FRIT F250
Fall
2008
Course Information
and Policies
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Les maisons basques ŕ
Bayonne |
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*Please print this page for your records.
Instructor:______________________________
Office:________Office Hrs:________________
Email/Contact
Info:_______________________
Name and e-mail address of two classmates:
_______________________________________
_______________________________________ |
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Last
Update: September 2, 2008 |
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
French F250 is designed for
students who have completed the equivalent of three semesters of university French. The
focus of this course is to sharpen students' skills in listening, reading,
speaking and writing in French and to deepen their knowledge of French and
Francophone language, literature and culture.
TEXT/MATERIALS: (available at IU bookstore or at TIS)
1)
Sur le vif. Hannelore, J. & Tufts, C. 4th Edition (2006). Boston:
Thomson-Heinle. (Textbook only).
2) Asterix: La grande traversee.
3) Course packet. (Additional readings will be made available by your instructor through OnCourse).
COURSE OBJECTIVES :
Through a variety of literary genres, students will expand reading skills in French, increase working vocabulary and knowledge of Francophone cultures, and be introduced to the basics of literary analysis. Students will also review and expand their knowledge of fundamental structures of the language.
Students enrolled in F250 have the option of enrolling in F251, a 1-credit related Service Learning course in which students will work with kindergarten through sixth grade children at Templeton or Fairview elementary schools teaching basic French lessons (see Service Learning link on F250 homepage).
After completing F250, students should be well prepared to continue on to F300 (Reading and Expression in French). Students completing F250 may wish to consider a minor (four additional classes beyond F250) or a major in French. The IU French program also supports and encourages student participation in the many excellent study abroad options offered through the Office of Overseas Study in various French-speaking countries including France, Quebec, and Senegal. Click here for France and Quebec program descriptions. Click here for a description of the Dakar, Senegal program.
GRADING/GRADE DISTRIBUTION:
Grades are calculated according to the scale below. Grades are not curved. There is normally no extra credit
offered in F250; however, extra credit is occasionally offered when exceptional cultural opportunities
present themselves, or for participation in authorized linguistic studies.
| A+ 975-1000 points |
B+ 875-894 |
C+ 775-794 |
D+ 675-694 |
| A 925-974 |
B 825-874 |
C 725-774 |
D 625-674 |
| A- 895-924 |
B- 795-824 |
C- 695-724 |
D- 595-624 |
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F 0-594 |
| TOTAL = 1000 points |
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Grades
for French F250 will be distributed among the following categories:
| Class Participation/Attendance (15 weeks x 10 points) |
150 points |
| Homework/quizzes (average of 10 points weekly) |
150 points |
Mid-semester exams (2 @ 150 points each) |
300 points |
Writing portfolio:
-
Eight (8) short writing assignments (3/4 - 1 page typed, double-spaced) x 20 points each (average of one written assignment every two weeks)
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Revision and expansion of three (3) select writing assignments (3 x 20 points)
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Portfolio assessment grid (completion of all assignments = 10 points; student mid-semester self-assessment of work = 10 points; student final self-assessment of work = 10 points) |
160 points
60 points
30 points |
| Final Exam |
150 points |
ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION/PREPARATION:
-
Regular
oral practice is essential for improving proficiency in a foreign language,
and thus attending class and participating actively on a daily basis are
necessary for a student's success in F250. Instructors will record a daily
participation grade for each student and average the daily grades to determine
each students weekly participation grade. (See
participation guidelines below.)
-
Tardiness
will not be tolerated; late arrivals distract other learners, as well as
diminish a student's own participation. Students are also expected to refrain
from eating, drinking, and chewing gum in class, as these activities inhibit a
person's ability to speak French. Such activities may result in a lowered
weekly participation grade.
- Being prepared for class entails completing the assigned homework and
bringing it to class each day.
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Instructors
and students can reasonably expect each other to be in class on a daily basis.
If the instructor does not arrive for class and no explanation is posted,
(either on the classroom door or on the blackboard), students should send a
representative from the class to the Department of French and Italian
(Ballantine Hall 642) to consult an administrative staff member.
PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES :
The
following are general guidelines the instructor will follow in assigning the
weekly participation grade. Exact participation points within the specified
ranges are assigned based on individual instructor expectations. A student
assigned a grade of "8.5", for example, but expecting a grade of "9" or "10",
should talk to the instructor about his or her participation expectations for
receiving a higher participation grade.
-
9-10
points -- Used only French and spoke often during class period.
Participated actively and was a leader in group work. Volunteered very often
and contributed to class discussion in a meaningful way. Listened attentively
and responded to others. Was very well-prepared for class.
- 8-8.5 points -- Used almost exclusively French and spoke
often during class period. Participated actively in group work. Volunteered
quite often and contributed to class discussion in a meaningful way. Listened
attentively and responded to others. Was well-prepared for class overall.
-
7-7.5
points -- Used mostly French but used English on occasion. Spoke
fairly often during class period. Participated actively in group work.
Volunteered occasionally. Listened and responded generally to others. Was
mostly prepared for class.
-
5-6.5
points -- Used quite a bit of English on several occasions during
group work and/or whole class discussion OR didn't speak often. Not very
engaged in group activities. Did not volunteer during classroom discussion.
Seemed quite unprepared for class.
-
0-4.5
points -- Used more English than French OR did not speak during
class. Was not engaged in group activities and/or was distracting to
others or got off-topic during group activities. Chatted with classmates, did
homework, slept, read the news or daydreamed during class activities.
Obviously did not prepare at all for class.
TARDINESS/ABSENCES:
- Students are expected to be on time. Three late arrivals will count as an absence in the final grade calculation. In the case of a student behaving
in a disruptive or uncivil manner, the instructor reserves the right to assign
a participation grade of "0" to that student for the day.
- If you must miss class for any reason, you will still be responsible for
all assignments due on that day. You are advised to email your instructor
immediately if you must be absent from class and, if at all possible, arrange
to have someone drop off your homework the day it is due. Absences
from class may be excused and you will have an opportunity to make up class
work only if written, verifiable documentation is presented to the
instructor the next class day. NOTE: To document an illness
you must show proof that you were seen by a doctor or were in the hospital on
the day(s) missed. A note saying that you simply presented at the health
center, but were not seen, does not count.
- If you plan to miss class for a religious holiday you must submit a request for
accommodation for religious observances to your instructor, prior to your
absence.
- Participation in class activities is an essential part of
learning a foreign language, thus after a total of 2 weeks of absences (6
missed day-section classes or 4 missed night-section classes) you will not be
able to make up any participation points. You may still make up homework
if the absence is excused, but will lose your participation points.
HOMEWORK:
The syllabus calendar lists the material
to be covered in class each day. Individual instructors will assign homework each day to be prepared and completed for the following class.
Students are expected to prepare the assigned lesson, in
advance of each class period (both reading over what will be covered
"en classe" and completing exercises assigned as "devoirs"). Late
homework is NOT accepted without a valid, documented excuse.
Students
should expect to turn homework in about once a week, and instructors may collect
homework that is due on a particular day without announcing it in
advance. Homework assignments are at the instructor's discretion, and may
include the following items:
EXAMS/QUIZZES:
There will be two mid-semester exams and a final exam covering both grammar,vocabulary, and reading material.
Should a student need to miss an exam or quiz for a valid, documented reason, the student must contact his/her instructor before the exam date, if
it is known ahead of time that the student will be absent, or no later than
48 hours after the missed exam. The student must present
written, verifiable proof of an urgent reason (such as illness or
family emergency) for missing the quiz to the instructor who will confirm the documentation with the course supervisor, Kelly Sax
(ksax @indiana.edu). For example, in the case of illess, the student will
need a doctor's note indicating an office visit on the day of the exam or an
earlier visit with an indication of need to miss school on the date of the exam.
There can be no exceptions to this policy, out of fairness to all
students in basic French courses. The F250 course supervisor must authorize all
make-up exams.
WRITING PORTFOLIO
Students should purchase a flat cardboard folder into which all written work will go. Over the semester students will compose a total of 8 short written assignments based on the poems, songs, and short stories included in the syllabus. Written assignments will range from simply describing or paraphrasing a text's content, to expressing and supporting an opinion about the text, to illustrating or otherwise creating an artistic representation of the piece and explaining the relationship of your artwork to the text, and finally to analyzing and interpreting a text's themes and meaning. Written assignments will be graded equally on 4 areas: content, organization, vocabulary, and
grammar. In consultation with the instructor, students will select FOUR assignments to revise and significantly expand upon (these assignments should contain 50% more new content).
ASSISTANCE WITH WRITTEN WORK:
Students may use their textbooks, dictionaries, and grammar references
in preparing assignments, as well as consulting their instructor. However, with
the exception of help from the student's instructor and/or in-class activities
such as peer editing, OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE IS NOT
ALLOWED on graded assignments in French 250 (that is, tutors,
friends, native speakers, electronic and/or computer-assisted translators,
translating programs, spell/grammar checkers, etc.) and is considered
cheating.
ABOUT THE USE OF TRANSLATION PROGRAMS:
The use of
computer or on-line translation programs is NOT permitted for
writing assignments in F250 and is considered cheating. As opposed to
dictionaries and grammar references, these programs are not a learning tool
because they simply provide a translation, rather than allowing you to choose
among various words/tenses, etc. to come up with the best translation on your
own. Moreover, translation programs produce inaccurate, incorrect translations,
and are notoriously easy to identify. Students will learn far more by doing
their own work than by risking serious academic consequences.
ACADEMIC HONESTY:As in all cases of cheating, if it is
found that a student has used any outside assistance, a Student Academic
Misconduct report will be filed with the Office of Student Ethics, and a copy
will be placed in the student's academic records, as per the university policy
on cheating .
Further action may be taken, depending on past or subsequent disciplinary action
taken by the University, and may include Disclipinary Probation, Suspension from
the University or Expulsion from the University. For full information, see the
Indiana University Code
of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct.
The
Department of French & Italian fully supports and adheres to all university
policies and procedures regarding academic misconduct (cheating, fabrication,
plagiarism, interference, etc.), and does not tolerate instances of student
incivility in the classroom. Any instances of academic and/or personal
misconduct may result in sanction.
INCOMPLETE GRADES:
A grade of Incomplete (I) is
rarely assigned in F250. An incomplete will only be allowed as an option in
cases where an unexpected, severe situation – such as a personal or medical
emergency – prevents the student from completing the final major assignment(s)
of the course. An incomplete is not assigned based on a student’s inability to
make up past missed work, whether or not a medical or personal issue is the
cause. Students who chronically fail to submit graded assignments over the
course of the semester should either drop the course or request a withdrawal. An
incomplete will only be assigned for fully documented and verifiable reasons
which prevent the completion of the course.
DISABILITIES/SPECIAL NEEDS: The Department of
French & Italian works closely with the Office of Disability Services for
Students to provide accommodations to students with learning and/or physical
disabilities. If you are seeking accommodations, please obtain the information
letter from OFSS in Franklin Hall 096, and then make an appointment to see Kelly
Sax, the French Language Coordinator. Please contact Kelly Sax by email or phone
at: ksax @indiana.edu or 855-1254. In order for us to make appropriate and
adequate accommodations, we must receive the request by the end of the first
week of classes.
F250 COURSE SUPERVISOR: Any questions or concerns about F250 not addressed by
your instructor can be forwarded to the F250 course supervisor: Dr. Kelly
Sax, Ballantine Hall 636, (Email: ksax) or by telephone at (812)
855-1254.
Contact: ksax
(@indiana.edu)
Copyright 2005, The Trustees of
Indiana University