Department of World Languages and Cultures
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Arkansas State University, Wilson Hall 220
P.O. Box 2400, State University, AR 72467, Phone: (870) 972-3887
E-Mail: languages@astate.edu
1
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CRN 64846 – SPAN 3503-004 – Advanced Spanish Seminar, ST: Oral Communication
Instructor
Name:
Dr. Ruth Owens
Phone:
870-972-3481 / 870-972-3887 (Dept. Office)
Office hours: MW 12-1 and 2:30-3:30, & by appointment.
Office:
E-mail:
Wilson Hall 124-C
rsupko@astate.edu
Required Text for Advanced Spanish Seminar, ST: Oral Communication:
 Revista: conversación sin barreras, 3rd edition (Blanco and Donley), Vista Higher Learning,
2010.
 WebSam (online Workbook)
Course Description:
SPAN 3503. Advanced Spanish Seminar. Focused study in a particular area of literature, culture or
language. Topic varies. May be repeated when topic changes. Prerequisites, SPAN 2023 or consent
of instructor. Spring.
ST: Oral Communication: Practice toward developing facility in oral expression in various everyday
situations.
Supported Program Goals and Learning Outcomes:
Oral Proficiency:
 Converse in the target language on topics pertinent to personal, academic, and professional
life;
 Converse in the target language on topics related to the analysis of social and cultural issues
Listening Comprehension:
 Understand the main ideas and significant details of spoken and recorded materials
Reading Proficiency:
 Read and understand the main ideas of authentic materials such as magazine articles and
books related to social and cultural issues
Components of Course Grade
Participation in class & quizzes
Oral presentations (2)
Tests (Test 1: Ch. 1 & 2 Test 2: Ch. 3 & 4)
Written Assignments
Academic Engagement in Co-Curricular Activities
Final Oral Exam
20%
20%
20%
15%
5%
20%
Visit World Languages and Cultures online: http://languages.astate.edu
Learn about your career options as a bilingual professional:
Career Outlook – Scholarships – Study Abroad
Department of World Languages and Cultures
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Arkansas State University, Wilson Hall 220
P.O. Box 2400, State University, AR 72467, Phone: (870) 972-3887
E-Mail: languages@astate.edu
2
Visit us on Facebook: World Languages and Cultures @ ASU-Jonesboro
Grading Scale
90-100 = A
80-89 = B
70-79 = C
Outstanding achievement
Very good
Satisfactory (average)
60-69 = D
< 60 = F
Poor
Failure
Descriptions of Course Components
Preparation and participation in class discussions; quizzes (20%): The preparation of all
assignments is essential for active participation in class and is expected of all students. You will be
expected to participate actively in all class activities, speaking only in Spanish. This is an active
conversation course, and if you are not willing to speak in Spanish in this class, you are in the wrong
course. This portion of your grade will be determined via various methods, including quiz grades,
spot checks of assigned preparation activities, collection of assigned preparation activities, and
participation rubrics.
Oral presentations (20%): Each student will give two oral presentations in class on topics related
(perhaps loosely) to class material. Grading will be based on the accurate use of new vocabulary,
communication of the message, pronunciation, fluency, grammatical accuracy, and presentation
skills.
Tests (20 %): The first test covers chapters 1 and 2; the second test covers chapters 3 and 4. Each
test includes assessments of vocabulary retention, grammatical skills, communication skills,
cultural familiarity, listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and creative writing.
Written Assignments (15%): You will improve your writing by completing frequent writing
assignments, including paragraphs and dialogues. These writings will be collected and evaluated
using a rubric.
Academic Engagement in Approved Co-Curricular Activities (5%): Minimum requirement is
completion of 10 units of academic engagement activities per semester. Accepted activities include
participation in the tutoring program, conversation tables, Spanish language film showings,
multicultural fairs and any other related and preapproved activity. Students must document
participation with “green card receipts” (issued by activity coordinators) and the completion of a
form (written in Spanish) on the content of the activity. This form will be available through
Blackboard Learn. Documentation for 5 of the 10 units must be submitted by October 10; you may
submit documentation for no more than two units during any given week of the semester,
including the final week of the semester.
Final Oral Exam (20%): Covers chapters 1-6. In this exam, you will need to use the Spanish
language to communicate effectively in communicative exchanges on topics and themes studied in
class. Grading will be based on your ability to communicate the message, your fluency, content,
vocabulary, grammatical accuracy, and pronunciation.
Visit World Languages and Cultures online: http://languages.astate.edu
Learn about your career options as a bilingual professional:
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Department of World Languages and Cultures
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Arkansas State University, Wilson Hall 220
P.O. Box 2400, State University, AR 72467, Phone: (870) 972-3887
E-Mail: languages@astate.edu
3
Visit us on Facebook: World Languages and Cultures @ ASU-Jonesboro
Attendance Policy
Class attendance is required for successful completion of the course. Students should attend every
lecture, recitation and laboratory session of every course in which they are enrolled. Students who
miss a class session should expect to make up missed work or receive a failing grade on missed
work. Please know that your grade may also be negatively impacted by an absence as you will not
be able to make up any quizzes that you may have missed and may also not contribute to class
when you are not there; hence your class activity grade would be an F for the day you missed. It is
the practice of Arkansas State University to allow students to participate in university-sponsored
events, even when those events cause them to be absent from class. Students participating in
university-sponsored events will be given reasonable opportunities to make up missed assignments
and exams.
Students enrolled in freshman or sophomore level courses numbered 1000 or 2000 may during the
spring and fall semester miss no more than twice the number of lectures, recitations, laboratory
sessions, or other regularly scheduled class activities that would normally be scheduled during a
week. Students who miss more than the maximum number of freshman or sophomore level classes
may be assigned a grade of “F” for the course. Students who may be assigned a grade of “F” in a
course because of excessive absences may withdraw from the course without penalty before the
deadline for dropping an individual course. In determining whether excessive absences should
result in a failing grade, consideration shall be given to the maturity and class standing of the
student, the quality of academic work being accomplished by the student, and extenuating
circumstances related to such absence.
If you are absent from class, you are responsible for making arrangements to have work
turned in on the due date and for informing yourself regarding the information covered in
class during your absence. To be well prepared for the next class meeting, you will need to
make up for the work missed independently. Tutors are available to assist you in your
learning progress, but it is your responsibility to assure that you do not fall behind in your
work.
All work is accepted only on or before the due dates specified in the syllabus. A regularly scheduled
test may be made up only in the cases of documented illness or an authorized university activity.
No other make-up work will be assigned or accepted. We expect you to arrive to class on time. It is
up to the discretion of the instructor to count tardiness as an absence; hence be certain to avoid
tardiness and know that tardiness will affect you ability to obtain good grades in this course. We
also appreciate if you arrive to class with proper dress as in the target culture you are studying
attention to such details is very important.
Inclement Weather Policy (as per Student Handbook)
The university remains open for academic classes and all other services during inclement weather
except in extreme circumstances determined solely by the Chancellor of the University. Regional
and local news media will publicize the closing. Commuter students are encouraged to use good
Visit World Languages and Cultures online: http://languages.astate.edu
Learn about your career options as a bilingual professional:
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Department of World Languages and Cultures
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Arkansas State University, Wilson Hall 220
P.O. Box 2400, State University, AR 72467, Phone: (870) 972-3887
E-Mail: languages@astate.edu
Visit us on Facebook: World Languages and Cultures @ ASU-Jonesboro
judgment in deciding whether to drive to campus during inclement weather. In those cases where
the decision is made not to travel to campus under this policy, it is the responsibility of the student
to immediately contact each of his/her professors upon return to explain the circumstances and to
determine the need to complete any missed assignments. The student is responsible for all missed
assignments during inclement weather within a time frame to be determined by the professor.
Disabilities Policy
If you have a disability that makes it difficult for you to succeed in this course, please contact me as
soon as possible. Your privacy will be respected and every effort will be made to meet your needs.
All students requesting accommodations for disabilities should be registered through ASU’s
Disability Services (870-972-3964). If Disabilities Services determines you should be able to take
tests in their office, it is your responsibility to schedule the test for the same time and date as the
exam is administered to other students.
Academic Misconduct (as per Student Handbook)
Arkansas State University enthusiastically promotes academic integrity and professional ethics
among all members of the ASU academic community. Violations of this policy are considered as
serious misconduct and may result in severe penalties.
A. Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of taking and/or using the ideas, work, and/or writings of another person as
one's own.



To avoid plagiarism give written credit and acknowledgment to the source of thoughts,
ideas, and/or words, whether you have used direct quotation, paraphrasing, or just a
reference to a general idea.
If you directly quote works written by someone else, enclose the quotation with quotation
marks and provide an appropriate citation (e.g., footnote, endnote, bibliographical
reference).
Research, as well as the complete written paper, must be the work of the person seeking
academic credit for the course. (Papers, book reports, projects, and/or other class
assignments)
Discipline: Faculty members may respond to cases of plagiarism in any of the following ways:
1. Return the paper or other item for rewriting; the grade may be lowered.
2. Give a failing grade on the paper or other item-"F" if a letter grade is used or zero if a
numerical grade is used.
3. Give the student who plagiarized a failing grade in the course.
4. Recommend sanctions, including disciplinary expulsion from the university.
B. Cheating
Visit World Languages and Cultures online: http://languages.astate.edu
Learn about your career options as a bilingual professional:
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4
Department of World Languages and Cultures
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Arkansas State University, Wilson Hall 220
P.O. Box 2400, State University, AR 72467, Phone: (870) 972-3887
E-Mail: languages@astate.edu
5
Visit us on Facebook: World Languages and Cultures @ ASU-Jonesboro
Cheating is an act of dishonesty with the intention of obtaining and/or using information in a
fraudulent manner.






Observing and/or copying from another student's test paper, reports, computer files and/or
other class assignments.
Giving or receiving assistance during an examination period. (This includes providing
specific answers to subsequent examinees and/or dispensing or receiving information that
would allow the student to have an unfair advantage in the examination over students who
did not possess such information.)
Using class notes, outlines, and other unauthorized information during an examination.
Using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting, in part or in whole the contents of
an examination or other assignment not authorized by the professor of the class.
Using for credit in one class a term paper, book report, project, or class assignment written
for credit in another class without the knowledge and permission of the professor of the
class.
Exchanging places with another person for the purpose of taking an examination or
completing other assignments.
Discipline: Faculty members may respond to cases of cheating in any of the following ways:
Allow the testing to progress without interruption, informing the offending student about
the offense-and award a failing grade on the test-"F" if a letter grade is used or zero if a
numerical grade is used.
2. Seize the test of the offending student and give a failing grade on the paper.
3. Give the offending student a failing grade in the course.
4. Recommend sanctions, including disciplinary expulsion from the university.
1.
Cell-phones and Other Communication Devices
Cell-phones and other communication devices must be turned off and out of sight for the
duration of class and exams. These devices may not be utilized at any point during class sessions.
Important Dates
Regular Classes Begin – August 20
Last Day to Drop/Withdraw Without Financial Assessment – August 26
Last Day to Drop Session I Courses – September 25
Last Day to Add Session II Courses – October 8
Session II Classes Begin – October 9
Last Day to Drop a Course or Withdraw from the University – November 14
Last Day of Classes – December 3
Study Day – December 4
Final Examinations – December 5-11
Commencement – December 15
Visit World Languages and Cultures online: http://languages.astate.edu
Learn about your career options as a bilingual professional:
Career Outlook – Scholarships – Study Abroad
Department of World Languages and Cultures
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Arkansas State University, Wilson Hall 220
P.O. Box 2400, State University, AR 72467, Phone: (870) 972-3887
E-Mail: languages@astate.edu
Visit us on Facebook: World Languages and Cultures @ ASU-Jonesboro
SPAN 3503 – Course Calendar Fall 2012
The information contained in this course calendar is as accurate as possible but may be
subject to change with reasonable advance notice. The schedule and content of
assignments may be changed at the discretion of the instructor upon oral notification in
class. Changes may involve additions, deletions, substitutions, or changes in sequence or
due date.
WEEK
DATES
Week 1
Aug. 20-24
Chapter 1:
Cortometraje: Viaje a marte
Estructura: los verbos ser y estar
Lectura: La clonación: un porvenir prometedor
Week 2
Aug. 27-31
Cuento: El otro círculo
Tira cómica: Viaje especial de Quino.
Composición: ¿Paranormal y sobrenatural?
Tertulia: La ciencia ficción hecha realidad
Week 3
Sept. 3
No class – Labor
Day
Sept. 5-7
Week 4
Sept. 10-14
Week 5
Sept. 17-21
TASKS
Chapter 2:
Cortometraje: Diez minutos de Alberto Ruíz Rojo
Estructuras: El pretérito y el imperfecto
Cuento: El juego más antiguo
Obra de teatro: No hay que complicar la felicidad de Marco
Denevi
Tira cómica: Yo le diría de Ricardo Reyes
Composición: ¿Crees en los astros?
Tertulia: ¿Innato o adquirido?
Test Review
Test chapter 1 &2
Visit World Languages and Cultures online: http://languages.astate.edu
Learn about your career options as a bilingual professional:
Career Outlook – Scholarships – Study Abroad
6
Department of World Languages and Cultures
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Arkansas State University, Wilson Hall 220
P.O. Box 2400, State University, AR 72467, Phone: (870) 972-3887
E-Mail: languages@astate.edu
Visit us on Facebook: World Languages and Cultures @ ASU-Jonesboro
Week 6
Sept. 24-28
Week 7
Oct. 1-5
Week 8
Oct. 8-12
Chapter 3:
Cortometraje: Nada que perder
Estructuras: Las preposiciones
Entrevista: Benicio del Toro
Cuento: Cine Prado de Elena Poniatowska
Tira cómica: Dos viñetas de Forges
Composición: Escribe una crítica de cine
Tertulia: La telebasura a debate
Chapter 4:
Cortometraje: El ojo en la nuca
Estructuras: El subjuntivo I
Presentation 1
Week 9
Oct. 15-19
Opinión: La tortilla de Manuel Vicent
Experiencias: Carta abierta a mi nieto
Tira cómica: Abejitas de Patricio Betteo
Week 10
Oct. 22-26
Composición: Escribe una carta al presidente
Tertulia: La globalización: ¿ a favor o en contra?
Test chapter 3 and 4
Week 11
Oct. 29-Nov. 2
Week 12
Nov. 5-9
Chapter 5:
Cortometraje: Dime lo que sientes de Iria Gómez
Estructuras: El Subjuntivo II
Experiencias: Drácula y los niños
Cuento: El mono que quiso ser escritor satírico
Tira cómica : ¡Alerta roja! De Caloi
Composición: Exprésate sobre el arte
Visit World Languages and Cultures online: http://languages.astate.edu
Learn about your career options as a bilingual professional:
Career Outlook – Scholarships – Study Abroad
7
Department of World Languages and Cultures
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Arkansas State University, Wilson Hall 220
P.O. Box 2400, State University, AR 72467, Phone: (870) 972-3887
E-Mail: languages@astate.edu
8
Visit us on Facebook: World Languages and Cultures @ ASU-Jonesboro
Week 13
Nov. 12-16
Wednesday,
Nov. 14
Last Day to
Drop
Fall
Break
Week 14
Tertulia: Los misterios del amor
Chapter 6:
Cortometraje: My backyard was a mountain de Adam
Schlatcher
Experiencias: Navidad de una “rica y famosa”
Nov. 19-23
Fall Break
No Classes
Nov. 26-30
Opinión: ¿Cuáles son las prioridades de la humanidad . . . ? de
Gabriel García Márquez
Tertulia: ¿Cuáles son los efectos de la inmigración?
Presentation 2
Week 15
Study
Day
Final
Exam
December 3
Wrap-up presentations and in-class practice for oral final
exam
Tuesday,
December 4
No classes – STUDY * STUDY * STUDY
Wednesday, Dec.
5
12:30-2:30
(with some
additional
appointments)
Final Oral Exam
(Individual oral exams will be scheduled during the two
hours scheduled for the final exam and during other
appointment times that same day. No exceptions will be
made.)
Visit World Languages and Cultures online: http://languages.astate.edu
Learn about your career options as a bilingual professional:
Career Outlook – Scholarships – Study Abroad