IB Spanish 7/AP Spanish Literature

2006-2007

Instructor
Sr. Alonso
Email

This course is designed to prepare students for the AP Spanish Literature Test and/or the IB Higher Lever exam. Successful completion of the objectives of this course, and a satisfactory score on the exam(s) can result in college credit.

The AP Literature course is a survey including literature going back to medieval days and Spain’s Golden Age up to the present day. The course closely resembles a college Hispanic literature survey course.

AP Literature Objectives:

1. Understand a lecture or reading in Spanish, and to participate actively on discussions (on-line, written, oral) in Spanish on literary topics.
2. Do a close reading of literary texts of all genres, in Spanish
3. Analyze critically the form and content of literary works (including poetry) orally, and in writing, using appropriate terminology.

International Baccalaureate Objectives for Language B (Higher Level):
Within the competency areas of cultural interaction, message, and language:

1. Communicate clearly and effectively in a wide range of situations.
2. Understand and use accurately oral and written forms of the language that are essential for effective communication in a range of styles and situations.
3. Understand and use a wide range of vocabulary.
4. Select a register and style that are appropriate to the sitution.
5. Express ideas with general clarity and fluency.
6. Structure arguments in a clear, coherent, and convincing way.
7. Understand and analyze moderately complex written and spoken material.
8. Assess subtleties of language in a wide range of forms, styles, and registers.
9. Show an awareness of, and sensitivity to, the cultures related to the language studied.

Grading and Reporting:

Twice per quarter, foreign language teachers will electronically generate a gradesheet for students and parents which lists the topics and types of assessment and the grade received. In addition, students will be provided with a grid to chart their own grades and to compute their grade at any time. If there is a question or concern, the individual parent or student may request an additional copy of the gradesheet.

Grades will reflect individual achievement of the MCPS performance indicators for each marking period.

The reading in AP Spanish Literature can be challenging, both in quantity and difficulty. The most difficult pieces we will read together in class, but there will be a number of readings that you will be expected to do outside of class. Keep up with your reading. My experience is that the students who do a careful reading (including note-taking!) will do well on the AP exam. Those who rely on class discussion and don’t read do poorly. You don’t need to be a literary genius – just a careful reader.

Administrivia:
Work is accepted beyond the due date by attending a lunchtime extra-help session. The late work must be done at lunchtime – not just handed in then, and I may deduct one letter grade for work handed in late. The deadline for late work is no later than the Friday following the week of the due date; in other words, a due date of Wednesday, September 6, would have a deadline of Friday, September 15. For some assignments, the due date and the deadline may be the same; I will inform you at the time the assignment is given that it will not be accepted after the due date.

Missing work will be recorded in the gradebook as a zero.

Extra help is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays at lunchtime, and at other times by advance arrangement.

Academic honesty is my expectation of all students. Unless you are required to work with another student or group of students on an assignment, my expectation is that your work will be your own. Plagiarism in any form - from other students, from websites or books - receives a zero on the assignment as a minimum consequence and the possibility of parent contact, suspension, and/or a notation in the student's record.

Textbooks:
All the required readings for this course are contained in the two volumes of Abriendo puertas: Antología de la literatura en español. Volume I contains poetry and short story selections, and Volume II contains the longer prose selections. We will follow the order established by the book, Volume I in the first semester and Vol. II in the second semester.

Examination Dates:
AP Spanish Literature:
IB Spanish (standard and higher level):

AP Literatura hispana/BI español 7
Año escolar 2006-2007
Calendario de lecturas por géneros