LATIN AMERICAN CIVILIZATION AND CULTURE

Office main Hall 321
Phone: 832-6691
faresg@lawrence.edu
www.lawrence.edu/fast/faresg

READINGS
Required Reading
Eugenio Chang-Rodriguez. “Latinoamerica. Su civilizacion y su cultura.”

Recommended
E. Bradford Burns. Latin America. Conflict and Creation. A Historical Reader. New Jersey:Prentice Hall, 1993.
---. Latin America. A Concise Interpretive History. Seventh Ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1994.
National Geographic Magazine: http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/archives.html

GER
Diversity Requirement II.1: Global Perspectives and Issues
For category II.1, at least half the course must be devoted to the study of global perspectives and issues or to the study of areas outside of Europe and the United States. “Global” in this context refers to the perspectives of multiple and diverse regions of the world and to issues currently of importance to those regions (e.g., poverty, the environment, religion, and so on). This requirement may be met in appropriate study abroad programs, as determined by the Curriculum Committee.

Competency Requirement III.b: Speaking Intensive
Speaking-Intensive Course Requirements
Courses included on a list of speaking-intensive courses would be expected to satisfy the following criteria:

In speaking-intensive courses students are required to do a substantial amount of speaking, much of it evaluated by the instructor, with opportunities to develop speaking skills distributed over the course of the term.
Speaking-intensive courses, such as this one, provide explicit instruction in speaking.

· Speaking opportunities will take the form of individual formal presentations, informal reports, group projects, and class discussion;

· The Instructor might focus on such issues as the differences between oral and written presentations, how to organize and deliver an oral report, and useful tips to do so.

· The instructors may require students to submit an outline of a presentation ahead of time.

· Students will receive prompt constructive feedback on spoken work.

Course Description
A broad introduction to the culture of the Latin American continent and its relations to other cultures. The course presents Latin American civilization, history, economical and political situation, and its diverse culture. Emphasis is placed on high cultural manifestations such as art, literature, as well as on the everyday habits of the people. Although we can speak of Latin America as a single cultural area with unifying characteristics, extraordinary diversity is one of the most notable characteristics of the "other America." During the term you will be introduced to the common patterns and diversity of the region from the perspectives of Fine Arts, History, Political Science, and Sociology, among others, within a historical framework.

Goals and Objectives
Students will

	Consider ways various social groups within a given society participate in the culture of their society;
	Think critically about issues of difference and diversity from a perspective other than the one they are familiar with, here in the US;
	Identify, explore, and evaluate concrete examples of the students’ own cultural heritage(s) in relationship to other heritages;
	Study the Latin American contemporary cultures from a variety of disciplinary approaches and be able to compare various several different cultures;
	Become knowledgeable of historical events, political, religious, and environmental issues, and high-cultural movements, figures, and works from/in the Latin American Continent;
	Develop the ability to understanding a culture through its cultural expressions;
	Practice the Spanish language at an Advanced level of competency (ACTFL standards)

DEPARTMENTAL ATTENDANCE POLICY
3 (three) absences are allowed during the term; each absence in excess of 3 will lower your participation grade / score by 10% percentage points each. Tardiness (being late) will be treated as 1/2 absence each time and will affect the participation score. Exceptions MAY be made when sports events take more than 3 classes and/or the student is sick. In both cases, an official note from a coach or the nurse must be presented.

GRADES POLICY
The grade measures the performance of the student throughout the course. Students should expect to be graded according to their performance, skills development, and final outcome of their efforts. Grades above B are reserved for exceptional performance, above and beyond the activities outlined in the syllabus, and consistently undertaken in and outside class.

Students will be evaluated on their successful completion of the following:

Class Participation         15%
Cuestionarios                15%
Oral presentation           10%
Paper                            20%
Exams                          40 %
            Midterm 20%
            Final Exam 20%

EXPECTATIONS FOR CLASS WORK, HOMEWORK and IN-CLASS ORAL PARTICIPATION 15%

Students should familiarize themselves with all terms, descriptions, concepts, and the like of a reading selection. They should be ready to participate in class discussion in an engaging way.

Cuestionarios 15%
Will be posted on Moodle the days indicated in the syllabus. Late Cuestionarios will receive partial grade, reduced according to the date the work is received

The instructor is a strong believer that an excellent class includes the combination of an enthusiastic and informed teacher and student interaction. Students are expected to actively participate in oral discussions, sharing their homework (Cuestionarios), views, and informed opinions with the rest of the class.

ORAL PRESENTATION 10%

	Individual presentation. 10’ long (not half the class period!)
	That will require students to research certain course-related topics and to formally share their findings.
	You will discuss a particular topic, your research and ideas on it (not your feelings and emotions).You will be expected to provide an introduction, develop the arguments, draw a conclusion, and conduct a brief class discussion on the matter thorough questions that you will have prepared.
	The topic will be a contemporary one in the continent, related to the theme of the class when it is presented. The students may first consult with the instructor about their presentations and ask about any doubts they may have.

	The presentations will be scheduled during WEEK ONE.
	After the formal presentation, students will be in charge of generating and mediating a class discussion.
	After the presentation, the students will get feedback from the instructor.

PAPER           20%
Each student will research and write one paper on a topic agreed upon between the professor and the student.
Format: The paper will be typed with word processor on a computer.
Margins: 1" from each margin
Space: 1.5 line spaces
Font: Times New Roman 12 cpi
Title, name, and date should not take more than two lines.
Extension: 4-5 pages long
                          Paper Idea, Bibliography, and Outline 5%
                          Draft 5%
                          Final Paper 10%

If, for ANY reason you are late in presenting the paper, 10 (ten) points will be taken from their grade for each late day (day, not class), until you present the paper.

You have to use the Spanish tutors at the CTL before handling out the first draft.

EXAMS         40%
    Exam 1         20%
    Final Exam   20%

There will be NO EXTENSIONS on either exam.

*Consultation with the Center for Teaching and Learning tutors is STRONGLY encouraged BEFORE presentations and exams*

GRADE DISTRIBUTION:

A         100-93                                                 C+        79-78
A-        92-90                                                   C          77-73
B+        89-88                                                  C-        72-70
B          87-83                                                   D+       69-68
B-        82-80                                                    D         67-63
                                                                          D-        62-60

F 59 and Below

LATIN AMERICAN CIVILIZATION AND CULTURE

EXAMS 40% Exam 1 20% Final Exam 20%

EXAMS 40%
Exam 1 20%
Final Exam 20%