F426 French Literature of the 20th Century counts toward fulfilling the French minor and major literature distribution requirement. F201 and F202 or the equivalent are indispensable prerequisites. At least one of the following French literature courses will provide important preparation for reading: F314, F325, F326. 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.
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The course goals follow in order of priority: |
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1. Familiarity with literature of the 20th-century in France: especially literature falling into the broad thematic category of existentialism 2. Reading French prose, essay and fiction with discernment and critical understanding: students will gain an understanding of currents of thought as expressed in philosophical writing from the 17th through the 20th centuries in French as demonstrate how to discern the extent to which those currents inform the fiction of Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus.
3. Speaking, comprehension and pronunciation: students will learn to speak and understand expository French by preparing oral presentations concerning either aspects of the works on the program or secondary literature bearing on the authors or philosophical currents that fall within the scope of the course. 4. Writing: students will learn to write essays in French which explore the interplay between thought and fiction.
5. Critical thinking: evidence of analysis of cogent thinking as you reflect on the argumentation of our authors and discernment of subtle similarities and distinctions among the readings.
6. Preparation: To be prepared linguistically to take yet more advanced French. |
Participation and attendance: class attendance is mandatory, and participation is essential; speaking French at every opportunity will help a student with speaking and listening skills. Participation will assure progress toward communication skills. Students are to check Blackboard or my Web page (http://people.wku.edu/~nathan.love/426-20th/f426fall2007.htm) and stay abreast of announcements, assignments and changes in the syllabus frequently. 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, to turn in assignments, and to take quizzes or exams as scheduled. When/if you miss a class meeting, you can be relatively certain that you missed at least one quiz (see below).
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, unless you believe that you know with certainty what was missed and have no questions about it.
To bolster participation you may elect to present to the class an exposé in addition to the two exposés that are obligatory.
Auditing An auditor enrolls and participates in a course without expecting to receive academic credit. The same registration procedure is followed, and the same fees are charged as for courses taken for credit. An audited course is not applicable to any degree or certificate program. Regular class attendance is expected of an auditor. Other course requirements, which may be obtained in writing from the instructor, will vary depending on the nature of the course. Students interested in auditing a course should secure permission from the instructor and discuss course requirements prior to enrolling. Failure to meet course requirements may result in the auditor being withdrawn from the course at the request of the instructor. A successful audit will be recorded on the transcript with the designation AU. Any change from audit to credit must be done by the last day to add a class. Changes from credit to audit must be done by the last day to drop a class with a grade of “W.” Refunds for withdrawals from audited courses will be prorated on the same basis as refunds for withdrawals from courses taken for credit (from: 2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog). Auditing a class means that you will be required to show up to class, participate, and complete all assignments, but you will not receive credit for the class. You can sign up to audit a class without special permission prior to the first day of the term. After that time, the instructor must grant permission for you to audit a class by signing the course audit form. You should obtain this form in the Office of the Registrar, complete the form, obtain the instructor's signature, and return the form to the Office of the Registrar prior to the deadline for changing from credit to audit, printed in the Academic Calendar in the Registration Guide (from: Advising FAQ's).
Assignments (or homework) will be posted on the timeline part of the syllabus below by means of a link on the date by which the assignment is due. Thus to know what is to be prepared for the August 28 class meeting, click on the link on "28 août 07" below. (You will know when the assignment has been uploaded, as the date will appear in bold, and turn blue as a link upon passing the mouse over it.) There will be questions or assignments regularly posted on Blackboard or the Web page to be completed before the next class.
This semester there may be an assignment from time to time in Blackboard's Discussion Board related to class participation.
Quizzes will be done in class, although most can be prepared for before class. There will likely one short quiz every class meeting, covering what has been assigned or recently treated during class. Quizzes over what is assigned will provide an indication whether the assignment has been completed and understood. Quizzes covering what has been recently presented or discussed during class will provide an indication of your emerging skills, especially concerning comprehension of ideas expressed in French, orally or in writing. Quizzes will be numerous; and may not be made up if missed. Since they will be numerous, you may well miss some or do poorly on others. Rather than drop a certain number of quizzes, your quiz average will be curved to allow for the normal vicissitudes of life.
Exposés:On vous demande de faire au moins deux exposés, dont un sur Camus et un deuxième sur Sartre. Vous écrivez une présentation qui ne dépasse pas cinq minutes, c'est tout! Vous expliquez un passage littéraire, commentez un personnage ou un thème; et, de toute façon, vous m'en parlez - ou mieux encore, vous me le montrez avant de le présenter en cours.
Pour appuyer une participation faible, on peut présenter un exposé supplémentaire, un troisième exposé.
Exams: Both 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. For both, consequently, you will speak French, listen to French, read some French and write French -- and not merely rehash specific phrases, vocabulary or exercises. There will be no make up exams. 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! 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.
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 a given day or for a given exam you will need to retain throughout the semester and specifically for the final exam which is cumulative.
Resources available include the textbook, the interactivités, consultations and assistance during office hours. I can find more resources for anyone needing more than these, and would be pleased to do so.
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