2006 Spanish 303: Popular Culture and its Traditions

COURSE PREREQUISITES: SPAN 300 or 306 or consent of the department

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES:

The focus of this course is the study of popular culture and its traditions in Spanish America and Spain. The course will look at how to read questions of nation, class, race and gender in Hispanic popular cultural production. Texts to be studied will be taken from films, art, festivals, sports, music, comics and television.

TEXTS:

SPAN 303 Selected Readings. Course pack available from U of A Bookstore.

GRADE DISTRIBUTION:

REQUIRED NOTES:

"Policy about course outlines can be found in Section 23.4(2) of the University Calendar." (GFC 29 SEP 2003)."The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University." (GFC 29 SEP 2003)

PLAGARISM AND CHEATING: 

All students should consult the "Truth-In-Education" handbook or Website (http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/TIE/) regarding the definitions of plagiarism and its consequences when detected.

Students involved in language courses and translation courses should be aware that on-line "translation engines" produce very dubious and unreliable "translations."

Students in languages courses should be aware that, while seeking the advice of native or expert speakers is often helpful, excessive editorial and creative help in assignments is considered a form of "cheating" that violates the code of student conduct with dire consequences. An instructor or coordinator who is convinced that a student has handed in work that he or she could not possibly reproduce without outside assistance is obliged, out of consideration of fairness to other students, to report the case to the Associate Dean of the Faculty. Before unpleasantness occurs consult http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/TIE/; also discuss this matter with any tutor(s) and with your instructor.

ATTENDANCE, ABSENCES, AND MISSED GRADE COMPONENTS: 

Regular daily attendance is essential for optimal performance in a foreign-language course.

In cases of potentially excusable absences due to illness or domestic affliction, notify your instructor by e-mail within two days.

Regarding absences that may be excusable and procedures for addressing course components missed as a result, consult sections 23.4.2 and 23.4.3 of the University Calendar.

Be aware that unexcused absences will result in partial or total loss of the grade for the "attendance and participation" component(s) of a course, as well as for any assignments that are not handed-in or completed as a result.

POLICY FOR LATE ASSIGNMENTS: 

Students who consult in advance with an instructor regarding contingencies preventing the timely completion of an assignment may, at the discretion of the instructor, be granted an extension. Otherwise, assignments may be handed in line without penalty, with a 5%-per-class-day penalty assessed for each subsequent class-day of lateness.

GRADING:

Marks for assignments, tests, and exams are given in percentages, to which letter grades are also assigned, according to the table below. The percentage mark resulting from the entire term work and examination then produces the final letter grade for the course.

MLCS GRADING SCALE

Outstanding: Superior performance showing understanding and knowledge of the subject matter far exceeding expectations.

I hope we all have an intellectually stimulating, engaging and enjoyable semester! J