Professor: A. Robert Lauer
arlauer@ou.edu
SPAN 3423.  Sect. 003.  Advanced Spanish Composition. 
Spring 2003
Meeting Place: Bizzell Library, Room 102.  Meeting Times: MWF: 10:30 11:20 PM 
The University of Oklahoma 
Department of Modern Languages Literatures, and Linguistics (MLLL) 
780 Van Vleet Oval, Room 206 
Norman, Oklahoma 73019-2032 / USA 
Instructor’s Office: Kaufman Hall, Room 131. Office Hours: MWF: 10:00-10:20 AM, 11:30-12:00 noon & by appt. 
               Telephones: (405) 325-5845 (office) (405) 325-6181 (dept.); e-mail: arlauer@ou.edu
 

Syllabus:

1st week: FIRST EVALUATION PERIOD (25% OF YOUR GRADE):
       M.    13 January:     Day 1: Introduction to the course. General Instructions & sample tests (click this link). 
       W.    15 January:     Day 2:  Ayllón, cap. 1, pp. 2-5. 
        F.    17 January:     Day 3:  Ayllón 1:5-17. Ser / estar exercises (click here). 
2nd week: 
      M.     20 January:     MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY.  NO CLASSES. 
      W.     22 January:     Day 4:  Ayllón 1:17-23; Spinelli 1. 1st QUIZ
       F.     24 January:     Day 5:  Ayllón 2:26-31; Spinelli 2-3; Schmitt 1-5. 
3rd week: 
      M.     27 January:     Day 6:  Ayllón 2:31-44; Spinelli 4-5; Schmitt 6-10. 
      W.     29 January:     Day 7:  Ayllón 2:45-51; Spinelli 6-7; Schmitt 11-16. .
       F.     31 January:     Day 8:  Ayllón 3:54-56; Spinelli 8-9; Schmitt 17-21.  2ND.  QUIZ
4th week: 
      M.     3 February:     Day   9:   Ayllón 3:57-68; Spinelli 10-11; Schmitt 22-26. Present / Present Progressive (clicke here). 
      W.     5 February:     Day 10:   Ayllón 3:69-78; Spinelli 12-13; Schmitt 27-31. Future / Conditionl  (click here)
       F.     7 February:     Day 11:   Ayllón 3 (finish). Spinelli 14-15; Schmitt 32-36. 3RD.  QUIZ.

5th week: SECOND EVALUATION PERIOD (25% OF YOUR GRADE):
      M.     10 February:   Day 12:  Ayllón 4:80-83; Spinelli 16-17; Schmitt 37-41. FIRST  COMPOSITION.
      W.     12 February:   Day 13:  Ayllón 4:84-95; Spinelli 18-19; Schmitt 42-46. 
       F.      14 February:   Day 14:  Ayllón 4:95-104; Spinelli 20-21; Schmitt 47-51. Hace constructions.
6th week: 
      M.     17 February:   Day 15:  Ayllón 5:106-09; Spinelli 22; Schmitt 52-56. 4TH  QUIZ.
      W.    19 February:    Day 16:  Ayllón 5:109-22; Spinelli 23; Schmitt 57-61. 
      F.      21 February:    Day 17:  Ayllón 5:123-35; Spinelli 24; Schmitt 62-66. 
7th week: 
      M. 24 February:     Day 18:  Ayllón 6:137-40; Spinelli 25; Schmitt 67-71. 5TH QUIZ.
      W. 26 February:     Day 19:  Ayllón 6:140-53; Spinelli 26; Schmitt 72-76. 
    *F.  28 February:     Day 20:  Ayllón 6:153-62; Spinelli 27; Schmitt 77-81. 
8th week: 
    *M. 3 March:          Day 21:   Film (TBA). Spinelli 28; Schmitt 82-86. 
    *W. 5 March:          Day 22:   Film (TBA).    Spinelli 29; Schmitt 87-91. 
    *F.  7 March:          Day 23:   Film (TBA). 

9th week:  THIRD EVALUATION PERIOD (25% OF YOUR GRADE):
    *M. 10 March:      Day 24:  Ayllón 6 (finish).  SECOND COMPOSITION.
      W. 12 March:      Day 25:  6TH QUIZ.  Ayllón 7:164-67; 
       F. 14 March:     Day 26:  Ayllón 7:167-80; Spinelli 30; Schmitt 92-96. 

15-23 MARCH 2003: SPRING VACATION.  NO CLASSES.

10th week: 
      M.  24 March:     Day 27:  Ayllón 7:181-90;  Spinelli 31; Schmitt 97-101.
      W.  26 March:     Day 28:  Ayllón 7 (finish).   Spinelli 32; Schmitt 102-06.  7TH QUIZ.
      F.   28 March:     Day 29:  Ayllón 8:192-96;  Spinelli 33; Schmitt 107-11. 
11th week: 
      M.     31 March:  Day 30:  Ayllón 8:196-209; Spinelli 34; Schmitt 112-16.
      W.      2 April:     Day 31:  Ayllón 8:210-23; Spinelli 35; Schmitt 117-21. 
       F.       4 April:    Day 32:   Ayllón 8 (finish). Spinelli 36; Schmitt 122-26.  8TH QUIZ.
12th week: 
      M.     7 April:     Day 33:  Review adjective clauses. Spinelli 37; Schmitt 126-32. The Subjunctive in Adjective Clauses (click here).
      W.     9 April:     Day 34:  Review adverbial clauses;  Spinelli 38; Schmitt 132-36. The Subjunctive in Adverbial Clauses (click here). 
      F.     11 April:     Day 35:  Review adverbial clauses; Spinelli 39; Schmitt 137-41.The Subjunctive in Conditional (if-) Clauses (click here).

13th week:  FOURTH EVALUATION PERIOD (25% OF YOUR GRADE):
      M.     14 April:   Day 36:    Review conditional clauses;  Spinelli 40; Schmitt 142-46.  THIRD COMPOSITION.
      W.     16 April:   Day 37:    Review noun clauses; Spinelli 41;  Schmitt 147-51. The Subjunctive in Noun Clauses (click here)
      F.       18 April:   Day 38:   Review noun clauses & the preterite/imperfect; Spinelli 42; Schmitt 152-56. Grammar (click here). 
14th week: 
      M.     21 April:    Day 39:  Film:  María Luisa Bemberg (Argentina). De eso no se habla.
      W.    23 April:     Day 40:  Film:  María Luisa Bemberg (Argentina). De eso no se habla. Student evaluations to be done today.
      F.     25 April:     Day 41:  Film:   María Luisa Bemberg (Argentina). De eso no se habla.
15th week: 
      M.    28 April:     Day 42: Ayllón 12:310-13;  Spinelli 43; Schmitt 157-61. FOURTH COMPOSITION.
      W.   30 April:     Day 43: Review Preterite/Imperfect; Spinelli 44; Schmitt 162-66. Preterite / Imperfect (click here)
      F.       2 May:     Day 44: Ayllón 12;326-37; Spinelli 45; Schmitt 167-70.

FINAL EXAMINATION: 8:00 10:00 AM – Tuesday, 6 May 2003:  COMPREHENSIVE:
(The final will consist of an [I] objective part and an [II] essay: the [I] objective part will test the following: [A] the indicative mood, specifically, [1] the preterite and the imperfect; and [B] the sujunctive mood, specifically, [1] if-clauses; [2] adverbial, [3] adjective, and [4] noun clauses; we will also [II] watch a scene from a film and write a composition in-class on the following topic: «¿qué ha pasado y cómo terminará esta relación?».  You may use a bilingual dictionary for the [II] essay part of the test)

Texts:

  • Ayllón, Cándido, Paul Smith, Antonio Morillo.  Spanish Composition Through Literature.  3rd. ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1996.  0-13-186586-2.
  • Schmitt, Conrad J.  Schaum’s Outline of Spanish Grammar.  4th ed.  New York: Mc-Graw-Hill, 1998.  0-07-058047-2.
  • Spinelli, Emily.  English Grammar for Students of Spanish.  4th ed. Ann Arbor, MI: The Olivia and Hill P, 1998.
Recommended Dictionary:
  • Simon and Schuster's International Dictionary: English/Spanish.  Spanish/English.  2nd ed. New York: Simon and Schuster.  0 671 21507 8 (plain edition); 0 671 21267 2 (thumb indexed).
Course Description:
The inculcation of proper writing habits, at an advanced level, toward the achievement of idiomatic Spanish, by means of written and visual materials in the target language. 

Grading practices:

There will be four evaluation periods, each of which will encompass 25% of your grade.  Within each period several grading activities will take place: several quizzes and compositions on the materials read and viewed in class, sundry activities to be done at home or in class, either individually or in groups, several brief writing samples, and, on 6 May, a comprehensive final examination.  Attendance and class participation will also form part of your grade within each evaluation period.  In all, there will be 4 brief compositions (3 pp. long) typed in Spanish according to MLA guidelines, 10 quizzes, one final examination, and several writing and group activities (if there is time for them). 

Addenda:

  • Students with disabilities:  Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her abilities should contact me personally as soon as possible so we can discuss accomodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate your educational opportunities.
  • Academic misconduct:  Students should be aware that academic misconduct entails severe penalties and the resentment of honest students.  For your information, "Academic misconduct includes (a) cheating (using unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise), plagiarism, falsification of records, unauthorized possession of examinations, intimidation, and any and all other actions that may improperly effect the evaluation of a student's academic performance or achievement; (b) assisting others in any such act; or (c) attempts to engage in such acts."  Student Code Book, p. 21.  For any such act of misconduct a charge must be made.  If the charge is proven, the instructor assigns a predetermined grade penalty (maximum of F) and the Provost may take disciplinary action as severe as permanent expulsion.  For more detailed information, consult the Student Code Book. 
grading Scales:
 
For examination, compositions & presentations: 

97-100  A+   (4.3)   Excellent 
 93-96   A     (4.0) 
 90-92   A-    (3.67) 
 87-89   B+   (3.33) 
 83-86   B     (3.00)  Good 
 80-82   B-    (2.67) 
 77-79   C+   (2.33) 
 73-76   C     (2.00)  Fair 
 70-72   C-    (1.67) 
 67-69   D+   (1.33) 
 63-66   D     (1.00)  Poor 
 60-62   D-    (0.67) 
   0-59   F      (0.00)  Fail 
 
Grading Scales:
 

For quizzes (10 pts.): 

  -1 pt.   = A 
  -2 pts. =  B 
  -3 pts. =  C 
  -4 pts. =  D 
  -5 pts. =  F 

Attendance:

   A+  =  0 absences 
   A    =  1 absence 
   B    =  2 absences 
   C    =  3 absences 
   D    =  4 absences 
   F     =  5 or more 
For class participation & Group Work Activities:

  A   (4)  =  maximum effort 
  B   (3)  =  good effort 
  C   (2)  =  average effort 
  D   (1)  =  minimun effort 
  F    (0)  =  no effort, absent 

Homework & impromptu compositions:

  c   = credit  (work done well) 
  ½  = credit  (work done partially) 
  nc  = (work not done or not done well) 

  • NB: homework assignments become letter grades when they become cumulative, i.e., if a student completed 10 out of 10 homework assignments, s/he gets an A, if 9, a B, if 8 a C, if 7 a D, etc.
  • Extra credit is also possible (to be defined according to circumstances)
 
 
Created on 5 January 2003 by
A. Robert Lauer
arlauer@ou.edu

Last revised on 15 March 2004
 
OU Home | Disclaimer | Copyright | Equal Opportunity | OU Web Policy