Spanish 303
Advanced Spanish Writing II
See the complete SPAN 303 syllabus and course calendar, including all homework assignments and plans for in-class activities, in the "Lo esencial" module (in Modules).
Course description:
Spanish 303 is an advanced-level reading and writing course that is designed to develop reading, writing, editing, and discussion skills relating to the analysis of literature and cultural topics from the Spanish-speaking world. We will discuss and debate aspects of written works (stories, poems, plays, essays) and films, analyzing narratives of identity from 20th- and 21st-century Spanish America, developing passage analysis strategies, and honing close-reading skills. You will plan and write two original academic essays (writing an annotated bibliography, specifying a thesis statement, interpreting and integrating secondary sources, writing effective introductions and conclusions, writing strong claims and organized paragraphs, conducting useful peer editing sessions, and recognizing rhetorical arguments). Following the “Pre-texts” protocol, you will also enjoy several days of creative engagement with the literary works we study and interpret. Methodology: close reading, passage analysis, argument and counterargument strategies, critical debates, literacy-based collaborative tasks, creative work. You will be expected to challenge your abilities in argumentation, interpretation, and critical thinking, and be a responsible member of an intellectual community: engaged discussants, attentive peer editors, and generous collaborators. The class is taught in Spanish, but you should feel free to speak in English if you think you can express a certain point better. We are all here to listen to your ideas and help you.
Readings and reference materials:
- All readings will be posted to Canvas in PDF format.
If you prefer to work with a physical copy of the readings, you are welcome to print the PDFs or purchase the book from any internet retailer (it is not available through the UW bookstore). This book contains all of the readings:
Comfort, Kelly, ed. Cien años de identidad: Introducción a la literatura latinoamericana del siglo XX. Washington: Georgetown University Press, 2018.
- Dictionary:
A good, thick, well-edited academic Spanish-English dictionary is required for this course and is critical for your success in mastering writing in a second language. You must bring your dictionary to all class meetings in order to consult it during group work, discussions, activities, and writing practice. The use of cellphone-based dictionaries or Internet programs will hinder the versatility of your Spanish writing. Use a well-edited dictionary instead; you will benefit from the guidance of an academic editor. The Merriam-Webster, University of Chicago, Oxford, New World, Larousse and Harper-Collins dictionaries (any edition) are recommended.
Evaluation:
Essay 1 Annotated bibliography 5% Peer editing and talleres 10%
Essay 1 Draft and cover letter 10% Pre-texts creative work 5%
Essay 1 Final version 15% Homework 10%
Essay 2 Annotated bibliography 5% Participation 10%
Essay 2 Draft and cover letter 10% Final personal reflection 5%
Essay 2 Final version 15%
Sample reading/film list:
We may work with any or all of these readings/films during the quarter.
Rubén Darío, “Lo fatal” (poema)
José Martí, “La muñeca negra” (cuento)
Sergio Vodanovic, El delantal blanco (obra de teatro)
Isabel Allende, “Dos palabras” (cuento)
Tomás Gutiérrez Alea y Juan Carlos Tabio, Fresa y chocolate (película)
Rosario Castellanos, “Kinsey Report” (poema)
Judith Ortiz Cofer, “La historia de mi cuerpo” (ensayo personal)
Gabriel García Márquez, “Un señor muy viejo con unas alas enormes” (cuento)
Julio Cortázar, “Axolotl” (cuento)
Jorge Luis Borges, “El sur” (cuento)
Julio Cortázar, “La noche boca arriba” (cuento)
Fernando Birri, “Un señor muy viejo con unas alas enormes” (película)