EN 500 Section 003: Special Topics
Fall 2012
3 Credit Hours
Primary Instructor: Dr. Metka Zupancic
Syllabus subject to change.
One of the seminars at the 400-level, so undergraduate students need to have completed at least one of the introductory French literature courses (FR 341 or FR 351); together with a number of other 300-level courses.
For graduate student, a BA in French or similar field is required.
This undergraduate-graduate combined course is set up as an introduction to critical theory IN FRENCH. Students are to examine various schools of criticism and theory and apply them to their own text analysis. Critical thinking is being developed through extensive readings of key authors in 20th-21st century French critical thinking. Weekly in-class discussions based on readings prepare students for the final project (oral and written), based on the application of various theories and critical approaches to a chosen text.
At the completion of this course, students will deepen their analytical and synthetic skills in approaching literature. They will practice various forms of criticism and theory in order to apply it in other courses, be it in their papers, in their thesis or dissertation writing, and in this particular course. They will achieve better understanding of FRENCH cultural, intellectual, artistic, and literary trends as they influence changes in today's world. They will be able to contrast various theories and develop their critical thinking.
Échéancier -- les indications sont données à titre général et peuvent être modifiées en fonction de la dynamique du cours ainsi que du besoin éventuel d'approfondir un domaine particulier
| Les dates | Le contenu anticipé des cours | Les obligations, les délais pour la remise des travaux |
|---|---|---|
| Le mardi 28 août 2012 | Introduction à la matière étudiée | La division des tâches - prière d'aporter vos livres! -- on décidera quels autres textes vont être disponibles en pdf ou en photocopies |
| Le 4 septembre | Les courants généraux de la théorie littéraire au XXe-XXIe siècle | La lecture de Roland Barthes (des détails sur les pages à préparer seront donnés le cours précédent) |
| Le 11 septembre | Le structuralisme, la sémiologie |
Roland Barthes Petit travail sur Barthes (ou application de ses positions) à remettre - 2 pages, 5% de la note finale |
| Le 18 septembre | La sémiotique, la sémiologie | Roland Barthes, Julia Kristeva |
| Le 25 septembre | L'impact des sciences du langage sur la théorie contemporaine | Julia Kristeva |
| Le 2 octobre | De la sémiotique à la psychanalyse |
Julia Kristeva Petit travail sur Kristeva (ou application de ses positions) à remettre - 2 pages, 5% de la note finale |
| Le 9 octobre | Le post-modernisme, le féminisme | Luce Irigaray |
| Le 16 octobre | Les tendances américaines versus les tendances françaises et francophones |
Luce Irigaray Petit travail sur Irigaray (ou application de ses positions) à remettre - 2 pages, 5% de la note finale |
| Le 23 octobre | L'application des théories à l'oeuvre d'André Gide | André Gide vu à travers diverses théories |
| Le 30 octobre | Absence prévue de votre professeure; la classe se réunit pour discuter des petits travaux soumis en ligne |
André Gide vu à travers diverses théories Petit travail sur l'application des approches variées à l'oeuvre d'André Gide à remettre - 2 pages, 5% de la note finale (exceptionnellement, ce travail est à remettre en ligne, dans le cadre approprié de Blackboard, de préférence 2 jours avant la date du cours, pour une lecture antérieure à la rencontre entre les étudiant-e-s le jour du cours). |
| Le 6 novembre | Les présentations orales individuelles |
André Gide vu à travers diverses théories La version améliorée (et enrichie par la discussion du 30 octobre) du petit travail (celui de la semaine précédente) peut être soumise à votre professeure (dans ce cas, la première version ne sera pas notée) |
| Le 13 novembre | Les présentations orales individuelles | André Gide vu à travers diverses théories |
| Le 20 novembre | Les présentations orales individuelles | La discussion sur les "grands" travaux à soumettre à la date convenue |
| Le 27 novembre | Les méthodes nouvelles appliquées à d'autres textes littéraires déjà étudiés | La table ronde en classe, avec des exemples variés, à partir de LA PREMIÈRE VERSION DE VOS "GRANDS" TRAVAUX (développements à partir de la recherche initiale, améliorations, partage de la bibliographie, etc.) |
| Le 4 décembre | La synthèse | Travail écrit sur table, en guise de récapitulation des connaissances acquises; lmaximum 10% de la note finale, points prélevés dans la rubrique des petits travaux. |
Class participation (regular attendance, regular preparation of the assigned material, regular contribution to the discussions) 15%
In-class activities and small quizzes or other graded options for active participation (students may be responsible for a topic, may lead the discussion, may be in charge of a study group) 15%
Four short response papers based on the study of a particular critical theory text, or the application of an approach either to André Gide's novel or to any shorter texts deemed appropriate (2 pages each, 5% each) plus a written synthesis toward the end of the semester, to recapitulate the material (10%) = 30%
Oral presentation of the term paper 20%
Final-term paper, 8-10 double-spaced papers (8 = UG; 10 - G) including bibliography, in French or exceptionally in English (for EN 500-003 students), following MLA format; ABSOLUTE LAST DAY FOR SUBMISSION: DECEMBER 10, 2012, 3 pm (also see below) 20%
GRADING SCALE
97-100 — A+ 87-89 — B+ 77-79 — C+ 67-69 — D+
93-96 — A 83-87 — B 73-76 — C 63-67 — D
90-92 — A— 80-82 — B— 70-73 — C— 60-63 — D—
Below 60 or more than 3 non-justified absences — F
See above. All papers are to be submitted on due dates and will be graded according to the percentage reserved for each activity. Papers will be returned with comments that may help students improve their writing style and their critical competences. Exceptionally, students will have a possibility to redo the response papers if they wish to improve them.
Late submissions will be graded, but a percentage will be reduced from the highest possible grade for each late day (5% per day). Papers are to be submitted on paper on dates specified in the outline. The class may decide whether additional on-line submission may enhance in-class communication and foster more in-depth discussions.
The final project may be presented in French (possibly in English, for the EN 500-003 students), on a chosen text that allows for a number of critical approaches. Students may decide to work on their projects alongside with 2-page response papers aimed at fostering the in-class discussions. If turned in ahead of time (before Thanksgiving holidays), the instructor's comments and suggestions may help generate an improved version of the papers.
Absolutely last day for submission of term papers is MONDAY DECEMBER 10, 2012, by 3pm. They are to be printed and turned in either directly to the instructor or in her mailbox in 200 BB Comer.
Response term papers are due every week. Discussions are planned for every single class encounter. In the event of an excused absence, students will submit a written make-up activity (regularly shared with other students in the eLearning environment, to enhance discussions), in agreement with the instructor. Students are to make all possible efforts to regularly attend classes. Any emergency situation is to be discussed with the instructor for possible solutions to the problem. If the activity agreed upon has not been turned in at the set date, students may lose the points they were hoping to gain for any missed coursework.
Attendance is mandatory and absences may only be excused based on medical evidence or any other acceptable emergency situation. Please discuss ahead of time any possible absence with the instructor, and stay in touch via phone or email if there is an emergency. In the event of unexcused absences, the participation and overall grade may suffer: 1 unexcused absence lowering the participation grade by 5%, 2 by 10%, 3 by 15%, after which the credit can not be gained for this course. With in-class discussions taking place during all sessions, the absence may affect the grade in the category of "in-class discussions." Missed oral participation can be made up only with the permission of the instructor, and will take a form of an additional written assignment to be turned in at a set date.
Auteur-e, titre, ISBN, éditeur
| GIDE | LES FAUX MONNAYEURS | 2070368793 | GALLIMARD | |
| BARTHES | MYTHOLOGIES | 202103447X | SEUIL | |
| KRISTEVA | SEMEIOTIKE: Recherche pour une sémanalyse | 2020050099 | SEUIL | |
| IRIGARAY | LE TEMPS DE LA DIFFÉRENCE | 2253051438 | Librairie Générale Française | |
See BLACKBOARD LEARN for documents containing bibliographies of other resources (books, on-line material, films).
André Gide's Les Faux-Monnayeurs will be used as the basic text on which to test various critical-theoretical approaches. For your "big oral presentation" that will be reworked into the term paper, you will have the option to choose any of the materials discussed in class and deepen your approach (and understanding), or you may work on a text of your choice (preferably one that is known by others, to some degree), in order to test various theories on it.
Only exceptionally allowed and agreed upon with the instructor in the event of an emergency, after a student would be prevented from turning in any other due assignments.
All students in attendance at the University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student.
The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.
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IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, YOUR INSTRUCTOR WILL GIVE YOU INFORMATION ABOUT THE COURSE THROUGH THE BLACKBOARD LEARN SHELL.
The primary University communication tool for sending out information is the web site www.ua.edu. Students should consult this site as soon as they can in an emergency.