IT301 Percorsi di lingua e cultura - Department of Spanish, Italian

IT301 Percorsi di lingua e cultura
Department of Spanish Italian & Portuguese
Pennsylvania State University
IT301.001: MWF 12:20 – 1:10 PM (113A Chambers Bldg.)
IT301.002: MWF 1:25 – 2:15 PM (319 Willard Bldg.)
Instructor: Brunella Brizzi
Email: [email protected]
Office: 419 Allenway Bldg.
Office hours: W 4:00 – 6:00 PM and by appointment
IT301 is designed to bridge the gap between the basic Italian language program and literature and culture courses taught
in Italian at the 300 and 400 level. With that in mind, you will continue to develop your language and communication
skills and you will begin to learn how to critique and analyze Italian literature in spoken and written Italian. You will also
be introduced to new aspects of Italian culture through authentic readings from a range of social, cultural and historical
topics. Moreover, through film, music and online resources we will explore and try to dispel the most common
stereotypes about Italy and Italians. We will forget for a while the tourist routes and we will “walk” along the hidden,
dusty, sadly beautiful Southern alleys. We will “meet” some weird, charming, controversial women and men who left
their mark on Italian culture in the last 70 years. We will enjoy Rap as well as Opera. We will “taste” the sweet and the
bitter of Italian attitude in daily life. We will “leave” our Room with a View over the Roman Forum, Catholic domes and
Tuscan hills, we will go out and we will still love Italy in spite of everything…
As your instructor I want this course to be successful and enjoyable for everyone. If you experience any difficulties, or
have any questions about the materials or assignments at any point, please contact me as soon as possible.
Required texts:
• Handouts, Worksheets will be provided on ANGEL
• Danesi, M., Complete Italian Grammar Review (New York: Barron’s Educational Series, 2006)
Recommended texts:
• Duggan, Christopher. A Concise History of Italy (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1994, 2013)
• A good elementary/intermediate Italian textbook
• A good dictionary (italiano-inglese, inglese-italiano), for example, Webster’s New World Italian Dictionary
(Concise edition), ed. C. E. Love (New York: Wiley, 1992)
Course Films (on reserve in the Media and Music Center on the 2nd floor of West Pattee) You will be responsible for
viewing them on your own before class discussion on the day indicated.
• La Mafia uccide solo d’estate (Pierfrancesco “Pif” Diliberto, 2013)
• Terraferma (Emanuele Crialese, 2011)
Your Final Grade will be calculated as follows:
Preparation & In-class Participation (30%): To get the most out of IT301 you will need to attend class regularly,
participate fully in all in-class activities and complete of all homework assignments (homework may be collected and
graded or checked in class). Your dedicated and continued participation will directly improve your linguistic skills and
expand your vocabulary and speaking abilities (you are expected to come to class ready for discussion). You should be
prepared to participate during every class period and be a collaborator engaged in all in-class activities (this includes
viewing the required films at the screening or on your own). Note that late arrivals, speaking in English or generally not
participating are grounds for a significantly lower participation mark. You are not expected to speak fluently, but you must exhibit
an attempt at thoughtful communication. Any missed classes will negatively affect your participation grade. All classes will be
conducted in Italian.
**Students are required to check the ANGEL course website on a daily basis for assignments, updates and
announcements**
Written Production (20%): There are two formal writing assignments required for this course. Each includes
subsequent revisions; additional details will be provided in class. Your first composition will be based on the film La
Mafia uccide solo d’estate. You must view this film before October 2, in order to participate in class activities and to
complete Composition #1. The second composition will be based on the film Terraferma. You must view this film before
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November 13, in order to participate in class activities and to complete Composition #2. All films are available on
reserve in the Media Center in Pattee Library, 2nd Floor West. No late submissions will be accepted.
Written Exams (30%): There will be three exams composed of grammatical exercises and reading comprehension
questions. They will take place at the end of Weeks 5, 9 and 13. Exam make-ups will not be permitted without a
valid excuse (see Attendance Policy).
**This course does not have an exam during Finals Week**
Final Project (20%): During weeks 14 and 15 you will deliver a presentation as the culmination of your efforts in this
course. This will be a longer analytical presentation on a topic relating to course content but not something that we have
covered in class. All topics must be selected and presentation titles established by November 18. Additional details will
be provided in class.
Grading Scale
A 100 – 95
A- 94.9 – 90
B+ 89.9 – 87.7
B 87.6 – 83.3
B- 83.2 – 80
C+ 79.9 – 75
C 74.9 – 70
D 69.9 – 60
F below 60
Course policies and procedures
Attendance Policy: University policy makes poor attendance grounds for an F or a lowered grade (See Policies & Rules for
Students 42-27). It is understandable that sometimes things happen that prevent attendance. Therefore, three absences are
allowed during the semester that will not require documentation (note you will not earn participation for these days). These
might be things like illness, weddings, funerals, job interviews, etc. Beyond three, your final grade will decrease per absence.
Note: Exam make-ups will not be permitted without a valid excuse - ‘Make-ups’ for assessments will only be offered if a
student is absent on the day of the exam due to a university-related activity, serious illness or a family emergency. For
university-related activities, you should provide official documentation prior to the scheduled exam. Should you fall gravely ill
or have a family emergency, it is your responsibility to contact the Office of Student and Family Services at 863-1260 [ http://
www.sa.psu.edu/sd/sfs/] They will then inform your instructors.
Cell Phones: Cell phones are to be turned off and stored before class begins.
Laptops/Tablet: Your instructor will provide information on the use of these tools specific to her classroom. Any use of
laptops or tablet computers unrelated to coursework is prohibited and professors reserve the right to penalize a student’s final
grade for continued violations.
Academic Integrity: Penn State University defines academic integrity as the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest,
and responsible manner. All students should act with personal integrity, respect other students’ dignity, rights, and property,
and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their efforts (Faculty Senate Policy
49-10): discussion of course material both in and out of the classroom is encouraged in IT301. Dishonesty of any kind will not
be tolerated in this course. Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarizing, fabricating information or
citations, facilitating acts of dishonesty by others, having unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of
another person or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of other
students. You may use www.wordreference.com and garzantilinguistica.sapere.it. The use of any form of electronic or online
translator (Babel Fish, Google translator, etc.) is expressly forbidden - work submitted would then not be your own. Students
who are found to be dishonest will receive academic sanctions and will be reported to the University’s Judicial Affairs office
for possible further disciplinary sanction.
University Policy on Disabilities: Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs.
If you have a disability-related need for modifications or reasonable accommodations in this course, you must contact the
Office for Disability Services, ODS, located at 116 Boucke Building at 1-814-863-1807 (V/TTY) and provide documentation.
If the documentation supports the need for academic adjustments, ODS will provide a letter identifying appropriate academic
adjustments. Please share this letter and discuss the adjustments with your instructor as early in the course as possible. Many
disabilities are not readily noticeable and students are therefore encouraged to identify their needs early in the semester so
timely adaptations can be made. Please note you must contact ODS and request academic adjustment letters at the beginning
of each semester. For further information regarding ODS please visit their web site at www.equity.psu.edu/ods.
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IT301 Percorsi di lingua e cultura - Autunno 2015 – Calendario provvisorio
SETTIMANA#1
“ZeroZeroZero”
24 agosto
26 agosto
28 agosto
Introduzione al corso
Presente/Stare + gerundio/ Riflessivi/ verbo Piacere
Esercitazione / Discussione
SETTIMANA#2
“Matrimonio all’Italiana”
31 agosto
2 settembre
4 settembre
Articoli, Sostantivi, Aggettivi (comparativi e superlativi)
La FAMIGLIA
Esercitazione / Discussione
SETTIMANA#3
“La Grande Abbuffata”
7 settembre
9 settembre
11 settembre
Non c’è lezione
Pronomi - Il CIBO
Esercitazione / Discussione
SETTIMANA#4
“ Febbre a 90° ”
14 settembre
16 settembre
18 settembre
Passato Prossimo - Imperfetto
CALCIO e altre PASSIONI
Esercitazione / Discussione
SETTIMANA#5
“Il Grande Fratello”
21 settembre
23 settembre
25 settembre
Futuro
RAI vs MEDIASET: TV e Pubblicità
ESAME #1
SETTIMANA#6
“Uomini, ominicchi e
quaquaraquà”
28 settembre
30 settembre
2 ottobre
Si Impersonale- Scrivere in italiano: uso dei Connettori
da CORLEONE a GOMORRA
Discussione del Film: La Mafia uccide solo d’estate
5 ottobre
7 ottobre
9 ottobre
Da consegnare: Composizione #1
Passato Remoto
dall’UNITÀ al REFERENDUM del 2/6/1946
Esercitazione / Discussione
12 ottobre
14 ottobre
16 ottobre
Passato Remoto
PRIMA e SECONDA REPUBBLICA
Esercitazione / Discussione
19 ottobre
Passato Remoto
PIER PAOLO PASOLINI
Esercitazione / Discussione
ESAME #2
SETTIMANA#7
“ La Storia siamo noi - 1 ”
SETTIMANA#8
“ La Storia siamo noi -2”
SETTIMANA#9
“Il coraggio intellettuale della
verità”
SETTIMANA#10
“Io ero un uccello… ”
SETTIMANA#11
“L’Oro di Napoli”
SETTIMANA#12
“Cinecittà Studios”
21 ottobre
23 ottobre
26 ottobre
28 ottobre
30 ottobre
Da consegnare: Rielaborazione della comp. #1
Condizionale - Congiuntivo
la POESIA di ALDA MERINI
Esercitazione / Discussione
2 novembre
4 novembre
6 novembre
Usi del Congiuntivo
il TEATRO di EDUARDO DE FILIPPO
Esercitazione / Discussione
9 novembre
Periodo Ipotetico
Come scrivere in italiano: uso dei Connettori
NUOVO CINEMA ITALIANO
Discussione del Film: Terraferma
11 novembre
13 novembre
16 novembre
SETTIMANA#13
“Sono solo canzonette”
SETTIMANA#14
Da consegnare: Composizione #2
Fare causativo – Infinito – Gerundio - Participio
18 novembre
dal MELODRAMMA al RAP
20 novembre
ESAME#3
PAUSA AUTUNNALE
30 novembre
Riflessioni Conclusive sul Corso
2 dicembre
Presentazione dei Progetti Finali
4 dicembre
Presentazione dei Progetti Finali
7 dicembre
SETTIMANA#15
9 dicembre
11 dicembre
Da consegnare: Rielaborazione della comp. #2
Presentazione dei Progetti Finali
Presentazione dei Progetti Finali
Presentazione dei Progetti Finali
3