Lake Superior State University

FR 370 The Francophone World I

Summer 2004

 

 

Description & Objectives:

 

            This course is designed to provide information and help understand the people and culture of three areas of the African Continent: Maghreb (North Africa), Cameroon (West Africa) and Madagascar.  After a brief survey of their geographical characteristics, past history and present political and economic status, we will focus on the richness and originality of each of these three peoples and their culture.  Reference material will make use of a wide range of historical, literary, and audio-visual documents, artifacts, with occasional living testimony of native guests.

 

Methodology:

 

            Information and research material will be provided through lectures, documentary material, literature, and long-feature movies.  Informal discussions will allow understanding and assimilation of the specific components of each of these three original peoples and cultures.

            Assignments will consist in filling questionnaires on historical and political material, writing detailed reports on audio-visual and literary material, reading and analyzing literary material, and writing and presenting to the class a research paper on one of the three cultures studied this Summer.

            All the audio-visual material is in French with English subtitles.

            Majors and Minors in French Studies complete their assignments in French.

 

Texts:

 

Introductions to the Historical Dictionary of Algeria, Historical Dictionary of Cameroon, Historical Dictionary of Madagascar (on reserve in Lake Superior State University Library)

Assia Djebar, A Sister to Sheherazade, Heinemann, Porthmouth, N.H. 1993

Camara Laye, The Dark Child, The Noonday Press, N.Y. 1994

Rafenomanjato Charlotte-Arrisoa,  The Herd,  (text on reserve).

Camara Laye, L’enfant noir, Plon, Paris, 1989.

Assia Djebar, Femmes d’Alger dans leur appartement, Paris, 1980.

Rafenomanjato Charlotte-Arrisoa, Le Cinquième sceau, L’Harmattan, paris, 1993.

 

                     

 

                   

 

                    Audio-visual Material:

 

                                    Documentary:  Islamic Art, African Art

                                    North Africa:  Ramparts of Clay, The Battle of Algiers

                                    West Africa:  Tilaï, L’Etat sauvage

                                    Madagascar:   Angano Angano, Quand les étoiles rencontrent la mer

 

                      Evaluation:

 

                                                                                    Attendance and participation                           20%

                                                                                    Questionnaires                                                15%

                                                                                    Literature                                                        25%

                                                                                    Audio-visual material                                      25%

                                                                                    Research paper                                              15%

 

 

Disability Services and Accommodation for Students:

 

              In compliance with Lake Superior State University policy and equal access laws, disability-related accommodations or services are available.  Students who desire such services are to meet with the professor in a timely manner, preferably the first week of class, to discuss their disability-related needs.  Students will not receive services until they register with the Resource Center for Students with Disabilities (RCSD).  Proper registration will enable the RCSD to verify the disability and determine reasonable academic accommodations.  RCSD is located in South Hall Office 206.  The telephone number is (906) 635-2454.

 

Academic Misconduct:

 

              Scholastic misconduct may be cause for a failing grade, and information may be placed about the incident in the student’s permanent file in the Office of Academic Affairs.  Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on assignments or examinations, plagiarizing, misrepresenting work, or interfering with someone else’s work.

 

                                                                                                Instructor:       Dr. Marcel E. Pichot

                                                                          Office:             Library 318

                                                                          Hours: Wednesdays 9-12 then 1:00-2:00

                                                                          Telephone:      (906) 635-2118

            E-mail:            mpichot@lssu.edu