Professional Documents
Culture Documents
SPAN 3312
This course will introduce students to a variety of topics related to the historical, political,
economic, social and cultural development of Latin America. Diversity inside and throughout the
different countries of the region will be constantly highlighted. Readings, visual materials and
reflections will expose the students to multiple approaches on the origin, development and
current circumstances of what is to be a Latin American (Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican,
Nicaraguan) and what is a Latino. Students will learn that to be Hispanic is more than an
ethnic label and that diversity of beliefs, background, personal and national histories are in
constant discussion and revision inside and outside the Latin American countries.
This course will provide the students with a panoramic picture (unfortunately, limited
and incomplete) of the dynamics of race, gender and class issues in Latin American civilization
and how these interactions affect contemporary developments. The class is expected to be
highly interactive, with the students coming prepare to think, analyze critically and discuss the
material with the professor. Assignments have been prepared to achieve this discussion inside
and outside the classroom. Be aware that this is not a history course, but one that will
focus on an interdisciplinary approach to understand the civilization and cultural
development in Latin America.
To inform the students on the basic history and nation building of the Latin American
countries and how these developments helped to create a diverse and multicultural
region.
To expose the students to different and diverse communities inside Latin America
(Afrolatinos, Indigenous communities, women, LGBT and US Latinos) in order to
deconstruct the idea of the Hispanic or lo latinoamericano.
For the students to analyze and critically study the Latin American social diversity from
their own experiences and to achieve their own conclusions on the relationship between
Latin America and the United States.
EVALUACIN
Overview
Discussion and Reading Diary: 3 x 5% =15%
Cultural Activities reflections: 2 x 3% = 6%
At home exams: 2 x 7% = 14%
Oral presentation: 9%
Leading Discussion Group (Semester Project): (Divided in different parts) 38%
Attendance, Participation and Preparation: 8% + 5 % + 5%= 18%
TOTAL: 100%
Make-up policies: If a student misses any deadline or assignment, there is no make up for it
UNLESS: a medical emergency or a university mandatory activity (athletic event, organizations
events debate team, choir, or others- or course field trips). The student must provide evidence
(doctors note, letter from professor, etc) of his/her absence in order to receive a make-up of
her/his assignment.
1. Discussion and Reading Diary (3 check-points, 3x5%=15): The objective of this
assignment is to be a space for the students to keep track of their reading experience and
reflect on their reading and research practices. This diary will be in writing/type format and
will have three main checking points along the semester (Refer to calendar in order to
know when are the due dates), but will also serve as pop quizzes (ten in total). It
is expected for the students to bring a print out of the diary everyday in order to be
prepare for the class or if asked to turn in by the professor on that day. If the students
does not have the print out, he/she will lose the points of that day (under Preparation).
The student will prepare a form posted on T-learn under Discussion and reading diary
and will vary if the material of the day is a chapter book, journal article or a video. The
professor may post another type of form in order to achieve a better discussion in the
classroom, which will be announced in class and by email. The most common diary form
will follow these guidelines:
a. Chapter book/Journal article: The basic guideline format will follow these
questions: What is the thesis/argument of the chapter/article? What are two main
points that support the thesis/argument? What is the conclusion of the
chapter/article? What is your opinion of the information/argument presented on this
chapter/article? How the chapter/article portray diversity in Latin America?
b. Video: The basic guideline format will follow these questions: What is the main
argument? If applicable, how the main characters/participants relate to the main
argument? What/Whom perspective does the video rely on? How this impacts the
main argument? What is your opinion of the argument presented on the video? How
the video portray diversity in Latin America?
The reflections must be one (1) page long, single page, font Times New Roman, 11-12
pts. Keep your reflections in a folder (which will be your diary). When turning in on
the checking points, you must turn in this folder with your name on it.
Each checking point Diary is 3% for a 15% total; for pop quizzes, it will be
10 x .5% for 5% total.
This course will follow the policies under the Academic Integrity Policies and
the Academic Honor Code:
All students are covered by a policy that prohibits dishonesty in academic work. Under the Honor Code, a
faculty member will (or a student may) report an alleged violation to the Academic Honor Council. It is the
task of the Council to investigate, adjudicate, and assign a punishment within certain guidelines if a
http://www.trinity.edu/departments/academic_affairs/hb/instrpol/acadintg.htm#TOP
http://www.trinity.edu/departments/academic_affairs/hb/instrpol/honorcode.htm
CALENDARIO
(This calendar is subject to change depending on the progress of the class discussion.)
Semana 1: Introduccin
Mircoles, 27 de agosto: Introduccin al curso. Lecturas suplementarias: Pew Hispanic
Center: Latino Voters in the 2012 Elections; Facts for Features: Hispanic
Heritage Month 2012; Latinos May Get Own Race Category on Census
Form.
Viernes, 29 de agosto: Discusin de conceptos centrales: Diversidad, heterogeneidad,
mestizaje
Lectura: Jos Mart, Nuestra Amrica.
Semana 2: Civilizaciones precolombinas
Lunes, 1 de septiembre: Labor Day Feriado No hay clase
Mircoles, 3 de septiembre: Lectura: Captulo 1, Las primeras civilizaciones en la
Amrica precolombina. Hoja de ruta; Seleccin de El Cdice Mendoza;
Lectura:Glifos Prehispnicos: El lenguaje de las imgenes.
Viernes, 5 de septiembre: No hay clases- Faculty Retreat
Semana 3: Descubrimiento, conquista y colonizacin
Lunes, 8 de septiembre: Lectura: Captulo 2, De los imperios indgenas a los virreinatos de la
conquista y la colonizacin; Lectura suplementaria: Seleccin del Diario de Coln,
Jueves 11 de Otubre, Sbado 13 de Otubre.
Mircoles, 10 de septiembre: Lectura: Primera parte Motecuzoma Xocoyotl, Hernn Corts, and
Bernal Daz del Castillo: The Construction of an Arrest. Francis J. Brooks. Pgs. 149165.
Viernes, 12 de septiembre: Lectura: Continuacin Motecuzoma..., Pgs. 165-final. Lectura
suplementaria: Selecciones de las Cartas y Relaciones de Hernn Corts.
Semana 4: Sociedad colonial, sociedad plantacional
Lunes, 15 de septiembre: Lectura: De la plantacin a la Plantacin de Antonio Bentez Rojo.
Pgs. 1-31.
Grading Criterias
Cultural Activities Reflections- Grading Criteria
1. The reflection presents a coherent and thoughtful process regarding the
information provided by the guest speaker: ______ / 6
2. The student is able to relate the information provided by the guest speaker to the
discussion in the classroom: ______ / 6
3. The reflection is well written (has an introduction, a body and a conclusion) and
follows some or all of the guidelines provided on the syllabus: ______ / 4
4. The reflection presents clean grammatical structures: ______ / 4
TOTAL: ________ / 20
At home exams- Grading Criteria
Short Answer Questions (10pts p/question)
1. The answer provided addressed the question with precision and clarity: ______ / 5
2. When needed, the student is able to support his/her answer with the bibliography
discussed in class:
______ / 3
3. The answer is grammatically and syntactically clear: ______ / 2
TOTAL: _______ / 10
Essay question (20 pts)
http://resources.cleary.edu/m/page/In-Class+Participation+Rubric