To achieve a satisfactory grade in any college-level class, one should expect to spend at least two hours outside of class for every hour spent in class.  Therefore, you should expect to dedicate at least six hours per week outside of class in reading, writing and research for this class as well as for any 3-credit class, to earn at least a C.  For an A, obviously, you would spend many more hours per week.  The reading for this course will take up much of that time; please plan for plenty of research and writing time for the compositions as well.

I.  Diario:  You will keep a journal in which you make entries for every reading assignment.  You will receive a detailed instruction sheet for the journal.  Bring the journal to every class; periodically we will read and comment upon the journals in small groups, and four times during the semester, without notice, it will receive a grade for completeness and effort.

II.  Composiciones:  You will write four compositions during the semester.  You will receive detailed assignments for each composition; we will practice techniques for note-taking, summarizing, analyzing and commenting, expressing and supporting your ideas or opinions.  The first three compositions will be three pages, and the fourth should be a paper between six and ten pages.

 You must compose your compositions on a Spanish language word processor.  WordPerfect in Spanish [with spell-help and thesaurus in Spanish] can be accessed by the computers in the trailer lab behind Coyner.  You will hand in each composition twice.  The first time, it will be reviewed by your "peer-group" (grupo de colegas), and these classmates, as well as the instructor, will comment with you and make suggestions for improvements.  Then you will revise and improve the composition, taking into account the suggestions you have received, and which may have sparked other ideas for improvements which you come up with yourself.  This revised composition will receive a grade.

 The syllabus contains the due dates for each composition and for each revision of a composition.  No late compositions, first versions or revisions, will be accepted for any reason.

III.  Fortunata y Jacinta videos:  You will watch episodes of this production outside of class; it will help in your comprehension of the novel.  Report in your Diario any differences you note between the video version and the novel.  You must watch the videos in the library, using the PAL vcr; they will not work in standard US vcrs.

IV.  Mesa de español:  The "Mesa de español" is a table in the balcony of the dining hall during lunch where students may enjoy free conversation in Spanish with other students, many of them Spanish majors, and professors.  No English will be spoken at the "Mesa de español."  You will not be corrected or taught anything.  You will not be told what to talk about.  It is hoped that you will meet other students you know and make new friends, at the same time putting into real practice what you have learned in class.  Look for the Spanish, Mexican, or other Spanish-speaking country's flag draped over the balcony.  (Don't make the mistake of attending a "Table de français" or the German equivalent--they drape flags over the balcony too.)  You must attend the "Mesa de español" at least ten times during the semester.