PREP COURSE FOR THE MAY 2008 JBIP STUDY TOUR

España: Historia,Cultura, Arte y Architectura

Spain: History, Culture,  Art and Achitecture

JBIP 210A003

Course Description, Rules, Procedures, Schedule, etc.

1.  Study Tour Leaders. Dr. Mohammed El-Nawawy: Dana 109, x2744.

                                       Dr. Suzanne Cooper-Guasco:Watkins 203, x2490.                                                                       

                                        Dr. Kent Rhodes: Walker 205, x 2410.

2.  The Spain Study Tour is part of Queens University's John Belk International Program. As such, all students are expected to abide by both the spirit and the letter of the HONOR CODE.   The Academic Pledge (“I pledge truthfulness and absolute honesty in the performance of all academic work”) and the Community Pledge (“I pledge to be truthful at all times, to treat others with respect, to respect the property of others and to adhere to University policies.”) should be upheld both in class and on the Study Tour.  The Honor Code is based on three fundamental principles.  It assumes that Queens students: a) are truthful at all times, b) respect the property of others, and c) are honest in tests, examinations, term papers, and all other academic assignments.  It is a violation of the Honor Code for a student to be untruthful concerning the reason for a class absence.  

Specific policies governing this study tour and the Belk International Program can be found in the "John Belk International Program 2007 Study Tour Handbook" issued by the John Belk International Program Office.

3.  The preparation course for the Spain Study Tour is JBIP 210A003 (2 credit hours), which meets from 4:35 to 5:50 p.m. on the first five Tuesdays and all Thursdays during the semester.  

4.  Attendance Policies.  It is very important for all participants to understand the attendance policies.  We expect all participants to attend class regularly and punctually.  You may have one unexcused absence, but remember that two or more unexcused absences will result in your being excluded from the study tour.  For each absence—for whatever reason, whether excused or unexcused—you must do a make-up assignment: an original paper (minimum of two full pages, typed, double-spaced and properly documented) on a topic approved by the instructors.  This report must be of acceptable quality to the instructors and is due not later than two weeks from the date of the absence.  Please note that these policies are enforced.

5. Queens University Policy on the Minimum Level of Work Required to Participate in the John Belk International Program.  As in all of the past 19 years of the international program, participation in the study tour presumes satisfactory work (which the catalog defines as not lower than a C-) in the preparation course.  The requirement -- unanimously approved and supported by the faculty and academic administration of the College of Arts and Sciences -- is that a student must make a C- (an average of 70) or better in the prep course in order to be eligible to participate in the John Belk International Program study tour.  It is essential for you to understand that any student who does not make a C- (an average of 70) or better in the prep course will not be allowed to participate, and the consequent costs will be borne by the student.  There have not been -- and will not be -- any exceptions to this policy.    

6. Grading for JBIP 210.  Final grades are on the regular ABCDF basis.  The grading scale is as follows:  100-94, A;  93-90, A-;  89-88, B+;  87-83, B;  82-80, B-;  79-78, C+;  77-73, C;  72-70, C-;  69-65, D+;  64-60, D-;  59 and below, F.   This course may not be taken P/NR or P/F.

7. Required Work, Tests, and Grading.  You will be graded on 4 separate components of the course – language instruction in Spanish; "background" information on the countries and cities we will visit, its culture, history, politics, etc.; a written and oral site report; and European and Spanish geography.  You must make a C- (an average of 70) or better to go on the study tour.  Please read the following carefully:

a. Language.  It is important for you to be able to use some basic phrases in each of the languages we will be studying.  Each week, you will be expected to learn some common, useful words and phrases, and you will be tested on these.  The language tests will be cumulative.  We strongly suggest that you make flash cards for the assigned vocabulary, practice daily with your fellow-travelers and make use of the language resources on the Belk page of Queens’ website:  http://www.queens.edu/international/languages.asp

In calculating the average of your weekly language tests, we will drop your 2 lowest scores, so that you may miss or mess up 2 tests.  There will be no make-ups; a test missed, whether due to absence or tardiness, will count as a zero in the calculation of your weekly language test average. In figuring your final language component grade, the weekly test average will count 75% and the final language examination 25%.  Students who have weekly language test average of 90% or better do not have to take the final language examination.  The language component of the prep course will count toward 20% of your final course grade.

b. Assigned Readings and Videos on "Background" (culture, history, economics, politics, etc.). There will be reading assignments and sometimes a video for each class.  Generally, these will be available as handouts, from online sources or from required texts.  You are to be prepared to discuss these materials and to take a test on them at each week's meeting.  The procedures and policies followed in calculating your weekly language test average and final language component grade (described above) will apply in the calculation of your "background" component grade.  The "background" component will count toward 50% of your final course grade. 

c. Site report and class presentation.  During the semester, you will prepare a report on a site or area of interest about Spain.  Based on your report you will prepare a 5-8 minute PowerPoint presentation for class.  The report must be 3-4 pages (2 full pages minimum), typed, double-spaced and properly documented with a minimum of 3 authoritative sources. The written report will be due on the day of your class presentation.  Faculty will keep the reports and make them available on the study tour so that you can present the information to your fellow students at an appropriate time.  The written report and presentation will count 20% of the course grade.

d. Geography.  You are expected to be familiar with the geography of the country or region we will be visiting and with the basic geography of Europe.  There will be a Geography quiz given on Feb. 14.  The Geography quiz will count toward 10% of your final course grade.  Should you fail to receive a satisfactory grade (a grade of C- or better) on the geography quiz, you will be required to complete a map assignments designed to improve your geographical literacy.  You can use the Belk Resource page again to find maps, atlases and other resources (http://www.queens.edu/international/geography_and_maps.asp).

8. Learning objectives.  At the end of the prep course students should be able to:

            ► Understand and use basic phrases and expressions in the target language(s)

            ► Identify the major geographical features of the country or region

            ► Identify important historical periods for the country or region

            ► Identify major historical and artistic figures associated with the country or region

            ► Identify cultural differences of the country or region compared to the U.S.

9. General Requirements for the Spain 2008 May Study Tour  (3 hrs. credit):

            (1) regular attendance in scheduled activities;

            (2) appropriate behavior at all times while overseas;

            (3) presentation of an On-Site report prepared during the semester;

            (4) a  reflective and interpretive travel journal, regularly kept and submitted to the

                        instructors upon demand and on the flight home;

            (5) two short interpretive/reflective essays, to be written in the last days of the study tour

                        and included in the journal. 

10.  Disability Accommodations.  If you are a student with a verified disability and you require accommodations, please provide faculty leaders with the necessary memorandum that was given to you by Student Disabilty Services.   Contact: The Coordinator of Disability Services: Sandy Rogelberg (x2508/rogelbes@queens.edu).

11.  University Closings / Cancelled Classes.  In the rare occasion when it is necessary to close the university announcements will be made on TV and radio, and will be posted on the Queens web site (www.queens.edu).  Students who live on campus will be notified of a decision to cancel classes through their voice mail.  Commuter students should call the Queens Information Hotline (704-337-2567).   NOTE: If classes are meeting but you feel that you cannot find a safe way to get to class, you should notify one of your professors as soon as possible. 

12.  Class Schedule.

Please come to class prepared to participate fully.  The more you know about the places you will see, the more you can expect to get out of the study tour.  Let's make this a successful and unforgettable experience for all of us.

accion de memoria historica