Specialization in French Literature

Undergraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

The objective of this seminar in French/Francophone literature is to investigate a specific literary problem, for instance connected to a genre, period, authorship, literary theory or something of the like.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the course, the student is expected to:

Knowledge

  • have a solid understanding of the selected syllabus texts and the issues related to the literature and literary theory that have been covered.

Skills

  • be able to utilize terms learned in independent analyses of the curriculum texts
  • discuss orally and in writing issues related to the curriculum
  • be able to analyze the texts thematically and through theoretical perspectives that have been covered

General competence

  • be able to transmit knowledge in French within the academic field orally or in writing
  • know the norms of academic language
  • be able to further develop knowledge and skills in the discipline in an independent manner

ECTS Credits

15

Level of Study

Bachelor

Semester of Instruction

Spring

Place of Instruction

Bergen
Required Previous Knowledge
No official requirements, but all the teaching is conducted in French and presupposes high level of French.
Recommended Previous Knowledge
FRAN206 builds on FRAN122">FRAN122 and FRAN123">FRAN123. Students' language proficiency should be equivalent to those having completed course work on the 100 level.
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
Due to academic overlap, credits awarded for completing FRAN206 are reduced by 15 ECTS if combined with FRAN203, FRAN253 or FRAN256 and 10 ECTS if combined with FRAN204 or FRAN254 .
Access to the Course
The course is open to all students admitted to the University of Bergen.
Teaching and learning methods

Teaching is normally conducted in the form of three-hour lectures, seminars and supervision over a twelve-week period. Teaching can be conducted digitally.

At the beginning of the term, the department normally organizes a four-week course for the students at the Norwegian Study Center in Caen, with a focus on oral and written French. The course is free, but students must pay for travel and accommodation themselves. It is possible to stay with a French host family.

If less than five students sign up for the course, the teaching may be adjusted to fit the number of students, e.g. by making lectures into seminars or other forms of individually suited teaching. If this should be the case, students will be notified on the nature of the alternative teaching arrangements before the registration deadline 1 Feb/1 Sep.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

Students must attend at least 75 % of the lectures/seminars (including digital teaching) in order to be eligible for assessment in this course.

In consultation with the course instructor, students determine an individual reading list.

During the semester the students must write a French-English word list (minimum 50 words) based on a given text from the curriculum to be published on the platform for the use of the group.

No later than four weeks prior to the exams, students are required to get approval of an approximately 15 minute oral presentation on a topic related to the curriculum. The presentation is prepared in collaboration with the instructor, and the manuscript must be submitted at the same time as the presentation.

Mandatory assignments are valid for one additional semester following the semester of instruction.

Forms of Assessment
The exam is a six-hour written examination.
Grading Scale
The grading scale is A-F, where F is a fail.
Assessment Semester
Spring. Students with valid approvals on their mandatory assignments may also be assessed in the fall semester.
Reading List

The curriculum consists of one literary component (3-5 literary works), and one theoretical component (50 - 100 pages).

The reading list will be ready by July 1st for the fall semester, and December 1st for the spring semester.

Any subsequent changes to the reading list will be announced at the beginning of the semester.

Examination Support Material
Le Petit Robert or another single-language French dictionary.
Course Coordinator
The program committee is responsible for the academic content and structure of the study program, and for the quality of all the subjects therein.