Expectations

What is expected of me and what aspects of the course are factored into my overall grade?

Here is a short list of all of the items that are graded in my course. Keep in mind that each assignment set holds a different weight and so bears a specific value when cross references with one's overall final grade.

Stuff That's Graded

  • Homework and participation evaluation (5-6 homework assignments per semester) (10%)--Consists mainly of the online Spanish workbook (five our six chapters worth) and a particpation evaluation that seeks to remunerate your particpation in the class.

  • Compositions (2-3 per semester) (10%)--These are typically performed in class on topics related to the chapters we are currently studying. The composition prompts typically are not revealed until the day of the composition. Click here to see a legend to interpret my editing marks and to see a rubric that explains how I grade your compositions.

  • Quizzes (2-3 per semester) (10%)--Related to the vocabulary and grammar that we discuss in class. Much shorter than the test and often focused on one particular chapter's content.

  • Project (1 per semester) (7%)--An easy way to get some great points. Do a good job and you get the points, it's that easy. Click here for example projects divided by course and click here to see the rubrics that explain how these projects are graded.

  • Exams--Spanish is different than many courses because we assess your skills on so many different levels, namely, writing, reading, listening and speaking. We have exams that pretend to measure your skills in all of these different aspects of the language.

    • Chapter Exams (2 per semester) (25%)--These exams will cover the grammar and vocabulary from the chapters we have covered in class. Typically an exam will covere two to three chapters from Puntos en breve.

    • Oral Exam (1 per semester) (10%)--This is an oral interview with me at the end of the semester. Students typically do very well and see their grade bolstered by this pleasurable experience. See a rubric here.

    • Listening Exam (1 per semester) (8%)--This is an exam that tests your listening skills. We typically watch authentic TV commercials or news reports performed by real native speakers. You want to prepare for this all semester by listening to as much Spanish as possible. Here's a good place to start.

    • Final Exam (1 per semester) (20%)--I like to call this one, a celebration of knowledge, as other YC instructors have put it. Here you get to show off all that you have learned throughout the course of the whole semester.

It is expected that you complete each of these assignments on time. Doing so will greatly increase your chances of doing well in the course. Forgetting to complete even a single assignment in this course, due to the weighted nature of the grading scale, can send a once sterling grade record, into a quick tail spin.