Spanish into English

HISP 194, Fall 2006


Syllabus

 

Index

Syllabus (Revised 9/2/06 )

Course Calendar
(Revised 9/2/06 )

Moodle

Announcements

Links

Humanities Resource Center (HRC)

Macalester College

   
Professor: Leland Guyer
Email: guyerl@macalester.edu
Office: Humanities 200C
Telephone Extension: 6390
Office Hours: MWF (hours to be announced) or by appointment
Course Description: We will study iconic literary, musical and cinematic works translated from Spanish and Portuguese to English. While we will approach them as works of art and products of a social milieu, we will also study them as works of translation in their own right and consider the art and craft of re-casting texts into another language. We will also try our hand at the translation of some short texts, including the subtitling of a feature-length film, with an eye toward exploring the kinds of pleasures, challenges and technologies that confront the translator. (4 credits)

Required readings:

  1. Borges, Jorge Luis. Labyrinths.
  2. Esquivel, Laura. Like water for chocolate.
  3. García Márquez, Gabriel. Collected stories.
  4. Lispector, Clarice. Family Ties.
  5. Rulfo, Juan. Pedro Páramo.
  6. Rabassa, Gregory. If this be treason.
  7. Other materials to be studied will be supplied by the instructor.

Recommended reference works:

  1. Lunsford, Connors. Easy Writer
Quizzes: There will be occasional written quizzes throughout the semester often unannounced.
Short Writing Assignments: There will be two compositions based on topics derived from the readings and other assignments. In addition, there will be three translations.
Final Project: There will be a final project whose topic will be chosen in consultation with the instructor.
Participation and Preparation: For the class to be successful for both the individual and for the group each person must be fully prepared for each class session and willing to participate in each day's activities. The degree to which one meets this goal determines a large percentage of the final grade. Please see Participation and Preparation.
Attendance Policy: Attendance is required in this and all other courses in the Department of Hispanic Studies. Students are allowed up to three unexcused class absences with minimal penalty to the grade for participation. More than three unexcused absences will result in a dramatically lowered grade for participation. Each unexcused absence beyond 3 will lower the preparation and participation grade by 20 additional percentage points. One is allowed excused absences with prior approval of the professor for certain occasions (i.e. course field trips, intercollegiate sports activities, unexpected personal health needs and family emergencies). If one is seriously ill or has an accident the student will be excused from class with a written explanation from the Dean of Students or health care provider either before or after the fact. Conflicting assignments, non-essential appointments, oversleeping, and the like do not qualify as excusable absences.

Missed and Late Assignments: Work is due on specified dates at the time of the class, and there will be little if any latitude allowed for missing due dates.

Compositions and other assigned written work will be accepted up to 30 minutes late with no penalty. After that grace period this work will be accepted up to 24 hours after the due date but the grade will drop markedly, and no feedback and/or corrections will be given. Beyond 24 hours, late work will not be accepted, and a grade of "0" will be recorded.

Students will not be allowed to make up quizzes due to unexcused absences. In the latter case, a grade of "0" will be recorded.

Grades of Incomplete: A grade of "incomplete" is rarely an option in this course. If circumstances seem to require a notation of incomplete, it is essential to make arrangements as soon as possible. Any delay will lessen the likelihood of approval.
Use of Tutors: Student tutors in Spanish are available for consultation, and students are encouraged to make use of their help to support the goals and objectives of this course. Nevertheless, written work is considered the intellectual property solely of the student. As such, if one seeks outside help with an assignment all parties must be certain that the help must be only of an instructional or advisory nature. That is, simple correction of mistakes by that person would be considered a violation of an implicit honor code and would be inappropriate and unacceptable. Advice and instruction while guiding toward improvement is a more appropriate relationship to have with an assistant.
Course Web Sites: The course web site on which this syllabus and associated materials reside is an integral part of the course. It is the only up-to-date source of information for the course. Changes to the calendar will be made frequently, and it is each student's responsibility to consult and verify the calendar correspondingly.

Evaluation: The final grade is based on the following categories of work:

Short papers and translations: 30%
Quizzes: 10%
Group subtitling project: 15%
Term project (writtten): 15%
Term project (oral):   5%
Preparation and participation: 25%

Final grades are assigned according to the following numerical scale, based on the categories described above: 100-93=A; 92-90=A-; 89-88=B+; 86-83=B; 82-80=B-; 79-78=C+; 76-73=C; 72-70=C-; 69-68=D+; 66-63=D; 62-60=D-; below 60=NC. PLEASE NOTE: The Spanish Department has specified that a student must receive a grade of C- or better to continue to the next level of Spanish.
Honesty: This course operates on the honor system. This system applies primarily to quizzes, and compositions and other written assignments. Signed work should be the exclusive work of the individual students, and ideas and data belonging to others must be appropriately documented. Most daily classroom activities, on the other hand, tend to be collaborative and therefore allow and encourage a free and lively exchange of information, ideas and opinions. All violations of this honor system, particularly plagiarism, will be referred to the Academic Dean. If in doubt about these guidelines, please consult your instructor.