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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 301"
COURSE NAME: "Advanced Italian I"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2020
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Berenice Cocciolillo
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 1:30-2:50 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Placement or IT 202 or permission of the instructor (As of Fall 2022: Placement or IT 202 with a grade of C or above or permission by the Instructor)
OFFICE HOURS: MW 3:00-4:00 pm and by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to move students forward toward advanced proficiency in Italian language. The course will reinforce students’ oral, writing, listening, and reading skills, while refining grammar structures studied in previous levels. Contemporary literary and journalistic texts, films and film excerpts, newspaper articles and other multimedia materials will acquaint students with central elements of Italian culture and traditions, while individual and group activities drawn from real-life contexts will give them the opportunity to integrate their knowledge and skills through experience.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Topics of discussion will reflect various aspects of modern Italy as well as current events. It is very important that students come well prepared to speak in class. This involves not only reading assignments carefully but also planning in advance comments or questions about the material. 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon completing this course, students should possess an advanced proficiency in Italian language. In particular, students should be able to:

  • Discuss a variety of topics using complex grammatical structures, correct syntax, and appropriate vocabulary;
  • Understand the main ideas of complex texts:
  • Interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity with native speakers;
  • Produce clear, detailed texts on a wide range of subjects;
  • Recognize various styles and registers and distinguish between spoken and written usage.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Scontro di civiltà per un ascensore a Piazza VittorioAmara LakhousEdizioni e/o978-88-7641-809-9     
Nuovo Espresso 5 libro + CD audio Giorgio Massei, Rosella BellagambaAlma EdizioniEan: 9788861825062     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Class participation and homework 10
Oral presentationOne oral presentation (with a vocabulary list)10
QuizzesThere will be three quizzes on grammar and vocabulary.25
Midterm Exam 20
Final Exam 25
Graded compositions (3) 10

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the class.
BThis is a highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluate theory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture and reference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Students are expected to come prepared to class and participate in all activities. Active participation is crucial since the learning process requires considerable practice. Regular attendance is an essential component of class participation. Students are allowed three unjustified absences. Additional absences will lower the class participation grade considerably.

Make sure your travel plans do not interfere with the class schedule. If you should miss a class, please contact another student to find out what was covered that day so that you will be prepared for the next class.

DURING CLASS, PLEASE DO NOT:
- leave the room as it is distracting to the professor and to your classmates;
- answer your cell phone, read or send text messages;
- use your computer for anything not related to the class (e.g. Instagram)
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE PROFESSOR’S DISCRETION.  

Homework assignments and handouts will be posted daily on Moodle.

Please note that there are two Friday makeup days, October 2 and November 6

Week 1: September 21 - 23

Introductions - In-class writing activity: "About Me" 
Reading from Scontro di civiltà per un ascensore a Piazza Vittorio;
Nuovo Espresso 5, Unit 1: "Quanta Italia c'è in te"? 
Communicative Skills: using a colloquial register; expressing surprise and anger; expressing opinions
Grammar and vocabulary: using prefixes with adjectives, verbs and adverbs; use of future tense in negative sentences; review subjunctive

Week 2: September 28-30, October 2
Reading from Scontro di civiltà per un ascensore a Piazza Vittorio
Nuovo Espresso 5, Unit 1, cont.; finish review of subjunctive

Week 3: October 5-7
Nuovo Espresso 5, Unit 2: "La nuova letteratura":
Communicative skills: understanding contemporary narrative texts; objecting and contradicting
Grammar and vocabulary: using past tenses
Quiz 1

Week 4: October 12-14
Reading from Scontro di civiltà per un ascensore a Piazza Vittorio
Nuovo Espresso 5, Unit 2, cont. 

Week 5: October 19-21
Reading from Scontro di civiltà per un ascensore a Piazza Vittorio 
Nuovo Espresso 5, Unit 3: "Con la testa nel pallone"
Communicative skills: expressing opinions and doubts; talking about sports; expressing intentions and wishes, giving advice; recognizing some regional varieties of Italian
Grammar and vocabulary: sequence of tenses in subjunctive; implicit phrases with subjunctive
Midterm review

Week 6: October 26-28
Nuovo Espresso 5, Unit 3, cont.
Midterm review
MIDTERM EXAM 

Week 7: November 2-4-6
Reading from Scontro di civiltà per un ascensore a Piazza Vittorio
Nuovo Espresso 5, Unit 4: "La grande bellezza"
Communicative skills: using irony; expressing emotions, hopes, doubts, hypotheses; narrating and describing events; using adjectives to describe people and places positively or negatively
Grammar and vocabulary: more uses of subjunctive: uses of present and past participles; the adjective "bello"

Week 8: November 9-11
Reading from Scontro di civiltà per un ascensore a Piazza Vittorio 
Nuovo Espresso 5, Unit 4, cont.
Quiz 2

Week 9: November 16-18
Reading from Scontro di civiltà per un ascensore a Piazza Vittorio 
Nuovo Espresso 5, Unit 5: "Il buon mangiare"
Communicative skills: expressing predictions and future intentions; expressing regrets and complaints; use of certain adjectives
Grammar and vocabulary: difference between future and conditional; imperfect and pluperfect subjunctive with conditional verbs in main clause; difference between "bello" and "buono"

Week 10: November 23-25
Reading from Scontro di civiltà per un ascensore a Piazza Vittorio 
Nuovo Espresso 5, Unit 5, cont.

Week 11: November 30 - December 2
Reading from Scontro di civiltà per un ascensore a Piazza Vittorio 
Nuovo Espresso 6, Unit 6: "Parole in musica"
Communicative skills: becoming aware of "incorrect" forms present in colloquial Italian; using puns
Grammar and vocabulary: relative pronouns; "if clauses"
Quiz 3
Oral presentations

Week 12: December 7-9
Review for final exam

December 11-14 FINAL EXAMINATIONS