¡Bienvenidos a Español 201!
Español 201
MWF 1:00-1:50 (Severance 238)
Instructor: Katie DiDomenico
Email: kdidomenico@wooster.edu
Office: Kauke 209
Office hours: Mondays 2-4, open door, or with appointment
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Textbooks:
The following books should be purchased no later than the first day of classes. Homework from these books will be assigned beginning the first day of classes. The same texts will be used in Spanish 202, so they will cover two courses. You only need to bring the book you have done homework in the night before.
1. Conversación y repaso, 11th ed., by Sandstedt /Kite ***It is strongly recommended that students keep Conversación y repaso after taking 201 and 202, because these are the last courses you will have at Wooster using a book that contains ALL of the grammar of Spanish.
2. Civilización y cultura, 11th ed., by Sandstedt /Kite
3. Literatura y arte, 11th ed., by Sandstedt /Kite ***Please note, I am not requiring you to purchase this text. Any material we need from it, I can photocopy for you. However, your professor for 202 may require you to have it.
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Course objectives:
- Improvement of reading comprehension and conversational skills through the reading and discussion of a variety of texts (essays, short stories, poems).
- Review of grammatical, syntactic, and lexical structures.
- Ability to converse in a clearly participatory fashion by initiating, sustaining, and bringing to closure a variety of communicative tasks.
- Ability to conduct a formal presentation on a familiar topic of personal interest.
- Ability to write predominantly descriptive and narrative texts of a few pages on familiar topics demonstrating the ability to integrate grammar, vocabulary, style, content, and organization.
- Vocabulary enrichment by means of oral and written exercises.
- Familiarity with the history and culture of the Spanish-speaking world.
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Grade distribution:
| Assignment | Percentage |
| Participation | 15% |
| Homework | 15% |
| 3 Tests | 15% |
| 2 Presentations | 10% |
| 1 Partnered Debate | 5% |
| 3 Compositions | 15% |
| Podcast Project | 15% |
| Final Exam | 10% |
Participation and attendance: Regular attendance and participation are essential for success in this and any course taken at The College of Wooster. Therefore, daily class attendance is required. Absences due only to circumstances deemed acceptable by the College will be excused, and only with appropriate documentation. Moreover, any circumstances or conditions causing prolonged or habitual absences must be reported to the office of the Dean of Students before they will be excused.
***If you let me know ahead of time that you will be missing class, I will excuse the absence provided it is for an acceptable reason. In such cases, the absence will not affect your participation grade. Additionally, I will allow you to turn in the homework the following class period and make up any missed quizzes.
***If the absence is unexcused and/or no notice is given, points will be deducted from your class participation grade and assignments will only be accepted for half-credit. Each student is allowed 4 total absences (excused or unexcused). After 4 total absences, each additional absence will result in the reduction of 1% point from the student’s final grade. Furthermore, once you have accumulated 9 absences, you will receive an automatic F in the course. If absent, it is your responsibility to contact one of your classmates or myself in order to ascertain whether the assignment was altered in any way and what was discussed in class. Finally, please consult with me at the beginning of the semester if you know that your involvement in an official co-curricular activity will lead you to miss any class sessions during the semester. I reserve the right to not excuse an absence or series of absences for failure to confer with me well in advance.
Grading Scale:
A = 100-96 A- = 95-93 B+ = 92-89
B = 88-85 B- = 84-83 C+ = 82-80
C = 79-73 C- = 72-70 D = 69-65
F = 64 and below
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Additional Notes:
1. The course schedule is subject to change based on the needs and abilities of the students. For this reason, please check the Voices page daily to keep up-to-date with course requirements.
2. All exams and quizzes must be taken at the scheduled time. There are no make-ups allowed for any course work if you have an unexcused absence for that day. If you know that you will be absent on the day of a quiz or exam, you must let me know ahead of time so that alternative arrangements can be made.
3. All homework must be typed and double-spaced with correct accent marks. Homework will not be accepted via email. Late work will be accepted for partial credit only unless you have an excused absence for the day it was originally due.
4. Continued registration in this course after the first week of the semester constitutes an agreement on the part of the student to all course requirements and policies as stated in this syllabus. The professor reserves the right to make changes to the daily schedule of assignments.
5. ACADEMIC HONESTY AND THE CODE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: The College’s understanding and expectations in regard to issues of academic honesty are fully articulated in the Code of Academic Integrity as published in the Scot’s Key and form an essential part of the implicit contract between the student and the College. The Code provides a framework at Wooster to help students develop their own personal integrity.
While you are a student at this college, you will be treated as an adult. You are expected to know and abide by the rules of the institution as described in the Scot’s Key and The Handbook of Selected College Policies (http://www.wooster.edu). You should cite your sources to avoid plagiarizing ideas and text. Particular attention should be directed to the appropriate use of materials available on-line through the Internet. It is important that you read and understand the ethical use of information. Whether intentional or not, improper use of materials can be considered a violation of academic honesty.
Cheating in any of your academic work is a serious breach of the Code of Academic Integrity and is grounds for an F for the entire course. Such violations include turning in another person’s work as your own, copying or paraphrasing from any source without proper citation, not contributing equally in a group project, submitting an assignment produced for a course to a second course without the authorization of all the instructors, fabricating excuses and lying in connection with your academic work. You will be held responsible for your actions. If you are unsure as to what is permissible, always consult your course instructor.
A note regarding online translators: Please refrain from using online translators such as Google Translate. It is obvious when a student has submitted writing that does not reflect their abilities or style. If you copy and paste English text into Google Translate and submit that as your work, I will consider it plagiarism whether or not the original text was your own phrasing. If you need assistance with vocabulary, please refer to online dictionaries such as WordReference. Keep in mind that a major part of learning a language involves making mistakes and correcting them. I do not expect your work to be perfect and you cannot learn the language if you submit work that has been translated for you.
6. Any student with a documented learning disability needing academic accommodations is requested to speak with Pam Rose, Director of the Learning Center (prose@wooster.edu, ext. 2595), and the course instructor, as early in the semester as possible. All discussions will remain confidential.
7. The College expects students to give the highest priority to their academic responsibilities. As a student, you have the responsibility to inform the faculty member of potential conflicts as soon as you are aware of them, and to discuss and work with the faculty member to identify alternative ways to fulfill your academic commitments without sacrificing the academic integrity and rigor of the course.
8. No student may record or tape or photograph any classroom activity without the expressed written consent of the professor. If a student believes that he/she is disabled and needs to record or tape classroom activities, he/she should contact the Office of the Secretary of The College to request an appropriate accommodation. No student may use a cellular phone or other hand-held electronic device during any class or classroom activity without the expressed, written consent of the professor.
9. Politeness notes: Please try to refrain from leaving the classroom and coming back in during the same class period. This is disruptive. Students who have a medical problem should discuss it with the instructor outside of class. Also, always remember to be courteous to your fellow students. If they are speaking, listen attentively and respect their opinions.
10. Spanish table meets on Tuesdays from 12:00-1:00 in Lowry 250-251. Plan to attend for excellent informal practice in conversation.