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Unit information: France and Europe in 2018/19

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Unit name France and Europe
Unit code FREN23013
Credit points 20
Level of study I/5
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director Professor. Raymond
Open unit status Not open
Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

School/department Department of French
Faculty Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

France and Europe is a unit aimed at providing students of French with an understanding of the impetus behind France's commitment to the creation of, firstly, a European Community, and then a Union. Initially, the unit situates that ambition in a long historical context which takes account of France's status as the first great, unified, modern nation-state in continental Europe. Then the unit focuses on the reality of France's position after World War II and the combination of idealism and pragmatism that led it to define a new beginning for Europe. The theme linking the exploration of France's relationship with Europe over the ensuing decades will be the ways it has attempted to reconcile an enduring sense of national destiny with the creation of a viable supranational body, reflected in numerous areas such as the partnership with Germany, the opposition to Anglo-American influences, French defence policy, and other key issues.

Aims:

  • To introduce students to a significant body of knowledge of a complexity appropriate to second year level. The content matter will normally include one or more of the following: literature; social, cultural or political history; linguistics; cultural studies; film, television or other media.
  • To facilitate students engagement with a body of literature, including secondary literature, texts, including in non-print media, primary sources and ideas as a basis for their own analysis and development. Normally many or most of these sources will be in a language other than English and will enhance the development of their linguistic skills.
  • To develop further skills of synthesis, analysis and independent research, building on the skills acquired in units at level C.
  • Some options may prepare students for the experience of the Year Abroad.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Successful students will:

  • be knowledgeable about a significant cultural, historical or linguistic subject related to the language they are studying;
  • be skilled in the selection and synthesis of relevant material;
  • be able to evaluate and analyse relevant material from a significant body of source materials, usually in a foreign language, at a high level;
  • be able to respond to questions or problems by presenting their independent judgements in an appropriate style and at an high level of complexity;
  • be able to transfer these skills to other working environments, including study at a foreign university and on work placements during the year abroad.

Teaching Information

1x2 hour slot weekly, comprising a lecture followed by a seminar.

Assessment Information

2 x 2,000 word essays (50% each) - the second based on the student's own title. Both assessments test ILOs 1-4.

Reading and References

Please refer to Blackboard site

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