YALE UNIVERSITY

Department of Spanish and Portuguese

SPANISH 243
Advanced Spanish Grammar
Spring 2016
Course Director: Terry Seymour
Instructor: _________________________
Office: ___________________________
Office phone: ______________________

Email: _________________________
Office hours: ____________________

Course Description: The acquisition of near-native Spanish linguistic competence bears a significant
relation to the knowledge of Spanish grammar. This course will focus primarily on the study of Spanish
grammar following the objectives summarized below. Class discussions will be held in Spanish,
however, a contrastive English-Spanish analysis will be applied as needed to illustrate and clarify
grammar points.
Objectives:
(1) By focusing on crucial aspects of grammar and lexicon, you will be able to improve your
communicative competence and performance.
(2) You will build on your past knowledge of Spanish by reviewing fundamentals and learning more
sophisticated grammatical concepts.
(3) The emphasis on how grammar affects meaning will help you to improve your comprehension of the
language as well as your ability to express yourself.
(4) You will have structured opportunities to strengthen skills needed to reach an advanced level of
proficiency. In-class practice and discussion, homework exercises and other written assignments will also
help you assess your progress in the course.
Texts:
a) Dominicis & Reynolds. Repase y escriba. Curso avanzado de gramtica y composicin. 6th edition.
[John Wiley & Sons] 2011 edition, ISBN 978-0-470-90414-5.] Used copies are available at the Yale
Bookstore ($73.95). New copies are available online (prices vary).
b) Course packet of activities and exercises (Cuaderno de actividades), available at Docuprint & Imaging
(27 Whitney Avenue).
Assignments: For each class meeting there will be assigned readings and exercises on specific grammar
points from Repase y escriba, from the course packet, or online (classesv2 SPAN243 00).
Tarea en la red (online practice exercises): The exercises marked Tarea en la red are located on the
umbrella site for the course (SPAN243 00). These activities are corrected automatically upon submission.
If you are not happy with your initial grade, you can resubmit the assignment as many times as you like
before the due date. The highest score will be your final grade for the assignment.
Preparacin para la prxima clase:
Self correction of selected exercises. The answers to activities marked with two asterisks (**) appear on
the answer key (clave) for that chapter at classesv2: SPAN 243 00: Recursos). These activities are to be

self-corrected in a different color of ink. If you do your homework on the computer, you should use
Track Changes before printing out the assignment.
In order to receive credit for the assignment, you must hand in to your instructor as due all the exercises
marked Preparacin para la prxima clase, including those that have been self-corrected.
The regular daily preparation assignments (those in the column marked Preparacin para la prxima
clase) will be corrected and graded for completion and effort only (+, , -); no points will be
subtracted for incorrect answers.
Tarea calificada: Those marked Tarea calificada must be submitted as assigned and will be graded
(points will be subtracted for incorrect answers). In addition to more traditional grammar exercises, these
assignments will also include two prrafos (short writing exercises of approximately 200 words).
Ejercicios de redaccin: These are writing assignments of approximately 350 words (that is, 1 - 1
pages), which are due as indicated in the syllabus. The first draft is worth 75% of the grade and the
second is worth 25%.
Late assignments: Late assignments and homework exercises will not be accepted without a valid
written excuse (for example, illness). If you are unable to print out an assignment in time for class, you
should email it to the instructor* before class and then submit a paper copy in the following class.
*Note: The document name should include your last name, as well as the number and type of
assignment (for example: Smith tarea 6.doc, Smith redaccin I).
Attendance: Regular attendance and participation in class are extremely important for completing this
course successfully. Students are allowed a maximum of three (3) absences over the course of the
semester, which may include medical excuses, job interviews, weekend trips, etc. They cannot miss
scheduled evaluations, including tests and in-class compositions, without a written excuse from the Dean.
Additionally, three (3) incidents of tardiness in excess of ten minutes will count as one absence. Any
student who accumulates more than three absences will have his or her final course grade lowered
by two percentage points per absence following the third one. If a student accrues significant
absences over the ones allowed, the instructor may request cut restriction or withdrawal from the course.
Absences due to religious holidays and participation in team sports (upon presentation to the instructor of
a list of away dates, signed by the coach) are exempted.
Classes Server: Information relevant to all sections of Advanced Spanish Grammar (for example, the
online practice exercises) will be posted on the umbrella page (LAST 243 00/SPAN 243 00) of the
classes server (classesv2). There is also a separate site for each section of the course for information
relevant only to that section. Use the registrars online course registration system to select the section that
you wish to take (e.g. SPAN 243 01). Within 6 hours, you will be added to the course on the classes
server. You will also automatically be added to the umbrella site (SPAN 243 00) within six hours.
Conversation Partners (compaeros de conversacin): Each student will be paired with an Ecuadorian
college student for 4 weeks of conversation practice (weeks 9-12). Students will be expected to converse
with their partners by phone or Skype once a week for an hour; they will speak for half that time in
Spanish and the other half in English, so that each student is able to practice the second language s/he is
studying. In order to encourage practice of the specific grammar points studied in class, students will
receive specific topics to address and some suggested questions/points to consider each week. They will
also answer a few brief questions in writing each week about their conversations. These conversational
activities will form part of the class participation grade.

ii

Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the use of anothers work, words, or ideas without attribution. Plagiarizers
suffer serious consequences in Yale Collegeincluding suspension or expulsion from school. (See the
Yale College Undergraduate Regulations for more information.).
http://www.yale.edu/bass/writing/sources/plagiarism/what.html
Course Requirements: Successful completion of Spanish L4 or its equivalent and of the Diagnostic Test.
Important: Self-placement in Spanish is not allowed and students who do so will receive NO CREDIT
for the class. If you are uncertain about your placement level, please consult with the Language Program
Director, Prof. Ame Cividanes.
Grading:

Exams (3)
39%
Test compositions (2)
20%
Preparation & participation 10%
Ejercicios de redaccin (3) 15%
Homework 16% *
*Online practice exercises: 5%; Tareas de preparacin: 5%; Tareas corregidas y prrafos: 6%
Grade Scale:
A = 94-100
A- = 90 - 93
B+= 87- 89
B = 84 - 86

B- = 80 - 83
C+= 77 - 79
C = 74 - 76
C- = 70 - 73

D+= 67 - 69
D = 64 - 66
D- = 60 - 63
F = 59 or below

Office Hours: Students should see the instructor during office hours to discuss any questions or
problems regarding the material covered in class, tests, homework exercises or other written assignments.
Abbreviations: RE = Repase y escriba CUAD = cuaderno

FECHA

20 de enero

TEMA DEL DIA

Introduccin al
curso.
Ser vs. Estar.

TAREAS
CALIFICADAS
Y
REDACCIONES
S E M A N A
Ojo!
Todas las tareas
iniciales estn en
classesv2:
o en Recursos
(lecturas y
preparacin
escrita) o en
Tareas en la red.

CV2 = classesv2 (SPAN 243 00)

PREPARACIN PARA LA
PRXIMA CLASE
1
Leer: RE: Uses of Ser y Uses of Estar
(pp. 32-36) y El rbol de oro (en
CV2)
Preparacin escrita #1:
- Comprensin de El rbol de oro
(preguntas al final de la lectura,
responder con frases completas),
- Ejercicio B (RE, pgina 34:
Conversaciones incompletas) y
- C (RE, pp. 36-37: Situaciones y
estados, #1-5 solamente)
- Tarea en la red #1

iii

22 de enero

El rbol de oro
Cap. 2 - Ser/estar.

Ojo! El examen
diagnstico est en
classesv2, bajo
Tarea en la red.

Leer: RE: Ser/estar (pp. 39-44) y

Equivalentes de to know (pp. 47-48)
Preparacin escrita #2:
RE: Aplic. D (pp. 37 o en CV2: Los
estados resultantes del huracn), B (p.
44: Mi familia y yo) y CUAD: Ser y
estar (pp. 3-4).
Tarea en la red #2: Examen
diagnstico y Ser o estar?

S E M A N A
25 de enero

Cap. 2: Ser/estar +
adj./ participio +
preposicin.
Saber vs. conocer.

2
Leer: RE: The Preterite and the
Imperfect (pp. 7-12) y CUAD: Los
censores (pp. 61-64)
Preparacin escrita #3:
CUAD: B Comprensin (p. 64 y
**Analizar diferencias I (p. 5) [*para
autocorregir esta actividad, consulte la
clave de respuestas en classesv2:
Recursos]
Tarea en la red #3: Consulte el
calendario en CV2.
Opcional: Cancin: Ya no s qu hacer
conmigo (CV2 en Recursos)

27 de enero

Los censores
Cap. 1: Pretrito e
imperfecto.

Tarea calificada 1 Leer: RE: Verbs with Different English

(CUAD: pp. 7-9)
Meanings (p. 16)
Preparacin escrita #4:
RE: B (p. 12: Descripciones, nmeros
impares solamente), **C (pp. 12-14:
Soy un cobarde)
Tarea en la red #4: Consulte el
calendario en CV2.

iv

29 de enero

Cap. 1: Pretrito e
imperfecto.

Leer: RE: Ampliacin: Formacin y

uso de diminutivos, aumentativos y
despectivos (pp. 18-20), Soler, acabar
de, por poco (p. 21); y
CUAD: Repaso: Pronombres de complemento directo e indirecto (pp. 1214)
Preparacin escrita #5:
CUAD: **El pretrito y el imperfecto:
Cul y por qu? (p. 11) y **Repaso:
Actividades de tarea (pp. 15-16)

1 de
febrero

3 de
febrero

Cap. 1: Pretrito e
imperfecto.
Soler, acabar de,
por poco.
Diminutivos,
aumentativos y
despectivos.

Tarea en la red #5
S E M A N A 3
Tarea calificada
Leer: The Perfect Tenses (pp. 73-74)
#2: CUAD: pp.
CUAD: Estilo indirecto (pp. 17-20)
21-22)
Ver: Video: El orfanato (escenas) en
CV2: Pelculas y videos

Video: El orfanato
(escenas)
El pluscuamperfecto. Estilo
indirecto.

Tarea en la red #6: Consulte el

calendario en CV2.
Leer: RE: El Hombre de Plata (pp.
56-60) y Special Verb Constructions
(pp. 63-65)
Preparacin escrita #7:
RE: B: Comprensin (p. 61), **B (p.
66: Qu les duele?) y D (p. 76: Lo que
dijeron)

5 de
febrero

Cap. 3: El Hombre Ejercicio de

de Plata
redaccin I
Verbos pseudo(primer borrador)
impersonales. Obj.
indirecto pronominal
+ (gustar/doler)

Leer: RE: Other Verbs and Expressions

(pp. 67-69) y Pronoun Constructions
(p. 71)
Preparacin escrita #8:
RE: C (p. 66: Dgalo de otro modo) y
B.2 (pp. 69-70: Un tipo necesitado)
Tarea en la red #8.

8 de
febrero

Cap. 3:Verbos
pseudoimpersonales.
Construcciones
pronominales.

S E M A N A
Tarea calificada
#3:
CUAD: pp. 25-26
(I y II)

4
Leer: RE: Direct Object Pronoun, Use
of lo (p. 72), Special Time Constructions (pp. 76-77). Distinciones: Parecer
y parecerse a (pp. 201-202).
Preparacin escrita #9:
RE: **B (pp. 77-78: Cunto hace y
cunto llevan?) y CUAD: **<<Se>>
inocente (p. 23)

10 de
febrero

12 de
febrero

Equivalentes de
take.
Artculo definido(1).

15 de
febrero
17 de
febrero

Repaso.

19 de
febrero

Tarea en la red #9.

Leer: RE: Artculo definido (pp. 180183), Equivalentes de to take (pp.
259-260)

Cap. 3:
Construcciones
pronominales.
Hacer en
construcciones de
tiempo.

Examen I
Captulos 1, 2 y 3

Cap. 4: Una luz en

la noche.
Subjuntivo.
Persuasin e
influencia.
Artculo definido
(2).

Preparacin escrita #10:

RE: B (p. 261: Oraciones incompletas,
nmeros pares solamente)
CUAD: **Analizar diferencias II,
Traduccin y Cunto tiempo hace?
(pp. 27-28)

Ejercicio de
redaccin I (2
borrador)
S E M A N A

Tarea en la red #10: Con o sin

artculo definido?
Repaso para el examen I
5
Estudiar para el examen.
Leer: RE: Subjunctive (pp. 95-98) y
CUAD: Una luz en la noche (pp. 6568)
Preparacin escrita #11:
RE: C (p. 99: Cosas que se oyen...)
CUAD: Comprensin B (p. 69)
Leer: RE: Verbs of Influence,
Expressions of Emotion (pp. 100-102)
Preparacin escrita #12:
RE: Aplic. A (p. 102: En la consulta del
siquiatra)
CUAD: Verbos de volicin, **A y B
(pp. 29-30) y Tarea en la red #12.

vi

22 de
febrero

Cap. 4: Subjuntivo.
Verbos de
influencia:
pronombres.
Secuencia de
tiempos.

S E M A N A 6
Ejercicio de
Leer: RE: Sequence of Tenses (pp. 103redaccin II
105), Uncertainty (pp. 106-108)
(primer borrador)
Preparacin escrita #13:
RE: **Aplicacin 1 y 3 (p.106: Un
crimen reciente y Un/a compaero/a
difcil)
Tarea en la red #13.

24 de
febrero

Cap. 4: Subjuntivo:
Expresiones de duda
o incertidumbre.
Emocin.

Leer: RE: Uses of the Subjunctive in

Independent Clauses (pp. 109-110),
Equivalentes de but (pp. 114-116)
Preparacin escrita #14: RE: C (p.103:
Reacciones). Elaboren bien las ideas.
Tarea en la red #14.

26 de
febrero

Cap. 4: Subjuntivo
en clusulas
independientes
(Ojal, Tal vez,
quizs).
Pero / sino / sino que
/ salvo.

Tarea calificada
#4:
CUAD El caso de
los hermanos
Argeso y
Expresin de
emociones (pp. 3132)

S E M A N A
29 de
febrero

2 de marzo

Cap. 5: La espera.
Subjuntivo:
Expresiones
impersonales.

Cap. 5: Subjuntivo:
Clusulas relativas.
Distinciones lxicas:
preguntar vs. pedir.

Ejercicio de
redacccin II
(2 borrador)

Leer: RE: The Subjunctive with

Impersonal Expressions (p. 130-132) y
CUAD: La espera (pp. 71-73)
Preparacin escrita #15:
CUAD: Comprensin (p. 74)
Tarea en la red #15.

7
Leer: RE: The Subjunctive in Relative
Clauses (p. 134-137) y Equivalentes de
to ask (pp. 143-144)
Preparacin escrita #16:
CUAD: **Analizar diferencias III (p.
33)
Tarea en la red #16.
Leer: RE: Idiomatic Expressions that
Use the Subjunctive (pp. 139-140)
Preparacin escrita #17
RE: C (#1-8) y D nmeros pares
solamente) (p. 138: Ms detalles sobre
m, Opiniones)
y
Tarea en la red #17.

vii

4 de marzo

Composicin I.

Leer: RE: Subjunctive in Adverbial

Clauses (pp. 155-157) y CUAD:
Introduccin a la pelcula (pp. 75-76)
Ver: Los colores de la montaa
(pelcula) en CV2: Pelculas y videos.
Preparacin escrita #18:
RE: A.2 y 3, **B y **D (pp. 157-158:
Obstculos, La billetera perdida,
Cosas que pasaron, )

7 de marzo

S E M A N A
8
Cap. 6:
Tarea calificada
Leer: RE: Subjunctive After
Pelcula: Los colores #5 en CV2 (bajo
Conjunctions of Time (pp. 160-161) y
de la montaa.
Recursos)
CUAD: Encuentro con Carlos Csar
Arbelez (fragmento) (pp. 74-76)
Subjuntivo:
Oraciones
Preparacin escrita #19: CUAD: Un
subordinadas
pasado conocido y un futuro
adverbiales.
desconocido (p. 35)
Tarea en la red #19.

9 de marzo

Los colores de la
montaa.
Cap. 6: Subjuntivo:
Oraciones
temporales.

Leer: RE: Conditional Clauses with IF

(pp. 162-164)
Preparacin escrita #20:
CUAD: **Clusulas condicionales y
**Analizar diferencias IV (pp. 37-38)
Tarea en la red #20.

11 de
marzo

Cap. 6: Oraciones
condicionales.

Prrafo 1
(instrucciones en
CV2: Recursos)

Leer: RE: Diferentes equivalentes de to

become (pp. 168-170) y CUAD:
Introduccin a Mujeres al borde de un
ataque de nervios, vocabulario (pp. 8082)
Ver: Pelcula: Mujeres al borde
(subttulos en espaol) en CV2
Preparacin escrita #21:
RE: **B (p. 165: Situaciones)
Tarea en la red #21.

viii

28 de
marzo

30 de
marzo

1 de abril

V A C A C I O N E S
D E P R I M A V E R A
S E M A N A
9
Compaeros de conversacin #1
Pelcula 2: Mujeres
Tarea calificada
Preparacin escrita #22:
al borde de un
#6:
RE: Uses of para (pp. 241-242), Uses
ataque de nervios.
CUAD:
of por (pp. 244-249), Special Uses of
Cap. 6: Verbos de
Adverbiales y
por and para (p. 251)
cambio.
condicionales (pp.
Equivalentes de to
39-40)
Preparacin escrita #22:
become.
CUAD: Analizar diferencias V (p. 41)

Por y para.

Tarea en la red #22.

Repaso para el examen II.

Prctica con el
subjuntivo.
Pelcula 2.
Repaso.

Estudiar para el examen.

Llenar formulario: compaeros de
conversacin #1.

4 de abril

S E M A N A
1 0
Compaeros de conversacin #2
Examen II
Leer: RE: El encaje roto (pp. 380Captulos 4, 5 y 6
382) y Relative Pronouns (pp. 385-389)
Preparacin escrita #23:
RE: Comprensin: B (pp. 383-384),
**A y D (pp. 389-391: Hablando por
telfono, Aclaremos las cosas)
Tarea en la red #23.

6 de abril

Cap. 14: El encaje

roto.
Pronombres
relativos.

Leer: RE: Relative Pronouns that

Contain Their Own Antecedent (pp.
391-394)
Preparacin escrita #24:
RE: E (p. 391: Ampliando) y D #1-4
(pp. 394-395: Ms oraciones
incompletas)
CUAD: **Que por lo cual (pp. 43-44)
Tarea en la red #24.
ix

8 de abril

Cap. 14: Pronombres Ejercicio de

Leer: RE: The Relative Adjective cuyo
relativos.
redaccin III (1er. (pp. 395-396) y Los refranes (pp. 397borrador)
398).
Consulten: CUAD: Los pronombres
relativos: resumen de ideas (opcional)
(pp. 45-47)
Preparacin escrita #25:
RE: **A (p. 396: La boda de
Micaelita)
CUAD: La santera: **I y II (pp. 4950)

11 de abril

13 de abril

Llenar formulario: compaeros de

conversacin #2.
S E M A N A
1 1
Compaeros de conversacin #3
Cap.14: Pronombres Tarea calificada
Leer: RE: Verbs Used Reflexively (pp.
relativos.
#7:
328-331) y CUAD: Mr. Taylor (pp.
CUAD: Relativos
83-88)
(pp. 51-52)
Preparacin escrita #26:
RE: A (p. 331: Se necesita un
pronombre?)
CUAD: Comprensin (p. 89)
Cap. 12: Mr.
Prrafo 2 ( en
Leer: RE: Impersonal Use of se (p.
Taylor.
CV2)
332), The Passive Voice (pp. 333-335)
Verbos reflexivos.
Preparacin escrita #27:
RE: **A (p. 332-333: Actividades del
fin de semana), Aplic. A.1 (p. 335:
Dgalo de otro modo)

15 de abril

Cap. 12: Uso

impersonal de se.
Voz pasiva.

Ejercicio de
redaccin III (2.
borrador)

Tarea en la red #27.

Leer: RE: The Reflexive Substitute
(pp. 336-338)
Preparacin escrita #28:
RE: C y **E (pp. 339-340: Hablando
de personas, Anuncios en el peridico)
CUAD: Prctica de pasiva refleja (pp.
53-54)
Llenar formulario: compaeros de
conversacin #3.

18 de abril

S E M A N A 1 2
Compaeros de conversacin #4
Cap. 12: Voz pasiva
Leer: RE: Uses of A 1. A before the
refleja.
direct object (pp. 192-193)
Preparacin escrita #29:
RE: **B (p. 345: Necesito un
intrprete)

20 de abril

Tarea en la red #29

Leer: RE: Espejo del tiempo (pp.
235-238) y Placement of Descriptive
Adjectives (pp. 271-274)

Composicin II

Preparacin escrita #30:

RE: B: Comprensin (p. 238) y **A.1
(pp. 274: Antes o despus?: Bailes
mexicanos)
CUAD: Titulares (pp. 55-57)
22 de abril

Tarea en la red #30.

Leer: RE: Differences in the Meaning
of Adjectives (pp. 277) y Positioning
Two or More Descriptive Adjectives
(pp. 278-279).

Espejo del tiempo.

La a personal.
Adjetivacin.

Preparacin escrita #31:

RE: **A.4 (pp. 274-275: Antes o
despus?: Una tormenta), B (p. 276:
La inauguracin del Parque), A (p.
280: Todo en su lugar)
Tarea en la red #31

S E M A N A
25 de abril

27 de abril

Cap. 10: Adjetivos.

Adjetivacin
mltiple. Diferentes
significados.
Repaso

29 de abril

Examen III

Llenar formulario: compaeros de

conversacin #4
1 3
Repaso para el examen (CV2)
Tarea en la red #32
Estudiar para el examen III.

xi