Literature Courses Approved from Modern
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Rhode Island College General Education Course Request Use this form for any course that is to be included in the General Education Program. If the course is new or revised, attach the appropriate Undergraduate Curriculum Committee forms. (Available at http://www.ric.edu/curriculum_committee/materials.php) Proposing Department or Program: Modern Languages Chair/contact: Olga Juzyn DEPT/PROG CODE (e.g., ENGL, PHYS, AFRI) FREN Course number: 115 Catalog title: Literature of the French Speaking World Prerequisites: FREN 113 or consent of the Chair Credits: (General Education courses are four credits) 4 Category in General Education ☐First-year seminar (FYS ☐First-year writing (FYW ☐Connections (C) Distribution ☐Mathematics ☐Natural Science (lab required) ☐Advanced Quantitative/Scientific Reasoning ☐History X Literature ☐Social and Behavioral Sciences ☐Arts – Visual and Performing General Education Outcomes that will be formally addressed and assessed in this course: X Written Communication X Critical and Creative Thinking ☐Research Fluency X Oral Communication ☐Collaborative Work ☐Arts ☐Civic Knowledge ☐Ethical Reasoning X Global Understanding ☐Quantitative Literacy ☐Scientific Literacy It is acknowledged that courses in the distribution are content-based and that students are expected to learn the material and demonstrate competence in a manner appropriate to the discipline. Explain briefly how this course will meet the General Education Outcomes. Describe the kinds of assignments in which the assigned outcomes will be assessed. FREN 115 addresses Written communication, Critical and Creative Thinking, Oral Communication, and Global Understanding as follows: Written communication: FREN 115 is a second semester intermediate course in French. At this level, students apply their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in formal and informal writing assignments, which range from writing plot summaries, theses, short interpretive essays utilizing techniques of literary analysis to longer critical analyses with revisions. Instructors will assess correct, grammatical use of French, appropriate vocabulary, clear theses, proper use of syntax, and logical progression of arguments. Oral Communication: Typically language courses in the Modern Languages department use the communicative approach, which creates continuous opportunity for oral expression. At this level students are expected to express themselves solely in the target language, to build vocabulary, and to make clearly articulated arguments. Students will prepare oral presentations on specific topics and will learn to anticipate questions from their audience. Critical and Creative Thinking: In FREN 115 students learn to identify the literariness of works of literature, to read works of literature closely, to identify themes and textual strategies, to articulate with clarity and accuracy interpretations using basic tools of literary analysis, to reflect upon their own position as readers and avoid imposing meanings on texts. Students also learn to consider and respond with evidence to the points of view of others. Global Understanding: The readings for FREN 115 come from France and countries in Africa and the Caribbean and are studied in their social and historical contexts. Students will learn to identify country- specific themes as well as themes and literary styles that are historically determined and are shared across borders. Include a current syllabus that meets the General Education syllabus format. How often will this course be offered? Fall and Spring Number and frequency of sections to be offered (students/semester or /year)? One per semester FREN 115 Literature of the French Speaking World (GE distribution) An introduction to the literature of France and the Francophone world. Through close readings of major authors, diverse genres and themes, students will learn techniques of literary analysis and continue to develop speaking, reading, and writing skills in French. Prerequisite : French 113, the equivalent, or consent of the Chair. 4 credits Gen. Ed. Distribution: Literature DESCRIPTION This course is an introductory course to literary and cultural landmarks of French and Francophone cultures. Students will explore major authors and their literary works from a variety of genres and media including short stories, novels, poetry, fables, plays, songs, journal articles, and films from different historical periods. Students will learn how to develop reading and writing strategies and how to appreciate works as literary texts that reflect the soul of the French and Francophone peoples and the cultural (geographical, social, historical) contexts in which they were produced. Text selections will reflect themes such as place, identity, love and war, sexuality, values, the nature of life, the relationship between reason and emotions, as well as philosophical issues. The course will be conducted in French. General Education Outcomes: • Critical Thinking, assessed through writing and oral assignments utilizing reading strategies, analysis of texts. • Written Communication, assessed through written assignments such as critical essays, journals, short papers. • Oral communication, assessed through oral presentations. Prerequisite : French 113, the equivalent, or consent by the Chair. OBJECTIVES and METHODOLOGY • Develop text comprehension (identification and discussion of key elements). • Develop reading strategies. • Introduction to basic literary concepts such as genre, movements. • Identification of the main narrative techniques such as viewpoint, distance, irony. • Development of writing strategies. Writing activities following the MLA style format. • Understanding the different cultural contexts and cultural perspectives embedded in the text. • Awareness of what constitutes literature, what makes literature “classic” and a work of art. • Appreciation of literature. • Continued knowledge of the French language. COURSE WORK: In-class informal writing: theses, summaries, titles, questions Weekly short papers Interpretive analyses of texts and or themes, with revisions Oral presentations on assigned topics Quizzes TOPICS and Calendar Week 1 Course introduction Genre : The Fable Le Loup et l’Agneau -- in-class reading Cultural context, 17th century, Louis XIV Court Theme : power and social classes - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Genre : Poetry V. Hugo, 19th century Demain dès l’aube, Elle avait pris ce pli Theme : Paternal love and sorrow Ronsard, 16th century, Mignonne….. a comparison with Queneau, Si tu t’imagines 20th century, pastiche and parody of Mignonne. Debunking high culture Theme : courtly love Week 2 Francophone Literature and culture -- Poems of Negritude Prière d’un petit enfant nègre (1943) Guy Tirolien, Guadeloupe Theme : Children and Resistance to the French educational system Solde, Blanchi, Léon Damas, French Guiana, Pigments, 1937 Theme : Colonial context. Loss of Self. Alienation. Refusal to be assimilated in a colonial context - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Genre : Film : Les Quatre Cents Coups ou Pocket Money, Truffaut (99 minutes) Theme : Children and French education, the suffering of children Week 3 Continue Les Quatre Cents Coups - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - L’Enfant noir, Camara Laye, Guinea, 1953 Genre: Autobiography Theme: Colonialism: the irreconcilable clash between a French and an African education. Exploration and celebration of African values. Week 4 Continue L’Enfant noir - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Genre : Folktale Madame Le Prince de Beaumont, La Belle et la Bête, 1756 Genre : Film adaptation : Cocteau, La Belle et la Bête, 1946 with a touch of surrealism Theme : Sibling rivalry. True love and appearance. The dual nature of human beings, our humanity and animality. Sexual desire. Draft of first critical essay Week 5 Continue La Belle et la Bête - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Genre : Philosophical tale -- Saint Exupery, Le Petit Prince, 1943 Theme : The importance of keeping a childlike innocence Responsibility in friendship and love - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Continue Le Petit Prince Week 6 Genre : Short story -- 19th century, Maupassant Une Partie de campagne, 1881 Literary movement : Realism Theme : Influence of nature on sexual desire Genre : Film adaptation, Une partie de campagne, Jean Renoir, 1936 Painting in literature: Impressionism in Renoir, Caillebotte, Monet Final draft of the first critical essay Week 7 Continue Une partie de campagne - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Genre: Play, Molière, 17th century, Le Malade imaginaire or Becket, En attendant Godot, 1953 Theatre of the Absurd Theme : The tragicomedy of the human condition. Existential issues. The issue of “over interpreting” in literature. Week 8 Continue En Attendant Godot - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Genre – Comics (Bande dessinée) -- Planches de Claire Brétécher Satirizing Bourgeois society Week 9 Genre : Poetry : Verlaine, Mon rêve familier, Colloque sentimental Theme : Love and nostalgia - - - - - - - - - - - Baudelaire, L’Albatros Rimbaud, Le Dormeur du val, Ma bohême Theme : Portrait of the poet and mission of poetry. Changing the world through revolt. Week 10 Genre : Novel -- Camus, L’Étranger, 1942 Literary Movement : L’Absurde et l’Existentialisme Philosophical texts : Sartre, L’Existentialisme est un humanisme (1946), Le Mythe de Sisyphe, 1942 L’Homme révolté 1951 (excerpts) Theme : philosophy in literature. Exploration of the