Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Advanced Grammar and Composition

SPAN 3210-03

Course: SPAN 3210-03
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: FLPH
CRN: 30723

Course Description

This is a writing-intensive course that offers both a detailed review of Spanish grammar and the application of grammatical rules to the written expression of complex ideas with correct usage and appropriate rhetorical style. (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): SPAN 2020 or SPAN 3000 or SPAN 3212 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C- Registration Restriction(s): None 
This course focuses on reviewing complex grammar points in Spanish that are useful for the development of writing skills. The course covers specific grammar points that may be problematic for students such as spelling, accentuation, ser and estar, preterite and imperfect, subjunctive, among others. Students will review these structures and will apply what they learned in several writing assignments. 
Students will also learn to understand writing as a process to express ideas in a logical, clear and coherent manner. during the semester students will review the grammar needed to develop different types of texts appropriately. In addition, students will work on the interpretation and discussion of texts in Spanish. The class is taught in Spanish, however, if a student requires further explanations in English to understand the material satisfactorily it is recommended that they meet with the instructor during office hours.

Required Texts

Gramática para la composición. Tercera edición. M. Stanley Whitley y Luis González. Georgetown University Press. ISBN: 978-1-62616-255-6.

Learning Outcomes

In the course, it is expected that students: 
  1. Write texts (compositions) in Spanish that show students' progressive development of complex grammatical structures, appropriate sentence structure as well as coherent paragraph information and general effective organization of the texts.
  2. Organize and express their ideas in Spanish in a logical way using diverse language registers.
  3. Interpret and debate, at a basic level, texts that would help them develop a deeper understanding of the language and work on their interpretation skills. Students will be able to apply these abilities in the creation of their own texts.

The course will focus on the following Essential Learning Outcomes designed by SUU:
  • Intellectual and practical abilities with focus on:
    • Communication
    • Critical/Creative thinking
    • Inquiry and Analysis
    • Digital Literacy
  • Knowledge of Human Cultures

Course Requirements

Course Components/Evaluation:
Short In-Class Compositions:  10%
In-Class Description = 5%
In-Class Narration = 5%
Argumentation Paper               20%
Homework                                 10%
Quizzes                                      10%
Final Project                              25%
Attendance and Participation  15%
Reflections                                10%
                                                  100%

Course Outline

Tentative Schedule Fall 2025 (Subject to changes)
Week 1 |
Course Introduction
Syllabus and expectations
Week 2  |
Lección preliminar
Week 3 |
Lección preliminar
Week 4 |
Lesson 1: El presente de indicativo y el infinitivo
Lesson 2: La flexión de sustantivos, artículos y adjetivos
Quiz 1
Week 5 |
Lesson 6: La descripción
In'Class Writing Session
Week 6 |
Lesson 3: Los verbos copulativos
Week 7 |
Lessons 13-14: El pretérito y el imperfecto
Week 8 |
NO CLASS FALL BREAK
Capítulo 3, Lección 14 (pp. 161-168)
Lessons 13-14: El pretérito y el imperfecto
Week 9 |
Lesson 10: El presente del subjuntivo
Selection of topics for cultural projects
Lesson 10: El imperativo
Week 10 |
Lesson 15: El pasado del subjuntivo
Quiz 2
Lesson 17: La gramática de la narración
Lesson 18: La narración personal 
Week 11 |
Lesson 18: La narración personal
In-Class Writing Session
Lesson 36: La argumentación
Selection of argumentation topic
Week 12 |
Lesson 31: Las preposiciones
Lessons 32 and 33: Cambios de estructura
Week 13 |
Lesson 34: Conectores
Choose date for presentations
In-Class Peer Review Session
Quiz 3
Week 14 |
NO CLASS
THANKSGIVING BREAK
Week 15 |
Cultural Presentations
Finals Week |
Cultural Presentations
Final Version of Argumentation Due

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Assignments must be submitted by the date indicated in the calendar. Late work will be accepted, however, students will lose 5% per each day until it reaches 0. Quizzes will have an open and close date, so they need to be completed during that time frame.

Attendance Policy

Punctual attendance is mandatory in this course. It is expected that all students attend class both physically and mentally. It is responsibility of each absent student to reach out to their classmates to find out what happened in class that day and keep up with the material and assignments covered during their absence. Students will have four excused absences, after the fourth absence, a 5% will be deducted from students' participation and attendance grade. If a student has more than 8 absences they will receive a zero (0) or their participation and attendance for the semester. If a student has a good reason to not attend, they should bring evidence such an email with an essential appointment, a doctor's appointment, etc. to be excused. If a student has a job that prevents them from attending class, they should think about registering for the class at a different time or wait until the class is offered at a more convenient time. Several absences will work against the student's success in class.

Course Fees

N/A

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.