Advanced Grammar and Composition

Course Details

Course Number: 4133  Section Number: 01

Fall 2011

Location: Prothro-Yeager Hall

Classroom Number: 204

Days & Times:

Tuesday and Thursday 12:30-1:50

Course Attachments

Textbooks

Le Petit Nicholas  ISBN: 978-2-07-036423
MSU Faculty Member
Dr. Stuart Allan McClintock   
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Course Objectives

The title of the course is its primary purpose: to emphasize compositional and oral skills. The basis for our reading to generate conversation and provide subjects for composition will be Le Petit Nicholas. Review of grammar is also part of this course. To work on oral comprehension, scenes from films will be studied and discussed.

There is only one way of ultimately learning a language: total immersion. That is, to speak, listen, read, and write in the target language. That is our goal.  


Course Expectations

Student must have completed French 1134-1234 and 2133-2233.


Final Exam12/9/2010  10:30-12:30

Submission Format PolicyNote: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Late Paper Policy

Homework: Due at the beginning of class; no work is accepted after class. Please submit neat work. Sloppy work will be handed back ungraded. Make sure to make up your work if you are absent. Below, I have given a fairly detailed list of assignments, but things can be added to it. You are responsible for knowing entirety of the assignment, so check with me if you absent from class.

Quizzes: Quizzes are administered at the beginning of class. No make-up quizzes are given for late students. Quizzes are usually announced; however pop quizzes will also be administered. Make sure to make up quizzes if you are absent.

Make-up work: Turn in work and take quizzes when you return to class


Plagiarism Policy Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception. Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters. We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student. We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed. Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

Students with Disabilities The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, 397-4140.

Safe Zones Statement The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

Contacting your Instructor All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MWSU e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

Attendance Requirements

Attendance is mandatory. A student will be dropped after four unexcused absences. Only an excused absence, defined as a university-sponsored event, does not affect your grade or is not counted as an absence. After first absence, attendance grade is lowered ten points per absence. Repeated late arrival will count as an absence as well. If you are absent for two consecutive classes, please let me know why you are not in class. Perfect attendance or one missed class gets ten points added to attendance grade.


Other Policies

 

Office: Bea Wood 110. Telephone: 397-4857, where you can leave a message. Please leave your number so that I can return your call. You can also e-mail me at stuart.mcclintock@mwsu.edu.

Office Hours: M: 9-11 and 1-3; T, Th, and F 9-11, and by appt. I am often in my office outside of office hours, and you are welcome if I am there.

Required Texts: Reprise, special printing only available at MSU bookstore; Le Petit Prince, special printing only available at MSU bookstorespecial printing only available at MSU bookstore

Grade:

Quizzes                                                                           10%

Oral participation                                                           20%

 Written work                                                                   25%

  Final                                                                                20%

  Final paper and presentation                                    15%

  Attendance                                                                     10%

 

Homework: Due at the beginning of class; no work is accepted after class. Please submit neat work. Sloppy work will be handed back ungraded. Make sure to make up your work if you are absent. Below, I have given a fairly detailed list of assignments, but things can be added to it. You are responsible for knowing entirety of the assignment, so check with me if you absent from class.

Quizzes: Quizzes are administered at the beginning of class. No make-up quizzes are given for late students. Quizzes are usually announced; however pop quizzes will also be administered. Make sure to make up quizzes if you are absent.

Make-up work: Turn in work and take quizzes when you return to class

Language of instruction: There is only one way of ultimately learning a language: total immersion. That is, to speak, listen, read, and write in the target language. That is our goal.  

Goals of the course: The title of the course is its primary purpose: to emphasize compositional and oral skills. The basis for our reading to generate conversation and provide subjects for composition will be Le Petit Nicholas. Review of grammar is also part of this course.

Poem: Everyone will memorize a French poem to deliver in class. Consult with me for your choice if you want. Get started on this early.

Final project: Everyone will choose a film from a list I will provide. You will answer questions that I provide about this film and write a summary of it. You will also summarize the film as your oral presentation. Then you will pick a scene, show it, and discuss it.

Extra Credit:You can do up to two extra credit projects to replace a poor grade for homework, quiz. It can be just about anything like going to a museum with French art, reading a French novel, or watching a French movie. Write up what you've done and submit it. The bigger the project, the more it's worth. See me for details

Academic honesty: Any work that you submit (homework, lab work, quizzes, or tests) that is not your own is reason for censure for all parties involved. Procedure for censure follows the academic dishonesty policy in the student handbook.

 

French at Midwestern:

1. There is a French Club open to anybody interested in francophone (French speaking) culture.

2. There is a French minor and a French area of concentration at Midwestern. You must take a minimum of four advanced courses for the minor and six advanced course for the area of concentration. Those interested in teaching will do the area of concentration. If you are interested, see me for details.

3.  There is a $2,000 scholarship given every year for a French minor. Those planning to use scholarship to study French or travel in a francophone country are given priority.

4. We have a chapter of Pi Delta Phi, the French National Honor society. To qualify for membership, you must have completed one advanced French course with an average of 3.00. There are scholarships for study in France and Canada for members.

5. There are possibilities for studying French in another country over the summer. See me.

6. Midwestern participates in a program in France at which you can study for a full semester every spring. Courses are in English and cover a wide range of subjects. The program is open to all majors because courses are part of the core curriculum.

 

Homework schedule :

1. A chapter from Le Petit Nicholas will always be the first part of homework. Read the chapter so that you can summarize it orally in class. I will call on a student each class to summarize the chapter. Because you have more time between Thursday’s and Tuesday’s classes, you will write a summary of the chapter due for that Tuesday of about one page. Prepare this using word processor. You must use the computer for accents. (See below for how to do accents.)  We will use the text for other purposes such as reading rhythm, pronunciation, grammar rules, vocabulary enhancement, and translation. Quiz for every three chapters of vocabulary.

2. You will generate at least five of your own sentences each class that you will type out and submit. I will not put this on the hw sheet because you do it every class.

3. To improve your ear, we will watch a French film over the course of the semester. You will be responsible for talking and writing about scenes we have seen. We will try to show a scene or two once per week.

There will be other assignments added to this schedule.

Date indicates day homework assigned. It is due the following class.

le 24.8: Un Souvenir qu’on va chérir. Review formation of the présent du conditionnel. Petit examen de formation reg et irreg. Your 5 sentences should be with the conditional.

le 26.8: Les cow-boys. Write summary of this chapter. Review imparfait. Conditional and imparfait assignment.

le 31.8 Le Bouillon. Quiz on vocabulary of first three chapters. Plus que Parfait et le passé du conditionnel. Assignment for Plus que Parfait et le passé du conditionnel due le 9.9.

le 2.9 Le football. Paragraph on this chapter. Plus que Parfait et le passé du conditionnel assignment due.

le 7.9 On a eu l’inspecteur. Translation

le 9.9 Rex. Paragraph on this chapter. Quiz on vocabulary of three chapters

le 14.9 Djodjo. Translation. Champs-Elysées tape and questions due le 25.9.

le 16.9 Le chouette bouquet. Paragraph on this chapter.

le 21.9 Les carnets Quiz on vocabulary of three chapters

le 23.9 Louisette. Paragraph on this chapter.

le 28.9 On a répété pour le ministre. Animal vocabulary.

le 30.9 Je fume. Paragraph on this chapter. Quiz on vocabulary of three chapters

le 5.10 Le petit poucet

le 7.10.Le vélo. Paragraph on this chapter. Memorized poem in class.

le 12.10 Je suis malade. Quiz on vocabulary of three chapters

le 14.10 On a bien rigolé. Paragraph on this chapter.

le 19.10 Je fréquente Agnan. Memorized poem in class.

le 21.10 M. Bordenave n’aime pas le soleil. Paragraph on this chapter.

le 26.10 Je quitte la maison. Quiz on vocabulary of last four chapters

le 2.11 Oral presentation of film summaries slang, expressions, and acronyms

le 4.11 map of Paris subway. Travel vocabulary. Memorized poem in class.

le 9.11 Quiz on slang, expressions, and acronyms.

le 11.11 Quiz on travel vocabulary and Paris subway map.

le 16.11

le 18.11 Written Film summaries due. Oral presentation of summaries

le 23.11 Oral presentation of film summaries

le 30.11

le 2.12



Writing Proficiency Requirement All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed English 1113 and English 1123 and 2) earned 60 hours. You may meet this requirement by passing either the Writing Proficiency Exam or English 2113. Please keep in mind that, once you've earned over 90 hours, you lose the opportunity to take the $25 exam and have no option but to enroll in the three-credit hour course. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at http://academics.mwsu.edu/wpr, or call 397-4131.