Fullerton College

SPAN 203, Elementary Spanish 3

Rosa Arceo

Spanish 203 (5 units), Summer 2008

Section 30737, Online

Office location: 525-01

Office hours: Students may request online or virtual office hours. All such appointments must be requested by email. Instructor requires at least two day advance notice.

External Email: rarceo@fullcoll.edu and internal CE6 email (use external email only in case of emergency)

Telephone (714) 992-7000, ext 26311

 

Course Description and Prerequisites: Elementary Spanish 203 (4 units)

Spanish 203 develops oral and written expression and listening and reading competency based on cultural and literary materials. The course includes an expanded review of key grammatical concepts. The student should have available at least 12-16 hours weekly to do nothing but Spanish. Letter grade or credit/no credit option. Transfer: UC, CSU. 

 

Prerequisite: The prerequisite for SP 203 is Spanish 102 at Fullerton College with a grade of "C" or better, two years of high school Spanish with a grade of "C" or better, or the equivalent. Native or near-native speakers may enroll without the prerequisite, but must obtain permission from the instructor at the time of the mandatory campus orientation.

 

Learning Objectives

 

Upon the completion of this course, students can reasonably expect to be able to:

 

1.      Demonstrate intermediate communicative competence in Spanish to include listening, reading, speaking and writing.

2.      Use vocabulary needed for conveying information in the past, present and future, as well as hypothetical situations, personal opinions and personal experiences.

3.      Demonstrate critical thinking skills through contrastive and inductive analysis. This means that you will figure out grammatical rules for yourself, apply conversation strategies in oral and written communication, and make comparisons between the Spanish language and Hispanic cultures and your own language and culture.

4.      Demonstrate ability to synthesize material covered in readings, discussions and online media.

5.      Produce essay-format writing that develops a topic or thesis statement in a coherent, logical and unified manner.

6.      Demonstrate awareness and appreciation of Latin American, Spanish and Latino people and culture, as well as similarities and differences with the cultures represented in the student population.

7.      Demonstrate ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with classmates to evaluate, revise and editing writings.

 

 

 

HUMANITIES DIVISION STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

Students completing courses or programs in the Humanities Division will be able to:

·        Use language skills effectively in reading, writing, listening, or speaking to achieve personal, academic, or vocational goals.

·        Use critical thinking skills to examine information, events, and ideas from a broader perspective.

·        Recognize the significance of language and culture in human experience.

·        Apply principles of academic honesty and integrity.

·        Work cooperatively and collaboratively with others.

·        Use campus and/or community resources to participate actively in their own education.

 

 

Required Texts:

1.       Textbook: Collopy O'Donnell and Kelly. Portales. Comunidad y cultura. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2003.

2.       Workbook: Collopy O'Donnell and Kelly. Portales. Manual de actividades. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2003. 

3.       A good Spanish-English/English-Spanish dictionary such as the Oxford Spanish Dictionary. You may wish to subscribe to www.diccionarios.com (online dictionary).

Required Materials : Speakers, a computer microphone and a webcam.

Be advised: The Copyright Act of 1976 grants to copyright holders the exclusive right to produce their work and distribute copies of their work. Works that receive copyright protection include published works such as a textbook and workbooks. Copying a textbook without permission from the owner of the copyright (the publisher Prentice Hall) constitutes copyright infringement. Civil and criminal penalties may be assessed for copyright infringement.

Note: You will need all required materials by the beginning of the first week of the semester.

 Course content: Chapters 1 through 5 (inclusive) of the above Text and Workbook.

The course is divided into five chapters. Each chapter contains a set of assignments from the textbook and workbook, interactive exercises, related audio segments and video or slide show presentations, self-tests, online discussion questions, written and oral disucussions and quizzes. The course is not designed to be self-paced. Students have 10 days to complete each chapter (about a 1 week and 1/2). Each chapter is available only during its pertaining 10 days. For instance, the only chapter available from week 1 through half of week 2 is Chapter One. All assignments, homework, quizzes, written and oral conversations related to the chapter are due during those 10 days. Once the availability period is over, the chapter closes and the next chapter becomes visibly for its corresponding week and a half.

Calendar

Chapter 1 “ Los cinco sentidos”

June 17 - June 26

Chapter 4  ¡Deja tu huella!

July 18 - July 27

Chapter 2 “ Paisajes"

June 27 - July 7

Chapter 5 “Vistas Urbanas"

July 28 - August 6

Chapter 3 “ Encuentros"

July 8 - July 17

Final Exam and Final Presentation

August 7 - August 10

 

 

 

 

We will dedicate ten days per Chapter. This means that you do NOT wait until the end when the chapter is due to try to complete the chapter's activities. Log on to the course any time or day you wish, but be sure to log on constantly to be able to finish the work before the deadline.

 

Key Grammar Topics

 

1.       Differences between ser, estar, and haber

2.       Stem-changing verbs in the present tense

3.       Prepositions: por and para, verbs that use a, en, con, de

4.       Past tenses: preterit, imperfect, present perfect and past perfect

5.       Pronouns: reflexive, direct and indirect objects

6.       Gustar and similar verbs

7.       Adjectives and rules of agreement

8.       Future and conditional tenses

9.       Present subjunctive used in nominal clause

10.   Introduction to "If" clauses contrary-to-fact

 

Note: Other topics introduced in first-year Spanish classes will be reviewed as needed.

 

Withdrawing from the Course Last day to add: June 23; Last day to drop without “W”: June 23;
Last day to drop with “W”: July 17; Last day to drop for refund: June 19.

If you decide to withdraw, you must drop the course via WebStar by Thursday, June 19, 2008 in order to qualify for a refund or by Monday June 23, 2008 in order to drop without receiving a "W" on your transcript. The very last day to drop with a "W" on your transcript is Thursday, July 17 , 2008.

 

As noted in the 2007-2008 FC Catalog (p. 23) and elsewhere, it is the student's responsibility to officially add or drop classes “not the instructors.

 

Failure to officially add or drop a course that you are no longer attending may affect your academic records. This may mean a grade of "F" can be applied for not meeting the requirements of the course including failure to turn in homework and take quizzes and exams after you have stopped attending the class.

 

Grading Scale:

90 - 100% A   

80 - 89%  B   

70 - 79%  C 

60 - 69%  D

0 - 59% F

 

Methods of evaluation and grade distribution: The student will receive a grade based on the evaluation of the following criteria: 1) Written Conversations 2) Oral Conversations 3) Quizzes 4) Homework (Manual & Text) 5) Final Project 6) Final Exam.

 

1. Written conversations (5 conversations total)    20%

2. Oral Conversations (5 conversations total) 10%

3. Quizzes (30 quizzes total) 30%

4. Homework (40 HW assignments total) 20%

5. Final Project 10%

6. Final Exam 10%

 

READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON EACH ASPECT OF THE COURSE SEVERAL TIMES. MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU, THE REQUIREMENTS FOR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING POLICIES.

Participation: Although we won't be meeting every week on campus, you will be required to "meet" with the class every week online for a total of 8 hours. This means that you will need to log on to the course almost every day in order to read lesson assignments; complete interactive, media-based activities; participate in bulletin board discussions and chat; and take quizzes.

According to college guidelines, a student should expect to spend 2 to 3 hours per week for each unit of credit taken during a sixteen 16 week course. In a normal semester, you will need to schedule from 8 to 12 hours per week, in a summer course you need about 16-24 hours per week in order to successfully complete homework and journal entries, upload homework, listen to audio segments, and prepare for quizzes. This is in addition to the eight (8) hours that you will be "meeting" online.

Be advised: Regular and active participation is a very important aspect of this online course. It is critical that you read all assignment materials, complete all online interactive exercises, and participate in all discussions. Your full participation ON A WEEKLY BASIS is not only a requirement; it is an essential aspect of the online course process.

 

Tutoring/Assistance with your work:

Please consult with me as often as necessary.  Do not wait; seek help early.  You may reach me using the internal email, by emailing me at rarceo@fullcoll.edu or by phone as listed above. Free tutoring is available to students through the Skills Center-Tutoring Services at (714) 992-7000, ext 25386. Take advantage of this resource early on in the semester. You may also come to see me during my office hours, or schedule an appointment.

1) Written conversations (20%):

There will be five written discussion topics this semester. Use the Discussions or Bulletin Board Tool (CONVERSACIONES) to post your responses. For each topic, you are required to write an original entry using 120 or more words, as well as read the postings of, and follow-up with a response to, at least two other students using 80 or more word per response. Follow-up responses MUST incorporate the conversational gambits (phrases) from the front and back inside covers of your textbook: Para conversar and Para escribir.

Students cannot pass this class without participation in the online written and oral discussion.

Grading policies:

Bulletin Board Discussions: The grading policy rewards three things: the quality and timeliness of your responses to the topic and your contributions to the overall development of the discussion. Responses should be written to the best of your ability and show improvement during the course of the semester.

1.      Students are required to check spelling, use appropriate accentuation, think though the questions before beginning to write use the vocabulary and conversational gambits presented in the textbook, and self-correct or edit for common grammar errors. A substantial penalty is applied for lack of careful preparation.

2.      I also expect you to submit your response to the discussion question(s) within the week assigned and read and respond to your group members as well. Students who consistently wait to complete their postings will be penalized.

Do remember the purpose of discussions “These take the place of conversations that we would have in a typical face to face course. To minimize anxiety and get the most out of each discussion, follow these simple procedures:

·        First, log on to the course site with the intention of downloading discussion questions and reading only.

·        In order to respond thoughtfully to the discussion questions, prepare your responses in a word processor and then copy and paste them to the course site. Be sure to check for spelling, accentuation and grammar before copying and pasting.

·        Read as many of your classmates' posts as time permits.

·        Once posts have been read, select the two that interest you the most and formulate a response to be posted. Remember, an immediate response is not necessary. Again, prepare your commentary in a word processor and then copy and paste to the course site.

 

3.      Your original postings and follow-up responses should demonstrate that you tried your best to contribute to a thoughtful discussion of the topic. This means that you may not simply respond by saying "Hello" or "I agree." You must clearly address the discussion question(s) and provide pertinent detail and/or personal examples. You must also add to the discussion by asking questions in your follow-up responses to your classmates or by beginning a new (related) topic.

4.      Last minute, sloppy work will be recognized and penalized.

Please note that if I suspect that you have used the aid of a translator or of another person to write your postings, you will receive a zero.

2) Oral conversations (10%):

There will be five oral discussion topics this semester. Students cannot pass this class without participation in the online written and oral discussions. We will be usign CLEAR from Michigan State University to complete the oral conversations. To become familiar with this program go to the http://clear.msu.edu/clear/ 

About CLEAR

The Center of Language Education and Research (CLEAR) at Michigan State University was established in 1996 as a Language Resource Center (LRC) through a Title VI grant from the U.S. Department of Education. As an LRC, CLEAR strives to promote and support the teaching and learning of foreign languages in the United States through its various projects and outreach activities.

 

Oral conversations must show your best effort. Conversations should be thoughtful, creative conversations with an extensive variety and accurate use of level-appropriate vocabulary and structures. .

3) Quizzes (30%):

You are responsible for preparing for and taking all quizzes. Types of questions include multiple-choice, fill-in-the blank, matching and short answers. These quizzes will be given on a weekly basis using the Assessment Tool (PRUEBAS). Quizzes are announced in advance and, in some instances, you will be able to take each quiz at least 2 times in order to improve your score.

Be advised that there is no make-up quizzes given in this online course and that you must take the quizzes during the period indicated.

 

4) Class Activities and Homework (20%):

You will be completing both the kinds of activities and homework assignments that would take place in a normal face-to-face course Assignments include exercises from the workbook (MANUAL DE ACTIVIDADES) and exercises from the textbook. To allow for timely completion of the course, all electronically submitted assignments must be sent to me by the stated deadlines or earlier.  Please note that you are expected to do the work assigned. NO late submissions.

Grading policies for activities and homework:

In order for you to receive full credit for your work, you must meet the requirements for each assignment, complete it to the best of your ability, and edit for correct spelling and accentuation before submission.

The Grading Rubrics for Homework take into account the following rules of thumb for completing specific exercises:

  1. Open-ended exercises must be completed in their entirety, according to the instructions given in the textbook or workbook. A significant deduction will be applied to answers that do not follow the models and/or demonstrate that you have not understood the point of the exercise.
  2. Some exercises have the answers provided in an Answer Key at the back of the workbook and textbook. Do these once without referring to the key! Then go back and look at the answer key and make a note of your errors.
  3. The grammar exercises from the CONTEXTOS sections of the workbook are coordinated with the grammar guide pages from the textbook. Note the use of the GG Icon, which refers you to the grammar explanations given in the textbook. Make sure that you open your textbook to these pages and refer to them as you work through the exercises.
  4. Writing exercises (short compositions, paragraph-writing, etc.): Be sure to follow all guidelines and requirements of the assignment. Again, you must edit your work and correct for misspellings, accentuation and incorrect grammar before submission.

 

5) Final Project (10%):

You will have a final cultural project which you will present to the class using the ASSIGNMENTS tool in CE6. You will follow the instructions provided under ORIENTACION Y RECURSOS. Please note that you should start working on your presentation early. Your final presentation is due Sunday, August 10, 2008. I WILL NOT ACCEPT PRESENTATIONS AFTER THE DEADLINE.

 

6) Final Exam (10%):

The final exam is an avenue for you to apply everything you have learned in this class. If you keep up with the work assigned and consult with me, you will be very prepared to take it successfully.  The final exam will be administered online.  There is no make-up for the final exam; please study the material before you start the exam, and consult with me as often as necessary.  Your final exam will be open from Thursday, August 7, 2008 until Sunday, August 10, 2008.

 

Online Procedures

It can be difficult to keep up with the material presented in an online course. To minimize any problems caused by unexpected technical glitches and/or personal emergencies and obligations, make a commitment to follow the procedures outlined below.

Tips for Success 

What we know from experience is there is usually an adjustment period for most students as they learn the patterns of online communication. Here are some tips for getting comfortable:

§         Know your "course geography." Know where everything (tools, lessons, files) is located. Go to the Home Page, click on every button and link to see where they take you.

§         Get to know your browser and ensure that all settings are the correct ones.

§         Make sure you have regular access to the Internet. Plan your schedule accordingly.

§         Budget time daily for assignment preparation and online participation.

§         Check the course site at least 3 times a week, or more, if possible, to see what is new and to keep up with course activities.

§         Be organized. Print out all assignments and keep in a notebook or folder for additional review.

§         Avoid procrastination (waiting to the last minute to complete lesson assignments). If you manage your time wisely and follow procedures you will not have this problem. 

§         Be proactive in communicating with your instructor and fellow students. Most problems are easily solved, but we have to hear from you before we can help.

§         Remain flexible and communicate with the professor if life events intervene and interfere with participation.

§         Be persistent. Don't quit. If you feel like dropping out, email me or another student first for some words of encouragement and suggestions.

§         Share information, tips and questions with other students and with me. You may have the answer someone needs. We really are in this all together.

Netiquette

Online communication has its own set of rules for appropriate behavior. Here are some guidelines to help you get along with others in this class:

Read what you are going to send before you click on the send button. In online communication it is important to say things carefully, since you cannot use body language as you do with verbal communication.

1.      "Flaming" or flying off the handle and ranting at someone else are unacceptable; it's the equivalent of having a tantrum, something most of us wouldn't do in a face-to-face classroom.

2.      Typing in ALL CAPS is the equivalent of YELLING. Please do not yell at people.

3.      Any derogatory or inappropriate comments regarding race, gender, religion or sexual orientation are unacceptable.

4.      When posting a long message it is generally considered courteous to warn readers at the beginning of the message that it is a lengthy post.

5.      It is considered extremely rude to forward someone else’s messages without their permission.

6.      It is O.K. to use humor, but use it carefully. The absence of face-to-face cues can cause humor to be misinterpreted as criticism. Do use emoticons such as J or ;) to let others know that you're being humorous.

 

Academic dishonesty and misconduct: Will not be tolerated in this course.  Students have an obligation to become familiar with the College's policies, rules, and regulations and to conduct themselves in a reasonable, respectful manner conducive to attaining their educational goals.  Students should refer to the 2007-2008 Fullerton College Catalog under the following headings for additional information:  Academic Honesty (page 31), Student Conduct (page 37), and Standard of Student Conduct and Discipline Policy (page 35-36).

 

FULLERTON COLLEGE ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY

 

Students are expected to abide by ethical standards in preparing and presenting material which demonstrates their level of knowledge and which is used to determine grades. Such standards are founded on basic concepts of integrity and honesty.  These include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

 

1. Students shall not plagiarize, which is defined as:

 

A. stealing or passing off as one's own the ideas or words of

another, or

 

B. using a creative production without crediting the source.

 

The following cases constitute plagiarism:

 

·        paraphrasing published material without acknowledging the source,

·        making significant use of an idea or a particular arrangement of ideas, e.g., outlines,

·        writing a paper after consultation with persons who provide suitable ideas and incorporating these ideas into the paper without acknowledgment, or

·        submitting under one's own name term papers or other reports which have been prepared by others.

 

2. Students shall not cheat, which is defined as:

 

A. using notes, aids, or the help of other students on tests or exams in ways other than those expressly permitted by the instructor, or

 

B. misreporting or altering the data in laboratory or research projects involving the collection of data.

 

3. Students shall not furnish materials or information in order to enable another student to plagiarize or cheat.

 

Instructors may deal with academic dishonesty in one or more of the following ways:

 

1. Assign an appropriate academic penalty such as an oral reprimand (as in cases where there is reasonable doubt that the student knew that the action violated the standards of honesty); assign an "F" on all or part of a particular paper, project, or exam (for example, where it was felt that it was a one-time occurrence); or assign an "F" in the course (as in cases where the dishonesty was serious, premeditated, or part of an ongoing scheme).

 

2. Report to the appropriate administrators, with notification of same to the student(s), for disciplinary action by the College. Such a report will be accompanied by supporting evidence

and documentation.

 

Cheating

Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated. Students are urged to review the Fullerton College Policy on Academic Honesty from the FC Catalog 2007-08. Any person or persons caught cheating will dropped from the course or receive an F for the course at a minimum. Additional disciplinary action, such as expulsion from the college, will be pursued at my discretion. Cheating includes but is not limited to:

  • Direct copying of a tutor's or another student's work (of any kind) EVEN if you are allowed to work together.
  • Submitting papers or exams with the same exact answers.
  • Submitting work or taking the course for other students.
  • Plagiarism (=copying) of published materials, including Internet materials. THIS INCLUDES COPYING AND PASTING FROM WEBSITES INTO YOUR OWN DOCUMENTS AND USING TRANSLATION DEVICES.
  • Deliberate misrepresentation of activities related to the course.

 

If you are uncertain whether something you are doing may be considered cheating, ask me.

 

Students are encouraged to form study groups, discuss material and help each other with material in the course. However, you must perform all of your own work and you must answer all quiz and exam questions on your own.
 

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) STATEMENT

Fullerton College is committed to providing educational accommodations for students with disabilities upon the timely request by the student to the instructor. Verification of the disability must also be provided.  The Disability Support Services office functions as a resource for students and faculty in the determination and provision of educational accommodations.

 

EMERGENCY RESPONSE STATEMENT

Take note of the safety features in around the classroom. Also, please study the posted evacuation routes. The most direct route of egress may not be the safest. Running out of the building during earthquakes may be dangerous.  During strong earthquakes, it is recommended to duck, cover, and hold until the quaking stops.  Follow the guidance of your instructor.  Your cooperation during emergencies can minimize the possibility of injury to yourself and others.

 

FULLERTON COLLEGE CATALOG AND CLASS SCHEDULE

The Fullerton College Catalog and the Class Schedule contain a number of policies relating to students that are important to you. Please be sure that you have read these publications thoroughly. You may purchase copies of these publications at the campus bookstore, or you may read them online at the Fullerton College website, www.fullcoll.edu
 

Final Words

Please remember that this syllabus is designed to be thorough, to lay out with clarity what you can expect from the course in terms of class interaction, course design, student rights and responsibilities, grading criteria and the procedures you will need to follow in order to be successful in Spanish 203. Reread the syllabus on a regular basis “it contains the answers to most of your questions about the course" and don't hesitate to ask me for help when you need it.

I really enjoy teaching in cyberspace and believe that you can learn a lot of Spanish in the online format without some of the stress that comes with a face-to-face class. I look forward to communicating with and learning about each and every one of you throughout the next 8 weeks.