FREN 4005B - Honours French Studies Thesis Pt 2

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2021

The course represents advanced learning, scholarship and research in the discipline of French Studies. It is the final stage of formal language tuition in the French language as well as extending students' knowledge and research skills in French and Francophone cultures, building on the learning and research capabilities gained in levels 1 to 3 of the French Studies major. By requiring students to devise and produce a research thesis, the thesis component provides students with the research skills necessary for further study in research postgraduate programmes. It provides research training based on the skills of textual analysis and documentary searches in relation to specific forms of cultural expression, such as literature, film, media and contemporary debates. It requires students to develop a research question, collect data using on-line resources, plan and complete the project within the specified time frame.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code FREN 4005B
    Course Honours French Studies Thesis Pt 2
    Coordinating Unit French Studies
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 12
    Contact 1 hour per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites FREN 4005A in previous Semester. Completed degree (72 units) including 24 units French Studies Major or completed Diploma of Languages
    Restrictions Available only to students admitted to relevant Honours program
    Course Description The course represents advanced learning, scholarship and research in the discipline of French Studies. It is the final stage of formal language tuition in the French language as well as extending students' knowledge and research skills in French and Francophone cultures, building on the learning and research capabilities gained in levels 1 to 3 of the French Studies major. By requiring students to devise and produce a research thesis, the thesis component provides students with the research skills necessary for further study in research postgraduate programmes. It provides research training based on the skills of textual analysis and documentary searches in relation to specific forms of cultural expression, such as literature, film, media and contemporary debates. It requires students to develop a research question, collect data using on-line resources, plan and complete the project within the specified time frame.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Peter Poiana

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1. Evaluate the significance of French and Francophone literary, artistic or cultural productions through the application of analytical methods, documentary searches and critical thought.

    2. Collect, organise and synthesise materials, including those accessible in digital formats, in relation to different areas of French and Francophone cultures, and ultimately explain the way in which these areas attain their cultural significance.

    3. Reproduce accurately the different forms of French academic language and communicative strategies required to present higher order and conceptually sophisticated ideas to specialist and general audiences.

    4. Demonstrate proficiency in the practice of collaborative work and task management in relation to the analysis and interpretation of French and Francophone cultural productions.

    5. Independently organise and plan a research project in relation to a specific question pertaining to an area of French and Francophone culture, with the aim of producing a thesis that addresses the requirements of the disciplinary area of French Studies. 
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 2, 5
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1, 2, 5
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    3, 4
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    3, 4
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    4
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    4
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Supervision. Regular meetings with supervisor.
    Workload

    No information currently available.

    Learning Activities Summary
    · Practice of written and oral French in the academic register.
    · Discussion with supervisor regarding the use and understanding of the French language.
    · Textual analysis in its application to literary texts, films, areas of popular culture and social discourses.
    · Development of research questions in relation to French culture and the devising of a research plan, corpus and methodology.
    · Discussion of ideas and issues with a view to developing skills in critical thought.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    Assessment item / Value / Course Learning Outcomes
    1. 12,000 word thesis in French (option of 15,000 words in English for students enrolling from Beginners Stream) / 45% / 1, 2, 3, 5
    2. Oral thesis presentation of 30 minutes, in French / 5% / 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

    Assessment Detail
    1. 12,000 word thesis in French (option of 15,000 words in English for students enrolling from Beginners Stream) = 45%
    2. Oral thesis presentation of 30 minutes, in French = 5%. 
    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M11 (Honours Mark Scheme)
    GradeGrade reflects following criteria for allocation of gradeReported on Official Transcript
    Fail A mark between 1-49 F
    Third Class A mark between 50-59 3
    Second Class Div B A mark between 60-69 2B
    Second Class Div A A mark between 70-79 2A
    First Class A mark between 80-100 1
    Result Pending An interim result RP
    Continuing Continuing CN

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    90-100 First Class Band i:
    Exceptional. Original concept. Sophisticated methodology and argumentation. Elegance of expression. Publishable.

    80-89 First Class Band ii/iii:
    Outstanding. Originality in choice of topic or use of material. Successful reinterpretation of a body of material. Successful interpretation of new material. Well-crafted argument. Sophisticated level of expression.

    70-79 Second Class A:
    Very competent. Shows critical judgment, is well-researched, has a well-informed argument, is clearly presented and expressed. Lesser achievement in terms of originality, sophistication or style than a First Class Honours.

    60-69 Second Class B:
    Characteristics can include any number of the following : inadequate research, poorly argued, lack of critical distance, a major research or analytical flaw, ineffective connection between argument and evidence, failure to deal with alternative interpretations, expressions marred by incorrect vocabulary and syntax.

    50-59 Third Class:
    Limited achievement. Basic flaw in the argument or incoherent development. Poor research. Difficulty in connecting research to argument. Poor sentence structure and basic errors in vocabulary.

    0-49 Fail:
    Substantial inadequacies in content, understanding of topic and source material. Major irrelevancies. Expression is confused or incomprehensible.
     

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

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