FRENCH 438/638    WRITING ABOUT LOVE: SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY FRENCH POETRY AND PROSE

Foreign Languages & Literatures 
University of Delaware

Spring 2005
Course meets T 4-7 pm, Purnell 238

Dr. Deborah Steinberger
421 Smith Hall
Phone: 831-2044
E-mail: steind@udel.edu
Office Hours, Spring 2005: T 1:30-2:30, R 2-3


Is love an ennobling passion? a dangerous snare? an unattainable ideal? a game of mirrors? In this course we will study the prevailing ideas about love in seventeenth-century France, considering male and female points of view, and a variety of literary genres: fable, fairy tale, maxim, letter, story and novel.  To the extent possible, the course will be conducted as a literary salon: students will engage in debate, try their hand at composition, and critique each other’s work.

Texts:

Also suggested:

Requirements:

Since French 438/638 is a discussion class, regular attendance, thorough preparation and active participation are essential.  Please arrive on time and expect to stay until the end of class.  If the number of unexcused absences exceeds two, the student's final participation grade will be lowered ten points for each absence.  Students who know they will be absent on a given day should be sure to give the instructor advance notice.  Furthermore, students who have missed class are responsible for contacting a classmate to find out what material was covered and what homework was assigned (phone/e-mail lists will be distributed early in the semester for this purpose).

 

All assignments must be turned in at the start of class on the day they are due.  NEVER SKIP CLASS just because an assignment is not ready!!  If you are having exceptional difficulties completing a paper (computer problems, no time to proofread, etc.) you must notify me of this in class to make arrangements for submission of the late work.  I will not accept papers sent as e-mail attachments.  Since e-mail will be used for course announcements, all students are required to activate their university e-mail accounts if they have not already done so, and to check their mail regularly.  Written work for the course must be word-processed, double-spaced, spell-checked, and THOROUGHLY proofread. Programs with French accents and French spell-checkers are available at the Foreign Language Media Center, 211 Smith Hall.  No credit will be given for work which has not been carefully proofread.

IMPORTANT:  In accordance with University and departmental policy, academic dishonesty including plagiarism will result in an F for the course and a permanent stain on your academic record.  In your writing, it is absolutely essential that you make it clear where your ideas end and those of another author begin.  I have strict guidelines for peer-editing: please check with me before asking someone else to correct your work.  If you have any questions about how to document your sources, including online sources, please consult the MLA Handbook, or see the instructor.

Composition de la note:

Dates importantes:

Programme d'etudes (à titre indicatif)

For more information, contact Dr. Steinberger at 831-2044 or via e-mail: steind@udel.edu