FREN 362. Advanced Readings
Prerequisite: FREN 300 or four years of high school French
Credit Hours: (4) Four hours lecture
For students who wish to improve their reading ability in French. An intensive reading course in French.
Detailed Description of Content of Course
1. The first-tenth week
This time will be spent in reading and discussing articles from French newspapers ( Monde. Figaro dealing with current events, human interest stories, politics, sports and leisure time, and environment. Students will read the articles outside of class and discuss them in small groups in class.
a. First-fourth week - current events
b. Fifth and sixth week - human interest stories
c. Seventh and eighth week - politics
d. Ninth week - sports and leisure time
e. Tenth week - environment
2. The eleventh-fifteenth week
Students will read longer and stylistically more complicated articles from French reviews, covering the same subjects as above.
a. Eleventh week - Paris Match
b. Twelfth and thirteenth week - l’Express
c. Fourteenth and fifteenth week - le Nouvel Observateur The sequence
of reviews reflects level of reading difficulty.
The content of this course may be of a literary and artistic nature in lieu of the proposed journalistic material.
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
This course will be conducted entirely in French and requires active class participation. Students will give bi-weekly class presentations on a reading of their choice (approved by professor). The student is required to participate in class discussion on the topic at hand. Each week the student will hand in a written commentary on an article corresponding to the week’s theme. The student will keep abreast of the events taking place in the francophone world through newspapers, magazines and other sources.
Goals and Objectives of Course
At the end of this course the student will be able to entertain a discussion on the day’s events in fluent French with minimal errors and also to read French specifics with nO difficulty. Students will be able to write concise précis on their readings.
Assessment Measures
Students will be graded on their class participation, written and oral assignments, periodic quizzes, a mid-term. Final examination is left to the discretion of the professor. Periodic quizzes will test the student’s comprehension of class reading materials. The mid-term will consist of essay questions based on reading materials. Final exam will reflect a review of all reading material where students will be asked to provide insight and opinions on the readings. A final paper of 10 pages in French may be given in lieu.
Other Course Information
French 362 is offered every spring semester.
Approval and Subsequent Reviews
September 2001 Reviewed Janet Wagner