FRE 2720-001, The Contemporary French, W 2004 -- Semester Projects Guidelines
The course will have three written projects due throughout the semester. On each date, you can choose the topic on which you are write from three categories of topics: 1) a discussion and commentary on a precise topic in French current events; 2) a discussion of cultural issues that you interpret in a French film (see list of possibilities); and 3) a summary and commentary on specified chapters in selected books on French cultural practices (see bibliographical list). The only stipulation is that you must choose from at least two of these three categories during the semester - that is, you cannot write three discussions of current events, or three film commentaries, or three chapter analyses. Here follow some guidelines for the project papers:
Length
The shorter paper(s) should be between 1500 and 2100 words long,
approximately 5-7 pages. Please place longer quotations in endnotes
(which do not count as part of the word length).
Secondary Sources
These project papers do not require you to use secondary sources
(critical or theoretical writing that informs your argument),
although such sources often help focus or extend a critical essay.
Audience: What You Can Assume About Your
Reader
You can assume that your reader has read the primary text you
discuss and understood them at a very superficial level. (There's
no need, in other words, to explain what the text or texts are
"about.") That understanding is only superficial, however;
your essay, then, should present to your reader a way of seeing
the text[s] at hand or of understanding the events that will teach
that reader a more worthwhile and interesting way of understanding
that it (texts or events).
Guidance on Developing a Thesis, Preparing
and Argument, Polishing the Essay: On each of these topics, I
refer students to the thoroughly developed Web site by Erik Simpson
(Grinnell College):
http://www.math.grinnell.edu/~simpsone/Connections/Writing/Thesis/index.html
http://www.math.grinnell.edu/~simpsone/Connections/Writing/Argument/index.html
http://www.math.grinnell.edu/~simpsone/Connections/Writing/Polish/index.html
Guidance on Developing Research and Using Quotations: On these topics, useful for the final paper at the end of the semester (should you opt for this final project), see: http://www.math.grinnell.edu/~simpsone/Connections/Writing/Research/index.html http://www.math.grinnell.edu/~simpsone/Connections/Writing/Quote/index.html
Guidance on General Study Skills (useful in ANY course): See http://www.math.grinnell.edu/~simpsone/Connections/Writing/Study/index.html
Possible Topics for Project Papers:
1) A discussion and commentary on a precise topic in French current events: Since all students in the course will develop an ongoing French Watch Log throughout the semester, this topic category allows you to expand on your knowledge of (and possible interest in) specific issues in the news, whether solely in France or for Franco-American relations. The structure of such a project paper would be 1) an introduction to the issue (where and how it appears on the radar), 2) socio-historical background on this issue, 3) different points of view that fuel conflicts related to this issue, 4) a conclusion to sum up points that you have made in the paper.
2) A discussion and commentary of cultural issues that you interpret in a French film (see list of possibilities): Although this course does not pretend to focus primarily on analysis of cinema, French films provide an exceptional window on cultural differences and similarities. The attached list of films is not necessarily definitive, but should you wish to propose a title, please make sure the film dates no earlier 1960 (and check with Prof. Stivale). The structure of this commentary is 1) an introduction, not a summary of the film, but rather a brief background statement on the film's history (director, film date, why you have chosen this film for commentary), 2) cultural commentary on the film (as related to French culture and/or French-American relations), and 3) a conclusion of the key points of your commentary.
3) A commentary and analysis on specified chapters in selected books on contemporary French cultural practices: The purpose of this topic category is to give you opportunities to read and report on texts other than the Nadeau and Barlow book that we are reading in the course. Rather than entire books, I have designated chapter clusters for the project papers. If you wish to work on other chapters or on a text not included on the attached list, please consult first with Prof. Stivale. As with the previous category, the structure of this commentary and analysis is 1) an introduction, i.e. a brief (emphasis on *brief*) summary of the chapters and their context within the book, 2) commentary and analysis on the chapters (as related to French culture and/or French-American relations), and 3) a conclusion of the key points of your commentary and analysis. You may use books, articles, and online sources, but you must be careful to avoid attributing the accounts from other sources to your own words. Please document carefully all outside attributions.
Topic category 2 (films):This is only a very incomplete list of possible
films on and from contemporary France:
-- Rentals -- Le Divorce (available soon), Amélie, your
suggestions (consult with Prof. Stivale)
-- At the FLTC (Manoogian Third Floor, must be viewed there) -
Breathless, Diva, The Visitors, Vagabond, 9/11, The Battle of
Algiers; on order: Bye-Bye, Day for Night, Entre Nous, It all
starts today, Jonah Who Will Be Twenty-Five in the Year 2000,
Last Tango in Paris, Mon Oncle Antoine (Quebec), Z, Madame Rosa
-- Detroit Institute of Art Film Theater: The Triplets of Belleville
Feb 6-7-8, Au Hasard, Balthazar Feb 20-21-22, Monsieur Ibrahim
March 12-13-14,
Topic category 3 (book chapters):
Asselin, Gilles, and Ruth Mastron - Au Contraire! Figuring out
the French -- Any of the
following: Part I, Part II 5-9, Part II 10-14, Part III
Carroll, Raymonde - Cultural Misunderstanding -- Any choice of
three chapters
Kunz, Edith I., Fatale: How French Women Do It - Chapter selection
forthcoming
Mathy, Jean-Philippe, French Resistance -- Introduction &
Conclusion plus choice of two
chapters
Ollivier, Debra, Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner
French Girl -- Chapter
selection forthcoming
Platt, Polly, French or Foe -- any complete Part (I, II, III,
IV)
Platt, Polly and André Grchich, Savoir-Flair: 211 Tips
for Enjoying France and the French -
Chapter selection forthcoming
Revel, Jean-François, Anti-Americanism -- Introduction
& Conclusion plus choice of two
chapters
Rochefort, Harriet Welty, French Fried: The Culinary Capers Of
An American In Paris -
Chapter selection forthcoming
Rochefort, Harriet Welty, French Toast : An American in Paris
Celebrates the Maddening
Mysteries of the French - Chapter selection forthcoming
Schehr, Lawrence and Allen S. Weiss, French Food: On the Table,
On the Page, and In French
Culture -- Introduction plus choice of any two chapters (EXCLUDING
4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 16)
Steele, Ross, The French Way -- any choice of twenty topics (please
try to unify your selection
into two or three sub-groups)
Todd, Emmanuel, et. al., After the Empire: The Breakdown of the
American Order -- Chapter
selection forthcoming
For any of your own selections, please consult with Prof. Stivale