DEPARTMENT OF SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Summer 2013 SPAN 020: Spanish for Reading Knowledge

Objective: The objective of this course is to prepare graduate students who have a language requirement for their doctoral degrees to take a timed translation exam. Students will select three critical texts in their field of study or research from which the instructor of the course will select one. The texts must be of 250 pages or more. The course will consist of simple grammar explanations, discussion of syntax, logical connectors, adverbials, and any other topics that are useful to the reading and translation of the texts under study. Students are expected to read their critical texts in their entirety, study grammar (as necessary), and bring their difficulties to class for discussion. Each week, students will do in-class practice translations. The translations will be reviewed and discussed to offer insight into the translation task and performance at midterm and final. The midterm is a half-length translation exam. The instructor will select one and a half pages (approximately 375 words, not counting particles) from the text under study and students will have one hour to translate the text with a bilingual dictionary. Feedback on performance will be given at the next class session to assist students as they prepare for the final. The final assessment is a full-length translation exam of three pages (approximately 750 words, not counting particles) to be translated in two hours with the use of a traditional bilingual dictionary (no online tools). The exams are graded holistically, taking into account, grammar, style, accuracy and meaning. The criterion for credit on the final and in the course is 80%. Recommended texts: A large, hard cover bilingual Spanish-English dictionary. This dictionary might be checked out from a library or purchased from a bookstore. An online bilingual dictionary relevant to the historical period and/or area of study of the critical text. A Spanish grammar text or an outline of Spanish grammar.
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Method:

The grammar is for home study and reference, as necessary. Some suggestions: Schaums Outline of Spanish Grammar. NY: McGraw-Hill. Repaso: A Complete Review Workbook for Gammar, Communication, and Culture. Lincolnwood, IL: NTC. Turk, P. and Zollo, M. (1995). Nueva gramtica comunicativa. Lincolnwood, IL: NTC. Academic Integrity USC seeks to maintain an optimal learning environment. General principles of academic honesty include the concept of respect for the intellectual property of others, the expectation that individual work will be submitted unless otherwise allowed by an instructor, and the obligations both to protect ones own academic work from misuse by others as well as to avoid using anothers work as ones own. All students are expected to understand and abide by these principles. Scampus, the Student Guidebook, contains the Student Conduct Code in Section 11.00, while the recommended sanctions are located in Appendix A: http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/SCAMPUS/gov/. Students will be referred to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards for further review, should there be any suspicion of academic dishonesty. The Review process can be found at: http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/SJACS/. DSP Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me (or to TA) as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.

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22 May

Introduction to the course Reading as process Assignment: Bring 3 texts to next session Bring dictionary to next session Purchase Spanish grammar (or check out of library) Read the front page news of any Spanish language newspaper each day (paper or virtual) No classes: Memorial Day Continue with reading and grammar at home Grammar Assignment: Read pp. 1-25 of your text, for meaning Keep log of vocabulary Flag or log sticking points in your comprehension Practice translation #1 (news article) Grammar Assignment: Read pp. 26-50 of your text Continue vocabulary log, Continue to flag sticking points

27 May

29 May

3 June

Practice translation #2 (magazine article) Grammar Discussion of difficulties in texts Assignment: Read pp. 51-75 Log vocabulary and problems Practice translation #3 (paragraph of text) Grammar Assignment: Read pp. 76-100 Do a paragraph practice translation Log problems with translation for class discussion

5 June

10 June

Practice translation #4 (paragraph of text) Thorough review of translations Grammar Assignment: Read pp. 100-125

12 June

Midterm: Half-length translation task (1 hour) Discussion of midterms Grammar Assignment: Read pp. 126-150 Log

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17 June

Practice translation #5 (text) Difficulties and style Assignment: Read pp. 150-180 Log Practice translation #6 (text) Difficulties and style Assignment: Read: pp. 181-210 Log Practice translation #7 (text) Difficulties and style Assignment: Read: pp. 211-250 Log Practice translation #8 (1/2 length from text) Discussion of difficulties and portions not completed; strategies for success Assignment: Review text Practice translation #9 (1/2 length from text) Discussion of difficulties and portions not completed; strategies for success Assignment: Review text Practice translation #10 (1/2 length from text) Discussion of difficulties and portions not completed; strategies for success Assignment: Review text Final translation task (2 hours)

19 June

24 June

26 June

1 July

3 July

8 July

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