French Course Descriptions

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French 110  Beginning French I
A course stressing the spoken language, basic structural patterns, reading for comprehension, and introduction to French culture. Three class meetings; one oral practice session per week. Sample course syllabus for French 110. Offered fall & spring 2004-2005.

French 120  Beginning French II
A course stressing the spoken language, basic structural patterns, reading for comprehension, and introduction to French culture. Three class meetings; one oral practice session per week. Sample course syllabus for French 120. Offered fall & spring 2004-2005.

French 215  Intermediate French
A review of basic structural patterns to improve reading, writing, and speaking skills in French. One oral practice session per week. Prerequisite: French 120 or appropriate score on placement test. Sample course syllabus for French 215. Offered fall & spring 2004-2005.

FS FRE 201  Speaking of France Today
An introduction to contemporary French culture and conversation. Topics relating to French institutions and cultural identity are analyzed and discussed. Intensive conversation practice to improve fluency and build vocabulary. Recommended for students planning to study in France. One additional oral practice session per week and attendance at French Table. Prerequisite: French 215. Offered spring 2005.

French 225  Exploring Genre: Poems, Prose, Plays
An introduction to French literature designed to serve as a transition from language courses to more advanced courses. Study of texts from each genre presents students with a vocabulary and method with which to analyze texts. Particular attention is given to close readings and the explication de text. Prerequisite: French 215 or permission of instructor. Sample course syllabus for French 225. Offered fall 2004.

French 305  Phonetics and Oral Expression
A study of the phonetic structures of the French language with intensive exercises to improve pronunciation and aural comprehension. A major portion of the course is dedicated to preparing a public performance in French of a play, scenes from plays, poems, or songs. One additional oral practice session per week or permission of instructor. Offered spring 2005.

French 315  Grammar and Composition
A grammatical and structural study of the French language in both its written and spoken forms. A useful course for students who will be needing the language as a tool. Prerequisite: French 225. Offered fall 2004.

French 330  “The Empire Writes Back”
An introduction to the literature written in French that comes from France's former colonies and its social-historical context. Topics include: the era of African Independence, le négritude, the Algerian War for Independence, immigration to France and Beur literature. Emphasis is placed on the subversive nature of the literature studied and on how it inflects the French language, the French canon, and “Frenchness” itself. Prerequisite: French 225 or permission of instructor. Not offered 2004-2005.

French 335  War and Love: The Origins of French Literature
A survey of literature of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, including an examination of historical context and of the evolution of genres such as the epic, courtly romance, the farce, lyric poetry, humor and satire. Selected texts deal with themes related to love and conflict from the Crusades to the wars of religion in the sixteenth century. Prerequisite: French 225. Offered fall 2004.

French 355  From Ancien Régime to Revolution
An introduction to French literary and artistic masterpieces of the 17th and 18th centuries. Representative texts including classical theater as well as works of the moralistes and the philosophes are examined within their historical context. Emphasis is placed on the representations of royal power, social convention, and challenges to state authority. Prerequisite: French 225 or permission of instructor. Not offered 2004-2005.

French 365  Romanticism, Realism, and Modernism
An examination of the upheavals and reversals of 19th and 20th centuries in France through an analysis of literary movements such as romanticism, realism, existentialism, and the Theater of the Absurd. The course focuses on cultural issues including the relationship of the individual to society, social and political revolution, and the role of the artist. Prerequisite: French 225 or permission of the instructor. Sample course syllabus for French 365. Not offered 2004-2005.

French 375  Translating Language and Culture
Translating and translation theory addressing the complications, both linguistic and cultural, that arise in the translation process. Through study of several translated versions of the same text, students examine different theoretical approaches. Prequisite: French 330 or above, or permission of instructor. Offered spring 2005.

French 405  Fitting Fiction to the Screen
A study of selected French and Francophone novels from across the centuries and their film adaptations, with specific reference to differences between the two art forms. Class discussions focus on methods of literary and cinematic analysis. Topics include: reading films and reading novels, styles, and genres. Students are required to attend several film screenings outside of class. No previous knowledge of film theory is required. Prerequisite: French 330 or above, or permission of instructor. Not offered 2004-2005.

French 415  Women in the World of Letters
An historical examination of the role of women in French literature. The course focuses both on portrayals of women in literature and on texts written by women. Specific topics and texts may vary and are selected from a variety of time periods and genres. The course also includes an introduction to feminist theory. Prerequisite: French 330 or above, or permission of instructor. Not offered 2004-2005.

French 425  The Politics of Literature
An examination of sinificant literary texts written at important historical moments in the evolution of French society. Emphasis is placed on the role of literature in the development of intellectual history. Close reading and analysis focus on ways in which literature both reflects and influences political ideas. Prerequisite: French 330 olr above, or permission of instructor. Offered spring 2005.

French 435  Comedy and Tragedy
An historical study of dramatic literature from its origins in the Middle Ages to the present day. The course explores recurring themes such as power, love, and deception using plays from a variety of playwrights, movements, and styles. The study of specific literary movements illustrates the evolution of practice and theory in French drama. Prerequisite: French 330 or above, or permission of instructor. Not offered 2004-2005.

French 580  Junior/Senior Seminar
Seminar, including oral reports, discussions, and an independent research paper. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Offered fall 2004.

French 590  Independent Study

French 600  Senior Project I
Preparation of a Senior Project proposal. A thesis statement, a short description of the project, and a bibliography have to be developed. Taken on a Credit/No Credit basis only. Credit: Two semester hours.

French 610  Senior Project II
Completion and oral defense of the Senior Project. Prerequisite: French 600.