Students will work individually to research a topic selected from the list below based on French history, literature, and culture. During the course of this project you will become more proficient in writing and speaking in French as well as expanding your knowledge of an aspect of each of these areas. You must first research, organize and write a paper in French comparing and contrasting two aspects of French history, literature and culture before assembling a PowerPoint presentation. You will practice your analytical and organizational skills as you put together your paper and select the text and graphics to incorporate into your slides. In both your written work and oral presentation you must synthesize your research and defend your conclusion. Lastly, you will have the opportunity to develop your communication skills as you deliver a formal presentation in French to your classmates

These resources have been provided for additional help. Students may use information from other sources as well (books, encyclopedias, magazines, brochures), but the primary information source should be the Internet sites.
Resources for French Literature and Culture
http://www-lib.haifa.ac.il/www/subj/French/welcome.html

French Literature

http://www-lib.haifa.ac.il/www/subj/french/literature.html

French Art

http://www-lib.haifa.ac.il/www/subj/french/history.html

Littéraine Francophone Virtuelle

http://www.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/clicnet/litterature/litterature.html

Tennesse Bob's Links to French Culture, History and Literature

http://www.utm.edu/departments/french/french.html

Un Site Culturel et Littéraire Francophone.

http://www.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/clicnet/

French culture and history

http://french.about.com/homework/french/?once=true&

French culture (Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical
styles of architecture)

http://www.france.com/Culture/index.html

Architecture et Design

http://www.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/clicnet/architecture.design.html

Historie

http://www.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/clicnet/histoire.html

Literature Textes Contemporians

http://www.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/clicnet/index.clicfleur.html

History of France

http://www-lib.haifa.ac.il/www/subj/french/history.html

To accomplish this task you should do the following:

• Choose a topic from the list provided. Remember your paper will compare and contrast two different aspects of French culture, literature or history so make sure that your choices lend themselves to this task.
• Access your server account and save all work.
• Complete the research needed by beginning with the helpful sites in the list under the Resource section of this project.
• During the research process, you will learn to do a web search, to multitask, annotate and cite resources. As you proceed with your research, you will produce a bibliography for both your paper and your presentation . Therefore, it is essential that you keep all Internet site addresses, titles, authors and dates of publication for both information gathered and photos/images used.
• Your bibliography should be written according to the MLA citation rules. You will produce a well written and organized paper ( 2-3 pages) including a bibliography, due Nov. 6.
• All corrections to the paper must made by Nov. 13.
• You will create a Power Point presentation with a minimum of eight slides to help you present your topic to the class. Each slide may contain graphics as well as text. The bibliography needs to be hyperlinked to any internet site. The text will be summary points written in the target language to help you support you ideas to your classmates in oral presentation. Remember these points are in outline form not paragraphs. All information must be in your own words!!!
• After having gathered and synthesized your facts, added visuals, and completed your bibliography, you will make you PowerPoint presentation to the class on December 11 . At the time of your presentation, you will distribute a handout of your presentation to the class. You will also submitted a copy with the bibliography to the teacher.
• Your presentation will be assessed according to the attached rubric.
  
  

In order to enhance our study of French history, literature and culture, each student will be responsible for creating a Power Point project that will be based on one of the following topics:

Compare and contrast:

two French artists (classicisme vs. romantisme, impressionisme vs. abstrait)

two châteaux (château fort vs. château de la renaissance)

two cathedrals/churches ( gothique vs. romane)

two French heros (Vercingétorix vs. Charles de Gaulle)

two time periods ( Renaissance vs. Moyen Age)

Two French regions ( Normandie vs. Provence)

two French authors, poets, playwrights (Molière vs. Racine)

two military leaders (Napoleon vs. Hitler?)

two battles/wars (la bataille de Waterloo vs. la bataille de Hastings?)

two French women (Jeanne d'Arc vs. Marie Antoinette)

two historical sites ( le Mont St. Michel vs. le Palais des Papes)

two tapestries ( la Tapisserie de Bayeux (XIe siècle) vs. la Tapisserie de "la Dame à la
Licorne" (fin du XVe siècle))

art, music, or literature from two different time periods

• You will have become more proficient in writing and speaking in French as well as expanding your knowledge of French history, literature and culture.
• You will have learned how to use the Internet for relevant information, how to multitask, annotate and cite your sources.
• You will have processed the information you have found into a presentation that is well researched, well written, well organized and in your own voice.
• You will have learned to process, select and present material in an electronic format which has a professional look with an overall graphic theme that appeals to the audience and complements the topic.

This project developed by Linda Test for Germantown Academy with technical assistance from Carol Siwinski, Curricular Technology Specialist.

Last updated October, 2000