French Literature and Civilization in Translation
FRENCH 270W
Spring 2008 Course Syllabus
Instructor: Nathalie Ettzevoglou
Email: nathalie.ettzevoglou@uconn.edu, nettzevo@gmail.com
Time & Location: Tues/Thurs 2-3:15 ARJ Darpa Lab
Office hrs: TBA
Texts we are reading:
- Candide by Voltaire
- The Stranger by Albert Camus
- The Oxford Book of French Short Stories ed. Elizabeth Fallaize
- Monsieur Ibrahim and The Flowers of The Koran by Eric Emmanuel Schmitt
- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
- The Little Girl and the Cigarette by Benoit Duteurtre
- Ordinary Victories by Manu Larcenet
Course description:
This course is designed to familiarize you with a few French texts that have been translated into English. No prior knowledge in the French language or literature is required. We will be exploring a variety of topics from 18th century ideals of optimism to the 21st century view on reality TV. This is also a “W” course where writing will be greatly emphasized. According to the University policy, you must successfully pass the “W” component of the course.
Student Expectations and Requirements:
- All academic misconduct will be dealt with as outlined in the University of Connecticut handbook. This includes plagiarism. I strongly discourage the internet as your source of research to cite in papers.
- I expect you to come to each class prepared to discuss the book we are currently reading. More than 2 absences will result in your grade dropping. Please come to class on time, if you have a class before and are coming from the other side of campus, let me know!
- I do not have a late policy - papers are to be handed in class, they are due with no exceptions unless you have a dean’s excuse or some kind of valid explanation with proof. If you turn in a late paper even after class, that is an automatic full letter grade reduction. All papers are to be typed (font 12), double spaced, and stapled.
- Please inform me of any accommodations I must make for you ASAP if need be (for example, if I need to make the font in handouts bigger than 12, etc).
- Participation is vital for you to succeed in this class, if you do not participate (this does not include being physically present in class) then your participation grade will suffer.
Grading:
- 5 papers = 60% (no less than 3pgs) due dates TBA
- In class participation = 20%
- Class blog = 10%
- Class wiki = 10 %
Week 1
Jan 22: Introduction to course
Jan 24: Candide Chpt 1-15
Week 2
Jan 29: Candide Chpt 16-25
Jan 31: Candide Chpt 26-30
Week 3
Feb 5: The Stranger Chpt 1-3 Part I
Feb 7: The Stranger Chpt 4-6 Part I (1st paper due)
Week 4
Feb 12: The Stranger Chpt 1-3 Part II
Feb 14: The Stranger Chpt 4-5 Part II
Week 5
Feb 19: Short Stories
Feb 21: Short Stories
Week 6
Feb 26: Short Stories
Feb 28: Short Stories (2nd paper due)
Week 7
Mar 4: Short film
Mar 6: Short film vs short stories conclusions
Week 8 NO CLASSES
Mar 11: spring break
Mar 13: spring break
Week 9
Mar 18: The Little Prince Chpt 1-17 (3rd paper due)
Mar 20: The Little Prince Chpt 18-27
Week 10
Mar 25: Little Girl & Cigarette Chpt 1-3
Mar 27: Little Girl & Cigarette Chpt 4-5
Week 11
Apr 1: Little Girl & Cigarette Chpt 6-8
Apr 3: Little Girl & Cigarette Chpt 9-10
Week 12
Apr 8: Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran
Apr 10: Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran film (4th paper due)
Week 13
Apr 15: Ordinary Victories Chpt 1 (p 1-50)
Apr 17: Ordinary Victories Chpt 2 (p 1-30)
Week 14
Apr 22: Ordinary Victories Chpt 2 (p 31-60)
Apr 24: TBA
Week 15
Apr 29: TBA (5th paper due)
May 1: TBA
* This is not a finalized syllabus and may be subject to changes based upon our progress.
Class Blog
OUR BLOG:
Our class blog is our own creation and a way for us to elaborate on our thoughts or post new ones outside the classroom. I will set up the preliminary pages for us but the rest depends on your imagination. You may see what I’ve done in the past by looking at www.nle2007.wordpress.com.
How will you be graded?
- Every week, I will be posting a question in relationship to our class discussions. Your responses will be due every Sunday to allow you enough time to answer. Ideally the lengths of your posts don’t have to be long like a novel but it should be a good sized small paragraph.
1. You are to respond to my question
2. You are to respond to one of your colleague’s responses. Your post should either add or extend an idea.
- I will be looking at the quality and consistency of your responses. Any references to outside materials must be referenced correctly and whenever possible, linked. You are encouraged to share all your findings with everyone and can even put links on our blogroll. We also will be discussing the various postings in class as well.
Your work on the blog will count for 10% of your final grade.
