Senior Seminar in French
395
Spring 2006
Reid
Office: Stevenson 215
438-7894/jhreid@ilstu.edu
Homepage:  http://lilt.ilstu.edu/jhreid/
Class homepage:  http://lilt.ilstu.edu/jhreid/seniorseminar/SeniorseminarS06.htm
Office Hours: W/F 11-1, by appt.or just knock
 

[Make History Reading Optional, give short resume, spread out Zola reading to all other days]

In the Senior Seminar, French majors bring together the skills and knowledge they have acquired over the course of their studies in French and seek to complete their best work in writing and speaking French intelligently. 

We will study four literary works that are representative of the last four centuries of French literary culture and five historical periods of French society and culture that constitute the socio-historical context for these literary works.

Your goal is for you to:

GLC=critical reading guide and questions to be answered in writing before class.

Jan. 17  Introduction to classical culture

Jan. 19 Histoire de la civilisation française 1. 39-43; 2. 43-50; (Paperback 53-67) Résumé:  Age classique, GLC: 53-67 SIGN UP FOR CLASS PRESENTATION


Jan. 24 Histoire de la civilisation française 50-59 GLC: 50-59 

Jan. 27  Le Misanthrope; GLC: Act I


Jan. 31  Le Misanthrope; GLC: Act II

Feb. 2  Le Misanthrope; GLC: Act III/IV


Feb. 7  Le Misanthrope; GLC: Act V, Lisez ce texte de Pascal, 17TH CENTURY CULTURAL IMAGES ON WEB

Feb. 9  Histoire de la civilisation française 1.  102-09; 2. 109-120; (Paperback 135-58); Résumé Age des lumières I; Résumé:  Lumières II; GLC: 102-20  (Voyez les tableaux de Watteau mentionné dans le texte: "Assemblée dans un parc"; Embarquement pour Cythère"; Dictons de Voltaire    18TH CENTURY CULTURAL IMAGES  ON WEB;  PRESENTATION CHRISTIAN.


Feb. 14  Histoire de la civilisation française 1. 120-25; 2.165-76; (Paperback 158-76); Résumé:  Lumières II;; GLC: 120-25, 165-76  PRESENTATION RAFIQ

Feb. 16  Candide chps. 1-6


Feb. 21 Candide chps 7-12 MAKE APPOINTMENT WITH ME TO DISCUSS YOUR PROSPECTUS

Feb. 23 Candide chps.13-18


Feb. 28 Candide chps 19-24

Mar. 2 Candide chps. 25-30

Mar. 3, noon PROSPECTUS DUE, prospectus guidelines


Mar. 7  Histoire de la civilisation française  137-44;  144-160 ; (Paperback:  181-209); Résumé Révolution; GLC: 137-60

Mar. 9  No Class

SPRING BREAK

Mar. 21 Histoire de la civilisation française 1. 160-68; 219-29; 230-35; (Paperback 209-19, 285-304); Résumé 160-68; Résumé 219-35; GLC:  160-68, 219-35; 19TH CENTURY PRESENTATION ELIZABETH  [Put in Bete pages on GLC]

Mar. 23 La Bête humaine Chapters I-II  [facultatif:  Histoire de la civilisation française 235-37; 250-60;  (Paperback:  304-308, 323-35); Résumé 235-37, 250-60] LOOK AT THIS PAINTING BY MANET! "La gare St. Lazare"


Mar. 27 La Bête humaine chps. Chapters III, IV

Mar. 29 La Bête humaine chps.  V, VI

Mar. 30  FIRST DRAFT OF TERM PAPER DUE


Apr. 4 La Bête humaine chps. Bete VII, VIII

Apr. 6 La Bête humaine chps. IX


Apr. 11 La Bête humaine chps. X-XI

Apr. 13 La Bête humaine Chapter XII 


Apr. 18  Histoire de la civilisation française 464-81; 482-87;  Résumé 464-87;GLC: 464-87 20TH CENTURY

Apr. 20 Histoire de la civilisation française  1.503-13;  519-27; Résumé 503-27; GLC: 503-13, 519-27 SIGN UP FOR SENIOR ORAL EXAM


Apr. 25 L'Amant  9-42

Apr. 27 L'Amant  42-78


May. 2 L'Amant  78-112; Le Triangle d'amour

May 4 L'Amant 112-52

May 5  FINAL DRAFT TERM PAPER DUE    


May 8  Monday 3:10 Final Exam

Required Books

Duras, Marguerite.  L'Amant
Molière, Le Misanthrope
Voltaire, Candide
Zola, Emile. La Bête humaine 

Class Preparation:

     All reading should be completed before coming to class and all questions answered on the question sheets.  You may make additions and corrections during class in a different color ink.  Do not erase answers during class.  Simply cross them out.  Turn in the questions at the end of class.

  Class Participation: 

      You will receive a daily grade on the quality, as well as the quantity, of your class participation.  Absences will result in a 0 for class participation unless I receive a valid, written excuse.

     In order to learn as much as possible in class, as well as prepare for the final exam, you should take notes in class, either on your question sheets or in a notebook.  You should review, organize, and complete these notes after class.

 Oral Presentation (Undergraduates) :

     You will give one fifteen-minute oral presentation on one aspect of French society and culture as presented in the reading for that class.  Your task is not to summarize the reading, but research and present a coherent commentary on a part of that reading that you find interesting.  

Term Paper:

Each student will complete a 10-12 page term paper on an aspect of French society or non-literary culture or on one of the literary works presented in class.

The term paper will perform a coherent interpretation of one of the literary works read in class or of an aspect of French society or non-literary culture studied in class.

As stated on the syllabus, a prospectus will be due before spring break. Guidelines for the prospectus are attached to the syllabus.  The prospectus will include a bibliography of works that you will probably use in writing your term paper.  

There will be two drafts of the term paper.  Both drafts should be fully researched, composed, and interpreted.  

The term paper will refer to specific passages or words in critical articles or books in interpreting a literary or non-literary cultural text.

Senior Oral Exam in French (Undergraduates):

You will take the Senior Oral Exam in French in my office. The Format and Evaluation form are attached.  For your 5-minute presentation, you may not use a written text, only short notes on note cards.  If you pass, you will receive a certificate that you can cite in your Curriculum Vitae.

Final Grade:

Undergraduates
Class participation 15%
Class preparation  15%
Oral Presentation 10%
Term Paper 40%
Final Exam 15%
Senior Oral Exam 5%

Graduates
Class participation 15%
Class preparation 20% 
Term Paper 45%
Final Exam  20%