SPW 3100 sec. 4HO6:
Encountering Hispanic Studies
“Encrucijada de caminos culturales” [Cultural Crossroads]
Summer B 2015
M-F per. 5 (2–3:15 p.m.) Anderson 34
Prof. Shifra Armon
Ramón Calsina Baró
(Barcelona 1901-1992)
http://respectableness56.rssing.com/chan-25652454/all_p13.html
Course Objectives
Encountering Hispanic Studies prepares students to move on to advanced literature courses. It
provides the critical tools needed to approach, understand, and contextualize unfamiliar writings
and film with greater confidence and expertise. Students will practice these skills by reading a
variety of Spanish and Latin American texts and films associated with the course theme,
Cultural Crossroads, and by discussing and writing about these works in Spanish.
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Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course students will be able to
a. Distinguish between analyzing a reading or filmg and subjectively reacting to it
b. Identify three literary genres (poetry, prose-fiction and drama) and
c. Explicate poetry, prose-fiction and drama using proper critical categories
d. Explicate a film using proper critical categories
e. Link historical circumstances to the concerns expressed (or hidden) in a literary
text or film
f. Find points of contact between themselves and readings from around the Spanishspeaking world written in a variety of styles, genres and periods
g. Converse and write knowledgeably on the course theme: Cultural Crossroads
h. Converse and write knowledgeably on a body of texts from Spain and Latin
America
Required Texts:
Friedman, Valdivieso, and Virgilio Aproximaciones 7th ed.
Copypack:
 Mujica, Texto y vida, María de Zayas, “La fuerza del amor” (214-225)
Evaluation criteria
3 exams
3 blogs
10 homeworks checked
Attendance/participation
Total
@20
@10
@10
60
30
100
10
200
Grade Scale
The grade scale for classes in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies is as follows:
A = 100-93
C(S) = 76-73
A- = 92-90
C-(U) = 72-70 NOTE: A grade of C- will not be a qualifying grade for major, minor,
B+ = 89-87
D+ = 69-67 Gen Ed, Gordon Rule or Basic Distribution Credit courses. For further
B = 86-83
D = 66-63 information regarding passing grades and grade point equivalents,
B- = 82-80
D- = 62-60 please refer to the Undergraduate Catalog at
C+ = 79-77
E = 59-0 https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/grades.aspx.
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Schedule of Readings and Written Homework Assignments
Mon 29 June
Tue 30
Wed 1 July
Thu 2
Fri 3
Mon 6 July
Tue 7
Wed 8
Thu 9
Fri 10
Mon 13
Tue 14
Wed 15
Thu 16
Fri 17
Mon 20
Tue 21
UNIT ONE: NARRATIVE
Introduction to Literary Study
Literature as an aesthetic experience
Sociocultural aspects of literature
In class writing practice
Narrative Forms
Text as Communication
Practice: 1-4
Elements of a literary text
Practice 5-7
Panorama of Spanish and Latin American Literary History
Questions 1-11
Guest storyteller reads from his/her work TBA
INDEPENDENCE DAY OBSERVED
Cortázar, “La noche, boca arriba”
Questions 1-5
Isabel Allende, “La mujer del juez”
Questions 1-6; Identifications 1-5
Isabel Allende, “La mujer del juez”
Questions 7-10; Identifications 6-10
María de Zayas, “La fuerza del amor”
Questions 1-6
María de Zayas, “La fuerza del amor”
Questions 7-15
First Exam
Film: Cinco días sin Nora [Nora’s Will], dir. M. Chenillo
UNIT TWO: POETRY
Introduction
Elements of Spanish Versification
Classification of verses
Practice 1-3
Other elements of versification
The poem as a whole
Practice 4-6
Literary language
Kinds of literary comparison (“tropos”)
Practice A 1-20
Panorama of Spanish and Latin American Poetry
Questions 1-16
Guest Poets read from their work, TBA
Nancy Morejón, “Renacimiento,” “Mujer negra”
Questions 1-10
pp. 1-8
pp. 10-13
pp. 19-22
pp. 13-19
pp. 22-24
pp. 24-40
p. 41
pp. 61-67
p. 67
BLOG 1
pp. 94-97
p. 101
98-101
Copypack
Copypack
pp. 138-9
pp. 139-42
pp 142-3
pp. 151-2
pp. 133-48
pp. 148-50
pp. 151-2
pp. 152-5
pp. 155-8
p. 158
pp. 160-72
p. 172
pp. 246-9
p. 249
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Wed 22
Thu 23
Fri 24
Mon 27
Tue 28
Wed 29
Thu 30
Fri 31
Mon 3 August
Tue 4
Wed 5
Thu 6
Fri 7
Teresa de Ávila, “Vivo sin vivir en mí,” “Nada te turbe”
Questions
César Vallejo, “Yuntas,” “El momento más grave”
Questions 1-3
Ángel González, “Cumpleaños de amor,” “Ciudad cero”
Questions 1-4
Second Exam
UNIT THREE: DRAMA
Introduction
Parts of a play
Textual and literary aspects
Practice A 1-5
Textual and literary aspects
Forms of theater
Practice B 1-4
Panorama of Spanish and Latin American Drama
Questions 1-13
Paloma Pedrero, “Resguardo personal”
Questions 1-11
Sergio Vodanovic, “El delantal blanco”
Questions 1-9
Sergio Vodanovic, “El delantal blanco”
Questions 10-12
Third Exam
Film: TBA
Synthesis: Discussion of films and readings
BLOG 2
pp. 179-81
p. 181
pp. 216-18
p. 218
pp. 238-40
p. 240
pp. 252-60
pp. 265-70
pp. 260-65
pp 270-73
pp. 273-289
pp. 289-90
pp. 327-334
p. 334
pp. 310-314
p. 319
pp. 315-318
p. 319
BLOG 3
Homeword, Blogs, Exams
Homework is due on the date indicated on the syllabus. Homework must be typed double-spaced
in 12-point or larger, with correct accents and spelling. The use of a dictionary or on-line
dictionary does not require documentation. However, translators or editing help from a friend
must be acknowledged.
Blog topics are assigned on CANVAS DISCUSSION.
Exams will have two parts: an in-class closed-book component worth 10 points and an on-line
open-book component worth 10 points available on CANVAS.
Contact Information
Professor Shifra Armon
240 Dauer Hall
273 3751
sarmon@ufl.edu
Office hours Summer B 2015: Monday 11:30-1:30; Thurs. 12:30-1:30
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Attendance, Participation Cell Phone Policy and Make-ups
Students are permitted three absences without penalty provided they do not miss class on the day
of an exam (July 13, 27, Aug. 5). After three absences, any additional unexcused absences will
reduce the Class Participation grade by 2 points per absence (1% of the grade for the course per
absence). An absence can be excused by presenting written documentation on letterhead signed
by your doctor/clinic etc.
Make-up exams are provided for excused absences only, with prior notification when possible.
Late homework and late blogs are subject to a 1-point penalty, except when caused by an
excused absence.
The participation grade scale goes from 0-10. Points are earned for actively engaging in class
discussion, and coming to class prepared, with text in hand. Texting/messaging/receiving phonecalls, consulting electronic devices during class loses points. Phones must be placed on vibration
mode during class. Civility and courtesy toward the professor and other students are required;
incivility will reduce the participation grade and may result in disciplinary action.
For further information, please consult university policies at:
https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/attendance.aspx.
Course Evaluations
Students are expected to provide feedback on the quality of instruction in this course based on
10 criteria. These evaluations are conducted online at https://evaluations.ufl.edu. Students will
be given specific times when they are open. Summary results of these assessments are available
to students at https://evaluations.ufl.edu/results.
Academic Integrity
All students are required to abide by the Academic Honesty Guidelines of the University. The UF Honor
Code reads: “We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our
peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity.” On all work submitted for credit by students at
the University of Florida, the following pledge is either required or implied: “On my honor, I have neither
given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment.” For more information please refer to
http://www.dso.ufl.edu/studentguide.
Accommodations
Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The
Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this
documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation. For more information see
http://www.dso.ufl.edu/drc.
Counseling and Wellness
A variety of counseling, mental health and psychiatric services are available through the UF Counseling
and Wellness Center, whose goal is to help students be maximally effective in their academic pursuits by
reducing or eliminating emotional, psychological, and interpersonal problems that interfere with
academic functioning. The Center can be found online at http://www.counseling.ufl.edu/cwc or reached
by phone at 392-1575.
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