OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY

Fall Semester 2006

FOC 101 Fresh Focus

Section 3

¡Sí Amigo!:  Getting to Know the Spanish-Speaking World

 

Dr. M.A. Chandler

E-mail:                  mchandler@oglethorpe.edu

Webpage:               http://www.oglethorpe.edu/faculty/~m_chandler/

Office Hours:  MWF 8:30-9:30AM & MW 2:30-3:30PM

Office Location:  Hearst 305 (Phone:  364-8382)

 

TTH 12:30-1:15PM                               

ROOM:  H-210

 

Mission Statement

This class is a group-oriented course involving upper-class students and faculty.  Students select a class from among numerous topics with experiential and interactive as well as academic features.  The faculty instructor serves as the student’s academic advisor during his or her first semester.  The first meeting of each group of students is during fall orientation, and continues thereafter twice weekly for the first half of the semester to pursue their chosen topic and share related experiences

 

Program Goals

1.        To provide each student the opportunity to establish relationships with other new students, mentors, and a faculty member.

2.        To provide an interesting, stimulating learning experience in which new students are actively involved.

3.        To promote a positive academic and social adjustment to university life at Oglethorpe University and an introduction to the resources on campus.

4.        To help expose new students to various events and points of interest on campus and throughout the metropolitan Atlanta community.

5.        To initiate personal goal setting, leadership and career exploration.

 

Section Description

This section, ¡Sí, Amigo!:  Getting to Know the Spanish-speaking World, is concerned with the fascinating peoples, places, and diverse cultural realities in Spanish-speaking societies throughout the world.  It will be a fun opportunity for students to learn about the customs, folklore, food, dance, music, and film of Hispanic countries, from Spain to the Americas, and all points in between! 

 

Dr. Chandler, Professor of Spanish, will be assisted by a 3-5 mentors, who have special interest in the Spanish language or Hispanic cultures.  Among the mentors for this section are Spanish language minors, intermediate and advanced-level students of Spanish, students from Hispanic backgrounds, and other Hispanic aficionados, whose special interests have facilitated their international experiences for study and/or pleasure.  Mentors will be sharing their enthusiasm and unique experiences with students throughout the session.  Other invited guests will come and provide additional perspectives and information on a number of topics.

 

Typical meeting days will entail discussions, slide and/or Power Point presentations, snack/food introductions, music “jam sessions”, student and/or mentor presentations, video viewings, and short-assigned readings.

 

Fresh Focus is a one-credit, Pass/Fail course.

 

Course Requirements

 

·          Come to class prepared!  (Review Classroom Etiquette Handout)

 

·          Participate in in-class and out-of-class activities (such as assigned film festival attendances, plays, restaurant visits) and discussions.

 

·          Lead and/or engage in daily reports about cultural aspects of Spanish-speaking countries.  (More details to be announced.)

 

·          Attend two obligatory Library Orientation.  The first orientation will be attended with the group during FF class time on September 21.  The second orientation will be done independently and will require the completion of an assignment that will be collected and graded.

 

Absence Policy

You will be allowed one unexcused absence.  (Excused absences include bona fide illness, death of an immediate family member, official religious holiday, etc.).  It is possible to fail Fresh Focus for excessive absenteeism or lack of participation.

 

Civility Statement

Oglethorpe University is a place dedicated to vigorous discussion, exchange of ideas and debate. Such discussion always runs the risk of becoming acrimonious, thus it is particularly important for all members of the Oglethorpe community to maintain a climate marked by mutual respect. We must be committed to the highest standards of civility and decency and to promoting a community where all people can work and learn together in an atmosphere free of demeaning behavior or hostility.

 

The need to maintain civility and mutual respect extends throughout the different venues of debate and discussion – from informal exchanges in the dining hall, the residence halls or the quad to formal discussions in classrooms and meetings.

 

 

 

 

Honor Code

This course, like all courses offered at Oglethorpe University is governed by the university Honor Code.  All cases of suspected academic dishonesty will be handled in accordance to its provisions.  Though students should be thoroughly familiar with the Honor Code, which is published in the Student Handbook, there are three areas of particular importance to the Freshman student, “The Pledge”, “Cheating”, and “Plagiarism”.

 

The Pledge

Students pledge that they have completed assignments honestly by attaching the following statement to each test, quiz, paper, overnight assignment, in-class essay or other work:

 

I pledge that I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this assignment.

 

(Signed) ______________________________________________________

 

Cheating

Cheating is defined as:

a.             The unauthorized possession or use of notes, texts or other such materials during an examination.

b.             Copying another person’s work or participation in such an effort.

c.             An attempt or participation in an attempt to fulfill the requirements of a course with work other than one’s original work for that course.

Students have the responsibility of avoiding participation in cheating incidents by doing their own work, taking precautions against others copying their work and in general not giving or receiving aid beyond what is authorized by the instructor.

 

Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes representing someone else’s words, ideas, data or original research as one’s own and in general failing to footnote or otherwise acknowledge the source of such work. One has the responsibility of avoiding plagiarism by taking adequate notes on reference materials, including material taken off the internet or other electronic sources, used in the preparation of reports, papers and other coursework.

 

REVISED Assignment Schedule, Fresh Focus: ¡Sí, Amigo! (Fall 2006) Dr. Chandler

 

Tuesday, August 29

12:30-1:15

Getting Acquainted

Thursday, August 31

12:30-1:15

Let’s Go SPAIN

1.  Professor Chandler

Tuesday, September 5

12:30-1:15

Let’s Go MEXICO

1.        Jessica

2.        Libby

Thursday, September 7

12:30-1:15

Let’s Go MEXICO and USA

·          Short reading from book Good Neighbors

Tuesday, September 12

12:30-1:15

Let’s Go CUBA

*Order Cuban Lunch for Classroom

1.  Laura

2.  Avery

Thursday, September 14

12:30-1:15

People Profiles:  Who was Ernesto “Che” Guevara?

1.        Mentor Stephanie

2.        Mentor Nekisha

3.        Mentor Alfonso

4.        Mentor Ashley

Tuesday, September 19

12:30-1:15

Let’s Go ARGENTINA

1.        Olivia

2.        Marie

Thursday, September 21

12:30-1:15

LIBRARY VISIT—Class will be held at the library (meet there for class time)

Tuesday, September 26

12:30-1:15

Let’s Go PUERTO RICO

1.        Thania

2.        Shavon

Thursday, September 28

12:30-1:15

Let’s Go DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

1.        Jessica

2.        Libby

Tuesday, October 3

12:30-1:15

Let’s Go CHILE

1.        Laura

2.        Avery

Thursday, October 5

12:30-1:15

Let’s Go GUATEMALA

1.        Olivia

2.        Marie

Tuesday, October 10

12:30-1:15

Let’s Go HONDURAS

1.        Thania

2.        Shavon

Thursday, October 12

12:30-1:15

Let’s Go PERÚ

*Group outing to local Peruvian restaurant

1.  Mentor Stephanie

Tuesday, October 17

12:30-1:15

Let’s Go EQUATORIAL GUINEA

1.        Professor Chandler

2.        Mentor Nekisha

Thursday, October 19

12:30-1:15

Let’s Go VENEZUELA

1.        Mentor Alfonzo