TR001 French

UNIVERSITY OF DUBLINTRINITY COLLEGE

DEPARTMENT OF FRENCH

Junior Freshman Handbook

2011/2012

Two-Subject Moderatorship

Bienvenue!

This Handbook should be read in conjunction with relevant entries in the University Calendar. In case of any conflict between the Handbook and the Calendar, the provisions of the Calendar shall apply.

TR 001 French

Table of contents

1. Staff and term dates3

2. General information 4

3. Course overview and books 7

4. French language course 9

5. Texts course 14

6. Examination / assessment regulations 15

7. Essay writing 20

8. Description of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) 22

9. Socrates Exchanges 22

10. Assessed Texts essay questions (MT) App 1

11. Assessed Texts essay questions (HT) App 2

2

TR 001 French

Lecturing staff

Individual telephones can be accessed from outside College by pre-fixing (01) 896; email addresses are followed by <@tcd.ie>.

Dr Sarah Alyn Stacey, room 4105, tel. 2686, email <salynsta> (on leave Hilary term 2012) Dr Edward Arnold, room 4106, tel. 1836, email <ejarnold> Ms Annick Ferré, room 4104, tel. 1977, email <ferrea>Professor Johnnie Gratton, room 4090, tel. 2278, email <grattonj> Dr James Hanrahan, room 4107, tel. 1841, email <hanrahaj>Dr Rachel Hoare, room 4103, tel. 1842, email <rmhoare> (seconded to Genesis project 2011-12) Dr Ciara Kinsella, room 4112, tel. 1979, email <kinselci> Dr Claire Laudet, room 4108, tel. 2313, email <claudet>Dr Hannes Opelz, room 4111, tel. 1077, email <opelzh@tcd.ie> Dr Paule Salerno-O'Shea, room 4113, tel. 1472, email <psalerno> Professor David Scott (Head of Department), room 3135, tel. 1374, email <dscott>

Lecteurs / Lectrices, room 4077, ext. 1248Adrien SouchetSylvian TondeurMarine Le Bail

Language assistants, room 4111, ext. 1077Alexandra TauvryRafika HammoudiMathilde Le ClaincheLaure RoubaudJessica Stark

Executive OfficersMs Mary Kelly and Ms Sinéad Doran, room 4109, tel. 1553, email <french>Ms Tracy Corbett, room 4089, tel. 1333, email <tcorbett> (Monday to Wednesday) and Ms Lorraine Kerr, room 4089, tel 1333, email <lkerr> (currently on leave).

Term Dates

Michaelmas Term: Monday 26 September 2011 - Friday 16 December 2011Hilary Term: Monday 16 January 2012 - Friday 6 April 2012 Trinity Term: Monday 9th April 2012 – Friday 29th June 2012

3

TR 001 French

Bienvenue au Département de français !

Freshers’ week reminders:

Library: At registration, you will be given information concerning Library Tours relative to French and the other subject you are studying. It is imperative that you attend these, in order to familiarise yourself with the Library facilities, and the use of the library website, where to find and reserve books etc. For those who inadvertently miss their tour, there will be ‘mop-up’ tours organised, in approx. week 3 of term. Information concerning these tours will only be posted up in the Library.

Computers: Students are very strongly advised to also attend one of the Induction courses organised by Information Systems Services (ISS). These courses include an introduction to the College network, how to use email, the principles of file management, Virus protection etc. Details of these courses, which run throughout Freshers’ week, will also be given to you at registration, or can be obtained in Áras an Phiarsaigh.

Email: You will be given an email account as soon as you register. It is absolutely imperative that you become familiar with email, and check your Trinity email account regularly for departmental messages. Trinity accounts can be accessed from outside Trinity through http://go.tcd.ie. Email is used for the circulation of both course material and departmental information concerning deadlines etc.

General information

Lecturing staff are all in the same corner of level 4. Unless specific times are posted on the door, you should feel free to knock on the door of any member of staff you need to consult; if s/he is not free to speak to you at that moment, you can at least arrange a time to meet. Many queries can often be solved by email however, so try in the first instance to contact the staff-member electronically. Avoid disturbing meetings or small classes which may be going on in offices. If you have difficulty contacting any particular member of staff, consult the secretary in room 4109.

Ms Annick Ferré is the Junior Freshman coordinator, and is happy to answer any queries concerning the course (e-mail ferrea@tcd.ie).

Executive officers are in room 4109, which is open to students at times stated on the door, and in 4089 (Monday to Wednesday only). Practical problems (e.g. concerning timetable clashes, etc.) should be drawn to the attention of the Executive officer in 4109, whilst course-material is collected from Tracy Corbett in 4089.

Notice-boards The notice-board outside room 4111 is strictly reserved for notices posted by members of staff. Keep an eye on this board for special notices, changes of class, etc. Underneath this board is a set of boxes to be used for handing in assignments related to weekly classes. The notice-board next to room 4073 includes information on members of staff; that opposite is used for general information

4

TR 001 French

regarding events of interest, courses in France, etc., and may be used by students for relevant activities.

Departmental committee: Students are entitled to representation on the departmental committee, which considers all matters relating to your studies. Arrangements will be made through the Students Union for election of class-representatives when you have got to know each other sufficiently. The Department welcomes views on all aspects of the teaching programme.

Staff-student committee: Student representatives also participate in the term meetings of the Staff-Student Committee. This has recently been set up to establish a forum, other than departmental meetings, where students can raise issues specifically relevant to their year, and to the concerns of their classmates. Details of meetings will be emailed to class reps throughout the year.

Language assistants frequently organise various cultural activities through French throughout the year – keep an eye out for information. In addition, room 3135 houses a small collection of French books of general interest which may be borrowed at times posted on the door. All students are urged to make use of this facility, and to get into the habit of reading widely.

Residence Abroad Requirement:Students taking one or more modern languages other than English must spend a minimum of two months in the country of each language in order to fulfill the requirements of their course; students of Irish must spend at least the same amount of time in the Gaeltacht. The residence required for each language must be completed before the moderatorship examination in that language. This requirement can be waived only in exceptional circumstances and with the prior approval of the schools or departments concerned. It is recommended that in the year prior to their entering college, intending students spend a period in a country of which they are proposing to study the language; such residence may, with the approval of the department concerned, be counted for up to half of the residence requirement in that language. Students who wish to interrupt their course in order to spend one year abroad in a country of which they are studying the language are encouraged to do so, provided that they comply with the General Regulations and Information included in the current Calendar.

Attendance and prepared work: You are expected to attend all lectures appropriate to your course and all classes and seminars to which you are allocated, and to perform all exercises prescribed by class-teachers. In cases of brief absences (illness, bereavement, etc.) it is a simple courtesy to inform class-teachers in advance where possible, or to make apologies afterwards. In cases of prolonged absences for medical reasons, you should inform your tutor as rapidly as possible, and provide a medical certificate. If you are persistently absent without good reason, or fail to prepare / submit, in any one term, at least two thirds of prescribed work of a quality which suggests conscientious effort, your tutor will be notified, and you will be expected to discuss the situation with him/her. You and your tutor will also be notified formally if the overall standard of your work gives rise to serious concern.

If you have a problem, do not wait for this to happen! If you have difficulties with a particular course, consult the lecturer concerned, or Annick Ferré (JF coordinator 2011-12). If you have a more general problem, consult the head of department (Prof.

5

TR 001 French

David Scott), your tutor or the student counsellor as seems appropriate. In any case, consult someone. If you are not sure which is the relevant individual, start with any of the above and s/he will refer you to the right person. But do not keep your problem to yourself. Small problems quickly grow into large problems if they are ignored.

6

TR 001 French

Bonne rentrée et bon courage!

Courses

Junior Freshman students take courses in Language (including an Introduction to Contemporary France), and Texts. This amounts to seven hours class-time:

Language: Two weekly lectures and three weekly classes (tutorials)

These five hours are complemented by self-access work (some of it in Computer and Language laboratories), carried out in the student’s own time.

Texts: One weekly lecture and a weekly tutorial

Books

Book purchase is the personal responsibility of students. All books prescribed are available from International Books, 18 South Frederick St. It is also possible to order books over the Internet from: http://www.bol.fr or http://www.fnac.fr or http://www.amazon,fr

The following books are required:

Language: Oxford-Hachette French DictionaryHawkins, Roger and Towell, Richard, French Grammar and Usage (London: Arnold, 2001)Hawkins, Roger and Towell, Richard, Practising French Grammar: A Workbook (London: Arnold, 1997)Cholet, I., Robert, J.M., Précis de conjugaison, CLE International, Paris, 2005.Paul Humberstone, Mot à mot (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1996)

Also recommended: Jacqueline Morton, English Grammar for Students of French (London: Arnold, 2002)

Students should also download the following dossiers from the French department website (https:// www.tcd.ie/French/):

Language II: Composition & Comprehension Introduction to Contemporary France) *Poetry Anthology Guidelines to essay and commentary-writingJF Oral and Aural practice

* A printed version of the first two weeks of the Language 2 dossier will be provided for the students. Students will subsequently be expected to download and print their own copy from the website.

7

TR 001 French

Texts:Johnnie Gratton & Brigitte Le Juez, eds, Modern French Short Fiction (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1994)Poetry Anthology (to be downloaded from the website)Patrick Modiano, Chien de printemps (Paris: Seuil, 1993)Annie Ernaux, La Place (Paris: Gallimard, 1983)Jean-Paul Sartre, Huis Clos suivi de Les Mouches (Paris: Gallimard, 1981 [1944])Beckett, Samuel, En Attendant Godot, (Editions de Minuit, 1995)

8

TR 001 French

(1) FRENCH LANGUAGE (15 ECTS)

This comprises the following:(i) FR1014 French Written Language (10 ECTS) (ii) FR1004 French Oral Language (5 ECTS)(iii) FR1010 Introduction to Contemporary France (5 ECTS)

Students attend five hours of language teaching weekly, two lectures and three classes. All five hours form an integrated course and all students are required to attend weekly language classes, and submit weekly written assignments.

(i) FR1014 French Written Language (10 ECTS)

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

Apply basic grammatical concepts and terminology relating to the French language, in both written and oral expression.

Demonstrate an ability to develop more sophisticated grammatical precision in written and oral expression.

Produce short but accurate narrative and descriptive texts in French on contemporary topics and topics covered in class.

Develop and expand a solid active and passive vocabulary in French written and oral expression.

Demonstrate an ability to understand French through a variety of different media, including radio and news broadcasts, lectures and discussions.

Lecture: Monday, 11 a.m., Dr. Ciara KinsellaOne weekly class: Lecturing staff / Graduate teaching assistant

The overall aims of this element are to provide a foundation of basic grammatical concepts and terminology relating to the French language; and to develop grammatical precision in written and oral expression. Students will be required to complete weekly grammar exercises from Hawkins and Towell, Practising French Grammar: A Workbook (London : Arnold, 1997). Some lecturers may provide exercises from different sources.

Lecture programme

Michaelmas Term

Week 1 What is grammar? Week 2 Introduction to basic grammatical conceptsWeek 3 The noun phrase: articles and quantifiersWeek 4 The verb phrase: the present tenseWeek 5 The noun phrase: personal pronounsWeek 6 The verb phrase: the perfect tenseWeek 7 Study weekWeek 8 The noun phrase: relative pronounsWeek 9 The verb phrase: the imperfect tenseWeek 10 The noun phrase: adjectivesWeek 11 The verb phrase: the pluperfect tenseWeek 12 The noun phrase: possessives

9

TR 001 French

Hilary term

Week 1 The noun phrase: demonstrativesWeek 2 The verb phrase: the future and future perfectWeek 3 PrepositionsWeek 4 The verb phrase the conditional (present and past)Week: 5 The verb phrase: the past historic and past anteriorWeek 6 ConjunctionsWeek 7 Study weekWeek 8 The passiveWeek 9 The imperativeWeek 10 The subjunctiveWeek 11 InterrogativesWeek 12 Review

(ii) FR1004 - French Spoken Language (5 ECTS)On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Apply basic grammatical concepts and terminology relating to the French language, in oral expression

Use a more sophisticated grammatical precision in oral expression

Develop and expand a solid active and passive vocabulary in French oral expression

Understand French through a variety of different media, including radio and news broadcasts, lectures and discussions

Prepare and deliver short oral presentations on topics of general interest or relating to contemporary France

Engage in conversations on these topics and show an awareness of different registers.

Students attend a weekly class with the native lecteurs / lectrices which links in with FR1010, Introduction to Contemporary France, see below. Through discussion concerning aspects of contemporary France, this class aims to develop aural comprehension and oral expression.

(iii) FR1010 Introduction to Contemporary France (5 ECTS)

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Recall key aspects of France, its geography, its recent history, its institutions,

its political life, and its lifestyles. Identify and describe the main developments of today’s French society. Use an extensive vocabulary in written and oral French,. Extract key information from French written and spoken sources. Compare and contrast, in written and oral French, French society with their

own society.

10

TR 001 French

Lecture: Ms Annick FerréWednesday, 2pm

One weekly class with either a member of the lecturing staff or a graduate teaching assistant.

The course aims to introduce students to a number of aspects of contemporary France, and in HT, to a number of the important historical periods which influenced the creation of modern France. Each of these topics will be introduced in the lecture, and further examined in both the Language Assistant class and the class with a staff member. Students will thus acquire some familiarity with specified aspects of contemporary French society and culture.

Lecture Programme

Michaelmas Term

1. French Society : General Introduction2. La francophonie3. France métropolitaine et France d’outre-mer4. Les régions de la France5. Paris et sa banlieue6. L’immigration et l’identité française7. Semaine de lecture8. L’éducation9. Les Françaises10. Institutions et vie politique11. Discussion et révision

Hilary Term

1. L’Ancien Régime2. La Révolution française3. La Belle Époque / La IIIe République4. La France d’après-guerre5. Le colonialisme français6. Mai 687. Semaine de lecture8. La politique contemporaine 9. La société française d’aujourd’hui10. Discussion et révision

Continual assessment:

As you can see from the Language 2 Composition and Comprehension dossier, you are required to submit a piece of written work (usually a short composition) every week. (This is separate from any grammar exercises your class tutor may ask you to prepare). This means that 5 pieces of written work are submitted in MT, and 8 pieces of work are submitted in HT.

11

TR 001 French

Weeks 1-3 of MT are to be regarded as ‘practice sessions’ where standardised marking procedures are in place as follows: after ten ‘careless’ errors (henceforth known as SAGAs!) a student’s work will be returned to him / her to be rewritten and resubmitted; SAGAs are errors in the four areas of:

SpellingAccentGender and Adjective agreement.

From Week 4 onwards, the assessment programme proper begins; submitted work, even if full of SAGAs, will be marked accordingly.

Term averages will be calculated as follows:

MT Weeks 1-3: 3 pieces of work submitted – none count. These are the ‘practice sessions’.

MT Weeks 4-12: 8 pieces of work submitted — the best five countHT Weeks 1-12: 11 pieces of work submitted — the best eight count

Please note there are no ‘practice sessions’ in HT.

An overall average for the year is then calculated which counts for 10% of the overall mark in the Annual Examinations. If, for example, in MT, students only submit 5 pieces of work between weeks 4 and 12, then all of these will count. If only 3 out of the 5 required are submitted, the total will still be divided by 5. It is in a student’s interest, then, to submit as many of the weekly assessments each term as possible.

Late submission:

Unless there is a medical reason for late submission, the following penalties will apply:

5% will be deducted from work which is submitted up to a week after the deadline set by the class tutor. Work submitted over a week late will not be accepted.

Supplemental:

This continual assessment mark will not be included in the mark for the Supplemental Examination.

Centre for Language and Communication Studies (CLCS)

The Centre for Language and Communication Studies (CLCS), in addition to its role as an academic department concerned with teaching and research in general and theoretical linguistics, is responsible for the provision of language-learning facilities for the College as a whole. These include the language laboratories and computer laboratory, which students of French should use, to complement their classroom work. All students should spend a minimum of one hour a week working on aspects of grammar which have been covered in the week’s lecture.

12

TR 001 French

The general office is in room 4091, which is where you should go to borrow language learning resources. You should then take the material into the laboratory and computer room (4074). The office and laboratory are open from 9 to 5 daily (including lunch-time).

The Centre includes a variety of self-tuition materials (books, audio tapes, videos, CD-ROMs) and a number of feature films in French, which you can view in rooms 4073 and 4074. Room 4074 houses a bank of television monitors receiving a variety of foreign stations by satellite, including France 2. You are free to watch this at any time. Note particularly the news bulletin at 13h00 French time. The neighbouring room, 4073, provides you with language resources on computer, including Internet access to many sites in France.

We encourage you to use these resources as often as possible.

13

TR 001 French

(2) TEXTS (FR1011) (5 ECTS)

(Introduction to Textual Analysis)

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Read and understand extensive passages of written French. Demonstrate a sound knowledge of selected works of French literary prose,

poetry and drama, and of French cinema. Write essays and commentaries, in both English and French, demonstrating

their understanding of individual selected works and their ability to analyse and evaluate those works in an organized manner.

Show a critical awareness of problems involved in the task of literary analysis. Clearly communicate their knowledge and understanding of French literature

and film to both specialist and non-specialist audiences. Show they have developed those learning skills which are necessary for them

to proceed further with their undergraduate studies.

The selection of texts is primarily contemporary, but includes an introduction in Michaelmas Term to the traditions of French literature through the inclusion of a selection of lyric poetry from the fifteenth-century to the present day. Please ensure that you have purchased all books and the Poetry Anthology before classes commence.

There will be one weekly lecture and one weekly seminar in small groups throughout the academic year. You will be expected to submit a written commentary twice in each term. You will also submit an Assessment Essay at the beginning of Hilary Term and an Assessment Commentary at the beginning of Trinity Term. One of these pieces of work must be in French. These two Assessment Essays / Commentaries together count for a total of 20% of the overall mark in the Annual Examinations.

Essay titles are appended.

Deadlines: MT essays: by noon on Monday 16 January 2012

HT essays: by noon on Friday 23 March 2012

Guidelines on essay-writing and commentary-writing are available for downloading from the website. Please make sure that you print out a copy.

Whatever genres are assessed through essay / commentary will not be assessed again in the annual examination.

JF Texts lectures MT 2011

14

TR 001 French

Week 1: Professor Scott Introduction to JF textsWeek 2: Robert Kilroy: Beckett, art and language: the textual

and the visual in En attendant GodotWeek 3: Florence Impens: En Attendant Godot: Samuel Beckett and

theatrical conventionsWeek 4: Rosie MacLaghlan: Introduction to Jean-Paul Sartre’s

existentialismWeek 5: Dr Opelz: J-P Sartre’s Qu’est-ce que la littérature?Week 6: Sarah Gubbins: Huis clos: Themes & dramatic featuresWeek 7: Reading weekWeek 8: Dr Alyn Stacey - cinemaWeek 9: Dr Alyn Stacey - cinemaWeek 10: Dr Alyn Stacey - cinemaWeek 11: Dr Alyn Stacey - cinemaWeek 12: Professor Scott and lecture team: review of series

NB Week 1 commences Monday 26 Sept. The JF lecture slot is Thursday at 1pm/13h00 in AB 3074, starting Thursday 29 Sept

JF Texts lectures Hilary Term 2012Weeks 1-2: Modern French Short Fiction (Professor Gratton)Week 3–4 : Ernaux, La Place (Professor Gratton)Weeks 5-6 : Modiano, Chien de Printemps (Professor Gratton)Week 7: Reading WeekWeek 8: French Poetry: discourse or text? (Professor Scott)Week 9: The French verse Line (Professor Scott)Week 10: Rhyme (Professor Scott)Week 11: Poetic Forms (Professor Scott) Week 12: Lecture review (Professor Scott)

*Available for downloading from the departmental website: (https:// www.tcd.ie/French/)** Special arrangements will be made for viewing these films, but students should take any opportunity which arises to see them. Watch the notice-board/email for details of screenings, and availability of videos.

EXAMINATION / ASSESSMENT

LANGUAGE

Language I 10%

- a 3-hour written paper testing grammar, comprised of: - exercises in grammatical analysis;- cloze test;- exercises concerned with the specific points of grammar treated in the course;

Language II 10%

15

TR 001 French

a 3-hour written paper testing comprehension and composition, comprised of two passages, each followed by comprehension questions and a brief composition;

Continuous assessment: 10%

An overall average for the year is calculated on the basis of 13 pieces of submitted written work. (See above, p. 9).

Aural: 10%

a test of aural comprehension, based on a short video passage with multiple-choice questions. You will hear the recording twice. (There is at least one practice session every term for this test in the Language Assistant classes).

Oral: 10%

a 15-minute oral examination, which will include an ‘exposé’ on a topic arising from the course, and proceed to more general conversation. (A list of Oral topics will be posted up 10 days prior to the examination. Students choose one).

INTRODUCTION TO CONTEMPORARY FRANCE

20%

a two-hour examination paper based on the material covered in the Wednesday Language 1 lecture, comprising multiple-choice questions and a number of questions requiring short written answers. Further details and a sample paper will be circulated during the year.

TEXTS

Continuous Assessment: 20%

Two essays/commentaries of 1500-2000 words (which students are required to word-process) to be submitted on the first day of Hilary Term and Trinity Terms on a topic prescribed by the lecturer. One of these pieces of work must be written in French.

Examination: 10%

A three-hour written examination comprising two passages for commentary, together with three essay questions, on any of the works on the course, each candidate being required to do one commentary and one essay.

HOW TO PASS:

To rise into the following year, students must:

16

TR 001 French

1) achieve a pass mark on the aggregate of the two written papers, Language I and Language II; and

2) achieve a pass mark on the aggregate of all language components, written (exam and continual assessment), oral and aural; and

3) achieve a pass mark on the aggregate of all examinations (Language, Texts and Introduction to Contemporary France).

Students who fail to fulfil these requirements in the annual June examinations are required to take the September Supplemental examination.

NB: Submitted work and Supplementals

Students who are required to sit a supplemental examination may resubmit, no later than September 1st, either of the assessment essays which they failed to submit at the normal time, or for which a fail mark was returned. Failing such submission or re-submission, the mark initially awarded (including a zero mark for essays not submitted) will be included in the calculations for the supplemental examination.

NB: Aural, Oral and Supplementals

A supplemental examination in the Language components will normally consist of the two formal written papers together with aural and oral examinations.

The marking scheme is as follows:

70-99 Class I (excellent)60-69 Class II.i (good)50-59 Class II.ii (satisfactory)40-49 Class III (weak but passable)30-39 F1 (marginal fail)0-29 F2 (fail)

PRIZES:

A composition prize is awarded to the student who achieves the highest mark in the aggregate of the written language examinations. Prizes are awarded in each of TSM, ES and CSLF.

Department of French

Examination procedures

These procedures should be read in conjunction with relevant entries in the University Calendar. In case of any conflict between these procedures and the Calendar, the provisions of the Calendar shall apply:

http://www.tcd.ie/Secretary/College_Calendar/

17

TR 001 French

a) Examination papers and assessment essays will be set and marked according to the agreed procedures of the Department. In the case of Moderatorship (or degree) examinations, papers will be submitted to extern examiners for comment prior to submission to the Senior Lecturer’s office.

b) Sophister language papers and all Moderatorship part II papers will be double-marked.

c) For each year or course, a Chief examiner will be appointed to co-ordinate the running of the examinations and return marks and provide relevant information to candidates. The chief examiner shall, in agreement with the Head of Department, convene an examiners’ meeting to review and finalise marks, in the presence of extern examiners where a Moderatorship examination is concerned. In the case of interdisciplinary courses (ES, CSLL) the only function of the French Department meeting is to return a mark to the relevant course co-ordinating committee.

d) The criteria according to which papers will be assessed will be included in the Department’s Handbooks and circulated to students.

e) In the first instance, calculations of results will be mathematical based on the university’s general scheme (or reductions or multiples thereof):

Fail 2 extremely weak 0 - 29%Fail 1 weak 30 - 39%Third adequate 40 - 49%Lower Second quite good 50 - 59%Upper Second good 60 - 69%First excellent 70 - 100%

Where, in the case of an individual course, a scheme other than the one outlined above is in use, the Department will make returns according to that convention. Where the course requires a mark out of more than 100 to be returned, the Department will use that convention to make a return. The Department will ensure through its Handbooks or otherwise that candidates for examinations are aware of the weighting of the respective components, and where questions on a given paper are not equally weighted, the rubric shall indicate the weighting of the components within the paper.

f) In particular, language examinations are subject to the rule set forth in the University Calendar pJ3, n°14, as interpreted in the Department’s Handbooks. Where a student fails to demonstrate proficiency in the language, the mark returned shall be either the actual mark obtained by the student in the relevant language components of the examination, or 38, whichever is the lower, this mark being scaled up where the conventions for return of marks require.

g) When the Department examiners’ meeting has had an opportunity to take cognisance of the mathematically derived marks, it may consider the spread of marks, the balance between marks of different classes (see 5

18

TR 001 French

above) and take into account the possible implications of a given return. It may moderate either individual marks or the overall return. It will pay particular attention to marks close to a class border (i.e. marks where a slightly higher mark would result in the student being returned in another class). It shall pay special attention to ensuring that the moderation of an individual mark or overall return does not create inequalities or anomalies by promoting a student with a lower mathematically derived mark above a student who had achieved a higher mathematically derived mark, except where the spread of marks provides a justification for so doing.

h) In conformity to general university practice, the Department shall appoint one or several extern examiners. The extern examiner may see or review any marking within the Department which may form part of a Moderatorship assessment. In practice, this means examination papers, dissertations and assessment essays counting towards overall assessment. In all normal circumstances, the recommendations of the extern examiner will be acted upon. In practice, extern examiners regularly have sight of the final year dissertations, and chief examiners or the Head of Department may refer any paper or piece of work for an opinion, especially where a class difference may potentially be involved. Students have the right to consult the Head of Department on any matter of concern to them. Where the concerns expressed relate to assessment marking, the Head of Department will normally inform the person whose marks are being referred for further examination, while safeguarding the confidentiality of students.

i) The extern examiner will endeavour to ensure that standards are broadly comparable with those applied elsewhere in these islands and that the Department’s own procedures are applied equitably to all students.

j) Students will, on their request or that of their tutor, be informed by the Chief Examiner for the year or the Head of Department, of individual marks. The commitment to the provision of full information to students does not mean that this information will always be available outside the times prescribed by the Department.

k) The Department will not normally take into account medical evidence, except insofar as granting an extension to submission deadlines is concerned. Medical cases should be channelled through tutors to form the substance of an appeal.

l) Where a piece of assessed work counting towards an examination is not submitted and signed into the Department office by the published due-date, and an extension has not been granted by the Head of Department or of the Course Director in the case of Business Studies and French, prior to the published due-date, a return of 0 will normally be made.

m) Where a student is absent from a part of the examination only, or fails to submit required written work for assessment, and nevertheless achieves an overall pass mark, the Department will return a pass mark. Where a student is absent from a part of the examination only, and fails to achieve an overall pass mark, the Department will make a return indicating partial absence.

19

TR 001 French

n) Where a student fails to complete the number of questions stipulated by the rubric in an examination, and nevertheless, some indication of an attempted answer, draft or plan is available, credit for the assessable work will be given. In the absence of any such assessable material, a mark of 0 will be returned.

o) The Department reserves the right to give reduced credit to students who have failed to comply with the examination rubric.

p) Where a student at a Junior or Senior Sphister examination receives a mark of 70 or more (or its equivalent scaled up or down), in the Oral examination, (s)he will be recommended for a distinction in the use of spoken French.

The following criteria for essay writing are drawn to the attention of students:

Essay writing:

First classShows an intelligent awareness of the question’s implications, thorough knowledge of text /topic, sophisticated use of secondary sources, and of theoretical issues where appropriate. The argument clearly focuses on the question, and points are supported by relevant quotation. For Sophister years: original and imaginative response, sure grasp of subject which may challenge received critical opinion.

Upper secondShows a good understanding of the question and a thorough knowledge of the text/topic, with intelligent assimilation of secondary sources. The argument is coherent and clearly focused on the issue, and points are supported by relevant quotation. Intelligent general approach to the question, with clear analytical ability and evidence of independent critical response. May offer challenge to received critical opinion.

Lower secondUnderstands the question and shows a sound knowledge of the text/topic, but may be narrow in frame of reference. Tendency to be narrative or descriptive rather than analytical, and discussion not always sharply focused on the question. Shows a generally capable but unimaginative approach to the question, and may be over-dependent on secondary sources. Makes use of lecture notes but reluctant to challenge received critical opinion.

Third classFails to see all the implications of the question and reveals limited knowledge of the text/topic, with little reference beyond it ? May well be sketchy and rather short. Argument may lack clarity and precise focus on the question. Makes dogmatic assertions unsupported by evidence; areas of irrelevance and generally over-descriptive. Shows a mechanical approach to the question and relies heavily on the uncritical reproduction of lecture notes. Little evidence of secondary reading.

20

TR 001 French

FailMisses important implications of the question. Limited knowledge of the text/topic, with little reference beyond it. Largely descriptive, clumsy style and presentation, poorly documented sources? Generally naïve approach to the question with no evidence of secondary reading.

Serious failFails to understand the question, poor knowledge of text/topic, sources not documented. Fails to address the question, no evidence of secondary reading.

Writing in French- First class French largely free from grammatical error with qualities of idiom, lexis, syntax, and style. At the higher end, could almost pass for the work of a literate French person.- Upper second Ambitious French with a good level of grammatical accuracy and a positive attempt to display a range of idiom and lexis suitable to the subject. Very much at home in the language.- Lower second Sound grammar and syntax, though with some errors, vocabulary mostly adequate to the subject, but with some clumsiness and anglicisms in the expression. Generally satisfactory grasp of French structures without showing exceptional flair.- Third class French comprehensible but clumsy and erratic, with a limited range of lexis and a sprinkling of serious grammatical errors; verb forms and tense use mostly correct.- Fail French comprehensible but prone to serious grammatical errors. Limited range of vocabulary.- Serious fail Unacceptable frequency of inaccuracy, obvious anglicisms and patchy cohesion.

21

TR 001 French

DESCRIPTION OF THE EUROPEAN CREDIT TRANSFER SYSTEM (ECTS)

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is an academic credit system based on the estimated student workload required to achieve the objectives of a module or programme of study. It is designed to enable academic recognition for periods of study, to facilitate student mobility and credit accumulation and transfer. The ECTS is the recommended credit system for higher education in Ireland and across the European Higher Education Area.

The ECTS weighting for a module is a measure of the student input or workload required for that module, based on factors such as the number of contact hours, the number and length of written or verbally presented assessment exercises, class preparation and private study time, laboratory classes, examinations, clinical attendance, professional training placements, and so on as appropriate. There is no intrinsic relationship between the credit volume of a module and its level of difficulty.

The European norm for full-time study over one academic year is 60 credits. The Trinity academic year is 40 weeks from the start of Michaelmas Term to the end of the annual examination period 1 ECTS credit represents 20-25 hours estimated student input, so a 10-credit module will be designed to require 200-250 hours of student input including class contact time and assessments.

SOCRATES EXCHANGES

Students intending to undertake a Socrates exchange may do so, either in their Senior Freshman or in their Junior Sophister year, and should consult the Departmental Socrates coordinator, Dr Salerno-O’Shea, on this subject. Information meetings are arranged, concerning such exchanges. Intending Socrates students are required to obtain at least a II:2 result (50% or more) in both their examination subjects, at the first examination session preceding their intended departure.

In broad, general terms, students should aim at doing, in the host university, that which would have been done at home. This does not mean that students must perform exactly the same exercises, or study exactly the same authors. It does mean that there should be a half-and-half mix of language and content courses (literature, history of ideas or French linguistics).

A year’s work is defined in terms of ECTS (European Credit Transfer Units). A full year’s work is normally 60 ECTS. Since TSM courses are composed of two equally weighted courses, this would represent 30 ECTS per subject. In order to take account of the fact that working in a foreign environment, and in a less familiar language can be difficult, the French Department will accept 80% of the full quota (that is to say 24 ECTS), although for safety, we suggest students aim a little higher, say 26 ECTS. A student who sits examinations in 26 ETCS, but who passes in less than 24 will not normally be allowed to rise with his/her year and will be required to take repeat examinations in the host university, although the Department will review cases close to 24 ETCS on an individual basis. The precise split between language and non-language courses will vary from institution to institution, but both should figure prominently, and the language should count for at least 10 ECTS, except by specific agreement with the French Department. Where the student is away for less than a full year, these rates should be applied pro rata (13 ECTS for a semester &c).

Students are generally expected to select options appropriate to their year. Second-year students should take second-year courses and third-year students should take

22

TR 001 French

third-year courses. There is no objection to students taking a course above their equivalent year (second-year students taking third-year courses) but students should be aware that this comprises an element of risk, should they not be successful in assessments. However, the above not withstanding, JS students may well find third-year translation courses in France too advanced for their level, and by agreement with the Department, may then be advised to take a lower level course.

The courses selected by students should be courses intended for and available to full-time students in the host university, and NOT special courses designed for Socrates students, except by special, specific and prior arrangement with the French Department.

Students are required to submit themselves to the assessment provided by the host university. This may take the form of examination or continuous assessment, or any combination of the two. In order that the ECTS should count, students must be successful in their assessments. As a precaution, students should bring their marks with them on their return. However, only officially returned marks from the host institution can be counted at the end of the year. It is the student’s responsibility to ascertain the dates and location of examinations, and failure to present for examinations will lead to a loss of credit.

Where a student is unable to take a course for a full year or up until the normal assessment in the host institution, a special assessment may be agreed, but should nevertheless be officially administered through the host institution, which should return the marks obtained in the same way as for a regular assessment.

23

TR 001 French

Appendix 1

JF FRENCH / TEXTS / MT ESSAY & COMMENTARY ASSESSMENT

One essay or commentary to be submitted to the Department’s Office, Room 4111, by 12 noon, on Monday 16 January 2012.

Essay Topics1. ‘Garcin: – Est-ce que nous ne pourrions essayer de nous aider les uns les autres?’ In the light of this question, discuss the representation of human relationships in Sartre’s Huis clos and/or Beckett’s En attendant Godot.

2. 'The subject of the play is not Godot but waiting, the act of waiting as an essential and characteristic aspect of the human condition' (Esslin). Discuss in relation to Beckett’s play En attendant Godot.

3. Discuss the importance of setting, for both the characters and the audience, in Sartre’s Huis clos.

Commentaries

4. Read the following poem and answer the (equally weighted) questions that follow:

La Fourmi

Une fourmi de dix-huit mètresAvec un chapeau sur la têteÇa n’existe pas, ça n’existe pas.Une fourmi traînant un charPlein de pingouins et de canardsÇa n’existe pas, ça n’existe pas.Une fourmi parlant français,Parlant latin et javanais,Ça n’existe pas, ça n’existe pas.

Eh! Pourquoi pas?

(i) To what readership is this poem about the giant ant addressed? Give reasons for your answer.

(ii) What aspects of the poem’s form (rhyme, line length, etc) make it appeal to the readership at which it is primarily aimed?

(iii) To what extent does the form of the poem reflect its subject as indicated in the title?

(iv) How do you interpret the last line of the poem?

5. Read the following poem and answer the (equally weighted) questions that follow:

Les Grenades

Dures grenades entr’ouvertesCédant à l’excès de vos grains,Je crois voir des fronts souverainsEclatés de leurs découvertes !

Si les soleils par vous subis,O grenades entre-bâillées,

24

TR 001 French

Vous ont fait d’orgueil travailléesCraquer les cloisons de rubis

Et que si l’or sec de l’écorceA la demande d’une forceCrève en gemmes rouges de jus,

Cette lumineuse ruptureFait rêver une âme que j’eusDe sa secrète architecture.

(i) Clarify some of the metaphorical transformations the central image of the pomegranates undergoes in this poem.

(ii) Why do you think the poet chose the sonnet form?(iii) To what extent does the form of the poem reflect its subject as indicated in the title?(iv) Comment on the relationship between form and syntax in this sonnet, noting that the

two sentences of which it consists occupy respectively four and ten lines of verse.

NOTES• You may choose for your first assessment to write either an essay or a commentary. If you write an essay for your first assessment, you must write a commentary for your second, and vice versa. The requirement that one of your pieces of work should be in French continues to apply, as does the fact that the two exercises count for a total of 20% of the overall mark in the Annual Examinations. • Length of essay/commentary: 1500-2000 words.• Collect your “assessment cover-sheet” in advance (on door of Room 4109). Fill in and attach to front of essay.

• Extensions to deadline: requests to Annick Ferré, with med. cert., in advance of deadline.

• Make sure you have your copy of the Guidelines on essay and commentary writing (downloadable from departmental website).

25

TR 001 French

Appendix 2

JF FRENCH / TEXTS / HT ESSAY & COMMENTARY ASSESSMENT

One essay or commentary to be submitted to the Department’s Office, Room 4111, by 12 noon, on Friday 23 March 2012.

Write a commentary on one of the following passages:

1. On ne savait pas se parler entre nous autrement que d’une manière râleuse.

Le ton poli réservé aux étrangers. Habitude si forte que, tâchant de s’exprimer

comme il faut en compagnie de gens, mon père retrouvait pour m’interdire de

grimper au tas de cailloux un ton brusque, son accent et des invectives normandes,

détruisant le bon effet qu’il voulait donner. Il n’avait pas appris à me gronder en

distingué et je n’aurais pas cru à la menace d’une gifle proférée sous une forme

correcte.

La politesse entre parents et enfants m’est demeurée longtemps un mystère.

J’ai mis aussi des années à « comprendre » l’extrême gentillesse que les personnes

bien éduquées manifestent dans leur simple bonjour. J’avais honte, je ne méritais

pas tant d’égards, j’allais jusqu’à imaginer une sympathie particulière à mon endroit.

Puis je me suis aperçue que ces questions posées avec l’air d’un intérêt pressant,

ces sourires, n’avaient pas plus de sens que de manger bouche fermée ou de se

moucher discrètement.

Le déchiffrement de ces détails s’impose à moi maintenant, avec d’autant

plus de nécessité que je les ai refoulés, sûre de leur insignifiance. Seule une

mémoire humiliée avait pu me les faire conserver. Je me suis pliée au désir du

monde où je vis, qui s’efforce de vous faire oublier les souvenirs du monde d’en bas

comme si c’était quelque chose de mauvais goût.

2. Jansen avait assisté pendant quelques mois aux séances de spiritisme

qu’organisait Mme de Meyendorff. Il s’agissait de faire parler les morts. J’éprouve

une méfiance instinctive et beaucoup de scepticisme vis-à-vis de ce genre de

manifestations. Mais je comprends que Jansen, dans une période de grand

désarroi, ait eu recours à cela. On voudrait faire parler les morts, on voudrait surtout

qu’ils reviennent pour de vrai et non pas simplement dans nos rêves où ils sont à

côté de nous, mais si lointains et si absents…

26

TR 001 French

D’après ce qu’il m’avait confié, il avait connu les Meyendorff bien avant

l’époque où ils figuraient sur la photo, dans le jardin, avec Colette Laurent. Il les

avait rencontrés à dix-neuf ans. Puis la guerre avait été déclarée. Comme Mme de

Meyendorff était de nationalité américaine, elle et son mari étaient partis pour les

États-Unis, laissant à Jansen les clés de leur appartement de Paris et leur maison

de campagne, où il avait habité pendant les deux premières années de l’Occupation.

J’ai souvent pensé que les Meyendorff auraient été les personnages

susceptibles de me donner le plus de renseignements sur Jansen. Quand il a quitté

Paris, j’avais achevé mon travail : tous les matériaux que j’avais réunis sur lui étaient

contenus dans le cahier rouge Clairefontaine, le répertoire alphabétique et l’album

Neige et soleil qu’il avait eu la gentillesse de m’offrir. Oui, si j’avais voulu écrire un

livre sur Jansen, il auraut été nécessaire que je rencontre les Meyendorff et que je

prenne note de leur témoignage.

Essay Topics

3. Referring to at least two of the stories in the course anthology, discuss the main

narrative techniques they employ and what ends they appear to serve.

4. ‘Ernaux portrays her father neither as an individual nor as representing the human

condition, but rather, somewhere in between, as a man largely determined by what

she calls his “social condition”.’ Discuss with reference to La Place.

5. ‘The narrator of Chien de printemps could not have chosen a more mysterious

and elusive subject for his biographical project than Francis Jansen.’ Discuss.

6.

EITHER

a) ‘Une machine à vivre’. Discuss the character of Hippolyte in light of this self-

description, making precise reference, where appropriate, to cinematic techniques.

OR

b) Analyse the representation of friendship in La Haine and its relation to the film’s

emphasis on social marginalisation.

27