FR3PF: Philanthropy £ la fran£aise: the history of ideas and practices in the French third sector

Module code: FR3PF

Module provider: Languages and Cultures; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

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

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE FR2L2 OR TAKE FR2L3 OR TAKE FR2L4 (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 introduces students to the significant role played by charity, philanthropy and humanitarianism throughout French history. It develops students’ understanding of the social, economic, political and cultural motivations and consequences of voluntary action through the analysis of a range of historical and contemporary case studies. Lastly, it enables students to familiarise themselves with the language used in, and the key issues facing the voluntary sector in 21st century France. As such, it contributes to developing their linguistic skills and their awareness of current issues in the French-speaking world. 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Identify key concepts and evolutions in the practices and perceptions of philanthropic activities 
2. Distinguish between different social, economic and cultural factors that have influenced philanthropic activities over time, and assess the issues at stake in the modern-day French context 
3. Analyse the impact of charity and humanitarianism on the individuals and organisations involved 
4. Contextualise the work of French charities within the wider comparative and transnational landscape of international philanthropic activities and humanitarianism especially 

Module content

This cultural module introduces students to the significant role played by charitable, philanthropic and humanitarian concerns throughout French history. From a religious imperative to a humanist desire, to political activism, philanthropic ideas and activities have contributed to shaping French society, but they have also impacted relationships between France and other countries, particularly its (former) colonies. We will explore how the concepts of charity,bienfaisance, philanthropy and humanitarianism have evolved and the links between the Third Sector and the French state. Our discussions will include case studies from the medieval period, the Enlightenment, the 19th century and the two World Wars, but the focus will be largely on the role ofassociationsand NGOs in French politics, economyand society since the start of the Fifth Republic. Case Studies may include poor relief, medical and educational initiatives, war and disaster relief, and will address relations between ‘recipients’ and ‘donors’ at national and international levels. Particular emphasis will be placed on the rhetoric used to present philanthropic activities at home and abroad. 

The analysis of case studies will help students develop a sound understanding of the complex social, economic, political and cultural motivations for, and consequences of, voluntary action. This module will also familiarise students with the diverse historiography and will invite them to frequently work on primary sources to develop their analytical skills. The discussion of the present day philanthropic landscapewill enable students to familiarise themselves with the language used in, and the key issues facing the voluntary sector in 21st century France, including relationships with the state, environmental concerns and accusations of neo-imperialism. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module is taught through a mixture of lectures and student-led seminars/discussions. Students will acquire background information from the lectures and will be encouraged to undertake independent work and prepare seminar presentations. 

Study hours

At least 33 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