UNCW
SPN 306
ADVANCED GRAMMAR

Catalogue Description
Prerequisite: SPN 202 or equivalent. Grammatical forms and usage.

Course Description
In this course, students will analyze grammatical forms and vocabulary that pose particular problems for English-speaking learners of Spanish. Designed as a "workshop," this course offers students the opportunity to practice using Spanish grammar in order to improve their ability to write Standard Spanish. Students are encouraged to bring their own particular questions and problems regarding Spanish usage to class. This course will be of interest to Spanish majors and minors, especially those contemplating becoming teachers of Spanish and/or English as a second language.

Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students should be able to:

• apply correctly and consistently the rules of Spanish accentuation
• recognize and avoid the problems of usage that present problems for English-speaking learners of Spanish
• see a marked increase in their knowledge of the Spanish language in general and their use of Spanish grammar and vocabulary in particular
• compose an essay that conforms to the rules of Standard Spanish

Required Materials
A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish, 3rd. ed., by John Butt and Carmen Benjamin.

Practicing Spanish Grammar: A Workbook with Graded Exercises, by Christopher Pountain and Teresa de Carlos.

Course Requirements
Students are expected to:

• attend every session and arrive to class on time
• prepare all assignments and/or projects BEFORE class
• participate in class discussions
• take all exams and quizzes as scheduled
• turn in all assignments on time (no late work accepted; no make-up exams given)
• write all assignments on a computer with appropriate accent marks and diacritics

Evaluation

• 20% preparation/participation (includes compositions 50%; quizzes 25%; assignments 25%)
• 50% class exams
• 30% final exam (comprehensive)

Grading Scale
A = 93 and above
A- = 90-92
B+ = 87-89
B = 83-86
B- = 80-82
C+ = 77-79
C = 73-76
C- = 70-72
D+ = 67-69
D = 63-66
D- = 60-62
F = 59 and below

Attendance Policy
Perfect attendance will be rewarded; excessive absenteeism will affect the final grade in the following manner:

0 absence = 2 points added to final grade
1 absence = 0 points added or subtracted
2 absences = 1 point per absence subtracted from final grade
3 or more absences = 2 points per absence substracted from final grade
More than 8 absences = automatic F (FAILURE) in the course
(*Note: 3 tardies = 1 absence)

Honor Code
Students enrolled in this course are subject to the University's academic honor code as defined in the Student Handbook.

Course Schedule (Subject to Change)
Weeks 1, 2, 3 (Aug. 22, 27, 29; Sept. 3, 5): Introduction. Pronouns: Subject, Prepositional, Direct Object, Indirect Object; Personal "a";

Week 4 (Sept. 10, 12): EXAM. Reading: "Una historia común."

Week 5 (Sept. 17, 19): First Composition Due. Verbs Like "gustar." Redundant Object Pronouns.

Week 6 (Sept. 24, 26): Redundant Pronouns; Syllabication and Accent Rules.

Weeks 7, 8 (Oct. 1, 3, 8): Syllabication and Accent Rules.

Week 9 (Oct. 15, 17): Present Perfect; Preterite and Imperfect.

Week 10 (Oct. 22, 24): Preterite and Imperfect.

Weeks 11 (Oct. 29, 31): Adjectives (Before/After a Noun).

Week 12 (Nov. 5, 7): por/para

Week 13 (Nov. 12, 14): ser/estar

Week 14 (Nov. 19, 21): Subjunctive.

Weeks 15, 16, 17 (Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 5, 10): Subjunctive. Review.

FINAL EXAM: Wednesday, December 18, 11:30-2:30.

Review, Reference, and Tutorials
Spanish Tutorial
Diccionario Anaya
Gramática y ortografía del español
Spanish Accent Marks and Diacritics
Encuestas/Comentarios en EL PAÍS DIGITAL
Real Academia Española

Class Notes

Thurs., 8/22
Tues., 8/27
Thurs., 8/29
Tues., 9/3
Thurs., 9/5
Tues., 9/10
Thurs., 9/12 (Exam)
Tues., 9/17
Thurs., 9/19
Tues., 9/24
Thurs., 9/26
Tues., 10/1
Thurs., 10/3
Tues., 10/8
Tues., 10/15
Thurs., 10/17
Tues., 10/22
Thurs., 10/24
Exam: Preterite/Imperfect. Tues., 10/29
Thurs., 10/31
Tues., 11/5
Thurs. 11/7
Tues., 11/12
Thurs., 11/14
Tues., 11/19
Thurs., 11/21
Tues., 11/26
Tues., 12/3
Thurs., 12/5

Study Guide for Final Exam

Extra Credit

Practice

Preterite/Impefect
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3

Adjective Placement
Exercise 1

SER/ESTAR
Exercise 1
Exercise 2

PLUS ULTRA