Department of Spanish
Spanish 504: Don Quixote
Spring 2014
Instructor Contact Information
Instructor: Magdalena Altamirano, Ph.D.
Office: East Faculty 105 (Calexico)
Office hours: Mondays and Thursdays 3:00-4:00 pm
Phone: (760) 768-5614
Email: altamira@mail.sdsu.edu
Website: www.ivcampus.sdsu.edu/faculty/maltamirano
Section and Enrollment Information
Class meeting: Mondays 7:25-10:05 pm
Class location: FOBE-124B
Schedule number: 60065
Course prerequisites: Spanish 405A.
Course Overview
General Catalog description: “A close reading of Cervantes’ novel Don Quixote, Parts I and II”
(438).
The purpose of this course is to read and analyze a world literature masterpiece: Don Quixote de
la Mancha (1605, 1615), by Miguel de Cervantes. We will read the first part of Cervantes’ novel
and select chapters from the second book. We will examine historical, social and cultural aspects
of Golden Age Spain and the many ways in which Cervantes challenged them. Among these
aspects are literary genres and models, arbitrismo, social stratification and the role of women in
society. We will also review the influence Don Quixote has had on cultural products subsequent
to Cervantes (iconography, film, performing arts, modern novel, spoken language, etc.).
Research will be an important component of this course. Cultural studies approaches will enrich
our Cervantine experience. The course textbook will be supplemented with academic articles and
information from other disciplines (art, film, music).
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Student Learning Outcomes

Recognize main literary characteristics of Don Quixote de la Mancha.

Identify cultural references present in Cervantes’ work.

Decode Cervantes’ novel as a challenging reading of Spanish Golden Age society and
culture.

Apply literary analysis methods and theories to Cervantes’ novel..

Produce papers and oral presentations that illustrate critical thinking.
Course Materials
Required Reading
Cervantes, Miguel de. Don Quijote de la Mancha. Ed. Francisco Rico. Punto de Lectura, 2007.
ISBN-13: 9788466320405. (Alternative edition: Cervantes, Miguel de. Don Quijote de la
Mancha. México: Real Academia Española; Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española;
Santillana, 2004. ISBN: 9707700610.)
Recommended Readings and Materials

Blackwell, Frieda H. and Paul E. Larson. Guía básica de la crítica literaria y el trabajo de
investigación. Boston: Thomas Heinle, 2007. ISBN-13: 9781413014686. (A copy will be
placed in Spanish 504 course reserves.)

A good Spanish-Spanish dictionary. You can access the online version of the Diccionario de
la lengua española through the Real Academia Española website: Real Academia Española:
Diccionarios, Diccionario de la Lengua Española.

Online resources listed in Blackboard course site.
Course Structure
Spanish 504 is a lecture course. During the semester students are required to perform individual
and group activities as described below (see “Course Assessment and Grading”). Spanish is the
language of the course (General Catalog 437). Blackboard is the course management system for
Spanish 504.
Assessment and Grading (see “Programa del Curso” for due dates)
Pruebas de Comprobación de Lectura
Students will have several pop quizzes during the semester. These brief quizzes will be based on
the readings of the day. Quizzes will be given at the beginning of the session. At the end of the
semester, if the student took all quizzes, the lowest grade will not count toward his/her final
grade. If a student missed one quiz, it will be considered his/her lowest grade. No make-ups.
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Diario de Lectura
The reading journal is an individual and online journal based in Blackboard (Diario de lectura).
As part of their weekly homework, students will use this journal to post their answers to the
course readings questionnaires. Questionnaires will be posted on Blackboard. The due dates for
all journal entries are listed in the course program. To receive credit, journal entries must be
submitted to Blackboard before the beginning of the class in which the given reading will be
discussed. Late journal entries will not receive credit.
Examen Parcial
There will be a mid-term examination based on information reviewed by the date indicated in the
course program. This information includes: textbook chapters, academic articles, Don Quixote
film, classroom activities, etc. A study guide will be posted on Blackboard. No make-ups.
Reseñas y Comentarios Críticos
In addition to their final essay, students will write three short papers. These papers include
writings of two types: 1) reviews of academic articles, academic websites or the film Don
Quixote, and 2) analyses of specific chapters, episodes or characters in Cervantes’ novel. The
purpose of these writings is to help students practice their literary analysis skills and to allow
them to apply their critical thinking skills. Papers limited to summarys, descriptions or retellings
of the information contained in the text(s) will receive a very low or even a failing grade.
Handouts with guidelines for each assignment will be posted on Blackboard. Assignment due
dates are listed in the course program. Late papers will not receive credit.
Presentación Oral (Artículo)
Students will prepare an oral presentation on an academic article related to one of the aspects of
Cervantes’ Don Quixote studied in class. A handout with guidelines for this presentation will be
posted on Blackboard. Student must perform their presentation orally. Reading any type of
information during the oral presentation is not allowed. Presentation dates are listed in the course
program. No make-ups.
Presentación Oral (Ensayo)
As a complement to their research essay, students will prepare a second oral presentation to
inform the rest of the class about the findings of their research project. Students will discuss the
organization of their presentation with the instructor beforehand. A handout with guidelines will
be posted on Blackboard. Students must perform this presentation orally. Reading of any type of
information during the presentation is not allowed. Presentation dates are listed in the course
program. No make-ups.
Ensayo de Investigación
As an ongoing project during the semester, students will prepare a research essay on one of the
topics of Don Quijote (Part I) studied in class. Students will discuss their choice of topic, the
viability of their research and the organization of their essay with the instructor. Students will
submit their research essay on the date indicated in the course program. A handout with
guidelines will be posted on Blackboard. Late essays will not received credit.
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Participation
Student active participation is absolutely essential in this course. Students are expected to attend
classes well prepared. Course readings, homework and special assignments must be completed
before class time. Students must be willing to participate, voluntarily and effectively, in all
classroom activities. Effective participation is participation that contributes to the class by
clarifying a course topic through well-prepared questions, statements or comments. In group
dynamics effective participation also means collaboration in the development of an activity or
project. Please remember: 1) It is impossible to get an A without active participation, and 2)
your participation grade will be seriously affected if you choose to perform activities not
related to our course session or if you leave the classroom to answer calls or messages from
your electronic devices (see “Classroom Etiquette”). Missing classes prevents you from
participating and thus will negatively impact your participation grade (see “Attendance”).
Final Grades
Student final grade will be based on the following percentages:
Calificación final
Porcentajes
Pruebas de comprobación de lectura
6%
Diario de lectura
8%
Examen parcial
20%
Reseñas y comentarios críticos
15%
Presentación oral: artículo
4%
Presentación oral: ensayo
6%
Ensayo de investigación
25%
Participación
16%
Total
100%
Grading scale:
A = 94-100
A- = 90-93
B+ = 87-89
B = 84-86
B- = 80-83
C+ = 77-79
C = 74-76
C- = 70-73
D+ = 67-69
D = 64-66
D- = 60-63
F = 59-
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Other Course Policies
Attendance
Students are expected to attend class on a regular basis. Attendance is part of student
participation grade (see “Participation”). One unexcused absence is allowed with no penalty. It is
very important that students plan ahead before using their “free” absence. This privilege
does not authorize students to submit late class work (homework, special assignments,
essays, oral presentations, etc.). Any additional unexcused absence will lower student final
grade by four points (from 83 to 79 = B- to C+). In order to be excused, an absence has to
comply with two requirements: 1) The absence is caused by compelling reasons (e.g. illness,
death in the family, jury duty), and 2) the absence is properly documented, with an official note
that clearly states that it was impossible for the student to attend classes during the date and the
time of his/her absence. Please remember that verbal explanations are not enough to excuse an
absence and neither are medical prescriptions without a physician’s note that matches
requirement number 2. Students are responsible for providing documentation for the
absence to the instructor in a timely manner (i.e. the next class after the absence). The
instructor will not remind students about the documentation. It is the student responsibility to
bring the note and submit it on time.
Late Arrivals
Be on time for class. Late arrivals do not only interfere with your academic success, they also
disrupt the class session and, therefore, affect your classmates. Three late arrivals of 10 minutes
equal one absence. Late arrivals of more than 10 minutes and less than 30 will be counted on a
prorated basis (e.g. two late arrivals of 15 minutes equal one absence). A 30 minute late arrival
equals one absence. Please do not enter the classroom after 30 minutes from the beginning
of the session. There are no make-ups for tests, assignments or presentations missed because of a
late arrival. Attendance will always be taken at the beginning of the session. In case of a late
arrival, it is the student’s responsibility to wait for the next class break or for the end of the
session and, then, ask the instructor to change his/her absence mark to late arrival. Later it will
not be possible. Leaving the classroom before the end of the session equals a late arrival. The
same criteria will be used with a repeated pattern of leaving the classroom constantly and/or for
long periods of time. If your job or your personal responsibilities conflict with the course
schedule, please enroll in the course at a future time.
Assignments Submission
Due dates. No late assignments, electronic or paper, will be accepted. An assignment not
submitted by the due date indicated in the course program will receive a zero, “0”. The only
exceptions are assignments that were late due to excused absences and extreme compelling
reasons (e.g. medical emergencies). Based on the documentation submitted by the student the
instructor will decide which assignments fall into this category. Not all excused absences qualify
for these exceptions, especially if the student knows in advance that (s)he is going to miss class.
Consult with your instructor beforehand if this is the case for you. Format. Unless indicated
otherwise, all written assignments require a hard copy submission. If an extreme emergency
prevents you from submitting a hard copy of your assignment, you must: 1) request your
instructor’s permission to send her an electronic copy of your assignment by the due date
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indicated in the course program, and 3) provide your instructor with a hard copy not later than
one day after the due date of the assignment. Students must make sure that their electronic
submissions went through (email attachments, Blackboard activities, etc.).
Student Conduct and Plagiarism
Conduct code. Students are expected to maintain professional behavior in the classroom setting
in accordance with the Standards for Student Conduct stated in the California Code of
Regulations (41301, Title 5). It is your responsibility to become familiar with SDSU policies
regarding student conduct. You can find them in the Center for Students Rights and
Responsibilities web site (Students Affairs: Student Rights and Responsibilities, Student
Conduct Code) or in SDSU General Catalog (481-83). Plagiarism. Students are responsible for
knowing and observing all SDSU rules concerning academic integrity and plagiarism. All
student work must be individual and original. For example, essays can not be corrected, rewritten
or written by a person other than the student. Other people’s ideas or words can only be used in
a paper if they are accompanied by the proper citation style. Plagiarism is not limited to the
abovementioned examples. SDSU Love Library website includes tools to help students avoid
plagiarism, such as a 20 minutes tutorial on “Plagiarism: The Crime of Intellectual Kidnapping”,
and a guide on citation resources (Library and Information Access: Tutorials, Plagiarism). Essays
and other written assignments have to be checked for plagiarism in Turnitin (Blackboard). If you
need more information about plagiarism, consult with your instructor before submitting your
work. “Recycling” work for which you have received credit, in this or in other courses, is not
acceptable. These and all other cases of academic misconduct (e.g. cheating) will be sanctioned
according to SDSU policies on academic dishonesty (Student Judiciary, executive order 1006)
and cheating and plagiarism (Students Affairs: Student Rights and Responsibilities, Academic
Dishonesty; Student Affairs: Student Rights and Responsibilities, Student Conduct, Cheating and
Plagiarism). See General Catalog (483). The minimum punitive sanction for plagiarism or
cheating in this course is a zero, “0”, on the assignment or examination involved in the academic
misconduct incident.
Classroom Etiquette
Cell phones and similar electronic devices must be completely silenced before entering the
classroom (it is not enough to have them in vibrate mode). Put them away, not on your desk or
on your lap. Please remember that the following is prohibited in the classroom:

Texting, messaging, emailing.

Using electronic devices (including personal laptops and SDSU computers) for anything
other than class-related work.

Chatting.

Doing homework for this or any other class.

Finishing readings for this or any other class.

Any activity that is not directly related to the course session.
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You will be asked to leave if you choose not to follow our course classroom etiquette.
In every session we will have a 10-15 minutes break. After the break students can continue
eating their snacks but they should finish them soon (within 15 minutes).
Students with Disabilities
Students who need accommodation for their disabilities should contact me privately to discuss
specific accommodations for which they have received authorization. If you need
accommodation due to a disability, but have not registered with Student Disability Services at
(760) 768-5509 (Imperial Valley campus, Student Affairs building), please do so before making
an appointment to see me.
Programa del Curso (sujeto a cambios)
Nota: la tarea siempre se indica adelantada; es decir, la tarea señalada en la semana 1 se entrega
la clase de la semana 2 y así sucesivamente. Números romanos = capítulos, arábigos = páginas;
diario = Blackboard.
Semana 1 (27 de enero)
Introducción al curso.*Tarea: preparar Q, prólogo y I-III: 7-47; diario.
Semana 2 (3 de febrero)
Prólogo. I-III. *Tarea: preparar Q, IV-VIII: 48-83; diario.
Semana 3 (10 de febrero)
IV-VIII. *Tarea: preparar Q, IX-XIV: 84-129; diario.
Semana 4 (17 de febrero)
IX-XIV. *Tarea: preparar Q, XV-XX: 130-187; diario; escribir comentario crítico 1 (Q).
Semana 5 (24 de febrero)
**Entregar comentario crítico 1 (Q). XV-XX. *Tarea: preparar Q, XXI-XXV: 187-248; diario.
Semana 6 (3 de marzo)
Película: Don Quijote. XXI-XXV. *Tarea: preparar Q, XXVI-XXIX: 248-300; diario; escribir
reseña crítica (película).
Semana 7 (10 de marzo)
**Entregar reseña crítica (película). XXVI-XXIX. *Tarea: estudiar para el examen parcial.
Semana 8 (17 de marzo)
***EXAMEN PARCIAL. Diario de lectura: revisión detallada. *Tarea: preparar Q, XXXXXXIV: 300-365; diario; preparar presentación oral (artículo académico).
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Semana 9 (24 de marzo)
**Presentaciones orales (artículo académico). XXX-XXXIV. *Tarea: preparar Q, XXXVXXXVIII: 366-398; diario.
Semana 10 (31 de marzo)
Vacaciones de primavera. No hay clases.
Semana 11 (7 de abril)
XXXV-XXXVIII.*Tarea: preparar Q, XXXIX-XLIII: 399-456; diario; escribir reseña crítica
(artículo académico).
Semana 12 (14 de abril)
**Entregar reseña crítica (artículo académico). XXXIX-XLIII. *Tarea: preparar Q, XLIVXLVII: 456-492; diario; preparar presentación oral (ensayo).
Semana 13 (21 de abril)
**Presentaciones orales (ensayo). XLIV-XLVII. *Tarea: preparar Q, XLVIII-LII: 493-534;
diario.
Semana 14 (28 de abril)
**Presentaciones orales (ensayo). XLVIII-LII. *Tarea: preparar Q, segunda parte, I: 549-560, V:
581-587, X: 613-623, XLV: 887-894, LIV: 959-967, LXXIV: 1099-1106.
Semana 15 (5 de mayo)
**Presentaciones orales (ensayo). Segunda parte del ingenioso caballero don Quijote de la
Mancha. I, V, X, XLV, LIV, LXXIV. *Tarea: preparar materiales (ensayo final y diario de
lectura).
Semana 16 (12 de mayo)
****Entregar ensayo final. Revisión detallada del diario de lectura. ¡Felices vacaciones!
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