Final Essay Topics Topic 1: Men and Women: the artistic, cultural and social construction of gender.

Compare two or three cultural productions and analyse how genders are represented. What are the values associated to women in these works? Analyze and discuss specific examples (paintings, texts). Topic 2: Modernity and Progress: are these appropriate subjects for art? Compare two or three cultural productions and analyse how modern life and progress are represented. What are the values associated to Modernity and Progress in these works? Analyze and discuss specific examples (paintings, texts). Topic 3: Order and Chaos: should art provoke comfort or discomfort? Compare two or three cultural productions and analyze the way they represent order and chaos. How is order or chaos perceived in these works? Analyze and discuss specific examples (paintings, texts). Works to be discussed: (choose two or three works to analyze and discuss) Charles Baudelaire, Painter of Modern Life Charles Baudelaire, The Flowers of Evil : [preface and poems from the textbook] Emile Zola, The Masterpiece [excerpts from the textbook] Honor de Balzac, Sarrasine Jules Verne, Paris in the Twentieth Century Painters (any painting) : o Manet; Monet; Renoir; Degas; Gaugin; Toulouse-Lautrec; Matisse; Van Gogh; Douanier Rousseau; Moreau. Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary [excerpt from textbook] Marcel Proust, In Search of Lost Time: Way by Swanns [excerpt from textbook] De Botton, How Proust Can Change Your Life References : The use of secondary references is NOT mandatory. However, if you choose to include them, be very careful with the way you quote material. To avoid plagiarism, make sure your sources are always clearly indicated and that even the smallest passages that are not your own are placed in quote marks (""). Plagiarism even of short passages leads to an automatic mark of 0 % and can have serious consequences not only for your success in this class but also for your ability to obtain a degree. Technical requirements a. Length : 1650-2000 words b. Reference system: MLA. c. Essay must be submitted no later than March 22nd at 5pm. d. Late essays should be dropped at the Department of French; 2%/day penalty Presentation : Presentation page; Academic Integrity Checklist; 12pts 1,5 interline 3,5 cm margins all around; Please put your name in the header or footer; Please add page numbers (wherever you prefer)

FCS195H1S FRENCH CULTURAL STUDIES : FRENCH CULTURE FROM NAPOLEON TO ASTERIX (F. LANGEVIN, DPARTEMENT DTUDES FRANAISES, UNIVERSIT DE TORONTO, MARS 2013)

Strongly suggested structure for the essay 1. Original title 2. Introduction Approaching the subject/question : why is it relevant to discuss this question? Announcing clearly the thesis and making clear why this thesis is relevant; This is where you present Short description of the objects that will be solicited as examples (poem, your thesis and explain: painting, preface, etc.) why it is relevant; how you are going Ideas/arguments that will be defended (2 or 3 ideas/arguments). What to prove your points do you want to make? idea on the subject is correct; A few words on how these ideas relate to the question (clues on your how you will reasoning). present your text Method (other texts or theories that will be used). (in what order will your ideas be Terminology and definitions (if immediately relevant; otherwise, this part presented?). can be exploited later in the development) Announce of the structure of the essay (e.g. first, then, finally, etc.) 3. Development 1, 2, etc. (same structure can/must be repeated) o Some definitions of the key concepts you are using, if they have not already been defined in the introduction This is where you organize your evidence. o Presentation of argument/idea: Present each of your Analysis of one or two example; arguments in a convincing and appealing structure: Explanation of the example. e.g.: o Interpretation of the results of your analysis in the light Work 1: idea 1 and 2; 4. Conclusion Synthesis of the 1, 2 or more ideas/point/arguments you made earlier. Discussion : what are the limits of your analysis? When put together, maybe your points reveal implications you did not expect. Opening : usually, you refer to the introduction statement you made, and help us get out of your essay. It can be a punchy line, a controversy, a comparative example taken from another media, etc.
Work 2: idea 1 and 2; or Idea 1: work 1, work 2 Idea 2: work 1, work 2; etc.

Evaluation 1. Question, thesis, subject, arguments, points : are they clear enough? Does it make sense? Is it relevant? 10 8 6 4 2 0 2. Analysis : depth of the analysis; understanding of the texts/images 10 8 6 4 2 0 3. Structure of the essay: introduction, development, conclusion: transitions 10 8 6 4 2 0 4. Originality, research and appropriation of the subject/works 10 8 6 4 2 0 5. Language and style 10 8 6 4 2 0 Comments: Qualities of the essay Comments:

Scale explanation Excellent Very good 10 8 Good OK 6 Mediocre 4 Could do better Does not meet objectives 2 0

FCS195H1S FRENCH CULTURAL STUDIES : FRENCH CULTURE FROM NAPOLEON TO ASTERIX (F. LANGEVIN, DPARTEMENT DTUDES FRANAISES, UNIVERSIT DE TORONTO, MARS 2013)