Course Information

French 104.03 Syllabus

Textbooks || Course Evaluation || Content Checks || Homework || Performance and Attendance || Activities || Resources || Academic Misconduct || 104.03 Summer Schedule (2^nd Session)

Course Objectives:

French 104.03 is an introductory course to French cultural phenomena. Through selected readings students will develop an understanding of the contemporary history and geography of France and the current political situation, including France 's link to the post-colonial francophone world. Major French institutions and ideologies will be studied as well as more traditional cultural topics such as the media, cinema, and technological contributions. Readings, discussions, and lectures will allow students to increase their proficiency in reading and listening comprehension, and they will acquire appropriate French vocabulary and expressions needed in order to discuss and write about fundamental aspects of the francophone world. This course is taught in French and is designed for those students who possess a good understanding of French grammar and a strong interest in French culture and civilization.

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.

Textbooks

(available at SBX bookstore):

• La France Contemporaine, 3rd Edition, Edmiston, Dumesnil
• Oxford Hachette French-English (optional, unless you do not currently own one)

Course Evaluation Emphasis is on regular production of work:

Content Checks/Interrogations: 25%
Rédaction Internet: 10%
Devoirs: 5%
Présentation orale: 10%
Participation: 10%
Examen partiel*: 20%
Examen final*: 20%

*Exam dates: Please note the dates of the exams 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.

Departmental grading scale:

The following scale for numerical equivalents is in use:

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 a 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, participate in class activities, and complete assignments and exams as required for students enrolled for regular credit.

Content Checks/Interrogations:

Course textbook reading assignments are indicated on the syllabus for each class period. Students are required to read all the assigned pages before coming to class on the days indicated. A 10-minute content check (usually a short essay question) or quiz may be given at the beginning of each class period and will cover the assigned pages. Students must note the instructor’s content check/quiz policy. Instructors are not obligated to administer make-up content checks/quizzes.

Rédaction Internet:

For this 30-point assignment, students will visit the following Web site: http://www.elysee.fr. Once inside this site, students will visit 4 associated Web links of their choice. For each of the 4 associated links, students will write a one-paragraph summary in FRENCH (typed, double-spaced) of what they have learned from that link. The assignment should total 4 paragraphs, thus creating 1.5-2 pages of text (double-spaced) total for the assignment.  Identify each associated link paragraph summary by typing the URL at the beginning of each paragraph.  Each associated link paragraph summary is worth 7.5 points. Students are to use their own French language skills and are not to copy excerpts from the site. Students must note the instructor’s submission policy. Instructors are not obligated to accept late work.  Each Rédaction Internet paragraph will be graded according to the following scale:

Devoirs:

Your instructor will assign homework questions and/or projects throughout the quarter, which may or may not be indicated on the daily course schedule. Students are responsible for knowing what the homework assignments are and when they are due. Students must verify assignments, dates, and scoring rubrics with the instructor as needed. Students must note the instructor’s homework submission policy. Instructors are not obligated to accept late work.

Présentation orale:

Each student will choose a course-related topic to research for an oral class presentation. Topics will be related to the ones listed on the syllabus; however, your presentation should be an extension of the topic, not simply a summary of that day’s assigned reading. (Please see your instructor if you are unsure about a topic.) You will be expected to research your topic using at least two (2) sources (IN ADDITION TO the book), such as the Internet, French books, newspapers, magazines, videos or even personal interviews. You may cite a few quotes from these sources, but be sure not to plagiarize. (Students may work individually or in pairs, but only if necessary—each person writes his/her personal summary.) The presentation should last for 10-15 minutes, including a “continuing discussion” activity and a “follow-up” activity, and it must be conducted entirely in FRENCH. Your instructor will provide additional details (including a scoring rubric) concerning this assignment.  Students must note the instructor’s oral presentation policy. Instructors are not obligated to reschedule presentations or grant make-up presentations.

Participation:

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), tardiness, or leaving class early 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.

Make-up 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:

• Emergency/extreme situations such as illness, family medical emergency, or death in the family
• A career interview that cannot be rescheduled outside of class time
• Governmental duties such as subpoenas, jury duty, and military service

Some examples of unacceptable excuses include:

• Family vacations
• Conflicts with work schedule  (You are a student first at OSU.  Instructors expect students’ class schedule/performance to take precedence over work schedules.)
• Athletic/recreational activities that are not affiliated with OSU
• Note from Student Health Services that indicates: The patient was not seen here during this condition

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 two channels are available on all dormitory televisions: 66 - TV5 French and 67 - The International Channel

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 an exciting new addition to the World Media and Culture Center.  It is located near the main floor lobby in Hagerty Hall.   For information about this exciting project please visit this site: http://wmcc.osu.edu/
The broadcasting schedule for the café will be available (via the above site) starting Spring Quarter 2005.  Students can access international television broadcasts (International Channel - http://www.i-channel.com/ and TV5 - TV5 French) in a comfortable, informal café setting, with state-of-the-art overhead (umbrella-type) speakers for access to the accompanying audio.

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 at the Ohio State University and about studying abroad.

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

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 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.

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.

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) 292­3307 or (614) 292­0901 (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.

Examples of academic misconduct in this course include but are not limited to the following:

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 class presentation. Tutors may answer questions about assignments from the textbook, but they may not help with class presentations
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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