FR4590: POST-INDEPENDENCE TO DIASPORA: THE POSTCOLONIAL AFRICAN NOVEL FRENCH B (2014-2015)

Course Aims: The course aims to introduce students to the literature of Francophone Africa from the Independence period and its aftermath to contemporary postcolonial society, including the African Diaspora. Like all Level-4 French options courses, FR4085 has the following generic learning outcomes : students will apply critical reading skills to various forms of literary and non-literary French; they will select, evaluate and organize primary and secondary material, demonstrating an ability to synthesize material from disparate sources and to take account of the wider cultural context of the topic under consideration; will articulate their views in speech and writing using the appropriate discourse for the subject; will acquire habits of autonomous learning, independently applying insights gained on the course to unfamiliar material, and will conduct independent investigations using basic research methodology. In addition, the course has the following subject-specific learning outcomes : students will interpret key texts in Francophone literature with respect to their social, historical and political context. They will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the postcolonial experience in Africa and the African Diaspora; they will discuss and analyse texts by drawing on appropriate postcolonial theory. Content: This course will introduce students to the literature of Francophone Africa from the Independence period and its aftermath, to contemporary postcolonial society, including the African Diaspora. After some general historical and social background, texts by individual authors will be studied, and there will be discussion of the general issues arising out of the texts taken separately, as well as the interrelation between them. The main themes will be: literature as historical documents; colonialism/post-colonialism/neo-colonialism; the diaspora; the language question; humour and political satire; gender. In addition, students will extend their understanding of the subject by means of independent research, setting the topics treated in their wider context and synthesizing material from a range of sources.

The course may NOT be included as part of a graduating curriculum with FR 3085 (Post-Independence to Diaspora: The Postcolonial African Novel in French A). It will be available in 2014/15 and in alternate sessions thereafter.

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

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1st Attempt: In-course assessment: one written assignment ca 2500 words (100%). Resit: (for honours students only) candidates achieving a CAS mark of 6-8 may be awarded compensatory level 1 credit. Candidates achieving a CAS mark of less than 6 will be required to submit a new essay.

Formative assessment may be given to students in relation to their performance in class, informally in class or by appointment. Feedback on written work will also involve a degree of formative assessment.

The assignment receives a CAS mark which the Course Guide links to specific marking criteria, and written or verbal feedback in the form of tutors' comments is also given. Additional informal feedback on performance and tutorial participation is offered in tutorials. Tutors have office hours at which further feedback may be sought.

None.