Hum 1301: Topics in French Literature and Culture
Literature and Culture of French-Speaking
Africa and the Caribbean
(in translation)
Course Index
Course Syllabus
[ Calendar ]
Grades
Grades will be based on the following categories:
| Participation in Discussions | 20% |
| Literary Analysis Paper | 20% |
| Cultural Study Project | 20% |
| Journal Writes | 15% |
| Midterm Exam | 10% |
| Final Exam | 15% |
Participation in Discussions
You will notice that I place much importance on PARTICIPATION. This is extremely important for a distance education course of this type. I can't see you physically in my classroom, so you will have to make yourself "visible" to me in other ways. I expect each student to contribute to discussions on the readings and lectures by posting messages to the discussion board, and by logging in to chat room sessions. I will grade your participation not just by looking at the volume of messages that you post, but also by the quality of those messages. I'm looking for looking for well-thought out ideas, reactions, and reflections that contribute to everyone's learning. To do this, of course, you need to keep up with the course readings and assignments!
Literary Analysis "Paper"
Although the word "paper" seems inappropriate in this setting, you will be expected to write a literary analysis of one of the works we study this semester. This should be about the equivalent of 5 pages (or 1500 words). More information about topics and format will come later in the semester.
Cultural Study Project
One of the goals for this course is to learn about other cultures. You will do this through class lectures and readings, but also by doing directed studies on the web. Many countries have home pages with lots of information about their culture and people. You will choose one country or culture (many countries are multi-cultural, like our own!) to study in some depth. Then you will present your findings to others in the class via your own web page. (I will show you how to do this.) You will want to include information about that culture's people, traditions, religion(s), music, government and literature. More about this project will come later.
Journal Writes
Journal writing helps you sort out your reactions to a particular reading or lecture, form your thoughts, and prepare you for participation in class discussions. I will give regular, thought-provoking, statements and questions to you to direct your writing, but encourage you to do more than the minimum. It will help you to do better in the course. I will ask you to submit the journal to me as an e-mail attachment every couple of weeks. Your thoughts themselves will not be graded. I will simply check to make sure you are doing the writing, and making an effort to think through the material thoroughly.
Exams
Exams will consist of essay questions. For the midterm, I will give 4 questions/topics, and you will choose 2 to write on. For the final, you will choose 3. These exams WILL be time-restricted, so you will need to e-mail your exam responses to me by the time I indicate to you.If you have questions about these categories, please e-mail me.
How to use this calendar: Each of the course's larger "units" is
comprised of specific lessons, or "lectures". Although you do not need
to consult the lesson at a particular time, you should have it finished
by the date indicated on the calendar. This way, everyone will be
prepared to discuss it at the same time, using the discussion board.
Class Calendar
I will also be scheduling one chat room session per week once the course has started. The time will depend on the availability of my students. I will put the dates on the calendar when they have been scheduled. You are required to attend at least 10 (out of 15) during the semester. These will be used to discuss the material with each other, ask questions, and "speak" with me about administrative matters.
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| 1 First Day of Class Introductions Administrative Info Tutorial |
2 | 3 Unit 1: Overview of "La Francophonie" |
4 | 5 Unit 1 (cont.): Precolonial African History |
| 8 Unit 2: Oral Tradition African Folktales |
9 | 10 Unit 2 (cont.): Oral Tradition African Folktales |
11 | 12 Unit 2 (cont.): Oral Tradition African Folktales |
| 15 Unit 3: Slavery & African Colonialism |
16 | 17 Unit 3 (cont.): Slavery & African Colonialism Tribal Scars, part I |
18 | 19 Unit 3 (cont.): Slavery & African Colonialism Tribal Scars, part II |
| 22 Unit 4: Caribbean Colonialism "Prayer of a Small..." |
23 | 24 Unit 4 (cont.): Caribbean Colonialism Black Shack Alley |
25 | 26 Unit 4 (cont.): Caribbean Colonialism Black Shack Alley |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| 1 Unit 4 (cont.): Caribbean Colonialism Black Shack Alley |
2 | 3 Unit 4 (cont.): Caribbean Colonialism Black Shack Alley |
4 | 5 Unit 4 (cont.): Caribbean Colonialism Black Shack Alley |
| 8 Unit 4 (cont.): Caribbean Colonialism Black Shack Alley |
9 | 10 Unit 5: Sub-Saharan African Independence Movements |
11 | 12 Unit 5 (cont.): Independence Movements: The Case of Algeria |
| 15 Unit 5 (cont.): Independence Movements: The Case of Algeria |
16 | 17 Unit 5 (cont.): Caribbean Independence Movements: Haiti |
18 | 19 Unit 5 (cont.): Independence Movements: Wrap-Up |
| 22 MIDTERM EXAM CULTURAL STUDY PROJECTS DUE! |
23 | 24 Cross-Cultural Study |
25 | 26 Cross-Cultural Study |
| 29 Unit 6: Negritude Movement "A Salute to the..." |
30 | 31 Unit 6 (cont.): Negritude Movement Hammer Blows |
||
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| 1 | 2 Unit 6 (cont.): Negritude Movement Hammer Blows | |||
| 5 Unit 6 (cont.): Negritude Movement A Tempest |
6 | 7 Unit 6 (cont.): Negritude Movement A Tempest |
8 | 9 Unit 6 (cont.): Negritude Movement A Tempest |
| 12 Unit 6 (cont.): Negritude Movement A Tempest |
13 | 14 Unit 6 (cont.): Negritude Movement A Tempest |
15 |
16 Unit 6 (cont.): Negritude Movement A Tempest |
| 19 Unit 7: Women and Family: Introduction |
20 | 21 Unit 7 (cont.): Women and Family So Long A Letter |
22 | 23 Unit 7 (cont.): Women and Family So Long A Letter |
| 26 Unit 7: Women and Family So Long A Letter |
27 | 28 Unit 7 (cont.): Women and Family So Long A Letter |
29 | 30 Unit 7 (cont.): Women and Family So Long A Letter |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| 3 Unit 8: Contemporary African Society Tribaliks |
4 | 5 Unit 8 (cont.): Contemporary African Society Tribaliks |
6 |
7 Unit 8 (cont.): Contemporary African Society Tribaliks |
| 10 Unit 8 (cont.): Contemporary African Society Tribaliks LITERARY ANALYSIS PAPERS DUE! |
11 | 12 Unit 8 (cont.): Contemporary Caribbean Society "Boat People" |
13 | 14 Wrap-Up FINAL EXAM |
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