R 4:30PM-7:10PM T117
Professor: Esperanza Román Mendoza
Telephone: 993-1232
E-mail: eromanme

Department of Modern and Classical Languages
George Mason University
Office: Thompson 235A
Office hours: TR 3:00-4:00PM and by appointment



Course description

Span 461 has been designed for students who have completed 15 credit hours of instruction in Spanish (or can demonstrate an equivalent level of proficiency). Span 461 reviews the history of Spain from the prehistoric times to the present, covering Spanish achievements in literature and the arts as well.

Objectives

Materials

Attendance

You must be exposed to Spanish and use Spanish in order to learn it, so you really want to be in class and benefit from it. Class discussions, videos and activities provide the kind of interaction in Spanish that you cannot get at home. For this reason, there is no substitution for attendance. You are expected to attend all classes and be on time.

If you arrive late you are being disruptive and you may also miss some important information given at the beginning which cannot be repeated every time a student is late. Make sure you get the phone number of at least two classmates:

Name_________________ _______ Phone___________

Name________________________ Phone___________

You are responsible for all material covered in class. Keep in mind that irregular attendance will severely affect your learning process and, consequently, your final grade in this course. If you have to miss a class, you have to notify your instructor ahead of time (either by e-mail or a written notice left in mail box). In case of an emergency, you are expected to let your instructor know about it as soon as possible.

Assessment

The progress made by students in this class will be evaluated by the following criteria:

1. Participation (includes class preparation):

20%

2. Written paper:

20%

3. Questionnaire

10%

4. Exams:

50%

1. Participation and class preparation

Participation means active involvement in the class. Students are encouraged to contribute in class discussions and are expected to speak only Spanish. The participation grade includes:

1) your contribution in Spanish in regular class sessions, in group activities and in electronic discussions,
2) your cooperation and leadership in group and pair work, and
3) your respect and attitude towards your peers and the class.
Your participation grade will be determined as follows:

The A student:

The B student:

initiates interaction in Spanish

show willingness to participate

elaborates on answers

cooperates in group activities but is not the leader

shows leadership in group activities

answers when called upon

almost never uses English

occasionally talks in English

asks questions only in Spanish

is always prepared

is normally prepared

 

The C student:

The D student:

participates more passively than actively

participates grudgingly

tends to use English, especially in small group activities

speaks mostly English

gives slightly more than one word answers

does no cooperate in group activities

is frequently unprepared

is not prepared for class

 

The F student:

is always obviously unprepared

is disruptive, prevents other students from hearing

refuses to participate in class activities

is disrespectful to other students and the instructor

almost never uses Spanish


In order for you to actively participate in class, you need to read in advance the material assigned for each class and do the activities assigned by the instructor. Assignments will be collected regularly.

2. Written paper

Every student will choose a research topic and write an approximately 4,000-word paper on it. Every paper will be based on a bibliography, which may be selected from the list of readings that appears at the end of each chapter. Research topics have to be approved by the instructor.

3. Questionnaire

Students will submit the answers to approximately 20 questions related to the Spanish culture. Every student will receive a different series of questions, and the answers and questions will be submitted through e-mail to the whole class. More details in class.

4. Written exams

There will be two written tests in this course: a midterm and a final exam. These exams will evaluate the student's ability to identify important names, events and dates related to the Spanish Culture, and to write short essays on topics covered in class. The midterm exam will be administered on Thursday, October 9th, 1997. The final exam will be administered on December 11th from 4:30 pm to 7:15 pm).

HONOR CODE: Collaboration is the best way to learn a language. You are encouraged to help each other and to make use of outside resources. But on assignments which are submitted for a grade, your work must be yours alone. Consult the GMU Honor Code for information.



Programa de la asignatura Span 461

28 de agosto

1. El medio geográfico y las gentes de España

Vídeo: Conozca España

4 de septiembre

2. Incorporación de la Península Ibérica a la Historia Universal

Vídeo: Hispania, Provincia del Imperio

11 de septiembre

3. La formación histórica de España

Vídeo: Invasión Árabe

18 de septiembre

3. La formación histórica de España

Vídeo: Alfonso X

25 de septiembre

4. Internacionalización de los valores hispánicos. "Los Siglos de Oro"

Vídeo: Los Reyes Católicos

2 de octubre

4. Internacionalización de los valores hispánicos

Vídeo: La Edad de Oro I

9 de octubre

EXAMEN PARCIAL

16 de octubre

5. Crisis y reformismo. El Barroco y la Ilustración

Vídeo: Siglo de Oro II

23 de octubre

5. Crisis y reformismo. El Barroco y la Ilustración

Vídeo: La España de la I lustración

30 de octubre

6. Los españoles y las innovaciones del siglo XIX

Vídeo: Cortes de Cádiz y Romanticismo I

6 de noviembre

6. Los españoles y las innovaciones del siglo XIX

Vídeo: Romanticismo II

13 de noviembre

7. Violencia y enfrentamiento en el siglo XX. El "Segundo Siglo de Oro"

Vídeo: Alfonso XIII, Guerra Civil, Dictadura y Transición

20 de noviembre

7. Violencia y enfrentamiento en el siglo XX. El "Segundo Siglo de Oro"

Vídeo: Picasso. Dalí

27 de noviembre

Día de Acción de Gracias

4 de diciembre

8. Totalitarismo y democracia. La cultura contemporánea

Vídeo: El Rey Juan Carlos

11 de diciembre

EXAMEN FINAL