Spanish 5 Literature & Culture

Course Description:  

The AP Spanish Literature and Culture course uses a thematic approach to introduce students to representative texts (short stories, novels, poetry, plays, and essays) from Peninsular Spanish, Latin American, and U.S. Hispanic literature.  Students develop proficiencies across the three modes of communication (interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational).  Through careful examination of the required readings and other texts, students work to hone their critical reading and analytical writing skills.  Literature is explored within the contexts of its time and place, and students gain insights on the many voices, historical periods, and cultures represented in the required readings and other texts.  The course also includes a strong focus on cultural, artistic, and linguistic connections and comparisons, which is supported by the exploration of various media (art, music, film, articles, and literary criticism). 

The overarching aims of the course are to provide students with ongoing and varied opportunities to further develop their proficiencies across a range of language and analytical skills – with special attention to critical reading and analytical writing- and to encourage them to reflect on the many voices and cultures included in a rich and diverse body of literature written in Spanish.  The course aims to help students progress beyond reading comprehension to read with critical, historical, and literary sensitivity. 

The AP Spanish Literature and Culture course is equivalent to a college or university survey course of literature written in Spanish at the first level counted towards a major in this subject area.  Depending on students’ individual level they will be recommended and prepared for AP Spanish Literature & Culture Exam in the Spring.

Course Outline: 

The course is founded on a required reading list of 38 titles from the 14th century to the contemporary period, including works that are linguistically and thematically challenging.  The ultimate goal is for students to read critically, think deeply, and write analytically to demonstrate their understandings of the representative texts and to apply what they have learned from the required literary texts, works of art, music, and films to encourage exploration from multiple perspectives, as well as to encourage students to make connections and comparisons.  Students will engage in class and small group discussions.  They will also participate in independent and group research projects and share their findings in written or oral presentations.

The six required course themes in AP Spanish Literature and Culture provide a meaningful basis for making contextual connections among works of different genres, periods, movements, and techniques.  Under each theme there are six recommended organizing concepts.

Las sociedades en contacto

La construcción del género

El tiempo y el espacio

La creación literaria

Las relaciones interpersonales

La dualidad del ser

The use of the Spanish language is required in class.  

No specific Textbook is used.  Combined College, AP level books and different authentic materials are used for different activities (Azulejo: Anthology and guide to the Spanish AP Literature course, Abriendo Puertas: Ampliando Perspectivas, Reflexiones: Introducción a la literatura hispánica, College Board).

Grading Critera: 

The average of the unit tests, and projects/performances will be 25% of the quarter grade.  All other assignments such as daily work, quizzes, homework, oral and written reports, class participation, and any other assignment will count as 75% of the quarter grade.

Expect a minimum of 12 grades with 2 major summative assessments per quarter and 2 Semester Finals for the year.

The final grade will be the average of the two semester grades.