You will be exposed in this course to short French and Francophone texts of different genres and levels of difficulty. By the end of the course, it is expected that you will:
have increased your proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in French (as well as having increased your comfort level with the interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes of communication in French);
have a basic foundation for critically reading and writing literary language in French; and
be able both in oral and written form to ask pertinent questions, to recognize and define problems, to identify the arguments on all sides of an issue, to search for and use relevant data, and to arrive at carefully reasoned judgments.
As a result of reading, analyzing, interpreting, and comparing the assigned texts, and in keeping with Cal Poly's Learning Objectives, successful students should better be able to:
think critically and creatively; communicate effectively in French (both orally and in written form);
work productively as individuals and in groups; use their knowledge and skills to make a positive contribution to society; and
make reasoned decisions based on an understanding of ethics and a respect for diversity.
Successful students should have made progress in:
communicating effectively through speaking, listening, reading, and writing in authentic situations in French;
developing communicative and intercultural competency in order to work productively both as individuals and in collaboration with others;
gaining perspective on cultural and historical achievements in French-speaking cultures as well as on relevant issues of diversity;
cultivating awareness of ethical and professional perspectives that reflect linguistic and cultural heritage;
thinking critically and creatively using French and negotiating meaning between French and English; and
developing the ability to evaluate ways in which language and culture provide perspective on the larger world of the arts, science, and technology.
Please Note
Diversity (age, race, ethnicity, faith, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, and perspectives) is welcomed in this course. If you have a preferred pronoun of which you would like me and the other students in the course to be aware, please notify us on the first day of class.
Please reach out to me first and directly during my office hours with suggestions and/or concerns. If you are registered with the Disability Resource Center, please plan on meeting with me in person during my office hours no later than by the end of the first week of class to discuss how I might best accommodate your need/s.
Cheating and/or plagiarism will not be tolerated. Translation software or Artificial Intelligence to complete your homework and/or tests/quizzes is forbidden. Per California Education Code Section 78907, neither electronic listening nor recording devices should be used without prior written consent of the instructor.
In order to be successful in this class, you should make it a priority and actively participate in person in each class session. You should meet with me to review tests, homework, and any concepts with which you might be struggling.
Help is also available via the World Languages Lab.
The California Faculty Association (the labor union of Lecturers, Professors, Coaches, Counselors, and Librarians across the 23 CSU campuses) is in a difficult contract dispute with California State University management. It is possible that the CFA will call a strike or other work stoppage this term. I promise to promptly inform you of any schedule disruption. For further information go to: www.calfac.org
Required Text
We will study works included in various editions of Autour de la littérature: Ecriture et lecture aux cours moyens de français (Schofer and Rice). More information will be included on the course's Canvas page.
Grade Distribution
2 in-class exams graded both for form (grammar, accents, tenses, for example) and content (40%). Instructor reserved the right not to count form on first in-class exam. See Announcement sent via Canvas on 30 October.
2 oral exams. first exam graded for content, as a courtesy for students who were still be struggling with oral expression; second exam to be graded for form and content (20%)--to be scheduled during my office hours during Weeks 4-5 and Weeks 9-10
Documentation of active in-class participation (20%)
Written homework assignments (20%)
Of Potential Interest
Schedule
21 September: "Liberté" (Paul Eluard)
26 September: "Mélusine" (Jean d'Arras)
28 September: "Mon Oncle Jules" (Guy de Maupassant); Le Havre à Jersey; Les 8 choses incontournables à faire à Jersey
3 October: "Le Pagne noir" (Bernard Dadié)
5 October: "Acte sans paroles I" (Samuel Beckett); Scènes d'écran; "Acte sans paroles II"; Samuel Beckett et le théâtre de l'absurde
10 October: "Demain, dès l’aube" & "A Villequier" -- pages 26-30 -- (Victor Hugo); Lecture analytique
12 October: "Le Laüstic" (Marie de France); The Lays and Fables of Marie de France (British Library)
17 October: "L'Autre Femme" (Gabrielle-Sidonie Colette)
19 October: "La cantatrice chauve" (Eugène Ionesco); Reportage INA
24 October: "Leçon d’histoire" (Maryse Condé)
26 October: Exam 1 (in class)
31 October: "L'Os" (Birago Diop)
2 November: "L'Echafaudage" (Linda Lê)
7 November: "Pluie" (Anne Hébert)
9 November: "Le Grand Michu" (Emile Zola); Coup d'État de Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte; Le naturalisme
14 November: "Le Dormeur du val" (Arthur Rimbaud); Commentaire de texte
16 November: "Le Retour de Mamzelle Annette" (Joseph Zobel)
28 November: "La Vallée Houdou" (Gabrielle Roy)
30 November: "Il n'y a pas d'exil" (Assia Djebar)
5 December: "Lélia" (George Sand); Lélia (1833) : mal du siècle, pessimisme, et poétique du négatif
7 December: "La Maison face à la mer" (Marie-Célie Agnant)
8 December: In-class participation log due at 11:59 p.m. (via Canvas)
12 December: Exam 2 (1 - 4 p.m.)