CULTURAL INTRODUCTION TO SPAIN
Course Title:
Course Number:
Credits:
Pre-requisites:
Semester:
Professor:
Email:
Office hours:
Cultural Introduction to Spain
SP 205
3
none
Fall 14
Guillermo Reher
guillermo.reher@cis-spain.com
after class (only by appointment)
Course Description: The study of the culture of Spain helps the student acquire a deep
awareness of both the cultural unity and diversity of the people in Spain. Major themes
of Spanish culture and thought are presented in historical context and brought to life
through guided tours and visits to churches, synagogues, museums, palaces, and many
other sites significant to understanding present-day. In addition, survival Spanish and
grammar will be introduced according to the student’s level and need. Taught in English.
Course Objectives:
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
 identify the overall phases of the history of Spain
 recognize the historical roots and present reality of Spain’s identity issues
 know the prime contributions of past civilizations and actions to today’s cultural
heritage
 understand current social and political reality in Spain
 be acquainted with the geography of Spain
 apply the necessary tools and knowledge to write their own term paper (to be
presented in class by the end of the semester).
 practice the preparation and execution of cultural itineraries
Teaching/Learning Strategies: The course format will be a structured mixture of
lectures, discussions, classroom activities and student presentations. Assigned homework
(both text and audiovisual resources) will enable students to keep on track and further
their understanding of the subjects dealt with in class. Together with this, there will be a
term paper on a subject determined by the student, based on the paintings or buildings
visited during the course, and how it serves as an example of historical processes at play.
Evaluation Methods:
There will be one exam, quizzes at the beginning of every class (= make sure you are
punctual!), an oral presentation and a term paper. All work must be handed in,
presented or - as in the case of exams – attended on time in order to receive a grade.
The total points (of your final grade!) will be distributed as follows:
Excursion preparation and execution
Participation
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25%
25%
Term paper
Mid-term exam
Final Exam
TOTAL
25%
10%
15%
100%
There will be a mid-term grade based on quizzes and participation before the break,
which will be made known to the students.
Grading Policy:
Percentage
93-100
89-92
86-88
80-85
75-79
70-74
65-69
55-64
54 or less
Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
D
F
Excursion preparation and execution: excursions and field trips will be guided and
explained by the students themselves, and their peer’s attention will be evaluated through
on-the-spot quizzes. Guidelines with details will be provided. Overall grade will depend
on how well the student performed when guiding and when following.
Term paper
The term paper will be a 10-page paper using the following guidelines:
 Part A will consist of a paper describing what the Royal Palace tells us about
Spanish history. It will be accompanied with the ticket entrance/s used.
 Part B will be a paper explaining the most important artists in Spain tell us about
Spanish history. It will be important to provide information specifically on El
Greco, Velázquez and Goya. But it will have to explain what the paintings in the
Prado Museum represent as heritage for Spanish history and identity. It will have
to be accompanied with the ticket entrance/s used.
This paper will be written by using supporting academic literature and other materials.
Special focus and original ideas will constitute added value.
Mid-term and Final exams
They will combine open answer questions with maps or figures. The mid-term exam will
cover the history of Spain covered until it is carried out. The final exam will cover the
rest of the course or, for those who wish to improve their mid-term grade, it will cover
the entire course.
Participation
Attendance will mean 5 of 10 in participation each day (both classes and excursions).
Active and positive participation will raise that (including exercises and discussions),
while bad behavior in general will lower it. Behavior during field trips and excursions
will also be graded in this way.
COURSE PROGRAM
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December
November
October
Sep
tem
ber
Session
Assignment
(to be done by that class)
CIS Transitions: Social Skills I
Topic/Visit
17
24
1
3
4
8
10-12
15
17
22
29
5
12
14-15
19
26
CIS Transitions-Service Learning
History I: Prehistory to the Visigoths Read book chapters I and II
Day excursion to Segovia
Morning excursion to El Escorial
History II: Reconquest
Read book chapters III and IV
Field trip to Cordoba and Seville
History III: Empire
Read book chapters V-VII
Day excursion to Toledo
Mid-term exam
History IV: 20th Century
Read book chapters VIII and IX
No class
Geography
Field trip to Cuenca and Valencia
Identity vs. identities
Political system
3
10
Culture
Review class
12
15-18
Make-up class (only if necessary)
Final Exam
Turn in term paper and other
assignments.
This syllabus is subject to change!
COURSE POLICIES
Assignment submissions
The term paper and any other required assignments must be submitted electronically on
the last day of class. Work submitted at any other place or time or in any other form will
not be accepted.
Late submissions
Late work will not be accepted. There will be no alternative to completing all required
work as scheduled. Hence, failing to hand in required assignments on time results in a
loss of points or – as in the case of the term paper – in a grade of “F” (i.e. the student
will lose 20% of the total of his/her final grade). In the event of illness, documented proof
must be provided.
Attendance Policy:
The CIS faculty and administration believe that attendance is critical to understanding
and applying knowledge and skills taught. The policy is that students must attend all
classes. If a student has four absences the final grade will be lowered by half a grade, (for
example, a B will become a B-). After every two additional absences, the grade will be
lowered by another half a grade. (After six absences, the final grade will go from a B to
a C+).
Punctuality:
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Arriving more than ten minutes late to class will be considered tardiness, and will affect
the participation grade of that day. Two days of tardiness will add to a day of absence.
Smartphones and laptops:
These devices will be only allowed during designated research times, when the teacher
specifies their use. Otherwise, their use is forbidden in class. If caught, the student will
have to leave class, and that class will be considered an absence.
Food and drinks:
Students may only consume water during class but no other kind of drinks and no food
may be brought to class.
Breaks:
Officially permitted breaks are scheduled 10 minutes before and after each class.
Students may not leave the classroom during the scheduled class unless specifically
allowed by the teacher.
Academic Honesty Policy:
Students are expected to know and follow CIS statements of academy honesty and
integrity which you signed off on in the CIS Academic Manual. The college views
academy dishonesty as one of the most serious offenses that a student can commit while
in college and imposes appropriate punitive sanctions on violators. While this is not an
all-inclusive list, it will help you to understand some of the things instructor look for:
cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, participation in
academically dishonest activities and facilitating academic dishonesty. Incurring in any
of these will result in penalties do be determined by the teacher and Academic
department.
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