FR2FWW: The First World War: Then and Now

Module code: FR2FWW

Module provider: Languages and Cultures; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Marjorie Gehrhardt, email: m.i.s.gehrhardt@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE FR1L1 OR TAKE FR1L2 OR TAKE FR1L3 (Compulsory)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: na

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 9 July 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to give students a clear understanding both of the French experience of the First World War and of the wider impact of the war on twentieth-century France. It introduces students to the diverse war experiences of the French people and to the social, political and cultural responses the conflict produced. Through the study and analysis of sources ranging from songs to newspapers, novels, speeches and biographies, it familiarises students with the events of the First World War and their impact, as well as encouraging participants to critically engage with the representations and memory of the First World War in twentieth-century and twenty-first century France. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. identify key events of French history in the period of the Great War 
2. demonstrate awareness of the long-term cultural significance of the war 
3. compare the French case with the wider comparative and transnational context of the Great War 
4. engage critically with a variety of sources 
5. evaluate different interpretations of significant wartime events, objects and places and show an understanding of historiographical debates 
6. organise and articulate a coherent written argument in a coursework assignment 

Module content

Topics that will be discussed in the lectures and seminars include: going into war, the soldiers’ experience, the empire at war, the Home Front, economic, social and political changes, peace and demobilisation. In addition to studying the war experience in France and its empire, this module also considers responses to, and representations of, the First World War since the conflict took place, through the study of aspects such as censorship, artistic and literary representations of the conflict, monuments, museums and commemoration. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Weekly lectures and seminars. 

Study hours

At least 20 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

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

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will be given guided assignments to prepare for the next class and for the summative assignments. Class discussions and oral presentations will help students prepare for the learning journal. Students will also be given an opportunity to submit a formative entry to prepare themselves for the learning journal assignment. 

Reassessment

Additional costs