Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Languages & Cultures School
This course will expose students to a set of controversial literary texts in French from a variety of different social and cultural contexts. The texts will be read in relation to the specific historical and cultural settings in which they were published as well as in relation to the major literary and social movements of the time. Students will also examine debates concerning those texts in journalistic and academic articles as well as in the media, reading them not simply for their content but for the argumentation strategies deployed. In this way, the course will enhance students' textual analysis skills, will give students a broad understanding of different literary movements from different periods and will develop students' argumentation skills in a number of different genres and contexts.
FREN3355 in 2025 will introduce students to a variety of literary texts in French, which might be considered controversial in their time and/or which linked to contemporaneous debates in French-speaking cultures, either at the time of publication or at a later period, including the present. The theme for the course in 2025 is gender and genre, featuring texts by four authors whose works intervene in a number of important debates: women and marriage; women and political, governmental and religious constraints; the ongoing effects of slavery and questions concerning French West Indian identity; stereotypes concerning the representation of women over time; and questions relating to religion, identity and state control. These texts are drawn from a number of different literary genres and movements: the short story; the graphic novel; autobiography and autofiction; science fiction and distopian literature.ﾠAlongside these literary texts--to be analysed in terms of thematics, genre and the literary movements with which they are associated--the debates with which these texts are associated will also be studied, not simply for their content but for their argumentation strategies. The course aims to develop students' competencies both in reading and comprehending sophisticated French-language texts from a variety of contexts and genres as well as in advanced argumentation skills, both in writing and speaking.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Students are expected to have received a pass mark for FREN3114 or an equivalent course or seek the permission of the course coordinator to enrol in FREN3355.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
FREN3114 or permission of course coordinator
Course staff
Course coordinator
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Public holidays:
Alternative arrangements for affected students will be announced through the Blackboard site.
Class allocation:
In order to optimise the student experience, it may be necessary to reallocate students to a different class from their first choice.
Before this happens, every effort will be made to enable students to voluntarily change into an alternative class that is suitable.
Please note: Teaching staff do not have access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation. Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please ensure you email hass.mytimetable@uq.edu.au from your UQ student email account with the following details:
- Full name,
- Student ID, and
- the Course Code
Additional information and support can be found here.
Aims and outcomes
The course aims are twofold. First, to introduce students to a variety of different literary texts from different genres and historical periods which raise controversial questions in the French-speaking cultural contexts in which they were published, and to analyse these texts in relation to questions such as theme, genre and the literary movements with which these texts are associated. The second major aim is to develop students' argumentation skills through an analysis of cultural texts associated with the questions raised by the key course texts and through the adaptation and reuse of the argumentation techniques studied in these texts in order that students be capable of defending a particular point of view in a sophisticated and nuanced manner.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
read and analyse literary texts from different genres and periods in French/lire et analyser des textes littéraires d'époques et de genres différents en français
LO2.
understand and recognize themes and motifs in the texts you are reading/reconnaitre et et identifier les thèmes et motifs des texts que vous lisez
LO3.
make links between the literary texts you are reading, the broader socio-cultural questions they pose and the contexts in which the texts are situated/faire des liens entre les texts littéraires que vous lisez, les questions socioculturelles qu'ils posent et le contexte culturel dans lequel ils se situent
LO4.
talk and write about literary texts in French within the framework of their social, historical, ideological and/or philosophical contexts/communiquer à l'écrit et à l'oral sur des textes littéraires en français dans le cadre de leurs contextes sociales, historiques, idéologiques et/ou philosophiques
LO5.
write in clear and correct French about literary questions, including those relating to various literary genres and movements/écrire clairement et correctement en français sur des questions littéraires, y compris par rapport aux genres et mouvements littéraires
LO6.
better understand the cultural conventions of argumentation in French/mieux comprendre les conventions culturelles liées à l'argumentation en français
LO7.
express your opinion on different controversial current affairs topics in French/vous exprimer sur des sujets d'actualité divers et controversés en français
LO8.
support and defend your ideas, in spoken and written French, using appropriate techniques, expressions and connectors/soutenir et défendre vos idéees en français, à l'écrit et à l'oral, en employant des techniques, des expressions et des connecteurs appropriés
LO9.
work effectively with a partner or in a group/travailler de manière efficace avec les autres
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz |
Blackboard Reading Tasks
|
10% |
Reading Task 1 - 4/03/2025 5:00 pm Reading Task 2 - 14/03/2025 12:00 pm Reading Task 3 - 18/03/2025 5:00 pm Reading Task 4 - 25/03/2025 5:00 pm Reading Task 5 - 1/04/2025 5:00 pm Reading Task 6 - 8/04/2025 5:00 pm Reading Task 7 - 15/04/2025 5:00 pm Reading Task 8 - 29/04/2025 5:00 pm Reading Task 9 - 6/05/2025 5:00 pm Reading Task 10 - 13/05/2025 5:00 pm Reading Task 11 - 20/05/2025 5:00 pm Reading Task 12 - 27/05/2025 5:00 pm |
| Presentation, Reflection |
Presentation : analysis of an academic article
|
30% |
Week 5 - Week 13
See task description for specific due dates for specific text presentations. |
| Essay/ Critique, Presentation |
Oral debate and reflective essay
|
30% |
28/03/2025 - 30/05/2025
Due dates (choose ONE of the options below) :
|
| Reflection |
Oral discussion
|
30% |
9/06/2025 - 13/06/2025
Exam Week 1 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Blackboard Reading Tasks
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
Reading Task 1 - 4/03/2025 5:00 pm
Reading Task 2 - 14/03/2025 12:00 pm
Reading Task 3 - 18/03/2025 5:00 pm
Reading Task 4 - 25/03/2025 5:00 pm
Reading Task 5 - 1/04/2025 5:00 pm
Reading Task 6 - 8/04/2025 5:00 pm
Reading Task 7 - 15/04/2025 5:00 pm
Reading Task 8 - 29/04/2025 5:00 pm
Reading Task 9 - 6/05/2025 5:00 pm
Reading Task 10 - 13/05/2025 5:00 pm
Reading Task 11 - 20/05/2025 5:00 pm
Reading Task 12 - 27/05/2025 5:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02
Task description
Students will be given 12 tasks in the course of semester of which the best 10 marks will be used to calculate the final result for this assessment task. These tasks will be based on the key course texts and may include journalistic or academic articles as well as the main literary texts. The tasks will be due on Tuesdays at 5pm from weeks 2-13. They will be posted on Blackboard, in general, a week before the assessments are due.
STATEMENT ON AI & MT
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
The tasks are to be completed on Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
No extensions are allowed for this series of tasks as students are given a seven-day period to complete them. Individual results and correct answers are automatically released on a weekly basis. Timely engagement with these tasks supports sequential nature of learning in this course. Please note that only the best 10 of 12 tasks will be used to calculate the final result for this assessment task.
Presentation : analysis of an academic article
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Oral
- Category
- Presentation, Reflection
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
Week 5 - Week 13
See task description for specific due dates for specific text presentations.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L06, L09
Task description
Generally, in the final weeks of each module in the course, students--in groups of 2 or 3--will be asked to lead class discussion on the analysis of an academic article in French related to the literary text under discussion in that module (or potentially related to one of the broader cultural debates linked to one of those literary texts). In short, those presenting are to "teach" the article to the other students in the class.
By 5pm on the Monday the week of the presentation, students doing presentations are to post on Blackboard:
- a pdf of the article to be analysed, with annotations pointing to the key argumentation strategies used in the article (connectors or set phrases used for various different purposes etc., plus useful points concerning difficult vocabulary etc. and even aspects of the article that the presenters themselves had difficulty understanding).
- a brief summary of that article (no more than 100 words).
- some questions (4 maximum) to orient students' reading of the article.
Suggestd academic articles will be posted on Blackboard, though students--with the permission of the lecturer teaching the module in question--may choose another article.
Duration = 12-15 minutes for a group of two students, 16-20 minutes for a group of three.
It is important to work as a team but criteria will be individual.
The following dates are proposed for student presentations (further dates may be added depending on course enrolments) :
- Thursday 20 and Thursday 27 March (academic articles on La Femme cachée and approved texts on related debates)
- Thursday 3 April and Thursday 10 April (academic articles on Persepolis and approved texts on related debates)
- Thursday 1 May and Thursday 9 May (academic articles on Le Cœur à rire et à pleurer and approved texts on related debates)
- Thursday 22 May and Thursday 19 May (academic articles on 2084 . La fin du monde and approved texts on related debates)
If students enrolments are too large to allow for all students to do presentations in class, some students will need to present in other weeks or record their presentations and post on Blackboard. The same due dates will apply.
Working in teams
Please note that, although students are marked individually on the criteria, your presentation will work best if you work as a team. For example, you may decide to divide the article into sections for different team members to work on, but your presentation will be stronger if all team members read each other's work and offer feedback and advice. This will make the overall presentation more coherent.
If one or more group member does not participate with the group (i.e. attending meetings, responding to messages, completing drafts in a timely manner as decided by the group, submitting work as requested), the group member may be removed from the group and required to complete work individually without the benefit of feedback from the other members of the team. It is incumbent upon team members to treat each other professionally and to report to the course coordinator if a member has been non-responsive or non-participatory. If a team member is removed from a group, he or she will be notified in writing by the course coordinator.
If you have circumstances which prevent you from working in a group, you must formally request permission to complete this assessment item individually by emailing the course coordinator before team assignments are made. Your request should include supporting documentation or refer to an SAPD or application for an extension.
Use of Generative AI & MT: This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. Students must note that the use of AI outputs without attribution, and contrary to any direction by teaching staff, is a form of plagiarism and constitutes academic misconduct.
Submission guidelines
By 5pm on the Monday the week of the presentation, students doing presentations are to post on Blackboard:
- a pdf of the article to be analysed, with annotations pointing to the key argumentation strategies used in the article (connectors or set phrases used for various different purposes etc., plus useful points concerning difficult vocabulary etc. and even aspects of the article that the presenters themselves had difficulty understanding)
- a brief summary of that article (no more than 100 words)
- some questions (4 maximum) to orient students' reading of the article
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
The maximum extension length ensures that assessors can provide timely feedback, supporting the progressive, sequential, and cumulative nature of language learning that underpins this course.
Late submission
A penalty of 100% of the maximum mark applies if an extension has not been granted.
Oral debate and reflective essay
- Online
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique, Presentation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
28/03/2025 - 30/05/2025
Due dates (choose ONE of the options below) :
- Debate relating to question on text/s associated with La Femme cachée : Video debate (28 March by 5pm) + Reflective essay (4 April by 5pm)
- Debate relating to question on text/s associated with Persepolis: Video debate (4 April by 5pm) + Reflective essay (11 April by 5pm)
- Debate relating to question on text/s associated with Le Cœur à rire et à pleurer : Video debate (9 May at 5pm ) + Reflective essay (16 May at 5pm)
- Debate relating to question on text/s associated with 2084 : la fin du monde : Video debate (23 May at 5pm ) + Reflective essay (30 May at 5pm)
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09
Task description
Once during the semester, you are to participate in a debate on a subject linked to the set texts for the course and/or the cultural debates associated with their content. There will be four debates in the course of semester. You must sign up to and participate in one of these debates.
The debate is divided into two parts:
Part 1: Oral debate (12%)
A specific question, possibly related to an article or an extract from a text, will be published for each of the four debates during the semester.
You will choose one of these, register and publish a four to five minute video (maximum) in response to the question posed. The video need not be as structured as a written essay, for example, but you should nonetheless use connectors and expressions learnt in class to reinforce your argument (in order to show opposition, concession etc.). You are expected to acknowledge other points of view in relation to the topic under discussion (for example, in the article or text extract from which the question was drawn, or from other journalistic articles, especially if you're the first to contribute to the debate), and for those who contribute later in the debate, you should react to the comments which have come before your contribution. You may use notes to help you if you like, but if you read a text--or give the impression of reading a text--it will be difficult to have a high grade for your contribution (as per the criteria). Please see Blackboard for further instructions.
Part 2: reflective essay (18%)
For the second part of the exercise, you will write an essay in which you reflect in a more formal manner on the question posed in the debate. This time, your text should be more tightly structured and you should weigh up both sides of the argument in question (with reference to what your classmates have said in the oral debate, and to texts relevant to the debate) in order to produce a sophisticated and nuanced argument in favour of your position. The essay is generally due a week after the due date for the oral debate, but see the precise dates below. Please refer to Blackboard for further instructions.
Length : 800-1,000 words.
Due dates (choose ONE of the options below) :
- Debate relating to question on text/s associated with La Femme cachée : Video debate (28 March by 5pm) + Reflective essay (4 March by 5pm)
- Debate relating question on text/s associated with Persepolis: Video debate (4 April by 5pm) + Reflective essay (11 April by 5pm)
- Debate relating to question on text/s associated with Le Cœur à rire et à pleurer : Video debate (9 May at 5pm ) + Reflective essay (16 May at 5pm)
- Debate relating to question on text/s associated with 2084 : la fin du monde : Video debate (23 May at 5pm ) + Reflective essay (30 May at 5pm)
Use of Generative AI & MT: This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
To be submitted via Blackboard
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
The maximum extension length ensures that assessors can provide timely feedback, supporting the progressive, sequential, and cumulative nature of language learning that underpins this course.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
10% of the maximum mark per day will be the late penalty (i.e., two days late = 20% of maximum mark reduced)
Oral discussion
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral
- Category
- Reflection
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
9/06/2025 - 13/06/2025
Exam Week 1
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L06, L07, L08
Task description
In groups of two, students will be interviewed by their tutors on the texts studied in the course of the semester and on the debates associated with those texts. In the course of the discussion, students will be able to show their knowledge of the set texts for the course as well as display their argumentation skills to argue their point as convincingly as possible, but also to make concessions.
Broad topics for the oral discussion--and the particular texts that the discussions will pertain to--will be published on Blackboard by Week 13. Students will be able to nominate their topic in advance. Students may rehearse the discussion together, but it is not to be memorised as the discussion will involve questions from the tutors to the students rather than a rehearsed discussion between students.
The discussion will take place in the first week of the exam period unless otherwise specified by central examinations.
THE ORAL DISCUSSION IS A HURDLE REQUIREMENT. STUDENTS MUST RECEIVE A MARK OF 40% (12/30) IN ORDER TO PASS THIS COURSE
Use of Generative AI & MT: This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI tools. Students must note that the use of AI outputs without attribution, and contrary to any direction by teaching staff, is a form of plagiarism and constitutes academic misconduct.
Hurdle requirements
THE ORAL DISCUSSION IS A HURDLE REQUIREMENT. STUDENTS MUST RECEIVE A MARK OF 40% (12/30) IN ORDER TO PASS THIS COURSESubmission guidelines
No submission required. Oral discussions will be conducted in-person.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
Note that it is necessary to sit and obtain a mark of 40% or higher in the oral discussion in order to pass this course. If you do not get at least 40% in the oral discussion, even if you have passed the continuous assessment in this course, your grade will be reduced to a 3.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Tutorial |
Week 1 : Tutorials/Semaine 1 : s￩minaires Semaine/Week 1 : Course introduction/La Femme cachée and texts on/for argumentation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09 |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Tutorial |
Week 2: Tutorials/Semaine 2 : s￩minaires Semaine/Week 2 : La Femme cachée and texts on/for argumentation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09 |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Tutorial |
Week 3: Tutorials/Semaine 3 : s￩minaires Semaine/Week 3 : "La femme cach￩e" + "Persepolis" and texts on/for argumentation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09 |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Tutorial |
Week 4: Tutorials/Semaine 4 : s￩minaires Semaine 4 : Persepolis and texts on/for argumentation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09 |
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Tutorial |
Week 5: Tutorials/Semaine 5 : s￩minaires Semaine 5 : Persepolis and texts on/for argumentation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09 |
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Tutorial |
Week 6: Tutorials/Semaine 6 : s￩minaires Semaine/Week 6 : Persepolis and texts on/for argumentation "Persepolis" + textes argumentatifs Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09 |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Tutorial |
Week 7: Tutorials/Semaine 7 : s￩minaires Semaine/Week 7 : "Le Cœur à rirer et à pleurer" and texts on/for argumentation. "Le Cœur à rirer et à pleurer" de Maryse Condé et textes argumentatifs. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09 |
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Tutorial |
Week 8: Tutorials/Semaine 8 : s￩minaires Semaine/Week 8 : Le Cœur à rire et à pleurer and texts on/for argumentation. NB : No Friday tutorial = Good Friday Public Holiday Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09 |
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
MID-SEMESTER BREAK |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Tutorial |
Week 9: Tutorials/Semaine 9 : s￩minaires Semaine/Week 9 : Le Cœur à rire et à pleurer and texts on/for argumentation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09 |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Tutorial |
Week 10: Tutorials/Semaine 10 : s￩minaires Semaine/Week 10 : Le Cœur à rire et à pleurer and texts on/for argumentation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09 |
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Tutorial |
Week 11: Tutorials/Semaine 11 : s￩minaires Semaine/Week 11 : 2084 : la fin du monde + argumentative texts Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09 |
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Tutorial |
Week 12: Tutorials/Semaine 12 : s￩minaires Semaine/Week 12 : 2084 : la fin du monde + texts on/for argumentation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09 |
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Tutorial |
Week 13: Tutorials/Semaine 13 : s￩minaires Semaine/Week 13 : 2084 : la fin du monde + texts on/for argumentation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.