Syracuse University
Syllabus for SPA 201, Intermediate Spanish
2015-2016
Instructor:
Lisa Whalen
Class meeting time: periods 1, 2
Class meeting room: 108
Instructor office hours: 7:20-7:40 am Mon-Fri or by appointment
Welcome to SPA 201. This is an intermediate level course designed for students who have successfully
completed SPA 4H or had an A average and teacher recommendation in previous course.
Course Description
SPA 201 is a proficiency-based course that reviews understanding of the formal structures of language,
refines previously acquired linguistic skills and builds cultural awareness. Authentic cultural and literary texts
are introduced.
Communicative objectives include giving and getting information, surviving predictable and complicated
situations, and narrating and describing in present, past and future time.
This is a 4-credit course. The class is conducted
entirely in Spanish.
NOTE: The instructor reserves the right to adjust the syllabus and calendar for academic and/ or
pedagogic reasons
Required Texts

Blanco, Tocaimaza-Hatch, IMAGINA: español sin barreras

Imagina Student Activities Manual Vista Higher Learning

A good Spanish-English dictionary to be kept at home for homework/ projects, etc
(for example, Oxford)

In addition, it would be very beneficial to have a smaller Spanish-English dictionary to keep in your
backpack. You will certainly find yourself benefitting from a dictionary in class.
Course Requirements
Your grade will be calculated according to the following criteria:
20%
10%
15%
10%
10%
20%
15%
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
Class participation
Quizzes
Compositions
Homework
Oral Interview/Presentation
Exams
Final Exam
Vista Higher Learning
(20%)
Learning to communicate in a second language is a social experience, so to create the best environment, you are
expected to arrive on time and participate actively in every class. You will receive a daily grade (0-5 points) for
participation and performance. A grade of 5 is earned by the student who is well prepared for class, is actively
involved in ALL class activities, and uses Spanish creatively and intelligently. A grade of 4 is earned by the student
who is partially involved but does not participate fully and successfully. A grade of 3 is received by the student who is
present but participates minimally. Grades of 2 or 1 are earned by students who arrive late, are unprepared, or whose
behavior impedes their own learning or that of others. A grade of 0 is given for unexcused absences.
CLASS PARTICIPATION
EXAMS: 20%
There will be an exam on each chapter (1-6). A final exam will be cumulative and will cover the entire course.
Please note the exam dates below. Exams may be made up only with medical or other emergency
documentation. It is the student's responsibility to
subject to change)
Exam
Exam
Exam
Exam
Exam
Exam
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
Chapter
1
2
3
4
5
6
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
be present for all quizzes and tests. (dates are
Friday, October 16th - A day
Thursday, December 3rd – B day
Thursday, January 21st – A day
Monday, February 29th- B day
Thursday, April 7th - A day
Wednesday, May 25th – B day
QUIZZES: 10%
There will be announced and unannounced quizzes on class work and/or homework.
COMPOSITIONS: 15%
You will be required to write a minimum of 2 (maximum of 4) compositions during the course. All compositions
must be typed, must be a minimum of 250 words, and must be double spaced to allow room for comments. Your
instructor will return the composition to you with a grade and comments, and you will have the opportunity to
write a final version of the composition. The final grade will be an average of the grades from the first
draft and the final version.
The key to a good grade is careful editing of your work before you hand it in.
Check for:
 Subject - verb agreement
 Noun – adjective agreement
 Correct tense of verbs
 Correct spelling and punctuation
 A strong title, brief introduction, a clear main idea in each paragraph, and a logical conclusion.
 Be sure to use MLA format
The use of an appropriate, varied vocabulary is very important. Try to include the new words and phrases
found in the Imagina chapters.
PLAGIARISM:
All work turned in for this class should be done by you alone. While you may receive help from acquaintances
with individual words or short phrases, copying texts from other sources and claiming the words or ideas as
your own, or using electronic translators to convert your work into Spanish are considered cheating. Anyone
engaging in such activities will receive a 0 for the work in question and will be reported to the University for
Disciplinary Action. A second occurrence will result in the student’s receiving a failing grade for the course
and potential disciplinary action at the university level.
Academic Integrity
“Syracuse University sets high standards for academic integrity. Those standards are supported and enforced
by your instructor, SU faculty and Project Advance administrators. The presumptive sanction for a first
offense is course failure (SU grade of F), accompanied by the transcript notation “Violation of the Academic
Integrity Policy.” Students should review the Office of Academic Integrity online resource “Twenty Questions
and Answers About the Syracuse University Academic Integrity Policy” and confer with your instructor(s)
about course-specific citation methods, permitted collaboration (if any), and rules for examinations. The
Policy also governs the veracity of signatures on attendance sheets and other verification of participation in
class activities. Additional guidance for students can be found in the Office of Academic Integrity resource:
‘What does academic integrity mean?’” Your high school may also impose additional penalties for any violations
consistent with your high school's policies.
Related Links:
The Academic Integrity Policy: http://academicintegrity.syr.edu/academic-integrity-policy/
Twenty Questions and Answers about the Academic Integrity
Policy: http://academicintegrity.syr.edu/faculty-resources/
What does academic integrity mean?: http://academicintegrity.syr.edu/what-does-academic-integrity-mean/
What does academic integrity mean?: http://academicintegrity.syr.edu/what-does-academic-integrity-mean/
HOMEWORK: 10%
Your daily/ weekly assignments will be posted on schoolwires. You are expected to prepare exercises for class
from the textbooks and workbook. All assignments are due on the day indicated and no credit will be given for
assignments completed late.
The World Wide Web will be used as an information resource on life in Spanish-speaking countries. At the
Imagina website:
www.imagina.vhlcentral.com
you will find self-correcting activities to help you internalize the structures you learn in class. The website
also offers opportunities to search the web and broaden your understanding of Hispanic culture.
ORAL INTERVIEW/CLASS PRESENTATION: 10%
There will be a minimum of two oral evaluations throughout the course. The first is an oral interview with your
instructor. The second is a class presentation of five-minutes. You will give this presentation to the class
sometime during the course.
FINAL EXAM: 15%
The final exam is scheduled for June 13th. The exam will be comprehensive. Students will be responsible for
all material covered during the semester.
Spanish Language Instructor:
Sra. Lisa Whalen
whalenl@northernhighlands.org
201-327-8700 x363