PRIMAVERA 2014                                                       Eastern Illinois University
Spanish 1102- 003 MTRF 9:00 – 9:50 am, COLE 1170         
           

Dr. Carlos C. Amaya                                             

Office: COLE 1230
Phone: 581-5217 (no voice mail, please)
Office Hours: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. MF / 2-3 p.m. MTRF or by appointment
E-mail: ccamaya@eiu.edu, web page
http://www.ux1.eiu.edu/~ccamaya/cur.html

Required texts:
VanPatten, Bill, Michael J. Leeser y Gregory D. Keating.  Sol y viento: Beginning Spanish. 3rd Edition.  Saint Louis: McGraw Hill, 2012.

VanPatten, Bill, Michael J. Leeser y Gregory D. Keating.  Sol y viento: Beginning Spanish—Online workbook part 2. 3rd Edition. McGraw Hill, 2012. BUY ON-LINE

Recommended: The New World Spanish-English/English-Spanish Dictionary

Course Description:  This is the second semester of a two-semester course in which speaking, listening, reading, writing and culture are emphasized.

Homework:  Written homework will be assigned every day to guide students through the text and to prepare them for class discussion.  Homework will be collected randomly, so all assignments must be completed in such a way that they may be turned in when requested (neatly written out on a clean sheet of paper).  Homework is due during class when the instructor requests it (not after class and not in the instructor’s office or mailbox).  Since the homework is meant to prepare students for class activities, it is pointless to turn in the homework after the day it is assigned and discussed.  For this reason, no late homework assignments will be accepted. To be fair to classmates and the instructor, there are no exceptions to this rule.

On-line Manual “centro.com”: It is obligatory to do the web-SAM “centro.com” manual on your own. You need to buy the electronic work book (PART 2) the first day of classes. All exercises are due the day of test reviews (11 pm central time) for that particular chapter. Every day in class, you will learn something new that builds on what you already know.  The amount of new material is small, but it assumes you have mastered the material from the day before.  For this reason, you have a homework assignment from the online Student Activities Manual (centro.com) for every day we cover grammar in class.  The web-SAM is a site on the internet that has practice activities that go with our text, and it takes the place of a traditional paper workbook that students have been required to purchase in the past.  As with any university course, expect to spend 2 hours each night before class on homework and studying.  Homework assignments from the web-SAM are worth 6% of your final grade. 

Class participation and preparation, absences: Preparation for class and class discussion are interdependent; an essential part of any course dealing with a foreign language is dialogue and discussion of the assigned texts.  It is crucial that you do all of the assignments at home before class to be able to participate actively in class.  Participation in class includes volunteering in class discussions, responding to questions, coming to class prepared, and being pivotal to completing group tasks.  Activities that negatively affect your participation grade include failing to contribute to class discussions, sitting passively during group work, arriving late, “popping out” during class, absence from class, and leaving early.  PLEASE NOTE: Because participation in class and group discussions is so important to the learning process, for each absence after 3 excused or unexcused absences, 1% will be deducted from the FINAL GRADE.

Academic misconduct:  As stated in the EIU undergraduate catalogue, “it is assumed that students will honor the tradition of academic honesty”.  Academic honesty prohibits the following: cheating (the use of unauthorized materials, assistance, etc. during exams), plagiarism (to present ideas and statements of another person as own), and facilitating academic dishonesty (to help another student do any of the above).  With this in mind consider the following: all written work (including homework) must be your work.  You may not get any kind of help from an outside source—including but not limited to a tutor, computer spell checker, grammar checker, computer translator, etc.—other than your instructor.  Any of these activities will be investigated and sanctions will be levied.  Any suspected breach of academic honesty will be dealt with according to the provisions outlined in the Student Conduct Code. Please, see my web page for a complete explanation.

Policy concerning cell phones:  Leaving your cell phone stowed away during class is a sign of your maturity and integrity.  Please turn off your cell phone ringer before you enter the classroom and leave your phone stowed during class.  If many cell phones on “manner mode” go off simultaneously, there may be a message from the University’s emergency notification system.  Only in this case is it appropriate to check phones.  Having a cell phone out during an exam for any reason is strictly prohibited, and I will treat it as a case of academic misconduct.  If you believe you have exceptional circumstances (small children, a very ill relative etc.), please let me know. 

Evaluation Policy:  Students are expected to take all quizzes, tests, and exams at the appointed time.  Make-ups of announced and unannounced quizzes and exams will NOT be given except in the most extreme cases (verifiable illness, hospitalization, injury accident, etc).  Make-ups in these cases may be approved by the instructor ONLY when the student notifies him prior to or during the class period when the exam, etc. takes place or is due (send an e-mail to ccamaya@eiu.edu and follow up with appropriate documents).  Unexcused absences from any activity will incur a grade of ZERO (0) and may NOT BE MADE UP.  It is imperative that the students keep an accurate report of his/her grades attained in class.  If you have any questions about your grades come and see me in my office.  Daily and active class participation is essential.

Evaluation Procedure

5 One Hour Exams (5 @ 10%)                    = 50 %
Homework                                                       = 16 %
Quizzes                                                            = 8 %
Attendance and Class Participation           = 8 %
WebSAM “Centro.com”                                 = 6 %
Final Exam (1 @ 12%)                                  = 12%
_____
Total                                                 100%

Grading Scale  (percent)            
A  = 90-100     B  = 80-89     C  = 70-79     D  = 60-69     F = 0-59

Additional information:
*Cell phone calls and texting are not allowed in this class. Please turn your phone off before entering the classroom. You will be asked to leave if you disrupt class.
*sending me an e mail or voicemail to notify me of an absence does not excuse the absence. You need appropriate documentation for your excused absence.
*do not make medical appointments or other commitments that conflict with this class. It will not be considered a valid excuse unless it is an emergency (i.e. dentist, car, or hair appointments are not excused)
*Students are responsible for mastering material covered when they miss class. Material covered during each class period is clearly identified on the syllabus “schedule.”
*The classroom door will be locked when class starts. Please be on time.
*Your grade reflects your work in class. I don’t give out grades, you earn them.

Note: Please, do your web lab-manual every day at home.
Any changes to this syllabus will be discussed in class
ENERO                                                                      TAREA (due the night before)

FEBRERO

MARZO

ABRIL

Final Exams: 9AM Class, Monday, May 5th 2:45-4:45 pm
                  
**Any changes to this syllabus will be announced in class. It is your responsibility to find out if there has been any change during your absence and make sure you do the appropriate homework for that day.