The Origins of the Novel

Subject FREN20010 (2015)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2015.

Credit Points: 12.5
Level: 2 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2015.

Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 1 x 1.5 hour lecture and a 1 x 1 hour tutorial per week
Total Time Commitment:

Total of 170 hours.

Prerequisites:

French 4 or French 6 or French Language and Culture 1B or French Intermediate Language & Culture B or equivalent.

Corequisites:

None

Recommended Background Knowledge:

None

Non Allowed Subjects:

Students who have completed French Fictions ll or The Origins of the Novel at third year level are also not allowed to enrol in this subject.

Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Subject Overview:

In this subject students will read a selection of novels in French (from the Middle Ages to 18th century) in order to understand the evolution of the French novel. They will have to analyse the narrative structures and demonstrate critical awareness of the social, political and ideological context of each novel. The subject will be taught in French.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this subject, students will:

  • have gained an appreciation of academic French through the confident use of sophisticated oral and written French at level B2/C1 of the Common European Framework for Languages;
  • have gained an overview of three specialized fields (Middle Ages, Renaissance and Siècle des Lumières) in at least one of the three core areas of French literature, linguistics, and cultural (cinema) studies;
  • have gained a broad understanding of the wider literary or linguistic methods used in the specialist fields of French Studies (eg close reading) as well as of general research and analytical skills;
  • be able to reflect on their identity as a bicultural and bilingual person and as a global citizen;
  • have learned to do self-directed small research projects in the field of French Studies and to locate pertinent research literature in both French and English;
  • be able to make wide use of learning and research technologies in French and English.
Assessment:
  • One class paper in French equivalent to 1000 words due during semester [30%]
  • One folio of writing exercises or oral presentation in French totalling 1400 words due during semester [35%]
  • One reflective essay in French totalling 1600 words and using some academic sources due at the end of semester [35%]

This subject has the following hurdle requirements:

  • Regular participation in tutorials is required with a minimum of 75% attendance.
  • All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day and in-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.

Prescribed Texts:
  • A subject reader will be available through the University of Melbourne Bookshop.
  • Chrétien de Troyes, Le Chevalier au lion; Madame de Lafayette, La Princesse de Clèves; Laclos, Les liaisons dangereuses.
Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:
  • Research: through frequent and systematic use of the library and other information sources, the definition of areas of inquiry and familiarisation with research methods.
  • Critical thinking and analysis: through required and recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by assessing the strength of arguments.
  • Thinking in theoretical and analytical terms: through lectures, tutorial discussion, essay writing and engagement in the methodologies of the humanities and social sciences.
  • Understanding of social, political, historical and cultural contexts and international awareness/openness to the world: through the contextualisation of judgements and knowledge, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and new aspects of French culture, and by formulating arguments.
  • Communicating knowledge intelligibly and economically: through essay and assignment writing, tutorial discussion and class presentations.
  • Public speaking and confidence in self-expression: through tutorial participation and class presentations.
  • Written communication: through essay and assignment preparation and writing.
  • Attention to detail: through close reading and textual analysis, essay preparation and writing, and examination revision.
  • Time management and planning: through managing and organizing workloads for required and recommended reading, essay and assignment completion and revision for examinations.
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: French
French
French
French

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