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Puntos de partida
Information Center
Feature Summary
The Seventh Edition
Contents
Preface
Sample Chapter
Online WB and LM
Supplements
About the Authors
PageOut
OLC Credits


Student Edition
Instructor Edition
Puntos de partida: An Invitation to Spanish, 7/e

Marty Knorre
Thalia Dorwick
Ana María Pérez-Gironés, Wesleyan University
William R. Glass
Hildebrando Villarreal, California State University, Los Angeles

ISBN: 0072873949
Copyright year: 2005

The Seventh Edition



Here are just some of the many new features of Puntos de partida, Seventh Edition:
  • A brand-new design that promotes learning and teaching: More than 600 new color illustrations and photographs bring an exciting new visual appeal to the program and enhance the pedagogy of the text. Beautiful drawings illustrate vocabulary words in each chapter, allowing students to make important connections between the Spanish word and the conceptual meaning. Many activities are also enlivened through fun illustrations that review vocabulary and grammar and promote real communication.
  • The flow of presentations and activities within each chapter has been carefully crafted to keep students on task and focused. Activities do not break over the front and back of pages, thus eliminating the need for students and instructors to “flip” pages while completing activities.
  • Sentence-formation and cloze passage activities are now pedagogically improved through the use of special shading and color that highlight key elements of the activity and keeps students focused on the tasks they are performing.
  • Student-friendly grammar presentations: Paradigms and charts within grammar presentations have been enhanced by the use of a colored font that directs students’ attention to key aspects of the grammar point, such as spelling changes in stem-changing verbs and agreement of adjectives. Illustrations or graphics have also been added to the grammar presentations when appropriate.
  • The new Perspectivas culturales section in each chapter highlights the country of focus through video segments, texts, and photos.
  • An introduction to literary masterpieces: A renowned author from a different country is profiled in each chapter, accompanied by a brief extract from one of his or her works. These brief extracts—just a “taste” of some obras maestras—will enrich students’ appreciation of the literary heritage of the Spanish-speaking world and hopefully motivate some students to continue reading when their Spanish language skills are better developed.
  • Autoprueba quizzes allow students to do quick self-assessments of their understanding of key grammar points in every chapter, before they begin the exercises and activities. (Special thanks to Lynne Overesch-Maister of Johnson Community College for this suggestion!)
  • A grammar checklist in the new chapter-ending En resumen section offers a quick review of the major grammar topics in the chapter, helping to ensure that students have a comfortable understanding of the structures presented before moving on to the next chapter.
  • An all-new video program that brings language and Hispanic cultures to life: The Entrevista cultural segments introduce students to a Spanish-speaker from a different country in each chapter, providing a unique glimpse into their lives and their culture. Accompanying activities in the new Perspectivas culturales section of each chapter both prepare students for viewing and assess comprehension. The Entre amigos episodes present four students from different countries (Spain, Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba) who tell an entertaining story as they meet and talk at a university in Mexico.
  • A completely revised Interactive CD-ROM provides students with exciting activities and games that practice vocabulary and grammar, develop cultural awareness, and practice all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Activities incorporate audio, video, and graphic images to create a true multimedia learning experience.
  • Interactive Flash Grammar™ tutorials on the CD-ROM and this Online Learning Center website allow students to “see” and review core grammar structures through an interactive tutorial. The tutorials are enriched by interactive paradigms, sample sentences, and audio narration.
  • An Online Workbook and Online Laboratory Manual, developed in collaboration with Quia™, provide immediate feedback and self-scoring activities, as well as sophisticated gradebook and tracking features for instructors. The Online Laboratory Manual includes the complete Audio Program.
  • A true Test Generator allows instructors to create multiple tests for each chapter, selecting different questions of a variety of types. Instructors can save tests, modify them, randomly generate new tests, and even add their own test questions to the test bank.
  • This thoroughly revised Online Learning Center includes a wealth of activities and resources for students and instructors alike.

To obtain an instructor login for this Online Learning Center, ask your local sales representative. If you're an instructor thinking about adopting this textbook, request a free copy for review.