Medieval and Renaissance French

This subject is not offered in 2016.

170 hours

Admission to the Graduate Diploma in Arts (Advanced) or fourth-year honours in French

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject aims to develop a global understanding of certain key transformations in contemporary culture via the study of recent avant-garde literary texts (Ernaux, Houellebecq, Laurens, Quignard, Weyergans, Toussaint). We look at new narrative techniques, representations of modernity, humour and irony, the influence of painting and photography, the role of the reader and the renewed focus on love and eroticism. Other controversial authors and contemporary women writers complete our study, which explores the dynamics of French writing today. At the end of the subject, students should be able to synthesise an approach to a general problem in contemporary culture through the use of a variety of material, including internet sites. develop the ability to write articles and to build personal research projects.

On successful completion of this subject, students should:

• be able to synthesise an approach to a general problem in contemporary culture through the use of a variety of materials in literature, psychoanalysis, history, mythography;
• have developed the ability to write articles and to build personal research projects.

• A 30-minute class paper of 1500 words in French subsequently written up (due a week after the presentation) [35%]
• A 3000 word comparative essay in French (due a week after the end of semester) [45%]
• A brief presentations on key issues for discussion totaling 500 words (due at regular intervals during semester) [20%]

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.

Reading material will be available through the LMS.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who successfully complete this subject should:

• have developed research skills: through frequent and systematic use of the library and other information sources, the definition of areas of inquiry and familiarisation with research methods;
• have developed critical thinking and analytical skills: through required and recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by assessing the strength of arguments;
• be able to think in theoretical and analytical terms: through lectures, tutorial discussion, essay writing and engagement in the methodologies of the humanities and social sciences;
• have an 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;
• have developed skills in written communication: through essay and assignment preparation and writing;
• be able to communicate knowledge intelligibly and economically: through essay and assignment writing, tutorial discussion and class presentations;
• have developed public speaking skills and confidence in self-expression: through tutorial participation and class presentations;
• be able to pay attention to detail: through close reading and textual analysis, essay preparation and writing, and examination revision;
• be able to time manage and plan: through managing and organizing workloads for required and recommended reading, essay and assignment completion and revision for examinations.