SPAN 403                               INTRODUCCIÓN 

 

 

Instructor: Senior Lecturer Ganesh D. Basdeo

Padelford C – 202        Ph: (206) 543 – 6642

Email: bas@u.washington.edu

Homepage: http://courses.washington.edu/dibas

 

Text: RESNICK, Melvyn C., Introducción a la historia de la lengua española
(Washington, D. C.: Georgetown University Press)

 

Course Packet: Available at Ave. Copy Center, 4141 University Way, NE

 

Spanish 403 traces the evolution of Spanish from its Classical and Vulgar Latin roots. As would be expected in a course of this nature, constant reference will be made to both Classical (CL) and Vulgar (VL) Latin: pronunciation, accentuation, syllabification, simplification of CL in VL, and the “rules” or “reglas” which have resulted in Spanish as we know it today. Although a little knowledge of Latin would be helpful, it is not absolutely necessary. As unbelievable as it may seem, you will learn a lot of relevant Latin in this course. Emphasis will be placed on the morphological, phonological, and syntactical elements which have shaped the Spanish language.

 

 

SYLLABUS

 

 

The syllabus is subject to dramatic changes as we move along. Chapter 4 in particular is going to be the most challenging one in the course as it deals with the changes that took place from CL to VL and finally to Spanish. This chapter deals with the “rules” or “reglas” that transformed CL into VL. For example, how the CL LACTE resulted in the modern Spanish “leche”.  It is interesting to note that English retains the CL root in words like lactiferous (yielding or conveying milk), lactose (a white, crystalline sugar found in milk) etc. We may need more time than I have specified in the syllabus for some of these rules, especially when dealing with the dreaded YOD   י (enlarged considerably. It is actually the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet.) If so, I’ll adjust accordingly.

 

This course is not merely a lecture course. Students will be expected to participate enthusiastically. For example, before the formal lecture begins, students will be called upon to comment briefly on an aspect of readings assigned. This component of the course contributes to your class participation grade – which is considerable.

 

Also contributing to your class participation grade are the exercises done in class – Worksheets, Handouts or Resnick.

 

This is a 400 level course. Some exam questions may require paragraph answers. As such, you will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in grammatical concepts previously studied and to express your ideas logically.

 

 

COMPONENTS OF THE COURSE

 

Class Participation                                                                   15%

Pruebas                                                                                    15%

Hour Exams                                                                             40%

Project (Research Paper)                                                          10%

Oral Presentation (Research Paper)                                          05%

Final Exam                                                                               15%

 

 

CLASS PARTICIPATION

 

This component of the final grade will include consideration of class attendance and punctuality, demonstrated comprehension of class material, quality of  participation in class exercises and *preparedness (students will be called upon at random periodically to give a summary of topics from assigned readings from Resnick).

 

PRUEBAS

 

Pruebas will be given periodically during the quarter.

 

EXAMS

 

There will be 4 fifty-minute exams and a Final.

 

 

PROJECT  (RESEARCH PAPER)

 

 

Research on a topic of interest to you. Feel free to contact your instructor re possible topics. Deadline is Friday of the 9th week. Length: 2 to 2 ½  pages, type-written  double-spaced. Font Arial 10 or Times New Roman 12. Your topic must be based on a text or texts selected from Resnick’s extensive bibliography beginning on page 186 or other relevant texts. You may use the Internet for ideas but your paper may not be based on Internet articles. Please cite, of course, your sources at the end of your paper.

 

ORAL PRESENTATION

 

Beginning the 10th week of the quarter, each student will give a 10 – 12 min oral presentation based on their research paper (above). Because of time limitations, presentations must NOT exceed 12 minutes. Four presentations will be scheduled per class session

n      Oral presentations are stringently scheduled.

n      If you miss your assigned slot, it will not be possible for you to make it up.

n      I will assign the day and date of your presentation around the fourth week of the quarter.

 

PRESENTACIÓN ORAL

 

Evaluación

 

Comprensibilidad:

 

Totalmente comprensible con un discurso avanzado 20
Dificultad en la expresión de las ideas y el discurso es simple 16
Comprensible pero discurso es lento y simple 13
Difícil de comprender 10

 

 

Desarrollo:

 

Ideas bien desarrolladas y correctas: claridad en la expresión y organización 20
Ideas bastante desarrolladas, algunos errores bastante claridad/organización 16
Desarrollo débil de las ideas, muchos errores 13
Ideas irrelevantes y estructura inadecuada 10

 

 

Contenido:

 

Tema bien pensado y planteado 20
Tema bien planteado pero no explorado en su totalidad  15
Tema explorado de forma superficial. Contiene ideas irrelevantes 10
Tema  planteado y desarrollado de forma insuficiente 06

 

 

Vocabulario y Gramática:

 

Amplio y preciso 15
Adecuado en general, algunos errores 12
Imprecisión en la elección de algunas palabras, muchos errores 09
Vocabulario que dificulta la comprensión y gramática inadecuada 07

 

 

Pronunciación/Enunciación:

 

Pronunciación correcta; muy fácil de seguir 10
Errores ocasionales 07
Requiere una gran atención de parte del oyente 05
Pronunciación inteligible en general 04

 

 

Esquema:

Sirve con referencia a la presentación y para el futuro uso de otro estudiante 10
Sirve en su mayoría pero hay ‘huecos’ de información 07
Presenta ausencias y referencias imprecisas 05
El resumen no sirve como referencia de la presentación 04

 

Comentarios:

 

Puntos de ajuste (!gratis!):  05

 

 

Total________/100

 

 

FINAL EXAM

 

 

To be determined.

 

 

Exams and quizzes will be graded on a percentage basis.  Percentage grades will be converted to decimal grades on the following scale:

 

 

                        PERCENTAGE GRADE                  DECIMAL GRADE

 

                                    99-100                                                 4.0

                                    98                                                        3.9

                                    95 - 97                                                 3.8

                                    93 - 94                                                 3.7

                                    91 - 92                                                 3.6

                                    90                                                        3.5

 

                                    85                                                        3.0

                                    80                                                        2.5

 

                                    75                                                        2.0

                                    70                                                        1.5

 

                                    65                                                        1.0
                                    60                                                        0.7

 

 

 

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Return to: Ganesh Basdeo's home page

 lAST UPDATED: October 12, 2009