Fall 2004
Guidelines for French classes
(Chantal
Bontemps #238)
French Literature: Epistolary literature
Objectives of the French literature class
(MLL 415a)
Obtain a better knowledge on French writers
of a specific period (17th and 18th centuries) and genres (epistolary literature). Understand better
French culture and society (passed and modern). Encourage reflection and debate from a text. Encouraging self and group expression
through individual or commune presentations, and through essays or compositions. Use and exploit creative skills and knowledge.
Write composed letters in French and if
possible publish them.
Open the students’ mind to French
culture, to understand it and compare it with their own.
Exams
During the semester students will be asked
to do a text commentary presentation with debate: alone or in pairs (the same mark will be given to both. Both will have to
do is part in the research and the exposition plus the quality of organization and communication will be considered. If not
the mark will be X or U for both): 30 %
The mid-term test will be a written text
commentary from one of the book of the programme: 30%
There will be writing workshop about writing
letters. Some other exercises or homework will give some bonus (=: 0pt, +: 1pt, ++: 2pts, +++: 3 pts)
The last test of the semester will be a
short epistolary novel (5 letters) it will replace the final exam. It will be a synthesis of the workshops and the semester
study: 40%
Grades:
A
= 95-100 B+
= 87-89 C+ = 77-79 D+ = 67-69
F = 59 & lower
A- = 90-94 B
= 83-86 C = 73-76 D = 63-66
B- = 80-82 C- =
70-72 D- = 60-62
In details:
-
Presentations: 2 possibilities
In pairs, choose a passage of a novel in
French (2 or 3 pages or a chapter) and give an explanation and a commentary of its relevant meanings. You will be judged on
the respect of the method, the coherence of your explanation and the coordination between the two and the debate.
Presentation of one of the proposed author
or of a cultural aspect of 17th or 18th Century
-
Last test: handle back your novel for the end of the semester. There will be one to one sessions where
we will talk about your novel and one correction of some letters or the entire novel through the semester.
-
Workshop writings: in class session to learn different French writing exercises with an emphasis on writing
an epistolary novel. Some work might be mark as bonus (see above)
-
Reading notes (fiches de lecture): for each book read you will have to write a detailed paper on their
important parts. Those notes will be marked with bonus
Class
policy
Refer in the academic catalog to the Academic
Honesty (p34). Dishonesty will be greeted with an X or a U. You should attend the class regularly and on time or will be excluded.
You should participate voluntarily to debates and activities and do not make any disturbances.
Class attendance
Attending class and active participation
are required.
A bonus of 3 + will be given to all students
who never missed a class. For 5 unjustified absences there will be a double -. Homework will not be corrected if you miss
the class when assignment was given or due. For 10 unjustified absences you’ll fail the course.
Required reading and material:
Guilleragues Lettres d’une religieuse Portugaise ou Lettres Portugaises, les milles et unes nuits.
Montesquieu LesLettres Persanes Folio Classiques, Paris
Voltaire Lettres philosophiques, Folio classiques, Paris
Laclos Les Liaisons dangereuses, Folio Classiques, Paris
Recommended reading:
Madame de Sévigné Correspondance
Madame de La Fayette La Princesse de Clèves, Folio classique, Paris
Dictionnaire du français, Le Robert et Clé International, 1999
Laurent Versini Le Roman épistolaire, PUF, Paris, 1998
Frédéric Calas Le Roman épistolaire, Nathan université, coll. Lettres 128, Paris,
Dictionaries :
Dictionnaire
de l’Académie Française online : http://www.academie-francaise.fr/dictionnaire/
Encyclopédia
Universalis online : http://www.universalis.fr/ ou http://www.universalis-edu.com/
Petit Robert
Larousse
Obtain a better knowledge on French writers of a specific period (17th
and 18th centuries) and genres (epistolary literature). Understand better French culture and society (passed and
modern). Encourage reflection and debate from a text. Encouraging self and group expression through individual or commune
presentations, and through essays or compositions. Use and exploit creative skills and knowledge.
Write composed letters in French and if possible publish them.
Open the students mind to French culture, to understand it and compare it with
their own.
Exams
During the semester students will be asked to do a text commentary presentation
with debate: alone or in pairs (the same mark will be given to both. Both will have to do is part in the research and the
exposition plus the quality of organization and communication will be considered. If not the mark will be X or U for both):
30 %
The mid-term test will be a written text commentary from one of the book of
the programme: 30%
There will be writing workshop about writing letters. Some other exercises
or homework will give some bonus (=: 0pt, +: 1pt, ++: 2pts, +++: 3 pts)
The last test of the semester will be a short epistolary novel (5 letters)
it will replace the final exam. It will be a synthesis of the workshops and the semester study: 40%
Grades:
A = 95-100 B+ = 87-89
C+ = 77-79 D+ = 67-69 F =
59 & lower
A- = 90-94
B = 83-86 C = 73-76 D = 63-66
B- = 80-82 C- =
70-72 D- = 60-62
In details:
- Presentations: 2 possibilities
In pairs, choose a passage of a novel in French (2 or 3 pages or a chapter)
and give an explanation and a commentary of its relevant meanings. You will be judged on the respect of the method, the coherence
of your explanation and the coordination between the two and the debate.
Presentation of one of the proposed author or of a cultural aspect of 17th
or 18th Century
- Last test: handle back your novel
for the end of the semester. There will be one to one sessions where we will talk about your novel and one correction of some
letters or the entire novel through the semester.
- Workshop writings: in class session
to learn different French writing exercises with an emphasis on writing an epistolary novel. Some work might be mark as bonus
(see above)
- Reading notes (fiches de lecture):
for each book read you will have to write a detailed paper on their important parts. Those notes will be marked with bonus
Class policy
Refer in the academic catalog to the Academic Honesty (p34). Dishonesty will
be greeted with an X or a U. You should attend the class regularly and on time or will be excluded. You should participate
voluntarily to debates and activities and do not make any disturbances.
Class attendance
A bonus of 3 + will be given to all students who never missed a class. For
5 unjustified absences there will be a double -
Required reading and material:
Guilleragues Lettres dune religieuse Portugaise ou Lettres Portugaises, les milles et unes nuits.
Montesquieu LesLettres Persanes Folio Classiques,
Paris
Voltaire Lettres philosophiques, Folio
classiques, Paris
Laclos Les Liaisons dangereuses, Folio Classiques, Paris
Madame de La Fayette La Princesse de Clèves, Folio
classique, Paris
Dictionnaire du français, Le Robert et Clé International, 1999
Recommended reading:
Laurent Versini Le Roman épistolaire, PUF, Paris, 1998
Frédéric Calas Le Roman épistolaire,
Nathan université, coll. Lettres 128, Paris,
Dictionaries :
Dictionnaire de lAcadémie Française
online : http://www.academie-francaise.fr/dictionnaire/
Encyclopédia Universalis online :
http://www.universalis.fr/ ou http://www.universalis-edu.com/
Petit Robert
Larousse
