FRENCH 101
Advanced French Syntax and Composition
Spring 2011
MWF, 9:10-10:10, Dante 217
Professor: Catherine Marachi
Office: Dante 317,
Ext. 8518; email:
Office hours: MWF, 11:30-12:30 and by appointment
Texts: LimouzyBourgeacq, Manuel de Composition Française, 2ème édition
French 101 Reader
Watson-Rodger, Mieux Traduire et Mieux S’exprimer
You should also have a good French-English dictionary and a current copy of the MLA Handbook.
Course Description:
This course is designed to provide students with the necessary tools to develop advanced written proficiency in the discipline. It focuses on essential aspects of French syntax and on developing composition skills. Translation techniques and analysis of model literary texts through various genres serve as means of improving self expression and written communication. Students are also introduced to research strategies, information evaluation, literary analysis, proper terminology, and sound citation practices.
The writing component of the courseuses Limouzy and Bourgeacq’sManuelde Composition Française, and is divided in three main parts:
- La composition d’imagination(description, portrait, narration and dialogue)
- La méthode de la dissertation morale (essay writing on a given topic, i.e. death penalty, abortion, etc…) In this section students practice presentingand organizing strong and convincing arguments
- La méthode de la dissertation littérairefrançaise (learning how to writeanalytically about challenging poems and excerpts of literary texts)
On Mondays and every two Fridays we will focus on one type of composition, using close reading of short model texts, sample drafts, and a series of vocabulary-building and pre-writing exercises. Every Wednesday we will practice the art of translation from French to English and from English to French. This will help you identify the syntactic differences between French and English, and learn once and for all to avoid word to word translation (of a text or of your own thoughts). Every two Fridays we will discuss a short story that you will read ahead of time. Do not wait until the last minute to do your reading since the stories a fairly long and complex. They are listed on the schedule and you must reserve in advance the necessary time to devote to them. For each short story you will come to class with a one page typed response.
We will start all the composition classes with a five to ten minute exercise in free writing on a given prompt. Please bring a composition notebook for this purpose and also to write down the new vocabulary words that you encounter during your readings.
Course Objectives and Student Learning Outcomes:
- To build on the writing skills students have acquired in English 4 and 5
- To develop writing strategies through in-class writing activities, a variety of essay-writing techniques, multiple drafts and peer-editing
- To improve mastery of French syntax through exercises in translation from one language to the other, and through two literary translation assignments
- To develop reading strategies and lexical proficiency through literary analysis of selected French works
- To develop sound research strategies through an exploration of primary and secondary sources
- To master MLA formatting standards for academic writing in French, including citations and bibliographic references
Attendance:
You are allowed a maximum of three absences during the semester. Each additional absence will lower your grade by half a point. Please arrive on time since late arrivals disturb the class. Being more than five minutes late three times during the semester will be equivalent to an absence. Please do not leave the classroom during the duration of class. Cell phones must remain in your bags at all times.
Workload:
You will have a total of five formal written assignments: three essays (one for each kind of composition), with multiple drafts and two literary translations (one from French to English and one from English to French). You will also have daily homework, a mid-term, and a final exam. I will not accept any late work.
Grades:
Active class participation10%
Homework15%
Compositions30%
Translations10%
Mid-term15%
Final exam20%
Grading percentage Scale:
A93-100C73-76
A-90-92C-70-72
B+87-89D+67-69
B83-86D63-66
B-80-82D-60-62
C+77-79F59 and below
Honor Code:
This course operates under the premises of the academic honor code, including the expectation of high standards of integrity. For further information, see the Saint Mary’s College Student Handbook.
Student Disability Services:
Student Disability Services extends reasonable and appropriate accommodations that take into account the context of the course and its essential elements for individuals with qualifying disabilities. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Student Disability Services Office at (925) 631-4358 to set up a confidential appointment to discuss accommodation guidelines and available services. Additional information regarding the services available may be found at the following address on the Saint Mary’s website:
Additional Campus Services:
Center for Writing Across the Curriculum.Students of all levels and disciplines are welcome to drop in or make appointments for one-on-one sessions with CWAC Writing Advisors. Students may request weekly or bi-weekly sessions with the same peer student advisor.
Dante 202: 5:00-8:00pm Sunday and 2:00-8:00pm Monday through Thursday. 925-631-4684.
Student Academic Support Services. Students are welcome to seek additional help for any aspect of this course through the Office of Tutorial and Academic Skills Center. Tutors are available to help with review and study of Spanish grammar, as well as phases of the writing process in Spanish. Augustine Hall, Suite 118, Monday through Friday 9:00am-5:00pm. 925-631-4349
Tentative Schedule
Assignments are in bold. Schedule of successive drafts will be announced in class
février
lundi 7 Présentation du cours
mercredi 9Mieux Traduire (MT), Ch. III A, exercices 5 p. 27; 4&5 p. 28; 4 & 5 p. 29
Ch. III B, exercices 4 & 5 p. 31; 4 & 5 p. 32; 3 p. 33
vendredi 11I. La composition d'imagination
lundi 14a) la description
mercredi 16MT, Ch V A, ex. 2,6,7 p. 45; 11, 13 p. 46.
Ch V B, ex. 2 p. 47, 9 p. 48; 11 p. 49
vendredi 18Short story, Le Fait du Jour, reader, p. 91-98
lundi 21description
mercredi 23MT, "Niveaux de langue," Ch VII A, ex. 2,4 p. 61; 2, 5 p. 62; 3 p. 66;
Ch VII B, ex. 3 p. 65; 3 p. 66; 2 et 5 p. 67
vendredi 25Devoir traduction.
b) le portrait
lundi 28portrait
mars
mercredi 2MT, Ch XIII A, ex. 4 p. 112; 6 et 9 p. 113
Ch XIII B, ex. 2 p. 117; 4 et 6 p. 118; 8 et 11 p. 119
vendredi 4Short story, Camus, Les muets, reader, p. 99-108
lundi 7c) La narration
mercredi 9MT, Ch. X A, ex. 1 et 2 p. 82; 4, 5, 7 p. 83; 10, 11, 12, p. 84
Ch X B, ex. 1 p. 88, 3. 5, 6 p. 89; 11 p. 91
vendredi 11narration
lundi 14Rendre devoir sur une des compositions d'imagination (description, portrait ou narration)
d) le dialogue littéraire
mercredi 16MT, "Les faux amis," Ch. IV A, ex. 1 et 4 p. 35; 6 et 7 p. 36; 10 p. 37
Ch. IV B, ex. 3 p. 39; 5 et 7 p. 40; 9 p. 41
vendredi 18Short story, Anna Gavalda, IIG, reader, p. 109-117
lundi 21d) le dialogue littéraire
mercredi 23Examen de mi-semestre
vendredi 25II. La correspondance
lundi 28La correspondance
mercredi 30MT, Ch II A, ex. 1 et 2 p. 16; 3 p. 174
Ch II B, ex. 3 p. 39, 5 et 7 p. 40; 9 p. 41
avril
vendedi 1Short story, Junior, reader, p. 119-127
lundi 4III. La dissertation morale
mercredi 6Rendre devoir traduction
dissertation morale
vendredi 8dissertation morale
lundi 11MT,Ch VIII A, ex. 2 et 7 p. 69; 11 et 13 p. 70
Ch VIII B. ex. 5 et 7 p. 72; 8 et 12 p. 73
mercredi 13Short story, Le Rappel, reader, p. 128-135
vendredi 15Rendre composition dissertation morale
IV. La dissertation littéraire
Du 16 au 25 Vacances de Pâques
mercredi 27MT, Ch. XXI A, ex. 2 et 5 p. 182; 7 et 11 p. 183
Ch XXI B, ex. 3 p. 185; 4 et 7 p. 186; 11 p. 187
vendredi 29dissertation littéraire
mai
lundi 2dissertation littéraire
mercredi 4MT, Ch. VI A, ex. 2 et 5 p. 51; 2 p. 52; 2 et 4 p. 53
Ch VI B, ex.2 p. 55; 4 p. 56; 2 et 5 p. 57
vendredi 6 Short story, Marguerite Yourcenar, reader p. 136-142
lundi 9Rendre composition dissertation littéraire
mercredi 11dissertation littéraire
lundi 13bilan
mercredi 18Examen final, 9:00-11:00