This course is aimed at students who want to take more hours of Spanish weekly focusing on language practice. It allows students to improve their competence in reading and writing. Throughout the semester, students will be able to put their Spanish into practice and learn how to write in different genres and registers in a proper way, acquiring the skills needed to understand and produce texts effectively.
Prerequisites:
None
Method of presentation:
In class, samples of different texts from a variety of genres (description, narration, legend, letter, memoire, biography, report, essay, etc.) will be analyzed and students will have to produce their own text following specific weekly assignments. Academic genres and registers will be studied in depth.
The workshop is based on a writing-as-process criterion, which conceives the text not just as a mere product. Thus, emphasis is laid on draft correction from a descriptive view. After the correction of each draft, the rewriting of the piece will allow students to think of an error as something positive, as a way to learn and improve their communicative competence.
The final project is a publication made by the whole class and each student will participate by writing an article about: politics, economy, music, food
Required work and form of assessment:
Students will receive a grade for each piece of writing and also for the whole process of learning. They also will be graded in relation to their attitude and commitment to work. An 85% attendance is required. At the end of the workshop, students must hand in:
A portfolio with a selection of 10 documents written during the semester, organized with an index and date of production. Added to the portfolio, students must include a text explaining why they chose those documents: what they learned from them, why they have discarded the other works, etc.
A self-evaluation grid: for each of the pieces written.
A journal: each week students will write about their experiences in and out of the workshop describing events, feelings, experiences, aspects of the Spanish learned, intercultural reflections, etc.
content:
Week 1
Introduction to the letter. Different registers: formal vs. informal. Typical structures: greetings, conclusions, etc. Main differences between letters and e-mails.
Week 2
The description. Analysis of specific uses and problematic cases of the verb ser, haber, and estar. Making descriptions of people, places and events.
Week 3
Introduction to the Curriculum Vitae and the resumé. Main features and Structure. Writing your CV in Spanish.
Week 4
Introduction to the Cover letter and the job interview. Vocabulary: specific terms related to the field. Newspapers: Ads – looking and applying for a job.
Week 5
The narrative piece/Narration. Past tense contrasts: Imperfecto vs. Indefinido. Examples of these tenses in use.
Week 6
The Narrative piece. Introduction to the concept of Cohesion: Classification of basic cohesive devices. Examples of the most typical uses. Writing a short narrative piece with cohesive devices.
Week 7
The Narrative piece. Temporal and adversative connectors. The anecdote: retelling. Free writing exercise.
Week 8
The Tourism leaflet. Where to get travel information about Argentina?: Visiting a “Casa de Provincia" (Province Information Office). The narration of a trip: specific vocabulary on tourism.
Week 9
Writing about a conflict. Strategies and structures to give a piece of advice or suggestion.
Week 10
Expressing your opinion. Verbs of feelings and emotions. How to express your opinion in an impersonal way. Using Verb Moods: Indicative / Subjunctive – Specific and problematic cases
Week 11
Introduction to Complex texts: How to overcome complexity in a text? Different types of clauses: consecutive, causal, comparative, etc. Defining vs. non-defining relative clauses.
Week 12
Introduction to the review: the criticism in literature, cinema, the arts, etc. Basic vocabulary on the Arts. New structures to express personal opinion (critical statements and suggestions)
Week 13
Introduction to the complaint letter: the tone and different discursive-argumentative strategies. Analysis of different examples: effective techniques and styles.
Week 14
The essay. Basic argumentative devices. Typical vocabulary of academic register.
Other Resources:
Required
Bilingual Dictionary
Dictionary of Spanish Verbs
Intermediate Spanish I Reading/Writing Workshop
This course is aimed at students who want to take more hours of Spanish weekly focusing on language practice. It allows students to improve their competence in reading and writing. Throughout the semester, students will be able to put their Spanish into practice and learn how to write in different genres and registers in a proper way, acquiring the skills needed to understand and produce texts effectively.
None
In class, samples of different texts from a variety of genres (description, narration, legend, letter, memoire, biography, report, essay, etc.) will be analyzed and students will have to produce their own text following specific weekly assignments. Academic genres and registers will be studied in depth.
The workshop is based on a writing-as-process criterion, which conceives the text not just as a mere product. Thus, emphasis is laid on draft correction from a descriptive view. After the correction of each draft, the rewriting of the piece will allow students to think of an error as something positive, as a way to learn and improve their communicative competence.
The final project is a publication made by the whole class and each student will participate by writing an article about: politics, economy, music, food
Students will receive a grade for each piece of writing and also for the whole process of learning. They also will be graded in relation to their attitude and commitment to work. An 85% attendance is required. At the end of the workshop, students must hand in:
Week 1
Introduction to the letter. Different registers: formal vs. informal. Typical structures: greetings, conclusions, etc. Main differences between letters and e-mails.
Week 2
The description. Analysis of specific uses and problematic cases of the verb ser, haber, and estar. Making descriptions of people, places and events.
Week 3
Introduction to the Curriculum Vitae and the resumé. Main features and Structure. Writing your CV in Spanish.
Week 4
Introduction to the Cover letter and the job interview. Vocabulary: specific terms related to the field. Newspapers: Ads – looking and applying for a job.
Week 5
The narrative piece/Narration. Past tense contrasts: Imperfecto vs. Indefinido. Examples of these tenses in use.
Week 6
The Narrative piece. Introduction to the concept of Cohesion: Classification of basic cohesive devices. Examples of the most typical uses. Writing a short narrative piece with cohesive devices.
Week 7
The Narrative piece. Temporal and adversative connectors. The anecdote: retelling. Free writing exercise.
Week 8
The Tourism leaflet. Where to get travel information about Argentina?: Visiting a “Casa de Provincia" (Province Information Office). The narration of a trip: specific vocabulary on tourism.
Week 9
Writing about a conflict. Strategies and structures to give a piece of advice or suggestion.
Week 10
Expressing your opinion. Verbs of feelings and emotions. How to express your opinion in an impersonal way. Using Verb Moods: Indicative / Subjunctive – Specific and problematic cases
Week 11
Introduction to Complex texts: How to overcome complexity in a text? Different types of clauses: consecutive, causal, comparative, etc. Defining vs. non-defining relative clauses.
Week 12
Introduction to the review: the criticism in literature, cinema, the arts, etc. Basic vocabulary on the Arts. New structures to express personal opinion (critical statements and suggestions)
Week 13
Introduction to the complaint letter: the tone and different discursive-argumentative strategies. Analysis of different examples: effective techniques and styles.
Week 14
The essay. Basic argumentative devices. Typical vocabulary of academic register.
Required
Bilingual Dictionary
Dictionary of Spanish Verbs