RUSSIAN 200A
Dr. Daria Shembel
Fall 2015
Schedule Number: 22946
COURSE INFORMATION
Class Days: M, T, W, Th
Class Times: M, W: 11.00 – 11.50; T, Th: 11.00- 12.15
Class Location: M,W: EBA 441; T, Th: LSN 111
Office Hours Location: SH 228A
Office Hours Times: Th 12.30 – 2.00 (and by
appointment)
Contact info: dshembel@yahoo.com
Course Overview
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Description from the Official Course Catalog
RUSSN 200A. Intermediate Russian 1 (5) [GE]Practical application and review of the basic principles of Russian. Oral
practice, reading of cultural material in Russian. (Formerly numbered Russian 201.
Prerequisite: Russian 100B or three years of high school Russian.
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Description of the Purpose and Course Content
Intermediate Russian I purports to continue developing the four language skills (speaking, reading, writing and
listening comprehension) in a cultural context. We will focus on expanding your vocabulary and deepen your
competence in knowledge of basic Russian grammar structures while making an emphasis on the development of a
functional ability to use Russian.
Intermediate Russian I is an important transition from the elementary conversational and reading skills to dealing
with authentic Russian language. We will use a variety of text and new media materials to practice your speaking
skills. We will also work on strengthening your reading skills through a variety of authentic and adapted texts of
varied length. Internet projects will be assigned to explore the cultural and social landscape of contemporary Russian
life. Classes are conducted mostly in Russian with the explanation of some sensitive grammatical topics in English.
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Student Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to speak in a variety of uncomplicated social situations that are needed for survival in the target
culture. They will be able to talk about their family life, leisure, personal preferences, university life, as well as give
and understand directions. Students will alsobe able to ask and respond to questions about practical needs, such as
shopping, food, and accomodation.
Students will also demonstrate Russian-language writing, reading, and comprehension skills in the range of
Intermediate-Low to Intermediate-Mid levels in accordance with the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. They will
demonstrate increasing comprehension of spoken and written discourses.
They will also write questions and descriptions, discussing the events that occurred in the past, and their plans for the
future.
Demonstrate intercultural competence and understand many aspects of Russian society and culture
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Enrollment Information
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Prerequisites: Russian 100B or three years of high school Russian.
Course Materials
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Required Materials:
Richard Robin, Karen Evans-Romaine, Galina Shatalina: Golosa: A Basic Course in Russian, Book Two (Pearson
Education, 2014, fifth edition) with Student Activities Manual
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Recommended Materials:
Any commercially available package with audio or video component (e.g. Rosetta Stone)
A good-size Russian-English, English Russian dictionary
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Course Structure and Conduct
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Blackboard Consult the Blackboard website for this course before every class. You are responsible for
accessing materials available there, as well as for checking your homework assignments.
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Attendance Class attendance is mandatory. Written excuses include medical reasons and religious holidays.
More than four unexcused absences will result in a lowering of your final grade.
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Homework will be assigned on regular basis and is designed as preparation for the next class. You may be
given reading, written, internet, research or grammar activities for homework. All homework assignments must
be completed in full prior to class and will contribute to your overall grade. It is your responsibility to keep up
with all homework assignments.
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Working with Multimedia Materials/ Language Lab: The Language Resource Center (LARC) is located in SH
204-205. Some of our classes will be held there. I will always let you know in advance if we hold a class meeting
in the lab.
Course Assessment and Grading
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Grading
Class attendance and oral performance: 20%
Homework and multimedia assignments: 25%
Quizzes (testing the core vocabulary of the chapter): 20%
Tests (there will be a test after each chapter) and midterm examination: 25%
Final examination: 10%
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Grades as defined at SDSU as:
A: Outstanding achievement, available for the highest accomplishment.
B: Praiseworthy performance, definitely above average.
C: Average awarded for satisfactory performance; the most common undergraduate grade.
D: Minimally passing, less than typical undergraduate achievement
F: Failing
C/NC: Some students may, subject to their major requirement and the conditions set out in the General Catalog, choose to
take the course credit/no credit. Work equivalent to C or above will result in a grade of Credit; work equivalent to C- or
below will result in NO Credit.
WU: Indicates that an enrolled student did not withdraw from the course but did not fulfill the course requirements. For
purposes of grade point average computation, this grade is equivalent to an F. Students who are failing when they stop
attending class will receive an F, not a U.
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Examinations
Midterm examination – Th, October 29.
Final examination - tba
Accommodations
The learning environment should be accessible to all. SDSU provides reasonable accommodations in the following
situations:
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Disability: If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is
your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt of
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your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that
accommodations are not retroactive, and that accommodations based upon disability cannot be provided until
you have presented your instructor with an accommodation letter from Student Disability Services. Your
cooperation is appreciated.
Religion: By the end of the second week of classes, students should notify the instructors of affected courses of
planned absences for religious observances.
Official university activities (e.g., Athletics): Within the first two weeks of classes, a student who expects to be
part of an official university event or activity shall notify the instructors of affected courses. At that time, the
student shall request accommodation for any missed examinations or other assignments. If scheduling changes
occur, the student shall immediately notify the instructors.
Academic Honesty
The University adheres to a strict policy regarding cheating and plagiarism. These activities will not be tolerated in this
class. Become familiar with the policy (http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/srr/conduct1.html). Any cheating or plagiarism will
result in failing this class and a disciplinary review by Student Affairs.
Examples of Plagiarism include but are not limited to:
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Using sources verbatim or paraphrasing without giving proper attribution (this can include phrases, sentences,
paragraphs and/or pages of work)
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Copying and pasting work from an online or offline source directly and calling it your own
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Using information you find from an online or offline source without giving the author credit
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Replacing words or phrases from another source and inserting your own words or phrases
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Submitting a piece of work you did for one class to another class
If you have questions on what is plagiarism, please consult the policy (http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/srr/conduct1.html).
Cheating and Plagiarism
Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses. You are plagiarizing or cheating if you:
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for written work, copy down or cut anything from a book, article or website and add or paste it into your paper
without using quotation marks and providing the full reference for the quotation, including page number
for written work, summarize / paraphrase in your own words ideas you got from a book, article, or the web
without providing the full reference for the source, including page number
for an oral presentation, copy down or cut anything from a book, article, or website and present it orally as if it
were your own words. You must summarize and paraphrase in your own words, and bring a list of references in
case the professor asks to see it
use visuals or graphs you got from a book, article, or website without providing the full reference for the picture
or table
recycle a paper you wrote for another class
turn in the same (or a very similar paper) for two classes
purchase or otherwise obtain a paper and turn it in as your own work
copy off of a classmate
use technology or smuggle in documents to obtain or check information in an exam situation
In a research paper, it is always better to include too many references than not enough. When in doubt, always err on the
side of caution. If you have too many references it might make your professor smile; if you don’t have enough you might
be suspected of plagiarism.
In foreign language study, cheating also includes the following:
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Doing your written homework and then having a third party correct it, or having someone else write your
homework for you and turning that in for credit
Doing assignments with another student and turning in the same or almost the same work. (Unless you are
specifically directed to work in pairs on in groups, college-level work is always expected to be solely your own.)
Using an automated translation engine to translate your homework
Using an available translation of a text on which to base your own translation and turning that in for credit.
What IS acceptable includes the following:
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Asking your professor for help.
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Brainstorming answers and/or ideas with another student; then, each student writes up the homework
separately and turns in his or her own work.
Doing your written homework and/or translation and then having a third party circle your mistakes; you then
do the corrections on your own and turn in your own work.
If you have any question or uncertainty about what is or is not cheating, it is your responsibility to ask your instructor.
TAKE THE TUTORIALS:
Test your knowledge of what constitutes plagiarism through a tutorial offered by the SDSU Library. To access the tutorial
go to: http://library.sdsu.edu/guides/tutorial.php?id=28
See also the library tutorial on the difference between acceptable paraphrase and plagiarism at:
http://library.sdsu.edu/guides/tutorial.php?id=16
Consequences of cheating and plagiarism
SDSU instructors are mandated to report all instances of cheating and plagiarism to the Center for Student Rights and
Responsibility. Consequences are at the instructor’s and the Center for Student Rights and Responsibility’s discretion.
They may include any of the following:
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failing the assignment
failing the class
warning
probation
suspension
expulsion
For more detailed information, read the chapter on plagiarism in the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (6th
edition, 2003), visit the following website http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml and talk to your
professors before turning in your paper or doing your oral presentation.
The University of Indiana also has very helpful writing hints for students, including some on how to cite sources. Please
visit http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets.shtml for more information.
Syllabus
Course Schedule
Course Schedule with Date, Activity, and Assignment
Date
Theme
Context and Content
Week 1
Chapter 1 – Weather and Traveliing
Communicative Objectives:
Describing weather, weather reports
Linguistic Objectives:
Expressing Feelings: Dative Subjectless constructions
Seasons (Instrumental Case)
Months and Prepositional Case
Week 2-3
Chapter 1 – Weather and Traveling
Communicative Objectives:
Preparing for travel
Comparing weather in San Diego, Moscow and their
home town
Invitations
Linguistic Objectives:
Verbs of motion
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Date
Theme
Context and Content
Приезжайте/ Приходите
Week 4
Chapter 2 – Managing Phone Conversations
Communicative Objectives:
Leaving and taking telephone messages
Telephone Idioms
Linguistic Objectives:
Cardinal numbers
Short form adjectives
Week 5
Chapter 2 – Managing Phone Conversations
Communicative Objectives:
Phone and Skype Conversations
Linguistic Objectives:
Expressing ability
Overview of verb conjugation
Week 6-7
Chapter 3 – Describing your city
Communicative Objectives:
Asking for directions
Telling where something is located
Linguistic Objectives:
Giving directions
Verbs of motion
Week 8
Chapter 3 – Describing your city
Communicative Objectives:
Means of transportation
Telling where something is located
Subway system in Moscow
Getting around in Russia
Linguistic Objectives:
Verbs of motion
Verb aspect and imperative
Week 9
Chapter 4 – Accomodations
Communicative Objectives:
Dealing with common travel problems
Linguistic Objectives:
Prefixed Verbs of Motion
Accusative plural of animate nouns and their
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Date
Theme
Context and Content
modifiers
Week 10-11
Chapter 4 – Accomodations
Communicative Objectives:
Dealing with common travel problems
Linguistic Objectives:
Prefixed Verbs of Motion
Accusative plural of animate nouns and their
modifiers
Week 12
Chapter 5 – Media, Film, and Television
Communicative Objectives:
Talking about movies and television
Expressing likes and dislikes
Linguistic Objectives:
Making comparisons
Reflexive verbs
Week 13-14
Chapter 5 – Media, Film, and Television
Communicative Objectives:
Agreeing and Disagreeing
Reading Television and movies schedules
Linguistic Objectives:
Participles and adverbial participles
Week 15
Review of Chapter 1-5 material
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