REQUIRED TEXTS

1. Ludwig, Ralph (ed.). Écrire la parole de nuit. La nouvelle littérature antillaise. Paris: Gallimard, 1994. Collection Folio-essais #239. ISBN2-07-040204-5.
2. Glissant, Edouard. Le discours antillais. Paris: Galllimard, 1997. Collection Folio-essais, #313. ISBN 2-07-074622-4.
3. Robin, Régine. La Québécoite. Montréal: XYZ, 1993. ISBN 2-89261-080-X.
4. Laferrière, Dany. Je suis fatigué. Montréal: Lanctôt [PCL/petite collection lanctôt], 2001. ISBN 2-89485-181-2.
Recommended: Harper Collins Robert French Dictionary, 3rd edition.  All these texts are available at the College Bookstore.
 

COURSE OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION

This course will examine the cultures of Francophone postcolonial diasporas in the Americas.  The focus will be on multicultural and marginal social practices of French-speaking minorities from Canada to the Caribbean, as represented in music, film, art, literature, television and other media.  The course will examine in particular the notions of créolité and antillanité, and immigrant literature in Québec.  We will also reflect on the notions of gender, bilingualism and Francophonie, and will analyze current French foreign policy.
Materials for this course will be drawn from excerpts of recent works, journal articles and visual documents (collected in a reader or on-line), popular songs, films, recent TV documentaries, and four texts, including a novel and three collections of short stories and essays.  After introducing Francophone culture in the Americas, we will study it in two different contexts.  Class discussion and questions will take place in French.
 

HOMEWORK AND ASSIGNMENTS

1. Papers (2) are prepared in class (the first, on Caribbean culture: 8 pages, the second on the notion of diaspora as illustrated by at least two examples of different cultures: 10 pages—15+ for majors).  They will be typed, double spaced, with a margin of 1.25 inches on all sides.  The papers must be your own work.  Plagiarism (as defined in the Student Handbook) is banned.  Part of the assignment is to learn to proof-read your own work.  After your outline is completed, you will submit a first draft of the paper.  A week later, you will submit a revised and corrected final version.  Both grades will be average to calculate the final grade for the paper.  Accents must be typed in, not written in pen or pencil.  Papers turned in late will receive a penalty of one letter grade per 24 hour period.
2. Oral Presentations (2): On the required texts or other documents provided.    They may be presented in groups. 10 minutes max. Provide visual aid and copies for fellow students as needed, includig a one-page outline. Cultural analysis of the documents. Importance and relevance for our topic. Present 1-2 problems.
3. Weekly Web Reports to be posted on the Blackboard weekly forums.  They shall include your brief comments (at least 2 paragraphs in French, 5-10 lines each), questions (at least 4) and eventual links or attached files, on the readings assigned for the week, including required texts, reports, films, documentaries, Internet research and other documents.  They have to be posted on Sunday by 8 p.m. for the following week for other students to read them in time.  This exploratory writing will prepare you for discussion in class and may be used for your papers and presentations.
4. Final Project.  To be prepared in groups of 3 or 4, the project will address a particular aspect of Francophone diasporic cultures to be determined by the students in each group.  Each student will present a section of the group project (10 minutes max.).  Delivery, originality of the material presented, quality of the research, and sources, will be subject to peers’ and instructor’s evaluation.  Particular attention will be paid to the coherence of the group project as a whole.  Practice and time yourself to 10 minutes.  Use any props which will make you talk more interesting and easy to follow for the audience: pictures, maps, charts, realia, etc.  Be attentive when taking notes; it is best to put the information into your own words as you are taking notes from your sources.  Prepare documentation of your sources to turn it, including Internet sites.  Do not read the report.  You may have brief notes, but they must be on index cards.  Reading a report will result in a reduction of one letter grade on the project. The same rules apply for individual oral presentations.
5. Preparation of class assignments as reflected in class participation.
 

COURSE EVALUATION

1. 30%  Midterm Paper (on Caribbean culture) & Term Paper (on a comparative and cultural study of the notion of diaspora) based on...
2. 10%  At least two Oral Presentations : on the required texts or other relevant cultural documents (or any combination of both).
3. 30%  Weekly Web Reports and results on online research posted on the forums on the readings, films and other documents.
4. 10%  Final Project (groups of 3-4 students; posted on the forum): research, content, organization, delivery.
5. 20%  Active Participation in class. Work in groups on class activities. Attendance and participation are graded.
 

COURSE POLICIES

1. Attendance: Attendance in class is mandatory.  It is also a very important part of the final grade, as classes can be considered as workshops.  Since attendance is essential in this course, regardless of their combined grade average, students with more than 5 absences will not receive an A, those with more than 10 will not receive an A or a B, and students with more than 15 absences will automatically receive a F.  Excused absences require written documentation, such as Dean or Doctor’s statement in case of illness (one exception: religious holidays). Two late showings count for an absence.
2. Preparation: Students (and/or groups of students) are expected to be well prepared before the actual classroom time so that the class time can be fully used for practice at a desired pace.  This includes completing all reading assignments in time.  Two hours of preparation or more are usually necessary for each class period.
3. Any delay for a given assignment will automatically lower your grade for this particular assignment by a letter grade.
4. Tutors, peers or others may be consulted on ungraded assignments only, and with the instructor’s permission.  Plagiarism of sentences, texts and other documents is banned and will be handled according to the UOP Honor Code.  Specialized  Internet search engines now make the task of identifying plagiarism a fast and easy one.
5. UOP Honor Code: The University Honor Code is an essential element in academic integrity.  It is a violation of the Honor Code to give or receive information from another student during an examination; to use unauthorized sources during an examination; or to submit all or part of someone else's work or ideas as one's own.  If a student violates the Honor Code, the faculty member may refer the matter to the Office of Student Life.  If found guilty, the student may be penalized with failure of the assignment or failure of the course.  The student may also be reprimanded or suspended from the University.  A complete statement of the Honor Code may be found in the Student Handbook, Tiger Lore.
6. Retention of Pedagogical Material: Copies of students' work may be retained to assess how the learning objectives of the course are being met.
7. Students with disabilities: Please notify me about any special needs during the first week of the semester.  Those students needing accomodations due to a disability should arrange a meeting with me during office hours and provide an accomodations request letter obtained from the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities in Bannister Hall, Room 101.
8. The following schedule is subject to changes.  Any changes will be announced in class, ahead of time.  Should you be absent on a day a change is announced, it is your responsibility to remain apprized of all changes.