Grading

Participation in class discussions: All students will have the opportunity and the responsibility to participate in class on a regular basis. At random, students will be given the opportunity to respond to an aspect of the theme that the class is discussing. The professor will take notes regarding the relevancy of the response. Willingness to participate, preparedness and creativity will be rewarded at the beginning, but expectations will rise as students become conversant in the material and approach. Students who do not or cannot attend class are unable to participate. They will automatically receive a 0 for that day’s discussion/activity. The following criteria will be used to evaluate class participation:

  • A range: Very dynamic engagement in all class activities: Student is consistently prepared for class sessions, very often begins interaction, participates actively and promotes participation in partnered and group activities, collaborates keenly in the creation of the learning environment
  • B range: Active engagement in all class activities: Student is generally prepared for class sessions, often begins interaction, participates actively in partnered and group activities, collaborates in the creation of the learning environment
  • C range: Moderate engagement in class activities: Student is irregularly prepared for class sessions, seldom begins interaction, participates moderately in partnered and group activities
  • D range: Very little engagement in class activities: Student is seldom prepared for class sessions, never begins interaction, participates little in partnered and group activities
  • F range: No visible engagement in class activities: Student is usually unprepared for class sessions, doesn’t participate in partnered and group activities, interferes with the creation of the learning environment

Noticias (oral): Students will be in charge of presenting a report of current events in a Hispanic country in class. Each report should last 2-3 minutes. Your instructor will give you more details. Remember that you are not allowed to read.

Papers (2): Each student will write two research papers. The topics will be discussed in class. It should be well informed and effectively argued. The first paper will be related to cultural or political work read in class (4 pages), and the second one will be on a topic we haven’t read but related to the class. You will receive more details in class (4-5 pages). Students are expected to incorporate the critical method outlined in class into the analysis of an event. Further, these papers must: 1) formulate a clear position and argument; 2) provide supporting evidence with citations from the text(s); 3) present ideas in a well-organized format; and 4) play close attention to grammatical accuracy, spelling, format, critical thinking, etc.; 5) be turned in on time.

Quizzes (4): There will be four quizzes during the course of the semester. The quizzes will cover the material studied before each quiz, including student presentations. The questions may include multiple choice, true or false, identifications, and short answers.

Debates: At the end of the semester there will be debates related to each of the countries studied in class. Each group has to defend its point of view and try to convince the rest of the class they of their point of view. Your instructor will give you more details. Remember that you are not allowed to read.

Native Speakers Sessions: Regular attendance and participation is mandatory. Native speakers’ sessions meet once a week. You are allowed one absence without penalty. Each absence following will lower your grade. You can make up classes on the same week. Classes begin on the second week of the semester.

Mid-term (15%) The exam is cumulative and includes everything that has been covered during the first half of the semester (including student presentations).

Final exam: The final exam is comprehensive and cumulative and includes everything that has been covered during the entire semester (including student presentations). The final exam is during final exam week.

Grades will be based on the following scale: Please remember I don’t give grades you earn them!