Repase y escriba - PROGRAM SAMPLER

v Preface Repase y escriba is designed for advanced grammar and composition courses. It can be most effectively used in the third or fourth year of college study and can be covered in two semesters or, by judicious selection, in one semester. We have taken into account the fact that some institutions add a conversation compo- nent to their composition courses. In such cases, the Comprensión , Interpretación , and Intercambio oral sections following the Lectura will be especially useful. In addition, the themes for composition lend themselves to oral discussion. This text has the following notable features: • It emphasizes the everyday usage of educated persons rather than the more formal, literary Spanish. • Significant differences between Peninsular and Spanish American Spanish are pointed out.Whenever possible, the usage that is most widespread is given preference. • Repase y escriba covers the grammar in an orderly fashion. We feel that an in-depth, though not exhaustive, coverage of the grammar is essential at this level.We have gone back to a traditional approach in grammar explanations, which we have combined with numerous examples and exercises based on everyday life. In this way the rules are not fossils from another age, but rather, they are appropriately treated as guidelines for using the rich, ever-changing living things that languages are. • The text offers a multitude of varied exercises that involve creativity, completion, subs- titution, and matching. Almost all the exercises are contextualized. • Repase y escriba takes into consideration the special needs of the ever-increasing number of Hispanics in the classrooms of our colleges and universities. Spelling and the placement of accents create serious problems for these students as they strive to improve their writing skills. Accordingly, many exercises deal with those matters. • An Appendix contains a series of charts showing certain less advanced grammar topics not included in the body of the text. Instructors are urged to point out the practical value of this Appendix for reviewing basic topics.