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French and Italian at The Ohio State University

French Courses

104.01 Syllabus

Textbooks || Course Evaluation || Homework || Compositions || Oral Exams || Performance and Attendance || Resources || Activities || Academic Misconduct || 104.01 Night Summer Schedule || 104.01 Summer Schedule (2nd Session)

Instructor: ________________________ Telephone / email: _____________/________________

Office: _______________________ Office Hours: ____________________ Final Exam: _______________

104.01 Syllabus

On the first day of class, your instructor will provide you with a daily schedule for the course.

Course Objectives

French 104.01 is specifically designed to prepare students for further studies in the field of French language by consolidating already acquired knowledge and moving towards lengthier written and oral production. Although grammar will be extensively reviewed, the goal is to be able to write and speak French fluently on a variety of topics, to be able to express opinions and viewpoints with ease and to be able to analyze the content of a text. This goal is made easier to achieve through the introduction of new technologies and exercises both inside and outside of the classroom. Strong emphasis is placed on writing essays both inside and outside of class.

If you have studied French previously or are transferring into OSU, please consult the placement and testing guidelines at: http://flc.osu.edu/flc_new/inner.htm#mcat.

Required Textbooks:

GEC Goals and Objectives:

  1. Goals: Foreign language courses develop students' skills in communication across ethnic, cultural, ideological, and national boundaries, and help students develop an understanding of other cultures and patterns of thought.
  2. Objectives:
    • Students demonstrate basic skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing in a language other than their native language.
    • Students describe cultural differences in countries other than their own, and demonstrate an appreciation of these differences
  3. The 101-104 courses in French satisfy the foreign language requirement in the Skills category.

Course Evaluation

Emphasis on a regular production of work.
20% Final Exam* (comprehensive exam)
30% Chapter Quizzes*
15% Compositions
20% Weekly Performance Grade
5% Oral Exam
10% Homework (includes Workbook – Exercices écrits & Exercices de laboratoire)
(*Exams and quizzes dates: Please note the dates of quizzes on the syllabus. Make-ups, which will be given only if you can present a valid written excuse, will be scheduled at your instructor's convenience. Missed tests will count as a zero.)
Grading Scale:
A  93-100 B+ 88-89 B-  80-82 C  73-77 D+ 68-69 E  64-0
A- 90-92 B   83-87 C+ 78-79 C- 70-72 D   65-67

Passing grade is a D but students receiving a grade below C are strongly encouraged to retake the course. In case of P/NP option, the passing grade for continuing to the next class is a C. Auditors are required to attend class and participate in class activities.

Devoirs Quotidiens [Daily Homework]

You must prepare daily the exercises in the course workbook. They will be collected at the end of every chapter. You must check the answer key after completing your exercises and, using a pen of a different color, correct your mistakes prior to turning in the pages. All exercises (including written, oral, and "avant la leçon") are to be completed for full credit. You must note your instructor’s homework submission policy. Instructors are not obligated to accept late work. Workbooks will be graded according to the following scale.

All homework assignments will be graded on this 10-point scale.
Your instructor is not obligated to accept any late work.
Please verify the homework submission policy with your instructor.
Description Points
All exercises completed and done well. Answer Key used to correct all applicable exercises. 10
All/most exercises completed and done fairly well. Answer Key used to correct all/most applicable exercises. 7 - 9
Exercises either incomplete or poorly done. Few corrections made. 4 - 6
Very few exercises completed or very poorly done. Very few/no corrections made. 0 - 3

Compositions

In order to continue to improve and develop your writing abilities in French, there will be two (2) in-class compositions and one (1) take-home composition assigned during the course (three compositions total). You will be required to write one page [250-300 words – double-spaced, typed] for each composition on subjects related to themes covered in Bravo. For the two in-class compositions (#1 & #3), you will report to a public computer lab. (Your instructor will announce the lab.) Your instructor will hand you a writing prompt in the computer lab once the course begins. You may use your textbook during this exercise, but no dictionaries, (Web) translators, Internet, reference guides, notes, etc. are permitted. You may NOT access your email once you have begun this exercise. You will have one (1) hour to write each in-class composition, and you will not be given the subjects until at the beginning of this exercise in the computer lab. For the take-home composition (#2), you will be given a writing prompt the class day before the first version is due. This exercise also involves 2 in-class peer-editing activities. On the day listed in your syllabus for the “first version,” you will be paired with a fellow student and will have the chance to peer-edit each other’s work. You will then consider his/her suggestions and prepare your “second version” for the following class day. The peer-editing activity will be repeated, but with a new partner. You will then have a second chance to consider any additional suggestions and prepare your “final version” that you will turn in the following class day (as indicated on your syllabus). Your instructor will grade your final version, but partial points will have already been earned through participating in the peer-editing activities. Any student using a translator or tutor in any way for this exercise will receive a failing grade for this assignment. You must note your instructor’s homework submission policy. Instructions are not obligated to accept late work. All compositions will be graded on the following 40-point scale.

Section Maximum Points
Content: Content/information provided is complete, interesting, and relevant to the topic at hand. /12
Organization: Information is organized in a logical and coherent manner. Transitions are used where appropriate. /9
Language: Very good command of grammar and vocabulary for this level. /12
Mechanics: Very good command of spelling and use of accent marks/punctuation for this level. /7
Composition Total Grade /40

Examens Oraux [Oral Exams]

For this exercise, you will work with a partner (or one group of 3 students if class enrollment is odd-numbered.) Each oral exam will take place during a 15-minute appointment with your instructor outside of class time during the last week of classes. (Only you, your partner, and your instructor are present for your oral exam.) Your instructor will indicate where the oral exams will take place as well as provide you with a list of sign-up appointment dates/times. You are responsible for this information, and your instructor is under no obligation to extend make-up oral exams for unexcused absences/tardiness. It is important that you are not late to your appointment. Before the last week of classes, your instructor will distribute a handout with a series of situations for you to prepare on your own. From this series your instructor will choose 2 situations at the beginning of your appointment and will assign the roles. Do NOT write-out a script and memorize it. Your instructor may join-in on the role-plays and/or ask related questions if s/he feels it is appropriate to do so. DO pay close attention to the situation descriptions, as they will provide important clues as to what kinds of vocabulary and grammar items you will be expected to employ in the role-plays. You may certainly review these items with your partner before your oral exam. However, no notes, cards, textbooks, or other reference aids are permitted during the oral exam. Your best mode of preparation for the oral exam is to be attentive/participate in class throughout the quarter and complete your homework workbook chapters in a thorough manner. Additionally, reviewing the vocabulary/grammar items related to the situations will help you in preparation for your comprehensive final exam. Scores will be individual. Instructors are not obligated to administer make-up oral exams. The following scale is used to assess your oral exam grade:

Section Needs Improvement Good Excellent Multiply By Points
Fluency: 1     2     3 4     5     6     7 8     9     10 x2  
Grammar: 1     2     3 4     5     6     7 8     9     10 x3  
Vocabulary: 1     2     3 4     5     6     7 8     9     10 x5  
Comments: Final Grade: %

Needs improvement: Role-plays lacked sufficient development and conversational exchange; incomplete; incorrect pronunciation, ideas not clearly expressed and/or are irrelevant (off topic); comprehension difficult for instructor; lower-than-level appropriate fluency, grammar, & vocabulary.

Good: Role-plays sufficiently developed with effective conversational exchange; mostly complete; mostly correct pronunciation; most ideas clearly expressed and relevant (on topic); comprehension somewhat difficult for instructor; mostly level-appropriate fluency, grammar, & vocabulary.

Excellent: Role-plays well developed with excellent conversational exchange; complete; correct pronunciation; ideas clearly expressed and very relevant (very much on topic); comprehension easy for instructor; excellent level-appropriate fluency, grammar, & vocabulary.

Participation [Weekly Performance Grade]

Regular attendance and participation in class activities are essential to be a successful language learner. In order to progress in understanding and speaking French, you must hear and speak it on a regular basis. Therefore, you must prepare carefully for class by completing all assignments in advance. You will be asked to volunteer often and participate actively. Try to speak French at all times, even during partner and small group work. Concentrate on using the vocabulary at hand to enrich your expression. Finally, group discussion is encouraged; arrange the desks in a semi-circle before class begins and do not feel the need to be called on before speaking. The following scale is used to assess your performance grade:

You will receive a participation/performance grade approximately once a week. These scores will be averaged at the end of the quarter to obtain your final participation grade for the course. As you receive each grade, try to follow any suggestions from your instructor so that you can improve your participation grades as the quarter progresses. As a reminder, unexcused absences (i.e., without a written medical excuse) or tardiness will result in a lower participation grade. If you have to be absent or are ill, please inform your instructor immediately and be sure to talk with your instructor upon your return to class.

Makeup Exams

Makeup exams are given only for emergency/extreme conditions with the proper documentation.* Students who are absent on the day of the exam for an excusable reason* should contact the instructor to make up the exam immediately following their absence. Students who know in advance that they must be absent on an exam day for an excusable reason* should make arrangements with the instructor to take the exam prior to the exam day. If a student is absent on the day of the exam for an unexcused reason, he/she will receive a zero on the exam. Exams must be made up within 3 days. If an exam is not made up by then, the instructor will not administer a makeup exam. After 3 days, the Language Program Director (wong.240@osu.edu) will determine whether a student may make up an exam.

* See Absences below

Excusable Absences

Makeup work will be permitted only when the instructor is presented with acceptable documentation for acceptable absences. It is your responsibility to notify your instructor of any excused absence as far in advance as possible. Legitimate excused absences must be accompanied by dated written documentation in the form of: an official letter or note from a doctor with contact phone number, letter on letterhead from the company/establishment of the career interview, death notice/obituary, program from funeral, official note from OSU coach/advisor, and so on. When in doubt of the kind of documentation needed, please ask your instructor.

Some examples of acceptable excuses include: Some examples of unacceptable excuses include:

Laboratory Information

If you do not purchase the Audio Lab CDs, download or stream the Bravo 'Partie orale' listening passages as sound files from OIT’s Ohio State University Digital Language Lab at this Web site: http://telr.osu.edu/languagelab/ You must have your OSU username and password (the same one as for e-mail) to access the virtual lab. You may also complete these exercises from any off-campus access to the same site (above). Once inside, simply follow the path French / Bravo. High-speed Internet access and Real Player are required for proper viewing and listening on the On-Line Virtual Language Lab. The Real Player plug-in is available on campus computers, or can be downloaded to your home or off-campus computer with the instructions on the virtual lab site, or by going to the Real Player site.

E-Mail

You are expected to frequently check your e-mail since this is the best way for the instructor to get in touch with the whole class. Likewise, any changes on the syllabus will be indicated on the Web and it is your responsibility to check the class Web site (Once or twice a week).

French Resources

The following channel is available on all dormitory televisions: 66 - TV5 French

You may link to each channel's Web site through the links above for their scheduling information, or link through the UNITS site at: http://units.osu.edu/cable_tv/index.php

The Crane Café is open in the Hagerty Hall World Media and Culture Center. For information please visit this site: http://wmcc.osu.edu/cranecafe.htm Students can access international television broadcasts in a comfortable café setting, with state-of-the-art overhead speakers for access to audio transmissions.

Please visit the Departmental Web site to learn more about French resources (films, restaurants, clubs) in this area along with links to Francophone sites in categories such as government, press, business, and culture. In addition, the Departmental site gives detailed information about studying French beyond the 100-level. Information pertaining to studying abroad can be found at the Office of International Affairs Web site: http://oie.osu.edu/

For more information on the text Bravo, please visit Bravo Publisher Site.

Typing Accents in French

If you are required to hand in any typed assignments in French, the following Web site explains how to enter French accent marks on the computer:
http://frit.osu.edu/resources/french/fr_accents.cfm

This site may be printed out for ease of use. It is considered a spelling error if you do not type in accents as required.

Activities

French Club

You are encouraged to join the French Club; the group attends French films together, organizes French meals and meets regularly to have discussions. Your instructor will provide you with more information or you may contact the Department of French and Italian at 292-4938.

Café

We encourage you throughout your academic career at OSU to participate in Café +, an inter-level French conversation table sponsored and led by FIGSA (French and Italian Graduate Student Association). Café + meets on a weekly basis and invites French speakers of all levels to get together over coffee and practice French conversational skills in a casual and friendly environment. Topics of discussion are diverse and generally follow the interests of the students in attendance. Café + meets in the Crane Café in Hagerty Hall. (Just look for the reserved tables to find the group.) This is an excellent opportunity to improve your speaking skills and enlarge your French vocabulary in a casual, real-world setting! Your instructor will provide you with this quarter’s Café + meeting days and times when they are made available, or you may contact the Department of French and Italian at 292-4938.

Disability Services

Students with disabilities who require accommodations for access and participation in this course must be registered with the Office for Disability Services (ODS). Please contact ODS at (614) 292-3307 or (614) 292-0901 (TDD). Students should also contact their instructor as soon as possible to explore potential accommodations.

Academic Misconduct:

Students enrolled in courses at The Ohio State University are expected to adhere to the highest standards of academic conduct. The instructor will be alert to any kind of inappropriate conduct in the course. Suspicion of misconduct will be handled by official rules and policies of OSU. Penalties for cheating or plagiarism may result in a failing grade in the course or expulsion from the university. The Department will abide by the decisions of the Academic Misconduct Committee.
  1. Submitting plagiarized work for an academic requirement. Plagiarism is the representation of another's work or ideas as one's own; it includes the unacknowledged word for word use and/or paraphrasing of another person's work, and/or the inappropriate unacknowledged use of another person's ideas.
  2. Copying work or otherwise turning in written work that is not original to you. Cheating in this case applies both to the copier and the person who allows his or her work to be copied.
  3. Copying answers directly from the answer key (as opposed to doing the assignment first and then correcting mistakes from the answer key) on workbook assignments.
  4. Having someone else do or write your assignments for you.
  5. Using a translator in any way to complete compositions, Internet presentations or other assignments.
  6. Having anyone other than your instructor help you with your second composition. Tutors may answer questions about assignments from the workbook or textbook, but they may not help with (home) compositions.
  7. Receiving or passing exam information to other students before, during or after the exam. Cheating in this case applies both to the receiver of the exam information and the person who gives the information.
  8. Alteration of university forms used to drop or add courses to a program, or unauthorized use of those forms including the forging of signatures.
  9. Use of any unauthorized aids on exams (e.g., cheat sheets, textbook, etc) is strictly prohibited.
Students are responsible for understanding what constitutes academic dishonesty.

All suspected cases of academic misconduct will be reported to the Committee on Academic Misconduct as required by University rules.

In its classrooms, the Department of French and Italian maintains a positive learning environment free from all harmful forms of discrimination. You are expected to adhere to this policy.

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