Seminar in Spanish Cultures, Literatures and Films

Course Description

Major topics in Spanish culture, history, and civilization. Special emphasis on the development of customs, national traits, cultural movements, and institutions. Prerequisite: SPA 315 or SPA 318; and SPA 351 or permission of the department; Note: May be repeated once for credit when topic varies.

Syllabus

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

  • Analyze literary texts using the scientific method
  • Evaluate relationships between literature and historical context
  • Conduct independent research and integrate secondary sources
  • Present scholarly arguments in written and oral formats
  • Reflect on the relevance of literature to contemporary issues

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure Percentage/Points
Homework 20%
Exams (2) 30%
In-class Work 15%
Group Experiments 20%
Final Project 15%

Grading Scale

Percentage Letter Grade
93–100A
90–92A-
88–89B+
83–87B
80–82B-
78–79C+
73–77C
70–72C-
68–69D+
63–67D
60–62D-
0–59F

Attendance/Participation:

Regular attendance is essential to meet course objectives. Students are expected to attend consistently and participate actively in discussions and activities. Excessive absences may negatively impact the final grade.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

  • Primary texts in Spanish: Lazarillo de Tormes, El burlador de Sevilla, La vida es sueño.
  • Computer with internet access

Scholarly Perspectives

This course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.