SPA 3310: Introduction to Literary Studies
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Prof. William Keeth E-mail: wkeeth@mansfield.edu Tel: 570-662-4605 or 570-662-4581 |
Office: Belknap 110-C |
Required
material:
Rodríguez, Rodney T. Momentos
cumbres de las literaturas hispánicas: Introducción al análisis literario.
Suggested Material:
Diccionario de escritores
hispanoamericanos: Del siglo XVI al siglo XX. Ed. por Aarón Alboukrek y
Esther Herrera. México: Ediciones Larousse, 1991.
Overview of course:
SPA
3310 is an introductory course in literary studies. In this course,
students will read a diverse but representative collection of short Peninsular
and Latin American literary texts, concentrating on their form/construction,
meaning, and relationship to literary genre and to socio-historical
context. As a result, students will develop better reading, critical
thinking, and evaluative skills. Class discussion of the texts will not only
promote better language proficiency in Spanish, but will also allow students to
gain a better appreciation of the artistic and historic importance of each
work. Students can expect to explore fundamental areas of literary criticism
and critical approach, learning more about the process of creative
construction, critical appreciation, and the literary institution. Students are
encouraged to combine this information with their own interpretation of the
texts in both oral and written commentary.
Course Goals:
1. Actively attend and participate in class
discussion.
2. Read all the materials assigned prior to and in
preparation for classroom discussion.
3. Maintain an electronic journal that accounts for
classroom discussion, personal observations/questions made during/after
reading, attention given to individually initiated investigation or critical
questioning.
4. Identify authors, texts, textual phenomena, and
other critical information presented in class.
5. Prepare two critical abstracts (approximately 1.5
pages in length), two critical essays (not to exceed 3 pages), and a research
paper (approximately 5-7 pages in length). Each of these submissions will be
evaluated according to bibliographical materials gathered and evaluated, the
degree of literary and critical understanding, and the student’s analysis and
explanation of textual meaning.
6. Complete one mid-term exam and one final exam,
fielding questions related to the works discussed in class and class discussion
itself.
According
the GE Program guidelines, all foreign language classes qualify as GE courses
and can provide students with GE Portfolio Artifacts. Although the most
conspicuous artifacts that can be drawn from this language course fulfill the
“communication” category of GE competencies, students are able to find sample
artifacts in all of the GE competency categories. For help discerning the most
appropriate artifact, please, consult the GE Q&A or schedule
an office visit with your professor.
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Sample MU General
Education Portfolio Artifacts |
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Analytical Thinking: A bubble graph, flow chart, or diagram that
outlines the possible directions of a conversation, skit, or written paper. A
reading gloss that demonstrates the degree of word and context clue analysis
needed to determine the meaning of a text. |
Problem Solving: A taped or written conversation that
demonstrates a student’s cultural comprehension in a language exchange.
A “web-based” or “realia” assignment that includes a "real world"
task. An assignment that is based on a role-playing scenario. The
outline, annotated notes, and rough draft of a written paper. |
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Communication Artifact: Video taping a class presentation or
interview. |
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Information for
This
course meets the following Pennsylvania Department of Education standards as noted
on the course schedule and the class calendar has been keyed to specifically
reference each standard being addressed (example, “[PDE-IA]”):
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Standard |
Short Description |
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I.A. |
Interpersonal communication
(Exclusively in Spanish) |
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I.B. |
Interpretive communication
(Listening, |
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I.C. |
Presentational
communication (Advanced writing and speaking) |
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I.E. |
Culture (Perspectives,
products, and practices) |
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I.F. |
Immersion (Literature and
Cultural Symbols) |
Performance and Evaluation:
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Evaluation Scale:
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System of Evaluation*: Class
Participation…………….…...….10% E-Journal……………………..……....…..10% 2 Critical
Essays…………..……….…...10% 2 Critical Abstract
Summaries................10% Midterm…………………………..…….15% Final
Exam………………......…………15% Research Paper: Preliminary
bibliography….......5% Annotated
Bibliography…….....5% Oral
presentation………………5% Final
Draft (5-7 pages)….....…15% Total: …………………………………100% |
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Important Dates |
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May 1st-5th –Oral Presentations |
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May 10th –Final Draft |
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Class Participation:
Each student can expect
his/her class participation to be evaluated in accordance with the general
guideline for “Class
Participation” and in accordance with the system of “Scoring
Class Participation”. Students will receive participation scores from
their peers as well as the professor. These are weighed 60% professor,
40% peers. Student peers will e-mail weekly grades to the professor. All students are expected to attend every
class. Any unexcused absence will result in a 15% reduction in the student’s
overall Participation grade; any partial absence (over 15 minutes) will result
in a maximum score of 2.5 for the day.
Attendance:
All students are expected to
attend class on a regular and punctual basis. Missing a class does not release
a student from class obligations. Students should keep in touch with classmates
and be sure to contact their professor in advance of any absence.
If this is not possible, they must contact the professor no later than
the first class period after the excused absence.
If a student has to miss a
class due to documented illness or other excusable reason, the student must:
1. inform the professor
as soon as possible and no later than the first class period after the
excused absence;
2. provide the professor
with a copy of the signed excuse from a physician, coach or other authority no
later than the first class period after the excused absence (The original
must be available for faculty review.);
3. arrange with the
professor to make up missed graded assignments or exams as soon as possible.
In order to avoid prolonged
delay of make-up of the work, the professor may, at his discretion, give the
make-up work and hold it for grading until after the written excuse is
received.
Electronic submission of
written work is an effective way of handing in required written work by a specified deadline, especially when a student expects to be absent.
Exams:
The Midterm and Final Exam
will be accumulative exams that assess student retention and comprehension of
the materials discussed in class and assigned readings. The Midterm and
Final Exam typically consist of recognition, map identification, multiple
choice, and short essay exercises. They
CANNOT be made up.
Electronic Journal:
In the electronic journal,
students should prepare comments and notes on the assigned readings (commentary
and reflection that will be used in class discussions and that fosters
intellectual development). In addition, daily electronic journal entries should
summarize the notes that each student takes during class and while reading at
home (the suggested format is the Modified
Cornell Method). The electronic journal must be written in Spanish and
should include academic, emotional, creative, and intellectual comments. Journals
will be turned in periodically throughout the course. Late entries will not be accepted.
Final paper:
The format of this 5-7 page
document must follow MLA guidelines for research papers. The final paper will
be completed and evaluated in a staged process (Preliminary bibliography,
Annotated Bibliography, Oral presentation, Final Draft). The document’s
final draft must be typed in 12pt Times Roman, be written with 1.5 spacing, and
have 1 inch margins. Late papers
will not be accepted.
Critical Essays:
During the semester, each
student will write two critical essays that should focus on the cultural,
historical, and literary concepts covered in the course. Each essay question and
corresponding reading will be assigned a week before the essay itself is due.
In a critical essay, students should demonstrate a creative and analytical
application of the major concepts covered in the course. The critical essays
must be written in Spanish and typed in Times New Roman 12. Should a
bibliographical source be cited, students must follow the MLA format
guidelines. Late papers will not be
accepted.
Critical Abstracts:
During the semester, students
will write two critical abstract summaries. In order to write this type of
summary, students must read a critical article written on a single work that is
related to the course readings or content. Each summary must be written in
Spanish, be typed in Times New Roman 12, and follow the MLA format guidelines. Late
papers will not be accepted.
Oral presentations:
At the end of the semester,
each student will prepare an oral presentation (5 minutes long) that reflects
the literary work or topic that s/he has investigated. In order to
execute this assignment well, students will need to have selected and read a
literary text, gathered and evaluated criticism about this work, organized and
evaluated their material in a coherent and professional way, and explained the
text’s uniqueness and difficulty in a succinct and creative manner. They
should be prepared to field questions after their presentation. Presentations
should include (but not be limited to) information related to: the author,
context of the work, the theme and argument of the work, the literary structure
of the work, an analysis of the work, and an interpretation of the work. Each
presentation will be evaluated according to these categories: execution and
delivery (30%), material and preparation (60%), and class reception and/or
fielding of questions (10%).
Study Method:
Students should expand their
class notes as soon as possible following each class and should review the
previous day's notes before they attend the next class. Students are encouraged
to self-monitor their progress and set up a rigorous routine of reading. They
should also schedule office visits with their professor, as they deem
necessary. To avoid burnout, students should always study in multiple,
staggered, short blocks of time. Each block should be no more than an hour
and should include 5 to 10 minute breaks. Integrating numerous small
blocks of study time into the weekly schedule is empowering.
Conduct:
Academic honesty, the
submission of original work, and positive student interaction is expected in
this class. Any form of cheating may result in failure of the course.
Additional information regarding academic dishonesty can be found in The Password
(for upperclassmen) or in The Student Planner (for freshmen)
The Syllabus:
This syllabus serves as a
contractual agreement. Presence in this class means that you agree to the items
stipulated in the syllabus and are aware of any modifications made throughout
the semester. One should periodically check the course web site for any updates
to the syllabus and/or class calendar.
Class records and Grades:
Oversee your grade by
monitoring your progress and maintaining contact with your instructor. Any
student material or record that has been returned to the student becomes the
student's responsibility to maintain as a permanent record for the course.
Students are responsible for picking up any materials that are made available
to them or are returned in class (or electronically). If a student loses these
records and the professor does not have a copy of the material available, the
student will receive a failing grade for the particular activity.
Students with “exceptionalities”:
Any student with documented psychological or learning disorder or
other significant medical conditions that may affect his/her learning should
contact Mr. William Chabala in the MU Counseling Center (South Hall 216, Phone:
662-4798; mwchabala@mnsfld.edu) or a
respective counselor at
the Clarion U campuses. In either case, the campus counselor will provide
the professor with the appropriate letter and materials that will enable him to
serve the student’s particular needs more effectively. If a student has an
exceptionality that requires class or testing accommodations, the respective
counselor will work with the student and the professor to identify and
implement appropriate interventions.
Other:
If you are a MU student interested
in studying abroad, please contact the Office of the Provost or Study Abroad advisor for
information about studying abroad and make an office visit with your professor
so that he may address your questions or concerns more straightforwardly.