French Stylistics and Composition
FREN 204-01
Monday & Wednesday
10 AM to 11:15 AM
Schmitt Hall 214
Spring 2016
Professor: Anne-Caroline Sieffert
E-mail: TBD
Office Hours: By appointment, and Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:20 am to 12:20 pm.
Course Description: This course focuses on strengthening students’ composition skills through the exploration of different genres of writing. It is designed for students who have completed Review of French Grammar (FREN 203) or have the appropriate level to take this course. Its main objective is to develop students’ proficiency in reading and writing. Emphasis is laid on exploring different genres of writing, using relevant reference material, and producing well-organized compositions. The course also offers a review of relevant grammatical structures and an exploration of a variety of stylistic features related to each genre of writing.
Grammar Book (available in all major online bookstores): We will draw most of our grammar exercises from La Grammaire progressive du Français, CLE edition, ISBN: 2090338482.
Grade Breakdown: Your class grade will be based on the following components:
Attendance and Active Participation 10%
Assignments 10%
Compositions 30%
Quizzes 10%
Midterm exam 20%
Final exam 20%
Grading Scale:
93- 100= A 80-82 = B- 69-65 = D
90-92 = A- 78-79 = C+ 64-60 = D-
88-89 = B+ 73-77 = C Below 60 = F
83-87 = B 70-72 = C-
Attendance and Participation:
Attendance is mandatory. Failure to attend will affect your attendance and participation grade. Each unexcused absence is equivalent to a half (1/2) point which will be deducted from the percentage attributed to attendance. Excused absences (illness or other emergency) must be justified with a doctor’s note or another official document. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out what material was covered. You will therefore need to make arrangements with a classmate for notes, handouts, and assignments. There will be no make-up of quizzes and exams except in the case of an officially excused absence. Punctuality is also essential, as late arrivals disrupt the entire class. Each late arrival or early departure exceeding 10 minutes will count as an unexcused absence. Active or visible cell phones and audio devices (e.g., CD players, iPods) are not allowed in class. After the first week of class, any student whose cell phone or audio device is used during class will be counted absent.
Active participation includes your willingness and preparedness to share ideas and questions, and cooperate in group activities. It also includes listening to all class participants and showing respect to different opinions. Everyone is expected to speak in French.
Assignments: All homework assignments are to be completed and turned in as scheduled. Example of assignments include readings, answering comprehension or vocabulary questions, and/or producing a short piece of writing. Details will be given at the end of each class.
Quizzes: very short quizzes on vocabulary and grammar will be given during the semester. Dates may vary according to topics covered.
Compositions: Throughout the semester, you will have the opportunity to refine your writing skills, expand your vocabulary, and explore new genres of writing. You will write short compositions on a variety of topics and forms of writing covered in class. Four or five compositions will be graded and will count towards your composition grade. Only the second version of each composition will be assigned a grade, although the quality of the first version will count as part of the composition grade.
Exams: The midterm and final exams will focus on vocabulary, grammatical structures as well as on stylistics fundamentals associated with each genre of writing. Please carefully note exam dates as there will be no make-ups without written, official justification.
A Statement on Plagiarism: It is Monclair State University’s policy not to tolerate plagiarism of any kind. Plagiarism is defined as the verbatim use of four or more words from an unreferenced source. This includes copying from someone else’s homework, from a book or article, the Internet, etc. without attributing the words in question (giving the author, the title, the pages, and so on). In this course, the use of computer-generated or internet-produced translations is also considered plagiarism. Plagiarism is severely sanctioned by the University and it may result not only in a grade of ‘F’, but in suspension or even expulsion from MSU.
Important dates:
January 18: Martin Luther King Day: (No classes)
January 19: First Day of Classes
March 7-13: Spring Recess (No classes)
March 25-27: Easter Holiday (No classes)
May 3: Tuesday designated as a Friday (For Friday day classes; Tuesday day and evening classes do not meet)
May 3: Last Day of Classes (Sunday, May 3, for Friday evening and weekend classes)
May 4: Reading Day
May 5-11: Examination period
May 11: End of semester
Teaching Schedule
* The schedule below indicates what will be covered each week. The professor reserves the right to change the schedule outline as needed and substitute certain texts with others according the needs of the group. Students will be notified of possible changes in class.
Calendar
The Traveling Scholar | AC Sieffert, PhD 