ITAL 3306 Introduction to Italian Literature and Culture Spring 2009

Transcription

1 Department of Foreign Languages ITAL 3306 Introduction to Italian Literature and Culture Spring 2009 INSTRUCTOR & COURSE INFORMATION: Instructor: Dr. Federica Santini Day/Time: MW 2:00-3:15 Office Location: PS 249 Office Hours: by appointment Phone: COURSE DESCRIPTION (CATALOG): Prerequisites: ITAL 2002 or permission of the instructor. Introduction to Italian literature and culture. Students examine literary and artistic movements as well as cultural issues. Students also work across the curriculum, focusing on interdisciplinary issues and developing their competence in critical analysis from a global perspective. Readings and discussion in Italian and English. SPECIFIC COURSE DESCRIPTION: Metropolis: The Individual and the City -- A profile of the theme of the city in Twentieth-century Italian literature and culture obtained through an analysis of relevant documents and literary texts, from the Futurists to contemporary authors. PowerPoint presentations on visual representations in contemporary artistic movements and clips from relevant films will give students additional opportunities to appreciate the artistic, architectural, cultural, social, and political profile of Italy. This semester, the course will be taught as a hybrid, with some meetings being held in person and others on-line, through the WebCT-Vista system. REQUIRED MATERIALS: All texts and materials will be posted on WebCT-Vista or provided in class by the instructor. COURSE OBJECTIVES: To work on reading and writing in Italian; to acquire further clarity in comprehension and in written expression; to enhance knowledge of Italian culture and society by reading excerpts of some representative works in Italian and discussing their contents in context. To acquire familiarity with modern and contemporary Italian literature and culture by reading and discussing a series of fundamental texts of all genres; to earn a functional understanding of the complex social, Santini

2 political, religious, and economic forces that interact to shape the Italian society; to develop an ability to critically analyze both primary and secondary sources. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course will contribute to the attainment of the following general (GSLO) and specific (SSLO) student learning outcomes of the B.A. in Modern Language & Culture (ML&C): ML&C GSLO 1: LANGUAGE, LINGUISTICS, & COMPARISONS Learners are proficient in using the target language, are familiar with the target language system, and seek opportunities to further develop their skills and knowledge. (Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes) ML&C SSLO 1a: Demonstrating Language Proficiency Learners demonstrate a high level of proficiency in the target language, and they seek opportunities to strengthen their proficiency. (Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes) - Improve their reading skills by reading and analyzing crucial, diverse texts in the target language. - Acquire and practice different learner-centered reading strategies. - In class reading activities and comprehension exercises. - Evaluation of exams that include reading comprehension questions. - Improve their writing skills by producing different types of written commentary of the texts being analyzed. - Practice different learner-centered writing strategies. - Work on perfecting their writings by working on edited drafts. - Review of the learners impromptu responses produced in class. - Evaluation of learners writings researched and produced at home. - Evaluation of learners analyses and commentaries produced during the Midterm and Final Project. - strengthen speaking skills by: communicating in the target language, narrating and describing current and past events, expressing personal opinions, participating in meaningful discussions, and communicating their feelings and thoughts in Italian. - in-class pair and group activities, classroom discussions, classroom presentations, oral responses to readings. - strengthen listening skills (such as listening for the gist and/or for specific information) by listening to their instructor, classmates and to a series of selected contemporary films. Santini

3 - in-class listening activities, classroom discussions, listening sections of exams. ML&C SSLO 1b: Understanding Linguistics Learners know the linguistic elements of the target-language system, recognize the changing nature of language, and accommodate for gaps in their own knowledge of the target-language system by learning on their own. (Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes) - Analyze a variety of texts, coming in contact with diverse lexical and syntactical structures. - Reflect on the development of the Italian language by reading and analyzing works belonging to different historical periods. - Discuss the significance of using writing styles specific to different texts. - Targeted activities on the structures present in the texts being analyzed. - Editing and evaluation of the writings produced by the learners during class activities, home assignments, and exams. ML&C SSLO 1c: Identifying Language Comparisons Learners know the similarities and differences between the target language and other languages, identify the key differences in varieties of the target language, and seek opportunities to learn about varieties of the target language on their own. (Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes) Contrast and compare target language with native language. Accurate use of target forms in speaking and writing classroom activities, midterm and in the final paper ML&C GSLO 2: CULTURES & LITERATURES Learners know the literature and culture of the target language countries. They use this knowledge to interpret and reflect upon the perspectives of the target culture in relation to its practices and products. (Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes) ML&C SSLO 2a: Demonstrating Cultural Understandings. Learners demonstrate that they understand the connections among the perspectives of a culture and its practices and products. (Knowledge, Skills) Reflect upon the practices and products of the target culture by discussing, reading and investigating issues related to the target culture. Work with literary texts and realia that are representative of different cultural aspects of the target culture. Cultural components in reading assignments and classroom presentations; active participation in class discussions; cultural components of written materials and papers. Santini

4 ML&C SSLO 2b: Demonstrating Understanding of Literary and Cultural Texts. Learners recognize the value and role of literary and cultural texts and use them to interpret and reflect upon the perspectives of the target cultures over time. (Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes) - Read, study, and analyze a wide variety of texts of different periods and genres. - Discuss and reflect on the cultural implications of the texts being read. - Connect the themes that emerge from the readings with wider issues present in Italian culture and society. - Acquire a deeper idea of the ever-changing culture of Italy. - Oral presentation in which the learners will present their perspective on the literary and cultural issues being studied. - Weekly assignments, responses to the texts being analyzed, and exams. TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE (Subject to change as necessary): WEEKS/ DATES 1 Jan Jan Jan Feb Feb Feb Feb TOPICS TO BE COVERED Introduzione al corso; attività preliminari. Il Novecento e l avanguardia storica: il nuovo ruolo della città. Il Futurismo: letture, discussioni, attività. Selezione di poesie futuriste sulla città: lettura e discussione Il secondo dopoguerra: Neorealismo e ricostruzione: introduzione. FILM clips: Ladri di biciclette Ladri di biciclette, discussione. La città nei film del Neorealismo. Gli anni Sessanta e il boom economico: introduzione. Luciano Bianciardi, La vita agra (1962) (selezioni): introduzione e note Bianciardi, lettura e discussione ASSIGNMENTS & OTHER INFORMATION Mon. Jan. 19 Holiday: No Class Paper 1 ASSIGNED Santini

5 8 Mar. 2-4 Bianciardi: conclusioni e riferimenti a Il lavoro culturale (1957) MIDTERM EXAM Fri. Mar. 6: Last Day to Withdraw Without Academic Penalty 9 Mar SPRING BREAK NO CLASSES 10 Mar Mar Mar. 30-Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Ancora il boom economico: Italo Calvino, Marcovaldo ovvero Le stagioni in città (1963): introduzione Marcovaldo: lettura, discussione, attività La citta e il fantastico: Italo Calvino, Le città invisibili (1972), selezioni: lettura e discussione La neoavanguardia e la poesia sperimentale: il ruolo di Milano nella poesia di Elio Pagliarani e Giancarlo Majorino (selezioni) Gli anni Ottanta e Novanta: introduzione. Selezioni da Stefano Benni, Bar Sport (1976) e Bar Sport 2000 (1997): città e provincia L Italia vista dal di fuori: selezioni da Rossana Campo, Mai sentita così bene (1995): Parigi come Milano? ORAL PRESENTATIONS Conclusioni del corso Paper 2 ASSIGNED Thursday. April 30: Last Day of Classes FINAL COURSE GRADE for Italian 3306 will be determined as follows: One Midterm Examination 20% One Oral presentation 15% One Final Project 25% Two brief (3 pages) 10% each 20% Responses to reading assignments 15% Attendance: 5% Total: 100% Grading Scale: % = A; 89-80% = B; 79-70% = C; 69-60% = D; 59 and below = F Santini

6 ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs. Section II of the Student Code of Conduct addresses the University s policy on academic honesty, including provisions regarding plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized access to University materials, misrepresentation/falsification of University records or academic work, malicious removal, retention, or destruction of library materials, malicious/intentional misuse of computer facilities and/or services, and misuse of student identification cards. Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handled through the established procedures of the University Judiciary Program, which includes either an informal resolution by a faculty member, resulting in a grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to the Code of Conduct s minimum one semester suspension requirement. DISABILITY POLICY: Kennesaw State University provides program accessibility and reasonable accommodations for persons identified as disabled under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities Act of A number of services are available to help the disabled. Students must visit the office of Disabled Student Support Services ( ) and arrange an individual assistance plan. In some cases, certification of disability is required. GENERAL EXPECTATIONS: Students are expected to attend all classes, to arrive on time and to remain in class for the entire one hour and fifteen minutes. There are no excused absences; for each absence in excess of two, three points will be deducted from the student s attendance and assignments grade. In other words, a student may miss two class or on-line meetings without penalty. If a student is habitually late, the instructor reserves the right to determine if a tardy constitutes an absence. Classes will start on time. If a student is absent or late, she/he is responsible for all assignments and other announcements made during the class meeting. Students are expected to study and review at home as part of their daily preparation. Each reading assignment will be presented in class and then discussed. Active participation in the discussions is expected. All assignments, whether written or oral, are to be finished by the time class begins. No late homework will be accepted. Emergencies will be handled on an individual basis. No make-up tests or assignments will be given. A grade of 0 will be assigned for all work not turned in or any exam not taken. Emergencies will be handled on an individual basis. Papers must be a minimum of three pages, double-spaced and typed. Please turn OFF all cell phones, beepers, pagers and any other potentially disruptive noise makers during class time. The presentation and final project topics will be chosen by the students and approved by the instructor. The required length of each presentation will be 10 minutes (6-8 minutes for Italian option). Guidelines for the final project will be discussed and posted on WebCT during week 13 of the semester. Santini