Department of Foreign Languages
www.tsf.pt/online/vida
Fall 2014 / Outono de 2014
I. PORT 3302/01
Conversation in Portuguese
II. PROFESSOR:
Dr. Robert Simon, Associate Professor of Spanish and Portuguese
OFFICE: PS212
E-MAIL: rsimon5@kennesaw.edu
TELEPHONE: 770.499.3366
III. CLASS MEETING: MW 11:00am-12:15pm
Room: EB 250
IV. TEXTBOOK REQUIRED:
Wasserman, Bonnie. Cinema for Portuguese Conversation. Newburyport, MA: Focus Publishing,
2009. ISBN-13: 978-1-58510-346-1
IVb. RECOMMENDED TEXTS:
Ferreira, Michael and Nitti, John. 501 Portuguese Verbs. Cambridge: Barron’s, 2007. ISBN:
0812090349
A Good Portuguese-English Dictionary.
V. TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (Subject to change as necessary):
Semana 1 (em 18 de Agosto):
Apresentação do curso; O processo comunicativo e a
comunicação oral.
Semana 2 (em 25 de Agosto):
Filme I: O Sertão - «Central do Brasil»
Semana 3 (em 1º de Setembro):
Dia do trabalhador; Filme I: «Central do Brasil» e discussão
Semana 4 (em 8 de Setembro):
Prova I; Filme II: A Violência Urbana: «Ônibus 174» e
discussão.
Semana 5 (em 15 de Setembro):
Em casa – Filme II: «Ônibus 174» e projeto – responder às
questões das páginas 87 e 90 do livro de texto. Entregar-se-ão no
dia 22 de Setembro – contarão como a presença nas aulas.
Semana 6 (em 22 de Setembro):
Filme III: As Transições Políticas – O Brasil – «O Que é Isso,
Companheiro?»; As availações parciais.
Semana 7 (em 29 de Setembro):
Prova II; Filme III: «O Que é Isso, Companheiro?» e discussão;
revisão para o Exame Oral I.
Semana 8 (em seis de Outubro):
Exame Oral I; Conversação sobre a apresentação final.
Semana 9 (em 13 de Outubro):
Filme IV: As Transições Políticas – Portugal – «Capitães de
Abril»
Semana 10 (em 20 de Outubro):
Prova III; Filme IV: «Capitães de Abril» e discussão
Semana 11 (em 27 de Outubro):
Entrega do tema da apresentação final; Filme V: A Mulher «Dona Flor e Seus Dois Maridos»
Semana 12 (em três de Novembro): Consultas sobre os temas.
Semana 13 (em dez de Novembro): Prova IV; Filme V: «Dona Flor e Seus Dois Maridos» e
discussão; Revisão para o Exame Oral II.
Semana 14 (em 17 de Novembro):
Filme VI: A questão pós-colonial em África – «O Herói»; Exame
Oral II.
Semana 15 (em 24 de Novembro):
Semana do Dia de Acção de Graças
Semana 16 (em 1º de Dezembro):
Prova V; As Apresentações Finais; consultas com o professor
sobre o trabalho e a avaliação dos alunos.
VI. Catalog Description: This course emphasizes skill development and refinement in the areas of
critical thinking through discussion in Portuguese. It is designed to give students experience in
conversation in Portuguese and on Lusophone Linguistic and Cultural issues.
VIb. Prerequisite: PORT 2002 or by approval of instructor.
VII. Course Objectives:
1-Understanding and refining oral communication skills
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2-Understand speaking as process
3-Understand discussion and dialog as essential to the process of critical thinking
4-Identify and utilize specific oral registers
5-Identify how Lusophone cultures are expressed through cinematic texts
VIII. Academic honesty statement
Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct, as
published in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs. Section ii of the Student Code of Conduct
addresses the University’s policy on academic honesty, including provisions regarding plagiarism and
cheating, unauthorized access to University materials, misrepresentation/falsification of university
records or academic work, malicious removal, retention, or destruction of library materials,
malicious/intentional misuse of computer facilities and/or services, and misuse of student
identification cards. Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handled through the established
procedures of the University Judiciary Program, which includes either an “informal” resolution by a
faculty member, resulting in grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a
student to the Code of Conduct’s minimum one semester suspension requirement.
IX. Disability Policy
Kennesaw State University provides program accessibility and reasonable accommodations for
persons identified as disabled under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990. A number of services are available to help disabled students with their
academic work. In order to make arrangements for special services, students must visit the Office of
Disabled Student Support Services (ext. 6443) and arrange an individual assistance plan. In some
cases, certification of disability is required.
X. Attendance, Paper, and Participation Policy
Class participation is an integral part of students’ performance evaluation; therefore,
students are expected to attend all classes, to arrive on time, to remain in class for the entire
seventy-five minutes, to come prepare, and to participate in reading discussions. Classes will start
on time. Every two absences will lower your final grade by a point. If for some reason you find it
necessary to arrive late by a maximum of ten minutes, you will be responsible for all information,
including announcements or changes to the syllabus, etc., made before your arrival. If you are
absent for the entire class period, you are also responsible for all assignments and other
announcements made during the class meeting. You are, therefore, strongly advised to ask another
student for his/her email address and telephone number.
It is mandatory for all students enrolled in PORT 3302 to attend the final presentations. Failure
to attend either or both days will lower the grade obtained in your own final presentation by 10
percent. Please make necessary work/ personal arrangements in order to be present.
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Class time will be used to develop all four basic skills (listening comprehension, speaking, reading
comprehension, and writing) and culture. You are expected to study and practice at home as part of
your daily preparation.
All assignments are to be finished by the time class begins. No late homework will be accepted.
Emergencies will be handled on an individual basis.
No make-up tests, class activities or assignments will be given. A grade of zero (“0”) will be
assigned for all work not turned in or any tests not taken. There will be no “extra credit.”
Emergencies will be handled on an individual basis.
Quizzes: There will be five (5) quizzes («provas») over the course of the semester. These quizzes
are 10-minute, written assessments of the students’ cultural knowledge and application of that
knowledge. The lowest grade will be dropped, leaving a total of four (4) graded quizzes.
The Final Presentation will happen in several parts. First, you will turn in a 1-page summary of your
topic («o tema») with your works cited page to the instructor on the date provided above in the
“Schedule.” Then, you will meet with the instructor to discuss research strategies, bibliographic
issues, presentational techniques, etc. You will then make your presentation on the day and time listed
in the schedule. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS DATE (see below for further
information). Your final presentation will be about a topic of your choice in Lusophone Culture as
reflected in one of the films seen over the course of the semester. To meet the expectations of this
course, in this essay you will show a) the ability to utilize and comprehend academic citations
related to your topic; b) the correct use of direct and indirect, literary and critical citations to
bolster / support your argument; c) detailed thesis-guided analysis of concepts and citations; and
d) the proper use of the Portuguese language in an academic presentation. The final presentation
will be 10 minutes in length and will include the use of appropriate presentational technologies for
your topic and a minimum of 3 academic sources, including but not limited to: books (not including
your textbook and/or course notes), articles, and a website if necessary (no more than 1 (one), and
only with the professor’s approval). You will cite according to the MLA guidelines, available from
your professor and /or the MLA Handbook. DO NOT CITE FROM WIKIPEDIA. This will incur
an automatic “F” (with a numerical grade of 0) on your presentation.
Oral Exams: There will be 2 (two) oral exams in this class. Each will consist of a 5-10 minute, graded
conversation with the instructor in which you will respond to direct questions and / or topics from
issues seen, through film, over the course of the semester. The first exam will cover material, concepts,
vocabulary, and grammar from the first half of the course. The second exam will cover materials,
concepts, vocabulary, and grammar from the second half of the course. If you are unable to attend one
of the exam dates, please let me know as soon as possible. There will be no make-up exams.
XI. Student Learning Outcomes
This course will contribute to the attainment of the following general (GSLO) and specific (SSLO)
student learning outcomes of the appropriate proficiency level for students of Portuguese:
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GSLO ML&C 1: LANGUAGE, LINGUISTICS, & COMPARISONS
Learners are proficient in using the target language, are familiar with the target language system, and
seek opportunities to further develop their skills and knowledge. (Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes)
SSLO ML&C 1.a.: Demonstrating Language Proficiency.
Learners demonstrate a high level of proficiency in the target language, and they seek
opportunities to strengthen their proficiency. (Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes)
To address this outcome, learners will
 Improve their reading skills by studying and applying the communication process as
well as various reading techniques to selected texts.
Assessment:
 Answer pre and post-reading exercises in various formats.
 Practice exercises and homework
To address this outcome, learners will
 Improve their writing skills by studying and applying the communication process as
well as writing techniques to compose short essays on the topics addressed in class.
Upon completion of the course, learners are expected to have achieved an Intermediate-Mid
level on the ACTFL scale.
Assessment:
 Exercises, homework, and the final project.
SSLO ML&C 1.b.: Understanding Linguistics.
Learners know the linguistic elements of the target-language system, recognize the changing
nature of language, and accommodate for gaps in their own knowledge of the target-language
system by learning on their own. (Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes)
To address this outcome, learners will
 study communication process questions and will identify basic structure and word order
in selected readings and research articles.
Assessment:
 Weekly / bi-weekly written and oral / aural exercises.
GSLO ML&C 2: CULTURES & LITERATURES
Learners know the literature and culture of the target language countries. They use this knowledge to
interpret and reflect upon the perspectives of the target culture in relation to its practices and products.
(Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes)
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SSLO ML&C 2.b.: Demonstrating Understanding of Literary and Cultural Texts and
Traditions.
Learners recognize the value and role of literary and cultural texts and use them to interpret and
reflect upon the perspectives of the target cultures over time. (Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes)
To address this outcome, learners will
 Select and research information on a topic related to the course content and give an
extemporaneous presentation.
Assessment:
 10-minute scholarly presentation with at least three scholarly citations using MLA
format.
XII.
Evaluation of Performance:
Exame I Exame II A Apresentação Final Provas -
25 pontos
25 pontos
30 pontos (a versão final (25 pontos) + o tema (5 pontos))
20 pontos (4 provas avaliadas x 5 pontos)
Total -
100 pontos
Note: Any decimal is rounded up. Ex., 89,1 = 90.
Under no circumstance the professor will receive homework via e-mail. It is your responsibility to
bring it to class the day that is due. All your drafts must have the professor’s signature of approval.
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