FR2CHF-Children£s books in France

Module Provider: Modern Languages
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites: FR1L1 Beginners French Language or FR1L2 Intermediate French Language or FR1L3 Advanced French Language I
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Sophie Heywood
Email: S.L.Heywood@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Some of our best-known children’s books are in fact French: Perrault’s fairy tales, Jules Verne’s 20,000 leagues under the sea or the adventures of Babar the Elephant to name but a few. However, many other texts that have shaped the lives and ideas of generations of French children remain virtually unknown to the English-speaking world. Who has heard of the comtesse de Ségur for example? Yet in France, she is a national icon. 

Without pretending to be exhaustive, this module introduces students to some of the important texts, authors and themes in the study of children’s literature in modern France.

Aims:

This module introduces students to some of the important texts, authors and themes in the study of children’s literature in modern France.

Assessable learning outcomes:

Students should be able to:

• Identify and outline the major texts, authors and themes in modern French children’s literature


• Understand and take notes from lectures in French


• Read and analyse books produced for children in their social, cultural and literary context


• Organise and articulate a coherent written argument in coursework and under examination conditions.


• Engage critically with the i deas presented in lectures, seminars, or secondary materials.

Additional outcomes:

This module also aims to encourage the development of oral communication skills, and research skills.

Outline content:

Topics for study may include:

• Charles Perrault’s fairy tales.


• La comtesse de Ségur and the expansion of books for girls.


• The golden age of publishing for children.


• Jules Verne: stories of empire, exploration and science.


• The development of books for young children: Babar, Le Père Castor and Tomi Ungerer


• French comics after 1945: the example of Astérix


• The feminist revolution in contemporary French children’s publishing (1970s-present)

Key themes may include: 

• The role of the Church.


• The role of the publisher.


• The role of translations, adaptations and readership.


• Changing ideas of the ‘child’.


• The impact of the new science of child psychology. 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The course will be taught using a mixture of lectures (in French) and seminars.

 

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	5	5
Seminars	10	10
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	10	25
Wider reading (directed)	30	25
Advance preparation for classes	30	25
Essay preparation		20
Reflection		5
Total hours by term	85	115	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	80
Practical skills assessment	20

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Students will produce one essay (2,500 words) 50%, produce one book review (1,000 words, in French) 30%, and deliver one assessed presentation 20%.

Contact time outside of the class hours will be reserved for one to one/small group discussion of the assessed components: choice of book for review, choice of approach (educational/ psychological/ historical/ theoretical etc), identification of potential research materials. 

One piece of assessment worth no more than 50% of the module mark can be replaced by a report produced after an academic placement. The placement must be agreed in advance by the module convenor; the length of the report is to be equivalent to standard departmental practice for coursework.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

40%

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment in August, in the event of failure in this module and of failure in Part 2 as a whole. Coursework for reassessment must be resubmitted by 12 NOON on the third Friday of August or, if the University is closed on the third Friday of August, by 12 NOON on the first working day thereafter.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 25 November 2021