Spanish 250
COMPOSITION
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Laguna Chicaval, Guatemala 2005
 
 
This course is designed to give students intensive practice in writing skills. Students will write a series of creative and original compositions. The class will employ diverse learning techniques - grammar review, paired work, small group work, all-class discussions, peer editing, process writing - to provide students with the appropriate opportunities to enhance their language skills as they learn academic content through the active use of the Spanish language. This course requires a major time commitment on the part of each student registered.
 
 
 
 
REQUIRED TEXT/MATERIALS
 
Whitley, M. Stanley and González, Luis. 2007. Gramática para la composición. Segunda edición. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press
 
Whitley, M. Stanley and González, Luis. 2007. Gramática para la composición. Práctica Electrónica. Segunda edición. Washington, DC” Georgetown University Press
 
 
MOODLE SITE
 
A copy of the syllabus as well as other associated materials and resources will be available on Moodle. It is your responsibility to consult and verify the course site (http://moodle.gac.edu/).
 
 
COURSE GOAL AND OBJECTIVES
 
The main goal of this course is that you become an independent and effective writer in Spanish. This means that you will be involved in your own writing and editing process. To this end:

  1. you will explore ideas and find a theme for each composition;
  2. you will define the purpose of your composition and identify the characteristics and needs of the reader for whom you will write;
  3. you will create a writing plan and develop a draft of each composition;
  4. you will edit your classmates’ compositions as well as your own compositions;
  5. you will develop a revision plan to advance your first draft toward its final version;
  6. you will review Spanish structures that typically present difficulties for English-speaking students, and review and expand your vocabulary and expressions for each type of composition.
 
 
GRADE BREAKDOWN
 
  1. Participation: 20%
  2. Homework: 10%  
  3. Composition: 30%
  4. Portfolio: 10%
  5. Exams: 30%