana. Yale University Press, 2002.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Students are expected to have an e-mail account to be collected by the instructor during the first week of classes.

OTHER:

• Students should purchase a good Spanish-Spanish dictionary at the beginning of the semester.  Please, consult with Instructor for specifics.
• Spanish Dictionaries, Grammars and Primers.  This site has a list of the top 500 most-popular/best selling Spanish dictionaries...check it!

This course is designed to focus on the socioeconomic reality of the Hispanic countries providing a linkage between the literary selections and the corresponding social conditions they exemplify.  It employs literary texts to explore social, political, and economic issues that illuminate Hispanic cultures. The course will approach literary texts--novels, short stories, poetry, drama, and essays, focusing not on literary analysis but on the social aspects of the works. The writings represent Latin America as well as Spain, and they encompass diverse topics ranging from living conditions in the city to the problems women face in Hispanic society to different attitudes foreign business executives may encounter.

Finally, the course will offer an authentic view of social and cultural realities in countries with Spanish-speaking populations that will prove invaluable to students preparing to participate in Spanish culture and especially, in the world of business.

At the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the socioeconomic reality of the Latin America and Spain.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the economic background in Latin America and Spain.
• Demonstrate an understanding between the literary selections and the corresponding social conditions they exemplify.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the social and cultural context in which international commercial transactions take place.
• Maintain and increase the language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing for maintaining effective communication with native speakers in both specialized business and social situations.

• Chapters 1 - 10.

GENERAL POLICIES

Your success in this class will depend on your active participation in the various class activities. Therefore, it is expected 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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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,
• refrain from eating and drinking in class;
• not wear any type of hat which could obstruct eye contact with instructor or classmates while in class;
• not chew 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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What is disruptive behavior?

• The Georgia Southern University Student Conduct Code 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.

For more information, please see the Student Conduct Code or feel free to contact

Mr. Georj Lewis, Dean of Students,

Russell Union Bldg., Room 2016,

912-486-7731

or

Dr. Edward Bayens, Director,

Judicial Affairs,

Russell Union Bldg., Room 2023,

912-681-0059.

Source: Classroom Disruption, Office of Judicial Affairs, Georgia Southern University.

Class work is essential when learning a foreign language; therefore, perfect attendance is expected!. 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 are the equivalent of one (1) absence.  After two (2) absences, your 5 point credit will be reduced as follows:

ATTENDANCE POINT SCALE

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.

II 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,  QUIZZES, or 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.

MIDTERM

• There will be one (1) Midterm Exam  given in this class.  This exam will cover all material taught by the time it is given (approx. mid-semester).

• There will be eight (8) Quizzes/Short Tests given in this class, however, the best seven (7) scores will be kept and averaged, that is, the lowest quiz score will be dropped.  These quizzes will cover the reading material (story, vocabulary, discussion themes) of the stories discussed in class and their main themes.

• Individual, in class oral presentations (1-2) will be based on the content from the different themes, works and authors studied in class.  Individual presentations will consist mainly of a short talk where the student is asked either to describe, or analyze a literary selection based on the socioeconomic reality of  the different Spanish-speaking countries, expressing a personal opinion on a given subject in the general business context and culture of the author or work examined.

• There will be several (4-5) Written Assignments.  These will be assigned approximately every two (2) weeks or at the end of a theme included in the textbook. Please, check the above link for a complete information.

• I will collect all homework (from textbook or any other assignment) at random; however, all homework assignments must be turned in at the end of each chapter at the time a quiz is given. 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).

• The FINAL will include selections from all lessons, and it may be exempted under two (2) conditions:
  • the student has an A average (90% average exactly - no exceptions!) computed before the final, and
  • the student had fewer than two (2) or not more than two (2) absences.

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.

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 (2006-07).

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 (2006-07).  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.

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.

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