French 3105
Composition and Conversation
Please turn off your cell phone while in class
Course home page
http://www.fll.vt.edu/gueye/french3105.htm
You do not need to print this page. Only use the online version.
If you want to make the most of this course, you need to study and do all your class assignments for a minimum of two hours after each class.
Purpose
To help student establish a solid foundation in their ability to read, write, speak and understand the French language. In addition, students will learn more about French and Francophone cultures through spoken, written and audio-visual media.
Prerequisite
French 2106, 2164/2984
Required texts
- En Bonne forme, Simone Renaud and Dominique Van Hooff, 8th edition
- Student Activities Manual, En bonne forme, Simone Renaud and Dominique Van Hooff, 8th edition
- Une si longue lettre, by Mariama Bâ
Recommanded works
- Bilingual Dictionary Collins/Robert or Harrap's
- French Dictionary Petit Robert, or Petit Larousse
Attendance
At the end of the semester I will report a NO GRADE for any student who missed 1/3 or more of classes. You cannot have an A (final grade) if you miss 1/4 of classes (about 10 times) since your class participation and attendance will be very low.
All absences will be counted as unexcused unless you provide evidence of an illness (e.g. a doctor's note) or of an appropriate university-sponsored activity (with a letter from the university official in charge of the activity). You need to contact the office of the Dean or your adviser if you have to miss a class for personal reasons not related to illness or university-sponsored activities.
Tardiness
Any time you come late to class, you are disturbing class progress. Tardiness could also lower your participation grade. Please be on time.
Participation
It is vital that you come prepared every day. Please read the assigned pages before coming to class. You are expected to participate actively in every class period during the semester. You will get a participation grade.
Grammaire
Please read assigned pages of your textbook and then do all the drills under the section Troisième partie: exercices écrits in your workbook as indicated by page numbers on the syllabus. Verify your answers by downloading the answer key (see below) and correct your mistakes with a different color pen/pencil. You will be graded on how well you do your corrections, not on how many mistakes you make. Your workbook will be checked periodically.
Answer key: Click on (or cut and paste) the following link: http://www.fll.vt.edu/Gueye/chap1.doc. Change the number for each chapter.
Une si longue lettre
Please read assigned pages or chapters and prepare ten questions on the text. After your questions, write a sentence or two expressing your reaction(s) to the chapters you have read. Each students will have the opportunity to ask his or her questions as we read this novel. You will also make comment of your own related to the reading sections. I will collect the questions of students after each class on Une si longue lettre.
Exploitation
This course hour consists of various activities such as group work, dictation, discussion, conversation, À la rencontre de Philippe (see below), etc.
Transcription
To improve your written French, you will do transcriptions of audio text from Champs Elysées program. This program is on the reserve list of the course and you will need to go to the circulation desk on the first floor of Newman Library to pick up the CD and the text. You will need to complete this assignment in the library. Click here to read more about how to do this transcription.
A la Rencontre de Philippe
It is an interactive cultural program on the reserve list of the course that will expose you to spoken French in its cultural context. In order to complete this work, you will have to go to the circulation desk in Newman Library to pick up the laser disk for À la rencontre de Philippe. You will need to complete this assignment at one of the four (4) laser stations in the Center for Alternative Media (CAM). You also will need to plan ahead; for you cannot rely on a machine being available the night/morning an assignment is due.
Rédaction/Compo
You will write 500-word compositions during the semester. At least one of these compositions will be related to Une si longue lettre and À la rencontre de Phillipe. The subjects will be given on the syllabus or in class.
Tests
Please mark the dates for your tests on your calendar now. There are no makeup tests. Test subjects will be related to workbook and/or textbook assignments.
French Accents: Please use these accents when you write assignments in French.
Honor system policies
Students Needing Special Accommodations
Please contact the Office of the Dean of Student who will provide the instructor with written description of the necessary specific accommodations.
Final Exam
There is no final exam. Your grade will be determined as follows:
Grading:
Written Tests…………………………………...........................20%
Composition…………………………………............................20%
Transcription and À la rencontre de Philippe .....................20%
Une si longue lettre . ………………………….........................20%
Participation & Oral Evaluation………………......................20%
The Honor Code will be strictly enforced in this course.
