Compositions for French 102
The purpose of these is to begin to write simple sentences in French using the structures from the chapter we are studying.
Instructions
1. First, be
sure you have French accents properly installed.
2. Send three drafts, one for each class period, as email attachments, before the final version. Each draft is due before 6pm of the due date. Don't "send for review"; just attach your word file to the email and send to mahimahi@nc.rr.com.
3. Start off at the beginning of the semester, on compositions one and two, by simply trying to write one or two grammatically correct sentences. Remember that the purpose is simply to learn to write sentences using the grammatical structures that we're taking up in each chapter. Add a sentence or two in each subsequent draft, so that by the final version you have about half a page. Name your file each time with your last name, the composition number, and a letter to designate the draft number, for example “Jones1a.doc” would be Jones—composition 1—draft 1. “Jones3c.doc” would be Jones—composition 3—draft 3. This will help me keep track of them all. Be sure to change the file name each time you send.
4, Each of the three drafts will be commented on. The comments will appear over highlighted sections of your composition when you place your cursor over them. Read the comments, fix the mistakes, then resend. Don’t delete my comments, just correct the French. Important: Use sentences from the book as models of what is correct, rather than trying to translate your English thoughts into French. Note that you'll be graded only on the final version, so use the drafts to get it right.
Topics
Composition One Chapter Six
Topic: childhood and the past, remembered in the imperfect tense.
Describe, using the imperfect tense, the best and happiest years of your childhood. For example: Where you lived, where you went to school, what you studied, who you played with, who your friends were, what toys you had, what you did after school, what games you played, what you liked to do, what you did after school, what you wore, what you did on weekends, on summer vacations, on holidays, what you ate, etc.
Composition Two Chapter
Seven
Topic: food preparation and dining.
Write out a complete recipe for a favorite dish, using the imperative. (cf. pp.237-248)
OR
Write out a complete dinner conversation between a waiter and two diners at a good French restaurant. Several courses. (cf. pp.240-248)
Composition Three Chapter
Eight
Topic: Geography, earth, ecology, nature, agriculture (Chapter Eight)
Pick a city or region of the world and describe its geography, physical situation, weather, flora and fauna. Describe the ecological menace posed by human populations.
Composition Four Chapter Nine
Topic: goals and the future.
Using the future tense, describe your educational and career plans, what you will do after graduation, what you will become, what you will do for a living, where you will go, etc. How do you see yourself in ten years? Where will you be? What will you have? What will you be doing?
Composition Five Chapter
Ten
Obligation and necessity, expressed by the subjunctive.
Using the subjunctive, describe all the things you must do to
prepare for and take an airplane trip to