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Course Description

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Je suis Charlie    Je suis Paris     Je suis Bruxelles

FREN 2200 / FRAN 2050  FRENCH FOR READING KNOWLEDGE at UNC Charlotte
FREN 2200,001/FRAN 2050,001   Fall 2018     TR 4:00-5:15     COED 168
Katherine Stephenson     COED 458       No Office Phone
Office hours: TWR 1:45-2:10, MW3:50-4:20, TR5:20-5:45 & by appt.
ksstephe@uncc.edu
https://pages.charlotte.edu/katherine-stephenson/courses/french-for-reading-knowledge
Syllabus last revised 8-20-18

Description

Review of French grammar with focus on developing reading skills. For every class period there will be homework assignments in which students will prepare the material for the following class.  About half of the classes will be spent going over the chapter grammar and translation exercises and short readings students translate for homework.  There will be a chapter test for each of these class periods taken directly from the grammar and translation text which students will submit over Moodle2 before each class. The other classes will be spent performing sight readings from the grammar and translation text and reviewing literary readings and comprehension exercises prepared as homework.  Class will be conducted in English.  This course fulfills the terminal 2000-level foreign-language requirement for certain majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Prerequisite

FREN 1202 or equivalent.

Texts and Materials

In student bookstore:

  • Course Packet of Reading French in the Arts and Sciences, 4th edition, by Edward M. Stack
  • Recommended:
    • HarperCollins Robert French Unabridged Dictionary, 5th or later edition

Course Homepage: http://pages.charlotte.edu/katherine-stephenson/courses/french-for-reading-knowledge

On Canvas (Course Management System): Some information, study and homework materials, and all exams are on Canvas. You access our Canvas course from any computer on or off campus (campus computer labs are open 24/7) through an icon on the My UNC Charlotte page.  This icon will take you to the Canvas homepage for UNC Charlotte. Or you may go directly to the Canvas homepage at https://canvas.uncc.edu/ . LOGIN using your My UNC Charlotte user name and password.  This will then open the Canvas Access page, where all your Canvas courses will be listed on your Dashboard.  If you’re accessing your campus student account for the first time, see UNC Charlotte FAQ, or the Student Computing link at http://itservices.uncc.edu/student-services/.  Also see Canvas Student Tutorial  (https://uncc.instructure.com/courses/342/pages/student-tutorials?module_item_id=10109 ).  If you have any problems with Canvas not working correctly, you must contact Canvas Student Support, NOT the professor:

  1. You can get help 24/7 directly from Canvas by logging into Canvas and clicking on the Help button in the bottom left
    1. Online chat and phone support is available, along with documentation accessible 24/7
  2. You may also contact the IT Service Desk at x5500 with Canvas questions
  3. You may contact the Student Computing Help Center (see http://labs.uncc.edu/gethelp/help.html ).
  4. Other helpful student Canvas links are Getting Started with Canvas for Students (https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-2036 ), and Canvas Student Guide (https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-4121).

After the first class meeting, immediately send the professor an email message with the information indicated below. Use your own email account (see my email address at the top of this document). Type “[Your Name] 2200 contact info” in the “Subject” box and type the information below, in exactly the format below:

  • Name (for first name, indicate name you wish to be called by in class)
  • Telephone number
  • Email address (that you check every day)*
  • Classification, major, advisor
  • If you have a job, number of hours you work per week
  • Other languages, trips to France (where, when)

Attention: You may not be able to access your Moodle2 account until 24 hours after you are officially enrolled in the class.

*The university administration encourages students to use the official university-provided email address when corresponding with professors and students, to be aware of the university’s Computing Policies, and to check their UNCC email account regularly.

Grade Breakdown

Class grade (attendance, participation, homework, tests, sight-readings) 40%
Translations 40%
Final Exam 20%*

All grades are based on a 10‑point scale (90 – 100 = A, etc.).  Regular class attendance, participation, and homework completion can impact your grade substantially.  I suggest that you pay particular attention to these areas so that they work for you rather than against you.

*You may not receive a grade for the course more than 2 letter-grades higher than the grade you make on the final exam.

Homework

Please staple homework with multiple sheets before class.  If you hand in homework or class exercises on notebook paper, please do not use paper from a spiral-bound notebook, or be sure to remove any tabs from the left margin.

Most of the learning for this course takes place outside of the classroom.  You will have to devote a minimum of two hours of preparation for each class hour (see UNC Charlotte Catalog). The homework consists of reviewing vocabulary and grammar by doing exercises and translations in the Stack text, submitting exercises over Canvas before class (see Canvas information above), previewing texts to sight-read in class, and doing exercises on readings from the Baker & Cauvin text and, occasionally, on class handouts and tests on this material.  Tests on the vocabulary and grammar will be taken in Canvas after class treatment of the material.  Homework is assigned on a regular basis and is due on the assigned date at the beginning of class.  Please staple homework with multiple sheets before class.  If you hand in homework or class exercises on notebook paper, please do not use paper from a spiral-bound notebook, or be sure to remove any tabs from the left margin.  I will only accept late homework for excused absences, and only before the assigned deadline for the homework (since students are given access to online answer keys upon the deadline).  Electronic submission of homework (see the university’s Computing Policies) should prevent you from having to turn in work late unless you are too sick to prepare homework.  Any late homework must be turned in through electronic submission.

If you find you need additional help, the University Center for Academic Excellence (330 Fretwell http://ucae.uncc.edu/) provides free tutorials on French grammar (call Tutorial Services in 318K Fretwell at 704.687.7845 or contact them online through their website at http://ucae.uncc.edu/tutorial-services).  See also their FAQ at http://ucae.uncc.edu/tutorial-services/faqs.  The schedule for tutoring in the LRC is at http://lrc.uncc.edu/.  There are also many exercises you can do using the computer software in the Language Resource Center.

Absence Policy

Students are expected to attend every class and remain in class for the duration of the session. Failure to attend class or arriving late may impact your ability to achieve course objectives which could affect your course grade.  An absence, excused or unexcused, does not relieve a student of any course requirement. Regular class attendance is a student’s obligation, as is a responsibility for all the work of class meetings, including tests and written tasks. Students who miss classes usually do poorly on pop quizzes and exams.

Role is taken and class business is discussed at the beginning of each class.  Late arrivals are marked absent unless students remember to “check in” with the professor at the end of class to change the “absence” to a “late.”  Absences result in a reduction of points in your class grade (40% of your overall grade) and therefore affect final grades.  After 2 unexcused absences, your class grade will drop 1/3 a letter for each unexcused absence (3 lates = 1 absence).  Absences will be excused only when student provides written confirmation of hospitalization, a doctor/infirmary visit, an officially excused university activity, or a serious family crisis.  Failure to attend at least 75% of classes (i.e., missing 8 or more classes for a class meeting two days a week, for whatever reason) will result in a failing grade in the course.  If you are absent from class, you are responsible for contacting a classmate, finding out what we did in class and the homework assignment, and preparing this assignment.  See also attendance policy in UNC Charlotte Catalog.

In accordance with University Policy #409: Religious Accommodation for Students, you may have a minimum of two excused absences each academic year for religious observances as required by your faith.  It is your obligation to provide me with reasonable notice of the dates of religious observances on which you will be absent by submitting a Request for Religious Accommodation Form to me prior to the census date for enrollment.  The census date for each semester (typically the tenth day of instruction) can be found in UNC Charlotte’s academic calendar.  This Fall it is Fri. Aug. 31.

Classroom Activities and Etiquette

All students are expected to participate in class activities.  Students will answer questions on the vocabulary, grammar, and reading exercises in the class texts and sight-read texts in class (all of which may be prepared in advance).  Take advantage of class time to ask about any material or concepts you do not understand.  Do not worry about making mistakes in class because making mistakes is part of the process of developing language fluency.  The sight-reading in class is the activity which comes closest to replicating final-exam conditions, where you will translate texts without using any of your materials or texts (no dictionary, either), so it is a good indicator of how you will perform on the final.  Only students who participate on a daily basis and for the entire class should expect a positive evaluation.

Respectful classroom behavior is expected.  This includes arriving on time for class and turning off your cell phone before entering class.  Breaches of proper classroom etiquette have the following consequences: each time you disrupt class by coming in late or having an electronic device go off in class, you will be charged with a “late”; 3 lates/disruptions = 1 unexcused absence.

The use of cell phones, smart phones, or other mobile communication devices is disruptive and is therefore prohibited during class. Except in emergencies, those using such devices must leave the classroom for the remainder of the class period.  Class is for learning and complete attention to classroom activities is required.

Students are permitted to use computers during class for note-taking and other class-related work only. Those using computers during class for work not related to that class must leave the classroom for the remainder of the class period.

Office Hours

I urge all of you to make use of my office hours.  Students who do so usually do better than those who do not.  I can help you not only with difficulties with the course material, but also with advice on studying habits, test‑taking techniques, organizational skills, etc.  Do not hesitate to ask me any questions, either pertaining to grammar or to the class in general.  The only stupid question is the one never asked.  I hope you have a fun and rewarding semester.

If you wish to contact me outside of class, you must do so during my office hours as I will not return phone calls.  You may also contact me by email, which I can usually respond to within 24 hours.  Please include a descriptive subject heading in all email you send to me.  Remember that if you are absent, you must contact a classmate to find out the assignment.

Honor Code

The Department of Languages and Culture Studies complies with the UNC Charlotte Code of Student Academic Integrity and Code of Student Responsibility.  The Code is available from the Dean of Students Office or online at http://www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-105.html.  See also UNC Charlotte Catalog.  It is your responsibility to know and observe the requirements of these codes and all other University regulations.  Academic evaluations in this course include a judgment that your work is free from academic dishonesty of any type.  Penalty for violation of the code ranges from zero credit on the work involving dishonesty to expulsion from UNC Charlotte.  You are expected to report cases of academic dishonesty.

Incidents of Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Relationship Violence, and Stalking

UNC Charlotte is committed to providing an environment free of all forms of discrimination and sexual harassment, including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.  If you (or someone you know) has experienced or experiences any of these incidents, know that you are not alone.  UNC Charlotte has staff members trained to support you in navigating campus life, accessing health and counseling services, providing academic and housing accommodations, helping with legal protective orders, and more.

Please be aware that many UNC Charlotte employees, including all faculty members, are required reporters.  This means that if you tell me about a situation involving sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking, I must report the information to the Title IX Coordinator.  Although I have to report the situation, you will still have options about how your case will be handled, including whether or not you wish to pursue a formal complaint.  Our goal is to make sure you are aware of the range of options available to you and have access to the resources you need.

If you wish to speak to someone confidentially, you can contact any of the following on-campus resources, who are not required to report the incident: (1) University Counseling Center (counselingcenter.uncc.edu, 7-0311); (2) Student Health Center (studenthealth.uncc.edu, 7-7400); or (3) Center for Wellness Promotion (wellness.uncc.edu, 7-7407).  Additional information about your options is also available at titleix.uncc.edu under the “Students” tab.

Students with learning disabilities

Students with documented disabilities who require accommodations in this class should access services as soon as possible through the UNC Charlotte Office of Disability Services in Fretwell Building, Room 230.