Department of Spanish
Spanish 395: Introduction to Literary Analysis
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 4:10-6:50 pm
Class location: FOBE-124B
Schedule number: 60062
Course prerequisites: Spanish 301, 302, or 381 or 382; and completion of the General Education
requirement in Foundations of Learning II.C., Humanities required for non-majors.
Course Overview
General Catalog description: “Literary analysis of narrative, poetry and theater of the Spanishspeaking world through study of rhetorical devices” (438).
The purpose of Spanish 395, Introduction to Literary Analysis, is to introduce students to the
fundamentals of literary analysis through the examination of a select group of works written in
Spanish. These works include both Spanish and Spanish American examples, from pre-modern
to contemporary times. The course is organized in three units: narrative, poetry and theater. The
course readings will be enriched with information from other sources, such as art, film, internet,
music.
Student Learning Outcomes

Obtain new methodological tools for the analysis of literary productions.
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
Recognize the characteristics of the main genres of literature created in Spanish.

Recognize rhetorical devices present in selected Spanish and Spanish American works.

Analyze form and content of literary text.

Produce essays that illustrate critical thinking.
Course Materials
Required Reading
Friedman, Edward H., L. Teresa Valdivieso and Carmelo Virgillo. Aproximaciones al estudio de
la literatura hispánica. 7th ed. New York: Mc Graw Hill, 2012. ISBN-13: 9780073385372.
Recommended Materials

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 395 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 395.
Assessment and Grading (see “Programa del Curso” for due dates)
Comentarios Críticos
Students will write three short analytical essays. Each essay will be dedicated to one of the three
units studied in the course: e.g. one essay for narrative, one for poetry and one for theater. In
these essays students are expected to apply critical thinking to literary analysis. Essays limited to
summarys, descriptions and retellings of information contained in the literary work will receive a
very low or even a failing grade. Handouts with guidelines for each essay will be posted on
Blackboard. Late essays will not be accepted.
Exámenes
Students will take three exams during the semester. Each exam will cover the information in one
of the three units studied in the course: e.g. one exam for narrative, one exam for poetry and one
exam for theater. The exams will cover the information from the textbook, plus any extra
information presented in the classroom or reviewed in course assignments. Study guides for each
exam will be posted on Blackboard. No make-up exams will be administered.
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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. The 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.
Comentarios en Línea y Blog
Students will use Blackboard to submit comments about readings, films or specific topics related
to course content (Pizarrón de discusión). Students will use our course blog, Poeticón, to post
poetical texts or to submit entries about poetry topics. The due dates for both types of
assignments are listed in the course program. Late entries will not receive credit.
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:
Comentarios críticos (escritos)
24%
Exámenes 1-3
50%
Diario de lectura
10%
Participación, blog, comentarios en línea
16%
Total
100%
Grading scale:
A = 94-100
A- = 90-93
B+ = 87-89
B = 84-86
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B- = 80-83
C+ = 77-79
C = 74-76
C- = 70-73
D+ = 67-69
D = 64-66
D- = 60-63
F = 59-
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.
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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
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.
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
Finishing readings for this or any other class.

Any activity that is not directly related to the course session.
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. Diario, blog = Blackboard.
Semana 1 (27 de enero)
Presentación del curso. Introducción. La literatura como arte y fenómeno estético. El autor y su
obra frente al público. Conceptos básicos: ficción vs. no ficción, prosa vs. verso, géneros
literarios. *Tarea: leer pp. 9-19, 46-50; cuestionario Palma (diario).
Semana 2 (3 de febrero)
La narrativa. Introducción a la narrativa. Géneros narrativos. El cuento. Práctica. Ricardo Palma.
“La camisa de Margarita”. *Tarea: leer 76-79; cuestionario Monterroso (diario).
Semana 3 (10 de febrero)
Augusto Monterroso. “El paraíso imperfecto”, “La rana que quería ser rana auténtica”, “El mono
que quiso ser escritor satírico”. *Tarea: leer 79-83; cuestionario Matute (diario).
Semana 4 (17 de febrero)
Ana María Matute. “Pecado de omisión”. *Tarea: leer pp. 94-101; cuestionario Allende (diario).
Semana 5 (24 de febrero)
Isabel Allende. “La mujer del juez”. *Tarea: escribir comentario 1; estudiar para el examen 1
(narrativa).
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Semana 6 (3 de marzo)
****Entregar comentario 1 (narrativa). Examen 1 (narrativa). Primera revisión detallada del
diario de lectura. *Tarea: leer pp. 137-151, 176-178, 186-187; cuestionario Garcilaso y Lope
(diario); poner una entrada en Poeticón (blog).
Semana 7 (10 de marzo)
La poesía. Introducción a la poesía. Versificación. Práctica. Garcilaso de la Vega. “Soneto IV” y
“Soneto XXIII”. Lope de Vega. “Rimas sacras: XVIII” y “Rimas humanas: CXCI”. *Tarea: leer
pp. 152-158, 198-201; cuestionario Bécquer y Martí (diario); poner una entrada en Poeticón
(blog).
Semana 8 (17 de marzo)
El lenguaje literario. Práctica. Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer. “Rima XI” y “Rima LIII”. José Martí.
“Si ves un monte de espumas” y “Dos patrias”. *Tarea: leer pp. 216-221, 231-236; cuestionario
Vallejo, Huidobro, Neruda y Paz (diario); poner una entrada en Poeticón (blog).
Semana 9 (24 de marzo)
César Vallejo. “Yuntas” y “El momento más grave de la vida”. Vicente Huidobro. “Arte poética”
y “La capilla aldeana”. Pablo Neruda. “La infinita” y “Oda al tomate”. Octavio Paz. “El
sediento” y “Cifra”. *Tarea: escribir comentario 2; estudiar para el examen 2 (poesía).
Semana 10 (31 de marzo)
Vacaciones de primavera. No hay clases.
Semana 11 (7 de abril)
****Entregar comentario 2 (poesía). Examen 2 (poesía). Segunda revisión detallada del diario de
lectura. *Tarea: leer pp. 251-265, 293-299; cuestionario Cervantes (diario).
Semana 12 (14 de abril)
El drama. Introducción al drama. Práctica. Miguel de Cervantes. El juez de los divorcios.
*Tarea: leer pp. 300-309; cuestionario Carballido (diario).
Semana 13 (21 de abril)
Emilio Carballido. El censo. *Tarea: leer pp. 223-224 (biografía García Lorca), 335-371;
cuestionario García Lorca (diario).
Semana 14 (28 de abril)
Federico García Lorca. La casa de Bernarda Alba.
Semana 15 (5 de mayo)
Película. La casa de Bernarda Alba (Dir. Mario Camus). *Tarea: escribir comentario 3; estudiar
para el examen 3 (drama).
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Semana 16 (12 de mayo)
****Entregar comentario 3 (drama). Examen 3 (drama). Tercera revisión detallada del diario de
lectura. ¡Felices vacaciones!
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