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Module

FRE1006 : France and the Francophone World

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Elizabeth Marcus
  • Owning School: Modern Languages
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

In consonance with the overall aims of the degrees offered in the SML, to introduce students to the study of contemporary French politics, society and culture; to prepare students for future study of history, politics and society of France; and to introduce methods of study appropriate to socio-political and historical studies.

Outline Of Syllabus

This class provides an introduction to the history of France and of the francophone world since the Middle Ages. It initiates students to the major events and themes that have shaped politics, society, and culture in France and its former colonies, paying special attention to questions of identity and diversity in a national and imperial context. Modules include a combination of lecture and seminar-style discussion of documents (in French). This course is part of a two-course sequence.



Semester 1 (1550-1870)

Week 1 Introduction and the French Wars of Religion
Week 2 The World of Louis XIV
Week 3 Slavery, and the Making of Colonial France
Week 4 The Enlightenment
Week 5 Revolutions
Week 6 Napoleon: Inventing France’s First Emperor
Week 7 Reading Week/Enrichment Week
Week 8 New Empires
Week 9 French Romantics and the Leisure Capital

Semester 2 (1870-2002)

Week 1 French Imperialism and the Civilising Mission
Week 2 The Dreyfus Affair
Week 3 The Great War
Week 4 The 1920s: Les Années Folles
Week 5 Occupation, Collaboration and Resistance: The Vichy Years
Week 6 Decolonization
Week 7 The Trentes Glorieuses and May 1968
Week 8 Fin-de-Siècle France


This course will be taught both in French and English and will be assessed in English

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Structured Guided LearningLecture materials22:004:00Film screening
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture161:0016:00In person
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching161:0016:00In person
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery11:001:00In person
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study1631:00163:00N/A
Total200:00
Jointly Taught With
Code Title
FRE1106French and the Francophone World - Part 1
FRE1206France and the Francophone World - Part 2
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures will allow definition of the scope of the syllabus, an introduction to a body of knowledge, and modelling of the level of analysis required. Videos extracts shown during lectures will provide practical illustrations of the contents introduced. Seminars will give students the opportunity to discuss the information they have been introduced to in lectures through group work; presentation and directed personal reading. Extra resources as well as formative quizzes will also be available via Canvas.

Seminars will be in English to ensure that language problems do not hinder student expression and that the material covered has been fully understood by the students.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination1202A70Choice of 6 questions (students answer 2)
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Essay1M301500 source analysis in English.
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Written exercise1MA 1,000-1,500 word research-based n the semester 1 syllabus.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Primary Source Analysis: This exercise is to develop research skills, and a close reading of one source in the context of the secondary material read in this course. The idea is to encourage focused engagement and critical reading and argument skills.

Exam: to engage with the material covered in class; to develop a more thorough understanding of the themes taught over the course of semester 2; to develop academic writing skills; to build on skills developed through semester 1 assessment.

Reading Lists

Timetable