SPAN 3009 - Introduction to Spanish Literature

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2024

Introduction to Spanish Literature is a core Topics course of the Department of European Languages, and Linguistics. Taught at a lower-advanced level entirely in the target language, the course introduces students to the study of literature through a focus on canonical and popular literary texts. Although the specific focus of the course will vary from semester to semester, you can expect to encounter a broad range of genres and historical periods. This course is designed to be a forum where students can use their encounter with literature to hone their language skills in the areas of speaking, writing, listening and reading. For students enrolling through the discipline of Spanish Studies, Introduction to Spanish Literature will explore some cultural artistic productions that have been emerging from Anahuac/Abya-Yala/America since 1492. This course builds on the knowledge and competencies students have acquired in the second year. The main aim is on the development of interpretative skills to interculturally comprehend the cognitive value of Latin American Literature with special emphasis in de-colonial practices of the literary imagination of Latin American writers. Authors explored will vary from semester to semester. The literary production selected will emphasize genre cross-pollination, for example, we may explore comics (i.e. Alejandro Jodorowsky, Enrique Lihn, Julio Cortazar), as well as more generic texts such as poetry of the Earth and ecopoetry. Reading these texts will be commented and discussed in groups (MyUni). Both lectures and seminars will be conducted in Spanish.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code SPAN 3009
    Course Introduction to Spanish Literature
    Coordinating Unit European Languages, and Linguistics
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites SPAN 2102
    Assessment Oral Presentation, 2 x Quizzes, Group Discussion, Essay
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Paula Plastic

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

    1 Identify literary techniques and creative uses of language in literary texts
    2 Articulate a thesis and present evidence from primary sources to support it
    3 Identify genres, conventions, and period-specific discourses and their relevance to broader historical forces
    4 Demonstrate a broad understanding of literature(s) written in Spanish and appreciate the role that historical context plays in the creation and interpretation of literary and cultural production
    5 Engage questions of justice, gender, religion, class, national or global identity, sexuality and identify their intersection
    6 Further enhance the ability to synthesize, analyse, and present information both in written and oral forms in Spanish
    7 Develop their capacity to write academic documents in Spanish
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1, 2, 3, 4, 7

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    4, 5, 6

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    3, 4, 5

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    2, 7

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    5

    Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency

    Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.

    N/A

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    6

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    5
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    All readings will be provided via MyUni. Students are required to print, read, and annotate them prior to class.

    Recommended Resources

    You will be typing in Spanish when completing tasks. In order to spell words correctly, work more efficiently, and avoid penalties, make sure you add the Spanish keyboard to your devices. Here are some resources that may help you:

    Online Learning
    A series of supplementary recommended readings/viewings will be provided via MyUni for students' support and research. 
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    In this course, you will be asked to:
    • Attend 1 x 2-hour seminar
    • Attend 1 x 1-hour tutorial
    • Complete homework/quizzes
    • Come to class prepared having read and annotated the assigned weekly reading
    • Sit a midterm exam, give an oral presentation, and submit a final essay (draft, peer review, final version)
    Seminars: During seminars, we will discuss the context of the literary work we will be analysing. Every literary work is a product of its time, and we will try to understand the motivations, struggles, and circumstances around publishing literature. We will also discuss the relationship between texts, their success, and their influence. 

    Tutorials/Workshops: Tutorials/workshops are designed to work with the text as closely as possible. We will be reading, reciting, maybe even acting out some of these stories, and reflecting on their meaning. From reading a sonnet to understanding the structure of a good paragraph, tutorials/workshops will require energy, patience, and a good sense of humour. You are required to come to tutorials prepared. This means you would have completed all assigned readings, taken notes, and had a chance to think about the questions posed each week.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    WORKLOAD TOTAL HOURS

    1 x 2-hour seminar per week .................................... 24 hours per semester
    1 x 1-hour tutorial per week ..................................... 12 hours per semester
    6 hours reading per week ......................................... 72 hours per semester
    2 hours research per week ....................................... 24 hours per semester
    2 hours assignment preparation per week ............... 24 hours per semester

    TOTAL = 156 hours per semester

    Learning Activities Summary
    Schedule
    Week 1 Introducción: ¿Qué es la literatura y qué son los géneros literarios?
    Week 2 Siglo XV: La tragicomedia de Calisto y Melibea (Fernando de Rojas, 1499)
    Week 3 Siglo XVI: La vida de Lazarillo de Tormes y de sus fortunas y adversidades (1554)
    Week 4 Siglo XVII: El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha (Miguel de Cervantes, 1605) + Novelas Amorosas y ejemplares (María de Zayas, 1637)
    Week 5 Siglo XVII: Obra selecta de Lope de Vega (1562-1635), Francisco de Quevedo (1680-1645) y Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (1648-1695)
    Week 6 Siglo XVIII: Cartas marruecas (José Cadalso, 1789)
    Week 7 Siglo XIX: Obra selecta de Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (1836-1870), Rosalía de Castro (1837-1885)
    Week 8 Siglo XX: “El ahogado más hermoso del mundo” (Gabriel García Márquez, 1968)
    Week 9 Siglo XX: La casa en Mango Street (Sandra Cisneros, 1984)
    Week 10 Siglo XXI: Una vez Argentina (Andrés Neuman, 2003)
    Week 11 Writing Studio
    Week 12 Course conclusion(s)
    Specific Course Requirements
    The class will be conducted mostly in Spanish. Students should have completed SPAN 2102 to enrol in the course.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    Assessment Task Task Type Weighting
    Preparation, Participation, Attendance Formative 10%
    Homework + Quizzes Formative and Summative 25%
    Midterm Exam Formative 25%
    Oral Presentation Summative 15%
    Final Project  Summative 25%

     


    Assessment Related Requirements
    Students must attend and participate actively in all sessions, both seminars and tutorials. Students must achieve a minimum of 80% attendance to tutorials in order to succeed in this course.


    Assessment Detail
    Participation: Students are expected to actively participate in all activities, showing their reading and research.

    Homework: Students will be required to complete homework tasks on a weekly basis.

    Mid-term Exam: The mid-term exam will cover the content studied in Weeks 1-6, including literary conventions, genres, and a short text commentary written in Spanish.

    Final Project: The final project will require students to write a short essay in Spanish.
    Submission
    Deadlines

    Deadlines are not optional and they are the same for every student taking this course to make your learning experience as fair as possible. You are only allowed to submit one piece of homework or assignment late per semester. Any subsequent late submission will not count towards your grade for Homework + Quizzes.

    Extensions are granted on medical, compassionate, or extenuating circumstances recognised under the University’s Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy. The completed extension application form and any documentation (such as a medical or counsellor's certification) should be emailed to the contact listed on the form and submitted at least 5 days before the assessment due date.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.