The document provides instructions for reading academic articles in Spanish. It explains that the class will now involve reading fully in Spanish, with some direct translations of small passages. It describes characteristics of academic articles in Spanish, such as their similarity to English articles, inclusion of abstracts and bibliographies, and preferred use of MLA style. The document outlines a five-step process for reading the articles: 1) translate the title, 2) read the English and Spanish abstracts, 3) read the text section-by-section using provided connective phrases, 4) translate any quotes, and 5) summarize each paragraph and section in English.

1. Spanish 600/Lesson 12
Reading Academic Articles

2. The Class Changes
• I want to point out that, at this point, the class
changes.
• We are now READING in Spanish.
• Translation, direct and precise, is used for small
passages.
• Thus, you will not be receiving a translation of
each Monday lesson.
• We will focus, instead, on both the large (general
comprehension of long passages) and the small
(precise translation of small passages).

3. Characteristics of Academic Articles in
Spanish
• They look a lot like academic articles in
English.
• You can find them easily in Google Scholar,
which is where I go to find articles of interest.
• Most start with an abstract.
• The abstract is usually translated into English -
-- often not very well.

4. Features
• Key words (palabras clave) are listed to help you
find other articles that might be somewhat
related.
• There is usually a bibliography of references
(sometimes called “bibliografía” other times
“obras citadas”) at the end.
• MLA is the preferred style in the humanities.
• It is not uncommon to find manuscripts divided
into parts.
• As in English, there is a “vocabulary” that one
sees in many academic articles.

5. RAS: Reading Academic Spanish
• Read the title. Translate it.
• Read the abstract in both languages.
• Read by sections (if they are given).
• Translate (meaning precisely) only quotations.
• Summarize (in English) the main point at the
end of each paragraph/section.

6. Step 1: Translate the Title
• Estrategias de cambio de código y su
traducción en la novela de Sandra Cisneros
Caramelo or Puro Cuento.

7. Step 2: Read the Abstracts
• You will probably notice two features:
– The use of “se” is translated as “I” in the English
version.
• Example: se comparan con . . . / I will compare.
– There is a distinct use of transitional words and
phrases in the Spanish version.
• A continuación . . . Next, . . .

8. Step 3: Read the text
• The #1 feature of Academic Spanish that you need to
be aware of is the use of connective phrases and
certain verbal phrases, including signal phrases.
• I have listed the ones that you need for this first section
on the accompanying sheet.
• Basically, you should read without the dictionary but
WITH the sheet of phrases.
• One good strategy is to commit as many of these
phrases to memory as possible.
• For the purposes of this activity, you do not have to
read the notes in each article.

9. Step 4: Translate only quotes
• In Spanish, as in English, quotes support
points.
• Text can be read via the three-step TED
method previously outlined.
• By the time you get to the final (third).
reading, it is often a good idea to try to
translate at least SOME of the quotes that the
author uses to see if you understand exactly
what she is getting at.

10. Step 5: Summarize the
paragraphs/sections in English
• This is a good strategy for everyone! In all
languages!
• Consider the TED method (which has you read
something three times).
• At the final reading, write a one sentence
summary of each paragraph and a brief
summary of the entire section.
• This will help you to commit it to
understanding.