FRENCH 201 – SPRING 2015
Department of European Studies
Schedule # 21446
COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Holly Ransom
Class Days: T/TH
Class Times: 12:30-1:45
Class Location: NE 172
Instructor email: holly.ransom@sdsu.edu
Office Hours Location: Storm Hall 230
Office Hours Times (and by appointment): listed on
Blackboard under “Faculty”
Course Overview: Goals and Objectives
1) The primary goal of French 201 is developing reading proficiency in French at the intermediate level. You will improve your
mastery of reading strategies and acquire new vocabulary and structures. You will demonstrate your reading proficiency
through classroom discussions and written exams. In addition to developing your reading proficiency, French 201 also gives you
opportunities to develop your writing proficiency, as well as your speaking proficiency and your listening comprehension, a
necessary component in speaking.
2) You’ll also be able to make comparisons between your culture/s and French and Francophone cultures. You will analyze
differences between your culture/s and a Francophone culture.
3) You’ll also begin to acquire a general knowledge of the diversity of French and Francophone nations, languages, and cultures.
You’ll identify major geographic regions where French is spoken; describe differences between Francophone nations; discuss a
Francophone nation.
4) Finally, you will begin to acquire a general knowledge of the Francophone literature by learning about some major authors,
texts, and literary movements.
Enrollment Information
French 100B or three years of high school French. Native speakers of French will not receive credit for this course. French
majors, minors and IB majors should enroll in French 210 concurrently. French 201 satisfies the foreign language graduation
requirement.
Please note: Students who do not attend the first and second class sessions or do not meet the prerequisites MAY BE DROPPED.
To reenroll, you must receive an add code form the instructor and reenroll in the course before the add deadline.
Course Materials
Required: Gaasch & Budig-Markin. Diversité, 2
nd
ed. Houghton-Mifflin, 2000.
Recommended: Le Micro Robert and/or Collins' French/English dictionary.
On-line materials can be accessed through the
course Blackboard site. Please check the site frequently for updates, assignments, and supplementary materials.
Course Structure and Conduct
French 201 is taught entirely in French. This course focuses on developing reading competency in French at the intermediate
level. As the semester progresses, you’ll learn how to read with increasing facility, going beyond a basic comprehension of plot
to achieve a more refined understanding of central themes, character development, and the use of language and style. This
rewarding process will be furthered through other elements such as grammar exercises, composition, listening comprehension
and discussion.
Diversité, a collection of short stories by authors from a variety of French-speaking countries, (including, of course, France),
celebrates the cultural diversity of the French-speaking world. We will examine the ways in which familiarity with different
cultures enhances our understanding of our own culture/s and of themes common to humanity. You’ll leave this course not
only more literate in French, but also more culturally literate.
Course Assessment and Grading
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Participation and "devoirs" 15%
Quizzes 15%
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4 Mini-compositions 20%
2 In-class exams 30%
Final Exam 20%
Make-up exams/quizzes: ONLY given with university-authorized excuse, or medical receipt.
Class Participation Criteria
“A” comes to class and arrives on time with textbook, paper and pen every day; initiates and maintains meaningful interaction
during class time; shows leadership in group activities; avoids using English in discussions and group activities; makes an effort
to ask questions in French; is always prepared; attempts to use complete sentences and elaborate on answers. Attention =
100%: Keeps phone, etc. stowed in bag, NOT on desk.
“B” shows willingness to participate; cooperates fully in discussions and group activities although may not necessarily be the
leader; answers readily when called upon; elaborates somewhat on answers.
“C” participates more passively than actively in class and group activities; occasionally resorts to use of English; gives slightly
elaborated answers; is not always fully prepared for class sometimes due to absences.
“D” seldom participates actively or engages in idle “chit-chat” with classmates; generally doesn’t cooperate in activities (resorts
frequently to English); commits many errors and makes little effort to correct him/herself; is often absent and/or tardy and/or
frequently when asked questions.
“F” is unprepared and rarely participates in class activities (sometimes due to excessive absences, chronic tardiness, etc.); is not
able to answer questions and almost never uses French.
-- Please be courteous to your classmates and your instructor during the class time by SILENCING all electronic devices before
entering the class, and keeping them off your desk (& not using them) during class time.
Accommodations
The learning environment should be accessible to all. SDSU provides reasonable accommodations in the following situations:
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Disability: If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your
responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt of your
accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that
accommodations are not retroactive, and that accommodations based upon disability cannot be provided until you
have presented your instructor with an accommodation letter from Student Disability Services. Your cooperation is
appreciated.
Religion: By the end of the second week of classes, students should notify the instructors of affected courses of
planned absences for religious observances.
Official university activities (e.g., Athletics): Within the first two weeks of classes, a student who expects to be part of
an official university event or activity shall notify the instructors of affected courses. At that time, the student shall
request accommodation for any missed examinations or other assignments. If scheduling changes occur, the student
shall immediately notify the instructors.
Academic Honesty
The University adheres to a strict policy regarding cheating and plagiarism. These activities will not be tolerated in this class.
Become familiar with the policy (http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/srr/conduct1.html). Any cheating or plagiarism will result in failing
this class and a disciplinary review by Student Affairs.
Examples of Plagiarism include but are not limited to:
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Using sources verbatim or paraphrasing without giving proper attribution (this can include phrases, sentences,
paragraphs and/or pages of work)
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Copying and pasting work from an online or offline source directly and calling it your own
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Using information you find from an online or offline source without giving the author credit
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Replacing words or phrases from another source and inserting your own words or phrases
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Submitting a piece of work you did for one class to another class
If you have questions on what is plagiarism, please consult the policy (http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/srr/conduct1.html) and this
helpful guide from the Library: (http://infodome.sdsu.edu/infolit/exploratorium/Standard_5/plagiarism.pdf)
Cheating and Plagiarism
Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses. You are plagiarizing or cheating if you:
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for written work, copy down or cut anything from a book, article or website and add or paste it into your paper
without using quotation marks and providing the full reference for the quotation, including page number
for written work, summarize / paraphrase in your own words ideas you got from a book, article, or the web without
providing the full reference for the source, including page number
for an oral presentation, copy down or cut anything from a book, article, or website and present it orally as if it were
your own words. You must summarize and paraphrase in your own words, and bring a list of references in case the
professor asks to see it
use visuals or graphs you got from a book, article, or website without providing the full reference for the picture or
table
recycle a paper you wrote for another class
turn in the same (or a very similar paper) for two classes
purchase or otherwise obtain a paper and turn it in as your own work
copy off of a classmate
use technology or smuggle in documents to obtain or check information in an exam situation
In a research paper, it is always better to include too many references than not enough. When in doubt, always err on the side
of caution. If you have too many references it might make your professor smile; if you don’t have enough you might be
suspected of plagiarism.
In foreign language study, cheating also includes the following:
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Doing your written homework and then having a third party correct it, or having someone else write your homework
for you and turning that in for credit
Doing assignments with another student and turning in the same or almost the same work. (Unless you are
specifically directed to work in pairs on in groups, college-level work is always expected to be solely your own.)
Using an automated translation engine to translate your homework
Using an available translation of a text on which to base your own translation and turning that in for credit.
What IS acceptable includes the following:
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Asking your professor for help.
Brainstorming answers and/or ideas with another student; then, each student writes up the homework separately
and turns in his or her own work.
Doing your written homework and/or translation and then having a third party circle your mistakes; you then do the
corrections on your own and turn in your own work.
If you have any question or uncertainty about what is or is not cheating, it is your responsibility to ask your instructor.
TAKE THE TUTORIAL: Test your knowledge of what constitutes plagiarism through a tutorial offered by the SDSU Library. To
access the tutorial go to: http://library.sdsu.edu/guides/tutorial.php?id=28
Consequences of cheating and plagiarism
SDSU instructors are mandated to report all instances of cheating and plagiarism to the Center for Student Rights and
Responsibility. Consequences are at the instructor’s and the Center for Student Rights and Responsibility’s discretion. They may
include any of the following:
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failing the assignment
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failing the class
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warning
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probation
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suspension
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expulsion
For more detailed information, read the chapter on plagiarism in the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (6th edition,
2003), visit the following website http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml and talk to your professors before
turning in your paper or doing your oral presentation.
The University of Indiana also has very helpful writing hints for students, including some on how to cite sources. Please visit
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets.shtml for more information.
Course Schedule
Date
Activity
Thurs 22 January
Introduction (v-xii) Vocabulaire / Prévert
« Une lettre » (Avant de lire, 2-5)
LA FRANCE
« Une lettre » (5-9)
MINI COMP 1 : Petite Composition EN CLASSE
- 75 mots
HAITI
« Bonjour, Maman !...» (10-17, Partie I)
Révision : le passé
Tues 27
Thurs 29
Assignment to be turned in on this date:
Vocabulaire: poème (on BB)
Stratégies de lecture p. 5 # 1-5
« Bonjour, Maman !...» (18-23, II)
Le passé simple (207-208)
LE VIET-NAM
« L’ombre et l’absent » (24-31)
« Bonjour, Maman !...» -- Questions de
compréhension p. 22 A
« L’ombre et l’absent » Interprétons le texte
(30-31)
LE CANADA
« Pour empêcher un mariage » (36-43, P I)
La Négation
Questions de compréhension p. 30 A
Généralités, p. 33 #7
Tues 17
« Pour empêcher un mariage » (44-46, P II)
Questions de compréhension p. 46 A
Thurs 19
« Pour empêcher un mariage » (47-48, ?s)
La Négation (exercice sur BB)
Tues 24
Révision / EXAMEN I
LA FRANCE
« Le temps ne passe pas » (49-54, P I)
Vocabulaire: Les cinq sens
Tues 3 February
Thurs 5
Tues 10
Thurs 12
Thurs 26
MINI COMP 1 : Révision
Questions de compréhension p. 43
Questions de compréhension p. 54 A
Tues 3 March
« Le temps ne passe pas » (54-62, P II)
Thurs 5
Tues 10
« Le temps ne passe pas »
MINI COMP 2 : Petite Composition en classe
p. 62, #2 – 75-100 mots – Apportez une
photographie si possible!
LA MARTINIQUE & LA GUADELOUPE
« La Montagne de Feu » (63-68, Prélecture)
Thurs 12
« La Montagne de Feu » (68-76)
Questions de comprehension, 1-12 pp. 75-76
Tues 17
« La Montagne de Feu »
LE QUEBEC
« Pur polyester » (90-99)
Personnages, p. 77, #2
« Pur polyester »
Les verbes pronominaux
LE SENEGAL
MC Solaar
« La noire de ... » (101-114, P I & II)
Interprétons le texte p. 100 # 1&2
Thurs 19
Tues 24
Thurs 26
Mar 30-Apr 3
CONGE DE PRINTEMPS !!!
Interprétons le texte p. 61 #2, 4, 5
Les verbes pronominaux
(exercice sur BB)
Date
Activity
Assignment to be turned in on this date:
Tues 7
« La noire de ... » (114-120, P III)
Questions de compréhension pp. 118-119 A
Thurs 9
« La noire de ... » (Film !!!)
MINI COMP 3 : p. 120 A (100-150 mots & trois
verbes pronominaux; utilisez la forme “tu”)
Tues 14
Révision / EXAMEN II
LE CONGO
« La fièvre » (123-133, P I)
Révision : le subjonctif
Thurs 16
Questions de compréhension pp. 133-134
« La fièvre » (134-139, P II)
L’ALGERIE - Camus
« La femme adultère » (140-148, P I)
le subjonctif (exercice sur BB)
Questions de comprehension, p. 159
Thurs 30
« La femme adultère » (149-160, P II & III)
L’ALGERIE – Assia Djébar
« Il n’y a pas d’exil » (190-199, P I)
Tues 5 May
« Il n’y a pas d’exil » (199-205, P II)
Questions de compréhension p. 204
Thurs 7
Révision
MINI COMP 4 : Composition en classe -p.160, #2 OU p.205A
SAT 9 MAY
FINAL EXAM – location TBA
Tues 21
Thurs 23
Tues 28
Questions de compréhension p. 199