Fr 139 How to Prepare for the Final Exam

The final exam for French 139 will be comprised of two parts. 

Part I:  Identifications

You will be asked to write a short identification of 5 Francophone countries (other than France).  A short paragraph will suffice but you should be able to:  locate the country geographically; highlight main points about its history & culture; note aspects of contemporary society (for example:  current political structure, language(s) spoken there, current events or issues & problems facing the country.)  Be succinct and give concrete examples. 

Example:  FRANCE

France is located in western Europe and borders the countries of Spain, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium.  France overthrew its longtime monarchy and became a Republic in 1789, although throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the government changed frequently between democracy, empire and monarchy.  Today France is a semi-presidential, semi-parliamentarian style democracy.  France is home to a large immigrant population, including 5 million Muslims.  One problem facing France today is how to deal with cultural and religious difference within its population.  France's favored strategy has always been assimilation; the ban on Muslim headscarves and other religious apparel in public schools is one example of this policy of assimilation. 

OR

Example:  FRANCE

France is located in western Europe and borders the countries of Spain, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium.  France is the 4th largest economic power.  Its main industries include agriculture and aerospace.  Traditionally, the French have always been tied to the land and many aspects of their culture reflect this.  Some farmers have resisted new technologies in farming, as well as trends in globalization which encourage genetically modified food and threaten government subsidies of small farmers.  Food is very important in French culture.  Unlike Americans, the French like to know where their food comes from and meats, cheeses and wine should reflect the particular land of their origin.  

Part II:  Essay

You will be given a choice of essay topic which will ask you to discuss various aspects of French culture and society.  Be prepared to talk about the following:  government, the idea of the State, education, Social Security, attitudes towards food, immigration, racism,  and language. 

The purpose of the essay is to see whether you can 1) show a coherent understanding of various aspects of French culture we have discussed and 2) reflect critically on this culture in comparison with your own.   The essay should not be a laundry list of facts, but rather an analysis of the principles & values underlying those facts.  In general, I would like to read your thoughts & your ideas about what you have learned about France and the French this semester.