Spanish 2214F: Comparative Grammar of English and Spanish
Meets: Fall 2015, Monday 12:30 - 2:30, Wednesdays 1:30 – 2:30, NCB 296.
Anti-requisites: Spanish 3303
Instructor: Prof. Silvia Perpiñán, [email protected], AHB, 3R12B
Course Description
This course is an introductory linguistic description of the Spanish language with a special focus
on its main differences with English. By means of comparing the two languages, we will
discover the main problematic contrasts for an English-speaking student of Spanish. We will
cover topics such as masculine vs. feminine, stress placement and syllabification, imperfecto vs.
pretérito, indicativo vs. subjuntivo, etc. The idea of the course is that by exploring challenging
areas for second language learners, we will also learn the underlying linguistic concepts that rule
those selections (aspectual differences, mood interpretation, to name a few).
Course Aims:
The course aims to achieve the following:
 Develop linguistic awareness by comparing two languages.
 Compare English and Spanish linguistic features in order to deepen our understanding of
the structure of Spanish.
 Improve the student’s Spanish knowledge by using English as a point of comparison.
 Learn basic theoretical linguistic concepts.
Learning Outcomes:
It is expected that, upon the successful completion of this course, the students will have the
ability to accomplish the following:
 Be able to reflect about the source of common mistakes in the interlanguage of a learner
of Spanish.
 Have the basic concepts of linguistics applied to Spanish.
 Understand why some grammar topics of Spanish are more difficult than others for an
English speaker.
 Be able to improve their Spanish skills by reflecting on the grammar of the language.
Course Materials
For this course, there is not a textbook assigned. Course notes and weekly homework will
be provided through Sakai.
Required Book:
Farrell, E. R., & Farrell, C. F. (2012). Side by side. Spanish & English grammar (3rd ed). New
York: McGraw-Hill.
Recommended Books
Dozier, E. (2003). Manual de gramática (3rd ed.). Boston: Thompson, Heinle.
King, L. D., & Suñer, M. (2004). Gramática española: análisis y práctica (2nd ed.). Boston:
McGraw-Hill.
Lunn, P. V., & DeCesaris, J. A. (2006). Investigación de gramática (2. ed.). Boston, MA:
Thomson Heinle.
M. Stanley Whitley (2002). Spanish/ English Contrasts: A Course in Spanish Linguistics. 2nd.
Edition. Georgetown University Press. (Also available the e-book)
Evaluation
Exams: 60% (2 x 17.5, final 25%)
Homework: 15% (One-hour class)
Compositions: 15% (3 x 5)
Attendance and participation: 10%
Exams
1- Nominal Phrase. Mid October
2- Morfología verbal. Mid November
3- Cumulative + Complex Sentences. Final Exam Period
Homework
At the beginning of each one-hour class, the TA will go around your notebooks and check
whether you have completed the homework assigned for that day. You can be given these three
grades, depending on your effort:
10 = good job. All exercises are done, homework is completed on time. It is clear that the
student spent the necessary time and effort to complete the assignment. Notice that I will
not be grading whether the activities are correctly completed, but whether you put the
necessary effort into doing it.
5 = minimal effort. There are incomplete exercises, homework is unfinished. Student shows
minimal effort into completing the assigned work.
0 = no homework done. Student clearly comes unprepared to class. Student misses class
without an excuse.
Translation + Reflection
During this course, you will compose 3 translations from original texts provided to you. The first
one will be a Spanish to English translation, and the remaining two will be English to Spanish.
For all 3 you will be expected to demonstrate the ability to translate the text accurately,
showcasing your knowledge of topics covered up until the point at which the assignment is
submitted. Further, you will be asked to reflect on the grammar in your translations, taking an indetail look at 5 grammatical decisions linked to what we have seen in class. The reflection will
need to be included at the end of your translation or on a separate sheet. Remember that this is
individual graded work, so students are not allowed to seek help from other instructors, friends,
family members, etc. or use electronic translators. Any English to Spanish translation that has
more than three words copied from a text in Spanish (from the internet, from a book, a magazine,
etc.), or translated automatically will be given a zero. The translations need to be handed in
typed, on paper in class on the due date, attaching the grading criteria sheet (attached below),
and the reflection. No email attachments will be allowed.
***Please, remember to print out and staple the Grading Criteria (Rubric) for (attached at the end
of this document) when you hand in your translation and reflection.***
Other Academic Matters: UWO Academic Calendar (Academic Policies/Regulations).
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a major academic offense (see Scholastic Offense Policy in the Western Academic
Calendar). Plagiarism is the inclusion of someone else's verbatim or paraphrased text in one's
own written work without immediate reference. Verbatim text must be surrounded by quotation
marks or indented if it is longer than four lines. A reference must follow right after borrowed
material (usually the author's name and page number). Without immediate reference to borrowed
material, a list of sources at the end of a written assignment does not protect a writer against a
possible charge of plagiarism. This also applies to work facilitated or written for students by
third parties. The University of Western Ontario uses a plagiarism- checking site called
Turnitin.com.
Absenteeism:
Students seeking academic accommodation on medical grounds for any missed tests, exams,
participation components and/or assignments must apply to the Academic Counselling office of
their home Faculty and provide documentation. Academic accommodation cannot be granted by
the instructor or department.
The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures Policies which govern the conduct,
standards, and expectations for student participation in Modern Languages and Literatures
courses is available in the Undergraduate section of the Department of Modern Languages and
Literatures website at http://www.uwo.ca/modlang/undergraduate/policies.html.
It is your responsibility to understand the policies set out by the Senate and the Department of
Modern Languages and Literatures, and thus ignorance of these policies cannot be used as
grounds of appeal."
Calendar (tentative)
DÍA
TEMARIO
Week 1
Week 4
Presentación del curso. Sílabo. Requisitos
Morfología Nominal: Género y número
El determinante y su interpretación.
La posesión inalienable
Práctica sobre el sintagma nominal
Silabificación y acentuación
Reconocimiento del acento silábico. Separación en
sílabas
El sintagma nominal y sus funciones.
Los pronombres
Práctica sobre funciones sintácticas y
pronominalización
El se. Los pronombres sujeto. Diferencias de uso
Repaso
Week 5
Práctica con pronombres sujeto.
Week 1
Week 2
Week 2
Week 3
Week 3
Week 4
TAREA
Leer el sílabo
Ejercicios 1
Ejercicios 2
Ejercicios 3
Ejercicios 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 6
Week 7
Week 7
Week 8
Week 8
Week 9
Week 9
Dudas
Examen 1: El sintagma nominal y la
silabificaciónn
Morfología Verbal: el paradigma verbal y la
información semántica de las formas.
Entregar Opinión
Personal 1
¿Qué es el aspecto? El aspecto en el pasado.
Práctica pretérito imperfecto vs. pretérito indefinido
Ejercicios 5
¿Qué es el tiempo? Los tiempos simples y los
tiempos compuestos
Práctica de aspecto y tiempo.
FALL BREAK
Corrección ejercicios. Dudas.
Examen 2: Morfología verbal, Ser y Estar
Week 10
Las oraciones simples y complejas.
Week 10
Week 11
Tipos de oraciones complejas. ¿Qué es el modo?
Práctica con oraciones subordinadas nominales
Oraciones subordinadas adjetivas y el subjuntivo.
Interpretación
Práctica sobre subordinadas adjetivas.
Week 11
Week 12
Ejercicios 6
Ejercicios 7
Entregar Opinión
Personal 2 (En papel)
Ejercicios 8
Ejercicios 9
Week 12
Oraciones subordinadas adverbiales y el subjuntivo
Week 13
Práctica subordinadas adverbiales y subjuntivo
Week 13
Repaso. Evaluaciones
Ejercicios 10
Entregar Opinión 3
(en papel)
Grading criteria for Traducciones y Reflexionales Gramaticales: Sp. 2215
A grade of 0 (zero) will be assigned if one of the following applies:
 Student did not turn in the assignment on the date indicated in the calendar.
 The assignment was not typed.
 The assignment contained mostly direct quotations from sources, and/or plagiarized material.
 The assignment used automatic translators.
Reflexión Gramatical (15 puntos)
Excelente (15)
Bien (12)
Regular (9)
Inaceptable (6)
Clear reflection on decisionmaking in the translation
process. All points are well
developed and justified. At
least 5 topics covered up until
this point are discussed in
detail.
Good reflection on decisionmaking in the translation
process. Most points are
developed and justified. At
least 5 topics covered up until
this point are discussed in
good detail.
Adequate reflection on
decision-making in the
translation process. Some
points are developed and/or
justified. Fewer than 5
topics covered up until this
point are discussed.
Inadequate reflection on
decision-making in the
translation process. Few
points are developed and/or
justified. Topics covered up
until this point are not
discussed in any acceptable
detail.
Elección de Vocabulario (5 puntos)
Excelente (5)
Bien (4)
Regular (3)
Inaceptable (2)
Vocabulary chosen demonstrates
a precise understanding of the
original text. A broad vocabulary
base is evident and few to no
word for errors are present.
Vocabulary chosen
demonstrates a high level of
understanding of the original
text. A fairly broad
vocabulary base is evident
and few word form errors
are present.
Vocabulary chosen
demonstrates an adequate
understanding of the
original text. An adequate
vocabulary base is evident
but errors in word form
persist.
Vocabulary chosen
demonstrates an inadequate
understanding of the original
text. An insufficient
vocabulary base is evident
and several word form errors
are present.
Excelente (5)
Bien (4)
Regular (3)
Inaceptable (2)
Precise meaning from the
original text is carried over. A
variety of structures are used.
Sentence lengths and patterns
varied. No run-on sentences.
Fairly precise meaning
from the original text is
carried over. Some variety
of structures and sentence
lengths used. Very few runon sentences.
Adequate capturing of
meaning from the original
text with some inaccuracies.
Minimal variety of
structures and sentence
lengths used. Some run-on
sentences.
Inadequate capturing of
meaning from the original
text with several inaccuracies.
Lack of variety of structures.
Sentences are repetitious.
Many run-on sentences.
Expresión (5 puntos)
Ortografía (5 puntos)
Excelente (5)
Bien (4)
Regular (3)
Inaceptable (2)
Very few spelling or accent
errors.
Some spelling or accent
errors.
Many spelling or accent
errors.
Many spelling or accent
errors that interfere with
meaning.
Excelente (20)
Bien (16)
Regular (14)
Inaceptable (8)
Excellent accuracy with
few errors in grammatical
points covered up to this point.
Good accuracy with some
errors in grammatical points
covered up to this point.
Adequate accuracy with
consistent errors in
grammatical points
covered up to this point.
Almost complete lack of
attention to grammatical
points covered up to this
point; errors interfere with
meaning.
Gramática (20 puntos)