Course Catalogue

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This course introduces aspects of Spanish culture through the study of key themes, which may include topics such as cities and national histories. Cultures from across the Spanish-speaking world are studied through a wide range of concepts and texts, which have been chosen with the intention of familiarising students with a broad base of materials and allowing them to explore the types of areas that can be studied in more depth in the honours programme. 

4 x 1 hour Core culture lectures on Tuesday at 12 noon OR 3pm in weeks 2,4,7,9 semester 1. 

3 x 1 hour Core culture lectures on Tuesday at 12 noon OR 3pm in weeks 1,2,7 semester 2. 

1 x 1hour online workshop (completed anytime through Moodle). 

20 x 1 hour Subject lectures on Monday at 3pm OR 4pm in weeks 1-5 and 7-11 both semesters.  

8 x 1 hour Seminars at various times in weeks 3,5,8,10 both semesters. 

SQA Higher Spanish at Grade A or B (or Advanced Higher, or A-level or equivalent) or Spanish Language 1 (beginners) (HISP1008) at Grade C3 or above.

None

Skills and Theoretical Frameworks for Culture 1 Courses MODLANG1005

Critical Portfolio (2 x 750-word written exercises): 50%

Essay (1500 words): 50% 

This course will provide the opportunity to:

■ explore the features of a number of different literary/cultural forms;

■ develop a framework of ideas and methodologies appropriate to cultural studies

■ study of a number of literary, historical and visual texts in Spanish;

■ develop abilities in reading and interpreting texts in Spanish;

■ gain a cross-disciplinary perspective through the common SMLC level 1 core lectures, while laying the basis for further subject-specific work at more advanced levels;

■ develop skills in the area of written expression and the construction of viable arguments about the works studied.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ apply detailed knowledge and understanding of the texts studied, relating them as appropriate to their cultural context;

■ analyse critically texts or portions of texts, showing appropriate levels of awareness of thematic, formal and linguistic elements;

■ relate topics covered in the common core lectures to the specific texts/films studied;

■ formulate convincing arguments and express clear and reasoned opinions on the materials studied;

■ engage with the principal items of secondary reading indicated both for the core lectures and for the text studied.

Students must submit at least 75 per cent by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.