Module manager: Dr Paul Rowe
Email: p.rowe@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
Satisfactory completion of FREN1010 or equivalent (French language skills equivalent to at least B2 of the CEFR)
FREN2120 and FREN2125 Foundations of Modern French Thought
This module is not approved as a discovery module
“Self and Other” presents, contextualises and invites students to think critically about a selection of sources from the French-speaking world, all of which engage in some way with binaries: self and other might for example make us think of mind and body, true and false, male and female, rich and poor, individual and society, past and present, centre and periphery, high and low, domestic and foreign, French and Francophone. What are the attractions and limitations of such ways of thinking about the world, and what might these diverse interpretations of the theme have in common? Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
- To study a set of sources, produced in the French-speaking world, affording diverse perspectives on the theme of “Self and Other”.
- To situate these sources in their historical, intellectual and cultural contexts.
- To facilitate comparative analysis of the selected sources, in order to reflect critically on their content and expressive form.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Identify specific aspects of the culture, history, literature and society of some of the countries where French is spoken and locate them within this broader background.
2. Contextualize extracts of texts (literature, philosophy and other media) of some of the countries where French is spoken and provide an in-depth analysis of both the content and the expressive form.
3. Undertake comparative and critical analysis of cultures and societies where French is spoken.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
4. Locate and critically evaluate primary and secondary sources pertinent to the questions being addressed.
5. Develop their own research questions and identify appropriate methods through which to address them.
6. Present a structured and nuanced argument using terminology and concepts appropriate to the field(s) of study.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 2 | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| Lecture | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| Seminar | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| Private study hours | 181.5 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 18.5 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Formative feedback will be provided through seminar discussion and via the individual supervisions, which will be focused on plans for the assessed report.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Students will be required to identify a topic for their essay.
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 25/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team