Course syllabus
FRENCH 269: French Language and Culture in Film and Literature
SEMESTER 1, 2019
15 points
COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES
- to provide insights into key aspects of 18th-21st century French society and culture and into how the past continues to affect the present.
- to introduce students to the analysis of the above within the historical context.
- to help students practise and further develop aural comprehension, vocabulary, oral expression and writing skills in the French language.
NOTICES AND GRADES USING CANVAS
It is important that you know how to access the University’s on-line course administration system, Canvas. We will be using the system to make course announcements and provide additional resources. You can also use the system to view grades.
It is important that you keep up to date with course announcements. Make sure you check your e-mails regularly.
WORKLOAD EXPECTATIONS
As for any 15 point undergraduate course, students should expect to spend a total of around ten hours a week working on this course, including class-time and preparation. If you have any trouble keeping up with the course check to make sure that you are spending the requisite number of hours on it.
VIEWING OF FILMS
Over the course of the semester we will discuss six films : Danton ; Un Long dimanche de fiançailles ; Au revoir les enfants ; Un héros très discret ; Milou en mai ; Le passé. Many are available on-line, but, PLEASE NOTE, some are not!!!! All are available in the Library. Make sure you arrange to view the films in your own time, before the stipulated class.
COURSEWORK GRADE ALLOCATION: COURSEWORK (100%)
- Two 600-650 word compositions with rough drafts for a total of 1200-1300 words 2X25 = 50%
- Two-hour in-class tests 2X15 = 30%
- Two short listening comprehension tests 2X5 = 10%
- Oral performance 1x10 = 10%
COMPOSITIONS
Presentation and layout: Please use 12 point font and double-line spacing with wide margins.
Research: You are not expected to do supplementary research for compositions. Marking schedule:
- contenu, idées 50%
- grammaire, présentation, organisation, style, vocabulaire, orthographe 50%
First draft and provisional grade/premier jet and note provisoire
You can submit a (paper copy only) full first draft (premier jet) of the composition, which will be corrected and given a provisional grade (note provisoire) for the quality of a) your expression in French: grade out of 50% and b) your ideas 50%. When you submit your final revised draft, the corrected first draft must be submitted together with it. Your final grade can be improved by up to 10% of your provisional grade. If no final draft is received by the due date, or if you do not submit your first draft with your final revised draft, the provisional grade will become the final grade. If you do not want feedback you can hand the essay in on the final due date.
TESTS
- The long tests will be 2 hours each. Each test will have two questions, covering the films that you have not covered in your composition. This will give you the chance to write about each of the films.
- There will also be two short listening comprehension tests with multiple choice and short-answer questions. Our Thursday listening comprehension exercises will prepare you for these.
ORAL PERFORMANCE
This cahier contains the material that you need to prepare each week. You will be told in class exactly what to prepare. Your oral performance grade will based on your preparation for class and willingness to discuss. You should aim to speak up at least once during every class period to receive an A.
Course Schedule
Week 1, March 4-7
Tues : Introduction au cours ; la République et les valeurs républicaines. Les Gilets Jaunes et La Révolution.
Thurs : Exercice aural : Robespierre et Danton, frères ennemis.
Week 2, March 11-15
Tues : Discussion de Danton (please come to class having watched the film).
Thurs : Exercice aural : pourquoi s’intéresser à la Révolution aujourd’hui, selon Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
Week 3, March 18-22
Tues: La République, chronologie. Avant la Grande guerre ; les « premières » de la Grande guerre.
Thurs : Exercice aural : discours de Macron sur la Grande guerre.
Week 4, March 25-29
Tues: Discussion d’Un Long dimanche de fiançailles (please come to class having watched the film).
Thurs : Exercice aural : Pétain.
Week 5, April 1-5
Tues : Au revoir les enfants (please come to class having watched the film).
Thurs : Exercice aural : L’appel de 22 juin 1940. Due date for draft of composition 1 if you want feedback. (NOT OBLIGATORY!)
Week 6, April 8-12
Tues: Long test 1, in class.
Thurs: No discussion group. Due date for composition 1.
BREAK NO CLASS APRIL 15-28
Week 7, April 29-May 3
Tues : Short listening comprehension test 1, in class. La Deuxième guerre mondiale.
Thurs : Le mythe de la France résistante.
Week 8, May 6-10
Tues : Un Héros très discret (please come to class having watched the film).
Thurs : Exercice aural : la Résistance.
Week 9, May 13-17
Tues : L’après guerre.
Thurs : De Gaulle et mai 68. Exercice aural : Les débuts du movement.
Week 10, May 20-24
Tues :. Milou en mai (come to class having watched the film).
Thurs : Exercice aural : les chansons.
Week 11, May 27-31
Thurs : Le Passé (please come to class having watched the film).
Thurs : Exercice aural : Les problèmes sociaux en France. Due date for draft of composition 2 if you want feedback. (NOT OBLIGATORY!)
Week 12, June 3-7
Tues : Long test 2 in class.
Thurs : Short listening comprehension test 2, in class. No discussion group.
Fri : Due date for composition 2.
Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.
Course summary:
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