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Survey of French Literature and Culture II - LG 312 - 101 (3 cr.)
Course description
The second part of a two-semester course that deals with the major periods of French culture.
Readings of representative works from the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries.
Using texts and visual works from French 19th and 20th century authors, in this course we will
define some of the cultural and symbolic constructions of the period, such as art and self, society
and institution, artistic freedom, representations of the body; we will stress on their importance in
formulating the experience of modernity.
The selected works (poetry, essays, short stories, plays, films, etc.) will be organized around the
mentioned themes in order to determine whether or not one can speak of an evolution of these
concepts through time and if so, in what ways, why, and to what degree. These issues will be
examined in texts of different genres by writers of different periods.
Conducted in French.
Course objectives:
The objective of the course is to provide students with advanced skills in all four areas of
proficiency in language learning: speaking, understanding, reading, and writing, as well as in the
analysis of literary texts and a variety of cultural objects The material is taught in a cultural
context that provides them with knowledge of modern French and Francophone cultures.
The course is designed to stimulate oral and written expression through the use of literary and
cultural readings, to develop the ability to read critically, and to build analytical vocabulary.
This is an interactive course and attendance is mandatory.
Prerequisites: LG 212, LG 213 or equivalent.
1. Required books (available at the university Bookstore-hopefully-)
1. Prosper Mérimée, Carmen. Paris: Hachette, 1993. Collection : Classiques Hachette
ISBN : 9782010 190759
2. Gustave Flaubert, Trois contes. Paris: Larousse, 2000. Collection : Petits Classiques Larousse
ISBN : 9782035881151
3. Gide, La symphonie pastorale. Paris : Gallimard, 2008. Collection : Folioplus Classique
ISBN: 9782070356874
4. Jean-Paul Sartre, Huis clos. Paris : Gallimard, 1997. Collection : Folio. ISBN : 9782070368075
5. Marguerite Duras, Moderato cantabile. Paris : Minuit, 1980. ISBN : 978-2707303141
6. Ferdinand Oyono, Une vie de boy. Paris : Julliard, 2007. ISBN : 978-2-266-16928-8
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You will be also responsible for printing some texts (short stories and poems) from the following
web site that you can access through your library account:
http://humanities.uchicago.edu/orgs/ARTFL/. (Click on Collections of Texts, then on Main
ARTFL Database (FRANTEXT) to complete your search of authors/texts)
2. GRADES:
Exam 1:
Exam 2:
Presentation
Preparation, class participation, homework, and attendance
Paper
25%
25%
15%
15%
20%
*Students will choose a paper topic, develop a bibliography (before Nov. 5), and write an essay of
3-4 pages.
3. Getting started
All work is to be typed, double-spaced, stapled, and proofread before coming to class. Hard copy
only. Please turn your work in on the due date. In order to correctly evaluate your work and give
it back in time, I must receive it on time. Thank you for your cooperation. All written work is
strictly individual unless it is explicitly assigned to pairs or groups.
Please keep in mind that you are writing formal expository French; consult reference works at
Main Library when necessary. For the preparation of your presentations, papers, and homework
assignments, you can also use the following online French dictionaries:
http://www.lexilogos.com/francais_langue_dictionnaires.htm
http://elsap1.unicaen.fr/cgi-bin/cherches.cgi.
In class: Your preparation and presence are required. Your attentive participation and
listening in class are the foundation of your learning experience. You are permitted 2 (two)
unexcused absences during the semester. After that, your final grade will be affected by each
missed class. There will be no exceptions others than medically documented ones. If you miss a
class, it is your responsibility to make up the work that you have missed. Keep in mind that you
are not competing against your classmates. The class is a group and discussions are important for
the development of your skills.
Preparation: Participation is essential in a discussion-based classroom. Please have all relevant
materials (books, notes, paragraph to turn in) with you. Students generally find it helpful to work
on readings and writing in several stages (at several different times) rather than trying to read
complex texts in one sitting. In general, each hour of class corresponds to approximately 2-3
hours of work outside of class.
GETTING HELP IF YOU HAVE MISSED A CLASS
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If you are having problems understanding an assignment, stop by during office hours.
Students generally find it helpful to exchange phone/email numbers with another student so
that they can contact each other in the event of illness or other absence.
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If you miss a class, please let me know well in advance if possible.
4. Evaluation of your work:
Oral (in class) performance
The in-class part of your grade includes most of our daily activities: discussion of readings, smallgroup discussions, and participation in the question-answer sessions of other students’ formal
presentations.
Written work
The written part of your grade includes all writing assignments; it will include grammar and other
formal elements of your writing as well as content. The emphasis in grading is on the following
aspects: knowledge and usage of parts of speech, sentence structure, paragraph coherence, the
quality of your argument, and your understanding of texts.
Presentations in class
The emphasis in grading is on the following elements: quantity, quality, difficulty, level of
development, preparation, teamwork, attitude, effort, and improvement.
NOTE: Course goals and grading procedure will not change; if necessary, however, some items on the
syllabus may be revised.
5. Course Policies
Changes in Course Requirements:
Since all classes do not progress at the same rate, the instructor may wish to modify these
requirements or their timing as circumstances dictate. For example, the instructor may wish to
change the number and frequency of exams, or the number and sequence of assignments. You
will be given adequate notification if the course requirements need to be changed.
Academic Disruption Policy:
The University of South Alabama’s policy regarding Academic Disruption is published annually
in The Lowdown and includes the following:
Disruptive academic behavior is defined as individual or group conduct that interrupts or
interferes with any educational activity or environment, infringes upon the rights and privileges of
others, results in or threatens the destruction of property and/or is otherwise prejudicial to the
maintenance of order in an academic environment.
Common examples of disruptive student behavior include (in part from Gerald Amada
“Coping with the Disruptive Student”).
- Threatening, stalking, intimidating, or harassing of anyone in an academic setting, such as
another student, instructor, librarian or other academic staff person in an attempt to address some
grievance.
- The formation of close and sometimes erotic attachments to a professor resulting in shadowing
or persistent and unwanted phone calls or letters.
- The badgering of an instructor with questions with the intent to interrupt lectures and gain
attention (this problem is even more severe if related to alcohol or substance abuse).
- Sleeping in class.
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- Routinely entering class Pate or departing early.
- Personal hygiene problems impacting others.
- Repeatedly talking in class without being recognized, talking while others are talking, or
dominating class discussion.
- Loud keyboarding or playing computer games.
- Physical display of anger (such as throwing books or other items).
- The use of cell phones or pagers.
- Tampering with equipment, altering computer software or hardware, or damaging furnishings in
any academic setting.
Student Academic Conduct Policy (cheating and plagiarism):
The University of South Alabama’s policy regarding Student Academic Conduct Policy is
published annually in The Lowdown and includes the following: As a community of students and
scholars, the University strives to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. APP
members of the community are expected to exhibit honesty and competence in academic work. Any
dishonesty related to academic work or records constitutes academic misconduct including, but
not limited to, activities such as giving or receiving unauthorized aid in tests and examinations,
improperly obtaining a copy of an examination, plagiarism, and misrepresentation of information,
altering transcripts or university records.
Students with Disabilities:
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, students with bona fide disabilities will be
afforded reasonable accommodation. The Office of Special Student Services will certify a
disability and advise faculty members of reasonable accommodations. If you have a specific
disability that qualifies you for this program, please notify your instructor and provide certification
from the Office of Special Student Services located in room 270 of the Student Center (telephone:
460-7212).
Additional Requirements and Recommendations
Online Writing Support
 The University of South Alabama provides online writing tutoring services through
SMARTHINKING, an online tutoring service. SMARTHINKING is available at
http://services.smarthinking.com. Students may enter the site by logging on with their Jag
number and using the last four digits of the social security number as the password. For
log-on problems, technical questions and/or on-campus writing assistance, contact the
USA Writing Center at 251-460-6480 or e-mail csaint-paul@usouthal.edu.
 Information about the University Writing Center and Online Writing Lab can be found
online at
http://www.southalabama.edu/univlib/instruction/antiplagiarism/writinghelp.html.
Counseling and Testing Services
 Counseling and Testing Services provides a variety of free and confidential services for
students. For further information regarding this resource go to
www.southalabama.edu/counseling or call the office at 460-7051.