Professor:Dr. Barbara Schmidt-Rinehart
                     306 Patterson            419-289-5131          <bschmidt@ashland>

Course Description: Prerequisite: FL 272 or equivalent

A survey of Latin American civilization from ancient times to the present.  A look at the past and at contemporary times through history, literature, art, and music.

The primary goal of this course is to present a broad survey of Latin American civilization.  Through class lectures, readings, videos, slides, guest speakers, and student research on individual countries, the student will gain an understanding of the history and culture of Latin America.

Content Objectives To understand and analyze the chief movements, events, and figures of Spanish- speaking America's history To gain an understanding of contemporary issues and culture of Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America. To demonstrate knowledge of Latin America's geography, social and political history, art, and music.

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Language Objectives Listening: Take notes, respond to questions, etc. to demonstrate understanding of classroom lectures, presentations, and videos. Speaking: Discuss and expand upon information read/heard in class.  Discuss current events and share reactions.  Present information about countries in Latin America. Reading: Categorize and refocus text materials in terms of geography, history, and contemporary events.  Understand new information from outside readings (World Wide Web, texts, newspaper articles, etc.) Writing: Take notes on class lectures, discussions and presentations.  Write summaries of current event articles from Spanish-American newspapers.  Respond to questions from El Espejo Enterrado, questions at the end of each assigned chapter and study guides. Organize and prepare comprehensive notebook.  Respond to exam questions (identification, short answer and essays).

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TEXT MATERIALS
 

EVALUATION CRITERIA
 
 

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El espejo enterrado, a video series by Carlos Fuentes, will serve as a visual supplement to class lectures and the texts.  Segments will first be shown in class.  Students are then to complete the corresponding exercises.  Videos can be re-viewed in the language laboratory, Patterson Hall.  The exercises should be completed and included in the student's notebook.

Students should complete the Preguntas sobre la lectura at the end of each chapter (assigned readings). Answers should be included in the relevant section of the student’s notebook.

LATIN AMERICA OF TODAY (Iberoamérica actual)

I.   LAS NOTICIAS    [Current Events]

This component is designed to familiarize students with leading current events in Latin America by reading newspapers on-line (http://www.cibercentro.com)  and listening to the radio/television news.

The four articles along with an annotated bibliography (MLA style) should be turned in with the notebook.

II. EL BOSQUEJO DE LAS REPÚBLICAS  [Country Reports]

Students will investigate one Spanish-speaking Latin American country. The information will be presented to the class (group project) and each student will write a paper focusing on a cultural issue or current event. The presentation will be 30 minutes in length and will include three moments in history (since independence), current events and cultural issues.  The written paper (MLA style, at least four references) will be three pages in length. Avoiding Plagiarism.
 

Week 3:

• Choose country
• Information literacy: Students are encouraged to meet with a reference librarian to discuss carrying out their research: articulating, accessing, and evaluating information.

Weeks 5 & 6:      Group progress conference with Dr. S-R

Week 12:            Draft of written paper due

Weeks 12-14:     Presentations

Week 15:           Final written paper due.

THE NOTEBOOK

Each student will compile a notebook for the course.  The notebook will be submitted for a grade four times, on the day of the test: each section corresponding to the material covered to date.   ABSOLUTELY NO WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED LATE.  Notebooks will be returned to the students the following week.

The purpose of the notebook is threefold.  First, the notebook will serve as a study guide for exams.  Second, the notebook will provide an opportunity to explore in greater depth materials studied which are of specific interest to each student. Third, the notebook will serve as a resource tool for future courses in Spanish, for preparation for standardized national exams, and/or for future use by the student in teaching.

While the basic format and material to be included are stipulated by the instructor, the student controls the quality, quantity, and the unique content of his/her notebook.

Format:

1. Three-ring binder
2.  Division of materials in historical materials (with tabs or other dividers)

Contents:

1. Maps pertinent to each historical period
2. All lecture and reading notes
3. All hand-outs from class.
4. Hand-outs/notes/materials from country reports.
5. Assignments:

 Completed and corrected exercises from El espejo enterrado
 Completed questions from the end of each chapter

6. Current event articles and annotated bibliographies

Evaluation: Notebooks will be graded on completeness (thoroughness of coverage of topic), quality and quantity of material presented, and overall presentation.
 

A= Excellent (complete-demonstrates depth, thought, a thorough study of the time period)

C= Average (met standards – but, does not indicate thorough study)

D-= Poor (incomplete – lacks preparation, depth, quality)

Tentative Daily Schedule

EXAMEN I: La geografía y las civilizaciones precolombinas
 

EXAMEN II: El descubrimiento, la conquista y la colonización
 

EXAMEN III: Los siglos XIX & XX
 

EXAMEN IV: El bosquejo de las repúblicas y los hispanos en los EEUU
 

• Online Maps
• The Conquistadors (PBS)

• CNN en español - Latinoamérica
• Latin American Newspapers     http://www.cibercentro.com
• International News Links
• Foreign Exchange Currency Converter
• Colonial Latin America Chronology

 
 


MEXICO

CENTRAL AMERICA

SOUTH AMERICA

THE CARIBBEAN

TOURISM


 
• MEXICO



Mexico Reference Desk- an excellent, extensive internet source on Mexico México: Presidencia de la República-This site offers a brief overview of the organization of the Mexican Republic, including the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches of the federal government. Includes biographical information and activities of the current president. México: del imperio a la revolución Ashland University in Mexico- The homepage of Ashland University's program at Cuauhnáhuac Escuela, Cuernavaca, Mexico.  Includes the syllabus, orientation information, helpful information for the traveler, and websites. Todo México Connecting Cultures II:  Dr. Schmidt-Rinehart's course for U.S. teachers of Spanish in Mexico. La cocina mexicana

• CENTRAL AMERICA



Central America News -  Access to data that includes individual country reports, politics, economic news, travel, media coverage, and links to other sites are available here.  Guatemala Honduras

• SOUTH AMERICA



Noticias Sudamérica - Everything you want to know about South America is available from this site--from arts and culture, to government data, to environment issues, to individual countries. Comunidad Andina - Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, Venezuela ARGENTINA República Argentina "Gardel": netserver of Argentinians around the world.  Contains a plethora of information and many links. Chile Perú Venezuela - Embassy of Venezuela in the U.S. Mérida, Venezuela Andes.net "Connecting Cultures"  Dr. Schmidt-Rinehart's courses for U.S. teachers of Spanish in Mérida, Venezuela.  Connecting Cultures III  (2001) Connecting Cultures IV (2004)

•  CARIBBEAN

• TOURISM