SPAIN
Contemporary World Cultures
Fall/Spring 2007-2008
Syllabus – rniemi@sjcoe.net
Credits: 5 each semester
Meetings: Thursday 1:00-3:00
Requirements:
1. Two Reflective Essays (one prior to departure and one upon our return) – 2-3 pages each.
2. PowerPoint presentation on one of the assigned areas of travel. Power Point should be informative for first-time travelers and include (but not limited to) hours of operation if it is a tourist destination, reasons to see it (must-sees); OR a PowerPoint concerning a historically significant event or place.
3. Research paper (5 pages minimum).
4. Travel journal--daily entries while in Spain. This will not be read or turned in to Mr. Niemi.
5. Reading assignments completed by appropriate date.
First Reflective Essay due 12/6/07
The First Reflection should focus around some of the following questions; Are you nervous, excited? What scares you? What excites you? What do you think Spain will be like? Weather? Museums? Cafes? Shops? DUE
Second Reflective Essay due 4/15/08
The Second Reflection is an easy topic; “What did I (you) learn?” DUE
Research Paper due 1/17/08
(Choose one topic or select one upon approval)—MUST be submitted electronically.
Required texts:
Iberia – James Michener (selected chapters) due 11/26/07
Exploring the Humanities – Laurie S. Adams (selected readings)
Academic dishonesty:
Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Plagiarism defined is “a piece of writing that has been copied from someone else and is presented as being your own work 2: the act of plagiarizing; taking someone's words or ideas as if they were your own (www.dictionary.com).” As a result, poorly cited material will constitute plagiarism. Your analysis is more important than someone else’s facts.
Class Meeting Map (fall semester):
Week of… |
Subject |
Work Due |
8/27/2007 |
|
|
9/3/2007 |
|
|
9/10/2007 |
Review of course |
|
9/17/2007 |
Overview of Iberia |
|
10/8/2007 |
Moorish Spain |
|
10/15/2007 |
Spanish art |
|
10/22/2007 |
Spanish architecture |
|
10/29/2007 |
Spanish drama & dance |
|
11/26/2007 |
Iberia chapters due |
Readings due |
12/3/2007 |
Iberia con’t |
First Reflective Essay |
12/10/2007 |
PowerPoint presentations |
PowerPoint presentations |
12/17/2007 |
PowerPoint presentations |
PowerPoint presentations |
Attendance, lateness – Attendance is mandatory. Participation is not possible without your presence. Thus, attendance will represent 50% of your grade. One is allowed two tardies during the semester. A note (from parent or doctor) will be allowed to excuse your absence but you will not be able to make up the quizzes. All projects are due one meeting prior or one meeting after the missed class meeting. In order to receive credit for the Study Abroad program, one must be enrolled and active in the onsite class.
This course is designed to introduce the student to the diverse cultural influences and expressions which comprise the modern world, focusing on those cultures and civilizations which are reflected in the development of the United States as a multicultural society. By studying contemporary cultures in relation to their historical development, students will appreciate the complexity of human society and the necessity of international understanding and communication in the 21st century.
- Students ascertain and analyze distinctive traits of various or specific cultures.
- Students determine the contributions of various cultures to the establishment and growth of a civilization.
- Students interpret the complex relationships of values and beliefs to cultural change.
- Students comprehend that disparate cultures are affected differently by economic, political and technological change.
- Students compare and contrast the reactions of particular nations to the United States in light of cultural similarities and differences.
Course Goals
- Students compare mores, traits, customs and traditions of different cultures.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of social conventions of a particular culture.
- Students will recognize the origins of certain religious and philosophical values and beliefs as indigenous to a particular culture.
- Students will recognize the similarities and differences among various cultural expressions.
- Students comprehend that change is complicated within cultures and civilizations.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of the cross-cultural influence of international commerce.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding that social change is a response to influences from outside the culture.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding that within a culture there are complex and conflicting responses to social change.
- Students comprehend the connections, causal and otherwise, between particular historical events and larger social, economic and political trends and developments.
- Students examine and analyze a particular culture’s response to world events.
- Students demonstrate an understanding of US foreign policy from the point of view of a particular culture.
--California State Framework for History/Social Studies
