FREN 361: Advanced Grammar and Composition
Prerequisite: FREN 300 or four years of high school French
Credit Hours: Four hours lecture
Intensive study of grammar and composition.
Detailed Description of Content of Course
This course is intended for third-level students who have a solid foundation in basic grammar and good intermediate-level writing skills.
Grammar content of the course
1. Review of the indicative, simple and compound tenses, with emphasis on irregular
verbs, verb usage which is different from English, and the difference between the
pass茅 compose and the imperfect.
2. Review of the subjunctive, simple and compound tenses, with emphasis on usage.
3. A thorough review of the literary tenses, with special emphasis on the difference
between the pass茅 compose and the pass茅 simple
4. A thorough review of the pronouns (personal, interrogative, stressed and relative),
with emphasis on direct and indirect object pronouns.
Composition
Compositions will include:
1. Pr茅cis of expository articles dealing with French culture or political/social questions.
2. 鈥淧oint of view鈥�, compositions dealing with a controversial subject. [ exercise
using the subjunctive].
3. A term paper dealing with some aspect of French culture, a literary work, or a
current event.
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
This course will be conducted entirely in French. Grammar and composition will be taught simultaneously, with emphasis on practical application of the grammatical principles studied. The first compositions will be written in the present tense, the second compositions in the past, and later compositions will require sophisticated use of all the tenses. There will also be a progression from simple to complex sentence structure. Students will often form small groups in which they will have the opportunity to read,
comment on, and correct each other鈥檚 work. They will also have the opportunity to consult with the instructor before submitting their compositions for a final grade.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
1. Students will acquire an understanding of French grammar at the advanced level.
2. Students will acquire good writing skills. The student should be able to write
a well-constructed, grammatically correct composition of 500 words in a fifty minute
period.
3. Students will be able to write pr茅cis, 鈥渆xplications de texte鈥�, essays and term
papers.
Assessment Measures
Class participation, written compositions (both in class and out-of-class), grammar tests, the final examination (a composition and a grammar component).
Other Course Information
The department advises students to take this class before enrolling in 400-level courses.
Approval and Subsequent Reviews
September 2005 Reviewed Philip Sweet