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Fall 2007 and Spring 2008

Spanish IV

Profesora Ramírez
rramirez@queenanne.org
Seton Belt 6
Office hours: periods 1, 3 and by appointment only

**Class Hand Outs**

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COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course is designed to improve your comprehension of the Spanish language and Hispanic culture. Our main objective will be to continue to strive for understanding and accuracy in all areas of the Spanish language, the written, and the spoken. Our objective will also include reading and listening comprehension through literature, art, music and contemporary issues that pertain to the Hispanic world. Class instruction will be in Spanish (hint: It’s a Spanish class) and I will constantly assess your effort to practice your Spanish language skills both during and after class.

COURSE RESOURCES

For this class, you will need the following material:

CLASS ASSESSMENT

The methods of evaluation concerning your progress in my class will include:

Your attitude and your student values: Self explanatory

Class participation

Evaluation will stem from class participation, both daily and weekly. I will base your class participation assessment on voluntary and active involvement in class activities. Also, assessment will involve your punctuality, preparedness (which includes bringing all materials needed for our class), and motivation. You are responsible for requesting your weekly class participation grade if you consider it necessary. I will provide them at the end of each class or during my office hours. Please note: Grades given in this category are non-negotiable.

Quizzes and tests on vocabulary and grammar

Tests and Quizzes are given on a regularly basis in this class. However, if you take more than three quizzes during the quarter, I will drop the lowest quiz grade for the quarter. Unfortunately, lowest test grades will not be dropped, so make sure you prepare for your tests and see me immediately if you have any questions beforehand.

Assigned topic essays are written in and out of class

You will submit a one to two page essay during each quarter of the 2007 / 2008 school year. Essays are considered a two-step project in Spanish class. The first step is to submit a well written first draft on an assigned topic. This first draft will be graded and counted towards your homework average. I will return your draft along with a key that will help you make the necessary grammatical changes to improve your essay. The second step is to submit your final edited draft. This grade will count as a test grade. Please note: If you did not submit your first draft, you will earn a zero computation in your homework average. However, you can still submit a well written final draft for consideration and earn a maximum grade of 80%. On the other hand, if you submitted a first draft, received a grade and do not submit a final draft; your final draft grade will only earn a 50% due to the fact that you only participated in the homework section of the project. It is important that you understand that your essay should be your own effort, especially if you did not submit a first draft. Any help from QAS family members other than Profesora Ramirez or your classmates will be considered as cheating.

Projects

Projects are designed to demonstrate language comprehension. Some projects will have both an oral and a written component and some will have just an oral component. Expect details when time arrives.

Quarter portfolio

An important component in succeeding in any subject is the ability of taking effective class notes. For this reason, at the end of each quarter, you will submit a quarter portfolio containing class notes you took in our class, corrected homework, exercises such as free writing, and quizzes with corrections included taken during that quarter. Your class notes should include date and objectives for that particular day and should be clean and organized. You will receive in detail the expectations of your quarter portfolio in our first day of class. A test grade will be given for your portfolio that will count towards that particular quarter.

GRADING POLICY

Daily class activities count as 40% of your grade. These include class participation, homework, and some in-class writing assignments.

Assessments count as 60% of your grade. These include tests, quizzes, quarter portfolio, essays (final draft), and projects which demonstrate your growing acquisition of Spanish.

**Note: The use of online translators is considered to be plagiarism and therefore a violation of the QAS Honor Code .

Homework

You are expected to hand in presentable out-of-class assignments:

Make-up policy

For each full day that you are absent from school, you will receive a day to discuss make up arrangements for any tests, quizzes, and/or assignments that you missed. If your first full day of absence falls on a day an assignment is due, you must turn it in on the first day you return. Please remember that it is your responsibility to initiate arrangements with me and not the other way around. Otherwise, you may only earn a 75% of your test or quiz grade.

Those who are absent from my class, but who are not out for the full day will be required to make-up their test or quiz, or turn in their assignment, on the same day, unless other arrangements have been made with me. Please note: Make-up test and quizzes may be a different version and/or format from the ones taken in class.

Class expectations

I expect you to be courteous and respectful to your QAS family members. In return, we will respect you. Also, I promise to do my best to assist you in all aspects concerning your sincere learning efforts. Communication is the key, so if you have any questions or concerns and suggestions that may help you and your classmates feel more productive in this class, please feel free to speak with me. I am here to guide you in the skills required for Spanish language comprehension. Finally, class participation requires on-time attendance and preparation – having your homework ready and including all appropriate material (books, notebooks, pens, etc.). Please, take care of all physical needs (using the bathroom, eating, etc.) before class. School policy does not allow food in the class (including candy or gum) though liquids are permitted as long as they have a cap. If you are late more than three times you will have the silent pleasure of spending your lunch with Profesora Ramirez. Unless you have a late slip from a teacher or administrator, there are no exceptions to this policy.

 

 

©2007 Profesora Rosalba C. Ramírez