F323, French Civilization and Culture, is a course intended for those who have had some previous study of French, either three or more years in high school or F202. F323 includes readings, discussion, lectures, films, oral and written reports on different aspects of France and its people and culture (Catalog description). It will cover this semester both France of the past and the present. F323 is required of French majors. It also counts toward fulfillment of the B. Humanities II. Electives requirement of General Education.

 Category B -- Humanities
       II. Electives. A student completing the general education program at WKU will have:
    Goal 5 . An informed acquaintance with the major achievements in the arts and humanities
         uses appropriate vocabulary and concepts for the description and critical analysis of literary and artistic works;
         identifies important ideas and achievements in philosophy, literature, and the arts;
         identifies various forms of literature and artistic expression;
         identifies and analyzes similarities, differences, and interrelationships among the arts;
         evaluates the contributions of philosophical, ethical, or religious systems to human life;
         attends cultural events and visits sites of historical significance.
    Goal 6 . A historical perspective and an understanding of connections between past and present
         analyzes historical patterns and their contemporary significance;
         identifies interrelationships between historical events and artistic, literary, philosophical, religious, and scientific works and movements;
         identifies historical developments and cultural traditions in western civilization;
         demonstrates a critical perspective on one’s own culture by studying other historical periods and other cultural traditions.

Effective in summer 2006, students must earn a "C" or better in any Modern Language course included among those that count toward the major or minor in French, German, or Spanish. This policy applies to all students who submit a degree program after the end of the spring 2006 semester.

Knowledge of France is the main point of the course. The second emphasis of the course will be reinforcement of French language skills. Through coursework, experience abroad, and other cultural encounters, the Modern Languages Program cultivates communicative skills and cultural awareness that prepare students at Western Kentucky University to be more knowledgeable and sensitive citizens of the global community.

Projects 1 and 2: will provide an occasion for practice with written expression in French, synthesizing what you are studying, developing your particular points of emerging interest or curiosity, and presenting orally some modest research and approfondissement of your topic to the class. The first project will be due about midterm and the second toward the end of the semester. Writing and speaking French are an integral part of upper division courses in the French program. See my statement on teaching French, if you are curious.

Quizzes (or dictées or comptes-rendus) will be short, numerous, and frequent -- probably every class meeting. As a rule, they may not be made up, neither may they be retaken. They will sometimes cover the main points in the readings assigned to have been prepared; they will sometimes consist of a dictée or compte-rendu, that will check on essential reading vocabulary, while also providing listening and writing practice in French.

Exams will cover the units in La France aux cent visages, as well as what happens during class. There will be no make up exams.  All four exams are meant to gauge your progress toward the course goals with an efficient use of exam time. They test the language skills you are acquiring, and are not limited to simply covering language content: material, pages, exercises or tables that can be memorized on short order. The final exam will be comprehensive in scope, whereas the other three are only unit exams. The day and time of the final exam are established by the Registrar. Whereas there may be changes on the syllabus below, the day and time of the final exam are absolute. Please do not make plans, therefore, at variance with our scheduled final exam.

If absent, one should contact me before the next class meeting – not to explain or excuse the absence, but in order to find out what was accomplished and, especially, what is to be prepared outside of class. If you anticipate a problem with taking an exam when it is scheduled, or if you should miss an exam, contact me at your earliest opportunity!

Participation and attendance: class participation is essential; speaking French at every opportunity will help a student with his/her oral practice. Class attendance is not optional. Participation will assure progress toward communication skills. Students are to check Blackboard (http://ecourses.wku.edu) or my Web page (http://edtech.wku.edu/~nlove/323civ/f323spring06.htm), and stay abreast of announcements, assignments and changes in the syllabus at least three times each week. There will be questions or assignments posted on Blackboard or the Web page to be completed before the next class. In the event that it is necessary to miss class, it is the responsibility of the student to find out what was covered and to learn the appropriate material. Upon returning to class students are expected to be fully prepared: ready to participate, turn in assignments, and take quizzes or exams as scheduled.

For grading purposes, I will assign a value to each day according to the following participation point scheme:

• 0 = absent,
• 1 = late or left early,
• 2 = present w/o actively volunteering,
• 3 = some voluntary participation,
• 4 = much / repeated voluntary participation

Expectations, in summary, are as follows. Students are expected 1) to study, do assignments, and prepare for class, 2) to attend class, contribute and participate during class, 3) avail themselves of resources, and to seek help from instructor when appropriate, including during office hours or by appointment, 4) to demonstrate knowledge and language skills in progress against what is expected, 5) to work, for instance, on pronunciation, listening comprehension and recognition of spoken vocabulary, 6) to submit by deadlines work required, 7) to turn in for a grade the student’s own work and, of course, not to permit work to be used by another for his/her graded assignments. 8) to stay abreast of announcements, assignments and changes in the syllabus at least three times each week. 9) to keep cell phones turned off and silent during class; to keep cell phones and other electronic devices capable of communication/data retrieval out of sight during all graded activities. The instructor is expected 1) to be prepared for teaching each class session, 2) to offer clear examples and explanations, 3) to encourage participation from students, 4) provide opportunities for you to hear, speak, write and read French and to offer, specifically, as much oral practice in class as possible, 5) to meet with students during office hours and by appointment outside of class, 6) to be fair-minded at all times, 7) to respect students, and their beliefs and opinions, 8) to challenge students to meet the course goals as fully as possible. (Click on statement on teaching to read my thoughts on the entire subject.)

Study some French every day without exception and you will discover why language courses used to meet daily. The best way to learn, to meet course objectives and to maximize benefits derived from study of French is without a doubt to study some French every day. You will not be particularly successful if you learn the material for the moment only. What you learn for Module 1 or for Quiz 2 you will need to retain throughout the semester and specifically for the final exam which is cumulative.

Resources available include the textbook, consultations and assistance during office hours. I can find more resources for anyone needing more than these, and would be pleased to do so. 

Course Grade -- sources & weights:

• 
  Class Participation:
• Quizzes (comptes rendus):
• Exam 1:
• Exam 2:
• Exam 3:
• project 1:
• project 2:
• Final Exam:
• 
  

• 10%
• 10%
• 10%
• 10%
• 10%
• 10%
• 20%
• 20%

Academic dishonesty: “Students who commit any act of academic dishonesty may receive from the instructor a failing grade in that portion of the course in which the act is detected or a failing grade in the course without possibility of withdrawal” (from the 2006-2007 online student handbook). Acts of academic dishonesty include the use of a translating device to complete writing assignments and failing to turn cell phones and PDAs off before taking an exam. Student work may be checked using plagiarism detection software. See Western's statement on academic dishonesty in the 2006-2007 online student handbook for more information. See the same source for university policy on plagiarism ‑ "To represent written work taken from another source as one's own is plagiarism. Plagiarism is a serious offense. The academic work of a student must be his/her own. One must give any author credit for source material borrowed from him/her. To lift content directly from a source without giving credit is a flagrant act. To present a borrowed passage without reference to the source after having changed a few words is also plagiarism." The use of online translation aids is strictly prohibited. Students enrolled may not assist one another on graded exercises.

Students with disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids or services) for this course must contact the Office for Student Disability Services, in the Student Success Center in DUC, Room A201. The OFSDS telephone number is (270) 745-5004. Please DO NOT request accommodations directly from the professor or instructor without a letter of accommodation from the Office for Student Disability Services.

Changes: Changes to all matters above may become necessary, especially regarding the syllabus and/or the due dates of graded work. The instructor reserves the right to make such changes as he/she deems necessary. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain the most recent iteration of the syllabus either as posted on the Blackboard site for this course or as made available in the classroom.