Spanish 203 Spring 2008 Course Contract

Goals and Objectives:

Welcome to the third-semester Spanish Program at UNC-CH!  The main goals of this course are:

1. To apply what you learned in Spanish 101, 102 or 105. 
During your first year of Spanish, your instructor led you through the basic structures and vocabulary of the language.  Now you will have the opportunity to apply what you know and expand it, as you learn about the history and the culture of the people who speak this language. This course will help you develop your individual style of language learning.  More of the responsibility for learning the material is placed on the learner.  This means that you will be “on your own” more than you were in Spanish 101, 102 or 105.

2. To study the culture of Spanish-speaking people.
As we study the culture of the Spanish speakers around us, we get to know them, and ourselves, better. In this way we increase our capacity to communicate on many levels.  The context of the lessons in this course is as important as the way we go about learning them and the language we use to study them.
 
Course objectives:
By the end of the semester, each student should be able to:

• Interact with Spanish speakers effectively orally and in writing (stating and supporting opinions; describing and narrating in the present, past, and future, etc.).
• State basic facts about any Hispanic country studied (orally and in writing).
• Describe cultural differences and similarities among different Hispanic groups, and between the student's cultural background and other cultural practices in the Hispanic world (orally and in writing).
• Explain the main political and social issues and trends of Hispanic countries as they are presented in the textbook and discussed in class (orally and in writing).
• Explain the concepts of diversity and multiculturalism as related to Hispanic groups and their impact on American society (orally and in writing).

Class participation
At two times in the semester, your instructor will give you a participation evaluation form with an estimated participation grade and feedback on how to improve your participation in class. Your participation grade is worth 10% of your final grade.  (See syllabus for dates of all participation feedback.)  

Evaluation of your participation will be based on:

• Preparation: Does the student bring all materials and assigned work to class every day? Has he/she read/studied all assigned pages before coming to class? Has the student studied before class? Is he/she able to participate fully in every activity?
• Language: Does the student always speak in Spanish in the classroom, regardless of accuracy?
• Participation: Does the student volunteer often, listen to others and participate fully in whole-class discussion? Does he/she contribute to classroom discussions?
• Group work: Does the student work well in groups? Does he/she help his/her classmates during group work? Does he/she stay on task?

Participation rubric

Absences
You will lose 1% of your final grade for every absence in excess of three during the semester. 

Three absences are the equivalent of one complete week of classes. Missing that amount of time may spoil your chances of getting the most out of this course; however, your instructor recognizes that there are often unplanned events and emergencies that force us to miss important commitments.  Your instructor will not require any excuse or explanation for three absences.   After these three, every absence will take one point off your final grade.  Please, remember that active participation is a cornerstone of this course and save your three allowable absences for a serious emergency. In the event of an emergency, make sure to contact your instructor by email as soon as possible. Documentation may be required for an instructor to excuse an absence.

Evaluation of Preparation

At least once a week (and possibly more often), you will have a 5 point quiz or graded homework assignment that will assess your preparation for class.

Short quizzes will cover material assigned for the day or review material from the previous day. The usual format will be five questions regarding grammar, vocabulary, or cultural content from the assigned reading for the day.

The quizzes will be done in Bluebooks (one Bluebook for the whole semester). Make sure you bring a Bluebook to class on the first day.
Your instructor will pick up the Bluebooks after the quiz, and return them graded the next day or at the time of the next assessment. Your instructor will keep the Bluebooks during the semester.
Most of the activities are self-correcting, although your instructor may choose to grade certain activities him/herself.

Graded homework assignments may also be assigned by your instructor. These assignments can range from Quia/ On-line Learning Center (OLC)/textbook activities to short writing assignments. Most of the Quia and OLC activities are self-correcting, although your instructor may choose to grade certain activities him/herself. Graded homework assignments will be assessed on a five point scale based on how well you complete the activity.

Language learning, and teaching, is a highly individualized process. In the end, how much you learn depends mostly on how much enthusiasm, time and dedication you put into the course.

Oral Interview

The purpose of the oral interview is:

• to improve language and communication skills
• to add a deeper dimension to selected content from the textbook

How does the oral interview work?

You will sign up with a partner for an oral interview time. These oral interviews will take place during two class days as indicated on the syllabus. You appointment will be for approximately 10 minutes. You and your partner will talk with your instructor about a specific topic that you have investigated before the oral interview. You will each be graded individually on your preparation, your grammar, your pronunciation and your fluency.  You should print the oral interview rubric and bring it to your oral interview. 

Oral Interview Rubric

Late Work

No late work can be accepted for a grade nor can exams, quizzes, or in-class writing assignments be taken late, unless prior arrangements are made with your instructor, or in the case of a verifiable emergency. 
You must bring your excuse within three days of the absence and schedule the make-up promptly.
It is not possible to make extra credit assignments for individual students as such arrangements are inequitable.
YOU SHOULD KEEP ALL RETURNED, GRADED WORK UNTIL YOU RECEIVE YOUR FINAL GRADE.

Compositions and In-Class Writing

As noted on the syllabus, there are two class days during which you will be required to complete an in-class writing assignment. Your instructor will give you the topic of the writing assignment when you come to class. You will need to complete the assignment within 25 minutes. You will not be allowed to use a dictionary or your textbook to complete these assignments.

Aside from these exercises, you will be asked to write two longer compositions outside of class, which will be due on the dates indicated on the syllabus. Each composition will have two drafts. After your instructor edits and makes comments on the first draft, you will revise the composition based on the feedback you received. Both drafts are counted in the final grade for each composition.

Your instructor will be looking at your use of grammar and vocabulary, the organization of your ideas, the quality of the content, and the quality of the corrections you make for the second draft.

You should also know that:

• Both the first and the second compositions will focus on a topic from a list provided by your instructor.
• The first composition should be 250 words or more in length (both drafts).
• The second composition should be 350 words or more in length (both drafts).
• Both drafts of each composition should be typed and double-spaced
• A word count should be included at the end of the composition. (Note: to do a word count In Microsoft Word, click on “Tools” and select “Word Count”)
• The first draft of the composition and the rubric you received with your instructor’s comments should be handed in again with the second draft for you to receive full credit on the composition.

Do not use an Internet translator or have someone else review and correct your composition. This is a violation of the Honor Code.
Be very certain that everything you present for grade is your own work.  If you are unsure what constitutes "plagiarism" in this course, ask your instructor.  You can also find specific information from the UNC Libraries ethics tutorial. 

In-Class Wriiting Rubric
Composition Rubric
Correction Code

Honor Code

Academic dishonesty in any form is unacceptable, because any breach in academic integrity, however small, strikes destructively at the University’s life and work. Outside help of any kind on any assignment that is to be turned in for a grade is considered academic dishonesty.

What this means is that, with the exception of consultation with your instructor, no help may be received on any homework assignment, composition, or class presentation without being in violation of the honor code.

"Help" means any aid received from tutors, friends, native speakers or anyone else other than your instructor on any assignment.

However, your textbook, class notes, workbook and web resources (NOT WEB TRANSLATORS) may be consulted for homework assignments, compositions, and other out-of-class work unless you are specifically instructed otherwise by your instructor.

Quizzes and tests also must be completed entirely by each student individually with no help of any sort from fellow classmates, dictionaries, textbooks or notes; and further, on every quiz and exam the student must write out the pledge "I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this exam".

Group study, however, is an activity that is both accepted and recommended. In preparation for any exam or quiz, any number of students may work together to help one another prepare. Special circumstances must be brought to the attention of your instructor.

Exams
After Chapters 1A and 1B in Metas there will be a “Mini-test”.  Chapters 2A and 2B will be tested by the Midterm exam. Chapters 3A and 3B will be the core of the final exam. All three exams will test listening comprehension, grammar, reading and writing skills. 
There will be a study guide for each exam posted on the Spanish 203 webpage.  Use the study guides to prepare for the exams!

Final Exam
The Final Exam for the course is the same as the other exams in structure and objectives. The only difference is that it will be longer and that it may be more comprehensive.  There will be a study guide for this exam on the class web page as well.

Check your exam schedule to make sure that you don't have three exams within twenty-four hours, or an exam scheduled at the same time as the final exam of this course.  If you do, you must present evidence of this conflict to the Dean of your College and get an excuse slip well in advance of the day of the Final Exam.  Your instructor will have to have this excuse slip with plenty of time in order to prepare a make-up for you.

It is reasonable for your instructor to want to know who needs a make-up well before the date of the exam, in order to plan his or her time efficiently at the end of the semester.  Bring your excuse slip from the Dean to your instructor as soon as you know of the scheduling conflict.

Grading

Your final grade will be weighted as follows:				Grading scale:
In-class writing Composition 1 Composition 2 Oral Interview Class participation Evaluation of preparation Mini-test Midterm exam Final exam	5% 5% 7.5% 7.5% 10% 10% 10% 20% 25%			91.5+=A 89.5 - 91.49=A- 87.5 - 89.49 = B+ 81.5 - 87.49=B 79.5 - 81.49=B- 77.5 - 79.49=C+ 71.5 - 77.49 = C 69.5 - 71.49 = C- 67.5 - 69.49 = D+ 59.5 - 67.49 = D 59.49 and lower=F

Course Contract Fall 2007 p.5