Spanish  230

                             Advanced Spanish Grammar and Composition

    Spring 2005

 

Profesora: Nilsa Lasso-von Lang

Tel.  (610) 861-1393

Correo electrónico:: nilsa@moravian.edu

Oficina: Comenius 408

Office hours:  Monday & Wednesday 11:30am-12:30pm, Friday 2-3pm or by appointment

 

Libros de texto: En Breve. A Concise Review of Spanish Grammar. Fifth Edition.

                            (Resnick, Giuliano, Golding)

                             Ejercicios de escritura. Anaya. (Alvarez)

   

Purpose of the course: Thorough review of the Spanish grammar with special attention to accurate and idiomatic expression in written and oral Spanish.  The first book used in this course, En Breve, offers a clear, concise and practical review of grammar with varied functional exercises.  The second book, Ejercicios de escritura, will help the students develop their writing skills through very specific explanations of different writing techniques and examples to follow.  Students will first practice writing short texts (advertisements, notes, apologies, directions, recommendations, pieces of advise, warnings, commands, formal and informal invitations, recipes and messages); later, they will practice narration of situations, events, anecdotes and news.  Finally, students will practice descriptions of complex itineraries and objects, as well as descriptions of places and people.  Students are expected to prepare the assigned material before coming to class. 

 

                                       COURSE  EVALUATION

 

Preparation: In order to develop the goals of the course, students will study and prepare the material assigned before coming to class.  If a student misses class, it is his/her responsibility to prepare the assigned material for the following class. Preparation for class includes writing the activities of the pages assigned.  Writing should be done on a separate paper, not in the margins of your book. Write complete sentences whenever possible.

The preparation of grammar exercises for class participation is 10% of the final grade and the preparation of writing exercises for class participation is 15% of the final grade. 

 

·        Class attendance and participation: Faithful attendance and active participation are expected.  Every student will be allowed to miss up to three (3) classes without penalty.  Every absence beyond three will result in a deduction of 1 point off the final grade.  It is the responsibility of the student to reserve his/her 3 absences for those circumstances when missing class is unavoidable (i.e. illnesses, field trips, participation in sporting events, etc.). In case of extended absences the student should talk to Students Services or the Academic Dean who will contact the professor.  Only if the Dean justifies the absences, they will be excused (and points will not be taken off). 

·        Remember: Requests to excuse absences at the end of the semester will not be considered. Students have the responsibility of keeping track of their own absences.  No reminders will be given.

·        Three late arrivals to class (10 minutes or more) will be the equivalent of one absence and students will lose 1 point off their final grade.  Please, be respectful to other students and the professor, late arrivals are disrupting.  

 

 

Exams and compositions:

·        There will be 3 exams during the semester and a final exam.  Unauthorized absence from an exam will result in a grade of zero for that exam.

·        Students will have to write 3 compositions (2 page, typed and double-spaced each).  Peer editing sessions: Students will bring to class a first draft of every composition on the date indicated in the syllabus.  Students will then correct those errors and prepare a final copy to hand in for grading.  Dates for the final copy are also indicated on the syllabus.  Compositions handed in late will receive a lower grade (one less letter grade for every late day).

 

Academic integrity: academic dishonesty, that is, cheating on tests and exams, and plagiarism (using another person’s words and passing them off as your own) is a serious offense and will be handled according to the Moravian policy on Academic Honesty (please, see the Student Hand book).  It is your responsibility to avoid dishonest behavior.

 

 

 

Note: The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus.  You will be notified within a reasonable period of time.

 

 

 

 

PROGRAMA   DE  CURSO

 

 

L= lunes   M=miércoles  V=viernes   EB= En Breve  EE=Ejercicios de Escritura