Webct Course. Please Make Sure to Access All Documents Before Class Session
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SPRING 2008 Prof. Ghislaine Géloin, Modern Languages Department Office: Craig Lee CL 147. X 8707 [email protected] Office hours: M, W 11-1 or by appointment. GENERAL EDUCATION CORE IV : CRITICAL INQUIRY. AFAM 262/01 -- THE FRANCOPHONE AFRICAN WORLD. WebCT course. Please make sure to access all documents before class session Course description This course is designed to introduce you to the cultural products of the French- speaking African world. Art, poetry, novels, plays, films and essays in translation are analyzed as documents of historical, social, political and cultural issues of Francophone Africa. Films provide authentic cultural products to explore important aspects of Africa. Students will thus be able to experience the fabric and texture of African. A variety of topics have been selected in order to familiarize you with essential cultural aspects of African countries that have been influenced by French colonization. (See detailed description of topics of exploration in Course content.) Throughout the course you will come to understand the complex realities of Africa, its geographical, historical and social/cultural contexts and its relationships to the West, especially to France. You will listen to African voices telling their side of the story on colonial, neo-colonial, postcolonial Francophone Africa as well as on the cultural values of traditional and contemporary Africa. You will thereby better understand African perspectives, the relationship and the ongoing dialogue between the West and the Non-West as illustrated through the examples of Francophone Africa. By learning about a part of the world that you are not familiar with, you will become more aware of other cultures. In order to provide cultural diversity in your general education and a reflection on the Non-West / West dichotomy, the course seeks to develop tolerance, understanding and celebration of other cultures. Specific course (CORE IV) objectives • To make you discover the Francophone African countries; to examine their interconnectedness because of a common historical (painful) past and a common language, their relation to the rest of Africa and to the West through the concept of Francophonie. • To bring to the fore « marginal » cultures and minor literatures about which you have no knowledge and which will make you recognize cultural diversity. 2 • To think critically about cultures which are in the Non-Western world and to challenge the stated boundaries of West and Non-West when it comes to the African countries. Critical analysis is necessary in a complex and often contradictory world in order to comprehend the Global World. • To improve your writing skills through writing assignments on topics, themes or « problems » connected to the African world in past and present. The final paper will require careful development, library research, and critical thought. [See Guidelines about writing for General Education p.11-14] • Readings will lead to class discussion. Study guides (with questions and topics) are posted on WebCT in order to help you with your reading and to stimulate class discussions. Pedagogy and class format Close reading and textual analysis. A mix between lectures and class discussions. Questions /answers format. Your instructor does not make claim to have all the answers. This is not the nature of a GE course. The course raises a series of issues that, in turn, raise your interest and desire to investigate further and engage in a topic. The topics have been chosen to provoke critical inquiry and critical thinking around a series of questions, mainly the problematic relationship between the “Non-Western” and the Western worlds. There is not one simple answer. Course requirements -- Attendance policy : Regular class attendance is mandatory. • You are allowed a total of 3 unexcused absences, (those for which you do not present an official, written, documentation). Starting the 4th unexcused absence your participation grade will go down by one letter grade for every class absence. -- Classroom etiquette / courtesy . Please do not take offense about class policy. List of don’ts that will affect your final grade : • Classroom behavior. Your attitude and respect toward the class and your peers are expected. Too much talking with your neighbors disrupts the class. Please no cell phone ringing or checking messages, sending SMS, playing with your cell, etc., (in case of anticipated emergency, inform your instructor) • Systematic late arrivals (grace period 15’), early departures, short leaves during class period. Be prompt! • Sleeping or nodding off during class period will equal to an absence. You may be asked to leave class and go to the health center. • Doing homework on non-class related material and reading books in class. • Not being prepared for class. Completion of reading for the session it has been assigned is required. This is the only way to actively engage in the learning process and the material. If you feel that you must do your reading in class, you will be asked to go to the library. This also means that you bring the books, the downloaded lectures and required material in class the day they are needed. Since we do textual analysis you need 3 books and documents for reference. Take good notes; this is the key to your success in the course • Not submitting assignments and papers on time. -- Assignments and papers are due on the assigned day. If you send your paper electronically make sure that you get a receipt notice. (Students experience mysterious internet problems whenever a paper is due). No acknowledgment means no papers have been submitted. -- Non exam materials (papers, paragraphs…) will be accepted up to one class day after the due date if you provide an official excuse. After one class day, it will not be accepted at all. It is always advisable to turn in your work early if you know that you will be absent on a particular day. If you have special circumstances, make special arrangement with your instructor so that another contract can be drawn. Put your work on my desk when you arrive. • Make-up exams are allowed with an official excuse. I expect prior notification that is before the exam day. Make-up exams will not be accepted at all after exams have been returned. There are no make-up for quizzes. GRADING POLICY The final grade is based on • Active class participation : the discussion format of the class is intended to serve as a way to assess students level of understanding and area of concern. Questions and comments are expected from assigned readings. Students’ responsibility is to contribute constructively to the class discussion. Low stakes writing (one page writing) and quizzes on readings will count as part of your participation grade……………………………………………… 20% • Three tests will measure knowledge acquired after major works have been studied. Short answers and essay questions ………………………………… 20% • Two papers (5 pages) from works discussed, summarizing discussion and in- depth exploration of a theme. These will be considered as preparatory training for the final paper + Portfolio on an African country………………………… 20% • Final paper (8-10 pages): Ongoing research during the course. Topics must be • approved in advance after midterm. It is worth 0.33%. Appropriate bibliography and notes are included to indicate where sources of information were gained (0.33%) …………………………………………........................................... 20% • Final exam will synthesize knowledge acquired in the course Identifications, short answers and essay questions………………………….. 20% ************************************************************************ Required texts (available at the campus bookstore unless it is specified “handout”) Make sure that you buy your books before midterm since the bookstore returns unsold books before midterm. Houseboy, Oyono, 1956, (Cameroon) Ambiguous Adventure, Cheik Hamidou Kane,1961, (Senegal) A Season in the Congo, Césaire, 1966 (handout) Xala, Ousmane Sembene, 1974, (Senegal) 4 Films Les Statues meurent aussi, Even Statues die, Resnais, 1954 Lumumba, Death of a prophet, 1992, (excerpts) Lumumba (excerpts) Raoul Peck. Mobutu, King of Zaire, Thierry Michel, 1999. Portraits de femmes, Faces of Women, Désiré Ecaré, 1985 (Ivory Coast) Yeelen, Souleymane Cissé, 1987, Mali La Petite Vendeuse de Soleil, The Little Girl Who Sold The Sun, Mambety, 1999 (Senegal). Course content, organization and schedule WEEK ONE Jan 22 Syllabus presentation and discussion. Books and reading assignments. Importance on finishing reading material for the day it is assigned. Do not fall behind. Allow yourself at least two weeks to read the material. Study the books with the Study guide available on WebCT in Guidelines for reading assignments and take good notes. Think ahead about topics for your papers and for your final research paper by mid-semester. What makes a good paper (1. Structure and organization; 2. Analysis and critical thinking; 3. Spelling, grammar, style, (see Guidelines p.11-14). Use the Writing Center if you experience difficulties. -- INTRODUCING AFRICA : Why study Africa? -- LECTURE 1 - Francophone Africa (download on WebCT in Lectures notes) Presentation of the course content : The French-speaking African countries that share a common language. Maps of Africa. Physical and political geography of Francophone Africa versus Anglophone and Lusophone Africa. French as an official, administrative, international, or tool language; French language of cultural expression for African intellectuals and writers. Assignment: -- * Exploring Africa 1) Google earth in African links (WebCT) 2) In preparation to your semester portfolio “Adopt an African country”, learn how to gather good information on current events/ news in Africa and positive developments. Report to class on Jan 29 and turn in your one typed double-spaced page. Here are some links / Websites News agency dedicated to Africa : www.afrol.com The Guardian news. BBC world news, New York times (section Africa) Access to African newspapers : http://www.ipl.org/div/news/browse/AFR/ http:// www.africapolicy.org or use African Links in the WebCT course Use Google to find maps of Africa : Type : maps of Africa * Download LECTURE 1 and 2 - Francophonie and OIF in Lectures notes.