SPAN 335: Community Activism through Social Media

Fall 2015
TR 12:00PM-1:15PM - Room: Aquia 346
Professor: Dr. Esperanza Romn-Mendoza
Telephone: 993-1232
Website: http://mason.gmu.edu/~eromanme/

Department of Modern and Classical Languages

George Mason University
Office: Aquia 346
Office hours: TR 1:30-2:30PM and by appointment
E-mail: eromanme@gmu.edu
Skype: e.roman.mendoza

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Spanish 335 is designed to promote students' oral abilities in Spanish as well as their critical understanding of Latin
American culture and society through the discussion and analysis of different social web-based sources. SPAN 335 will
make extensive use of technology to support oral and written activities. Your grade will be determined as follows:
Class participation
Oral class presentations (daily)
Final oral presentation

10%
15%
15%

Wikispaces individual page/FB

Essays
Final research project

15%
20%
25%

COURSE OBJECTIVES
The aim of this course is to enable you to acquire new vocabulary, grammar structures and pragmatics in order to
improve your conversational skills. Discussions and activities will be based on social activism as portrayed and carried
out in social media (blogs, digital repositories, twitter, YouTube videos, digital newspapers discussions, etc.) and mass
media in Latin America.
COURSE MATERIALS
Materials and calendar will be posted on Wikispaces, as well as activities. Please check regularly the course
calendar for specific information on activities and deadlines. (http://activismociudadano.wikispaces.com/)
Blackboard. Syllabus, announcements and materials will be accessible in the Blackboard course.
Facebook group. If all students agree to create a Facebook group, we will use it to share news and links.
Twitter account. This is an online tool in 140 characters. Our hashtag will be #335social
Please keep track of your login and password information for all these websites on a safe, accessible file.
In-class participation
This is primarily a conversation class and you must be present to participate. Attendance is crucial. No make-up work will
be accepted for lost class time. Late assignments wont be accepted, unless there is a medical reason or any other
justified emergency. Check our class wiki for course materials, lesson plans and scheduled assignments. The attached
tentative schedule does not contain details, as it is just an overview of the whole course. Short quizzes will be given in
class unannounced.
Oral daily presentations
Students will present a report to the whole class every day about their readings, activities and online exchanges. No
make up for missed classes.
Final oral presentation
Students will prepare a final oral presentation based on the investigative project. More details in class.
Reflective essays
Students will write 4 essays (500 words) on topics related to the discussions and readings. The essay will be written
following a draft-peer review-final version revision process. Topics will be announced in class.
Wikispace individual page
Students will work in class and outside class in several written activities, in addition to the reflective essays. They will be
stored and reviewed on each students individual Wikispace page. More details in class.
Research project
Students will prepare a research paper about one specific NGO or activist campaign. To this effect, students will be
assigned an activist/mentor to follow during the length of the curse. Students will interview their activist mentors,
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analyze their websites and other social media presence, study their strategies and campaigns. More details in class.
Students will present every day in class the status of their investigations and will keep a journal on the course wiki.
Horario Provisional
Fecha
Sept. 1

Sept. 3
Sept. 8

En clase
Introduccin al curso. Twitter. Wikispaces.
Facebook. GoogleDocs Escribir presentacin en
Wiki
Tema 0: Latinoamrica. Retos y oportunidades

Tarea

Compilar lista de temas de inters por pases

Radio Ambulante. http://radioambulante.org/
Leer Lectura 1. (pp. 103-117)
Escribir resumen y una pregunta de discusin en la wiki
Leer Lectura 1. (pp. 118-125)
Resumen y pregunta en la wiki
Ensayo 1 (borrador)
Leer Lectura 1. (pp. 126-129)
Resumen y pregunta en la wiki
Ensayo 1 (versin final) Watch Documentary Reportero:
http://www.pbs.org/pov/reportero/full.php#.VeHwnflVikq
Leer Lectura 1. (pp. 129-146)
Resumen y pregunta en la wiki
Leer Lectura 2.
Resumen y pregunta en la wiki
Buscar info sobre Colombia. Actividades
Ensayo 2 (borrador)
Buscar info sobre campaas online de polticos famosos.

Sept. 10

Tema 1: Las condiciones que favorecen el

activismo digital en Amrica Latina.
Tema 2: Barreras al activismo digital I

Sept. 15
Sept. 17

Barreras al activismo digital II

Tema 3: Riesgos y desafos del activismo digital

Sept. 22

Riesgos para activistas y periodistas.

Sept. 24

Tema 4: Consecuencias del activismo digital

Sept. 29

Tema 5a: Poltica I

Oct. 1
Oct. 6
Oct. 8
Oct. 13
Oct. 15

Casos prcticos: Colombia

Tema 5b: Poltica II
Casos prcticos: Ecuador
NO HAY CLASE
Tema 6: La educacin

Oct. 20
Oct. 22

Casos prcticos: Chile

Tema 7: La distribucin de la tierra

Oct. 27
Oct. 29

Casos prcticos: Centroamrica

Tema 8: Ecologa

Nov. 3
Nov. 5

Casos prcticos: Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay

Tema 9: Derechos sociales. La mujer

Nov. 10
Nov. 12

Casos prcticos: Mxico

Tema 10: Derechos sociales. Movimientos
migratorios
Casos prcticos: Trfico de seres humanos en
Centroamrica
NO HAY CLASE. THANSGIVING
Tema 11: Derechos sociales. Desarraigo y
Leer Lectura 8. Podcast: Un mundo ideal.
esperanza
Preguntas para el protagonista del podcast
Casos prcticos: Latinos en EE.UU.
Buscar info sobre Latinos en EEUU
Presentaciones orales
Ensayo 4 (versin final)
Presentaciones orales
ENTREGAR EL PROYECTO FINAL DE 10:30 A 1:30

Nov. 17
Nov. 23
Dec. 1
Dec.3
Dec. 8
Dec. 10
Dec. 17

Ensayo 2 (versin final)

Leer Lectura 3.
Resumen y pregunta en la wiki
Buscar info sobre Chile
Leer Lectura 4.
Resumen y otros problemas similares en Latinoamrica
Ensayo 3 (borrador)
Leer Lectura 5-Anlisis de Pgina Web
Crtica de diseo e impacto
Ensayo 3 (versin final)
Leer Lectura 6.
Resumen y pregunta en la wiki
Buscar info sobre Mxico
Leer Lectura 7. Documental Los invisibles
Resumen. Qu te llam ms la atencin.
Ensayo 4 (borrador)

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS
Academic Integrity
Students must be responsible for their own work, and students and faculty must take on the responsibility of dealing
explicitly with violations. The tenet must be a foundation of our university culture. [See
http://academicintegrity.gmu.edu/distance].

Honor Code
Students must adhere to the guidelines of the George Mason University Honor Code [See http://oai.gmu.edu/themason-honor-code/].

MasonLive/Email (GMU Email)

Students are responsible for the content of university communications sent to their George Mason University email
account and are required to activate their account and check it regularly. All communication from the university, college,
school, and program will be sent to students solely through their Mason email account. [See
https://masonlivelogin.gmu.edu/login].

Patriot Pass
Once you sign up for your Patriot Pass, your passwords will be synchronized, and you will use your Patriot Pass
username and password to log in to the following systems: Blackboard, University Libraries, MasonLive, myMason,
Patriot Web, Virtual Computing Lab, and WEMS. [See https://password.gmu.edu/index.jsp].

University Policies
Students must follow the university policies. [See http://universitypolicy.gmu.edu and http://catalog.gmu.edu].

Responsible Use of Computing

Students must follow the university policy for Responsible Use of Computing. [See
http://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/policies/responsible-use-of-computing/].

University Calendar
Check the GMU calendar at http://registrar.gmu.edu/calendars/.

Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities who seek accommodations in a course must be registered with the George Mason University
Office of Disability Services (ODS) and inform their instructor, in writing, at the beginning of the semester [See
http://ods.gmu.edu].

University Libraries
University Libraries provides resources for distance students. [See http://library.gmu.edu/distance].

Writing Center
The George Mason University Writing Center staff provides a variety of resources and services (e.g., tutoring,
workshops, writing guides, handbooks) intended to support students as they work to construct and share knowledge
through writing. [See http://writingcenter.gmu.edu]. You can now sign up for an Online Writing Lab (OWL) session just
like you sign up for a face-to-face session in the Writing Center, which means YOU set the date and time of the
appointment! Learn more about the Online Writing Lab (OWL) (found under Online Tutoring).

Counseling and Psychological Services

The George Mason University Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) staff consists of professional counseling and
clinical psychologists, social workers, and counselors who offer a wide range of services (e.g., individual and group
counseling, workshops and outreach programs) to enhance students' personal experience and academic performance
[See http://caps.gmu.edu].
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Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), also known as the "Buckley Amendment," is a federal law
that gives protection to student educational records and provides students with certain rights. [See
http://registrar.gmu.edu/privacy].

IMPORTANT DATES
First day of classes; last day to submit Domicile Reclassification Application; Payment Due Date; full semester
waitlists removed

August 31

Labor Day, university closed

Sep 7

Last day to add classesall individualized section forms due

Last day to drop with no tuition penalty

Sep 8

Last day to drop with a 33% tuition penalty

Sep 15

Final Drop Deadline (67% tuition penalty)

Oct. 2

Midterm progress reporting period (100-200 level classes)grades available via Patriot Web

September 28
October 23

Selective Withdrawal Period (undergraduate students only)

October 5 October 30

Columbus Day recess

(Monday classes/labs meet Tuesday. Tuesday classes do not meet this week)

October 12

Incomplete work from Spring-Summer 2015 due to Instructor

October 30

Incomplete grade changes from Spring-Summer 2015 due to Registrar

Nov.6

Last day of classes

December 12

Exam Period (beginning at 7:30 a.m.)

Wed Dec14
Wed Dec 21

Commencement and Degree Conferral Date

December 22