Slava Paperno (director)
Krystyna Golovakova
Raissa Krivitsky
Viktoria Tsimberov
Richard L. Leed (1929-2011)
Lora Paperno (retired)

Requirements, etc.
2016 survey

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Our student studies
    Siberian tigers
Produced by two Cornellians
TV shows, films...
Web Audio Lab...
Russian 3303: Syllabus
  • Rooms and times (navigation bar on the left): when, where, and who
  • Course Description: materials, homework guide, tests, grading
  • Course evaluation form: online, any time, anonymous
  • Fonts: if Russian accented vowels are not displayed correctly, see note at the bottom of the window.
  • Homework: each row in this table shows the assignment for the day.
  • Printable view of this syllabus
Although this syllabus is written for MWF, this is a TBA course (Time to Be Arranged to accommodate everyone). We hold an organizational meeting for all TBA courses at the beginning of each semester. The time and place of the meeting are posted at our home page, russian.cornell.edu, a couple of weeks before each semester starts. Click Welcome in the navigation bar to read it.
Week 1: Sunday 08/18/24 - Saturday 08/24/24 [show/hide]
Wednesday
Get (re)acquainted, talk about this part of the course. No homework.
Thursday
Чтение 1
Чтение 2
Read the text at the above links. Both texts are actually on the same webpage Simply find and read the two assignments. Use the English glosses included in the text. See Course Description for directions on doing this homework.
Friday
NOTE: As Slava is on Covid quarantine the 1st week of the semester, please come to his Zoom room, see Rooms and Times page for the Meeting ID, etc.

No assignment. Come to the language lab in the Language Resource Center in G-25 Stimson Hall to talk about the techniques to be used in this part of the course.
Week 2: Sunday 08/25/24 - Saturday 08/31/24 [show/hide]
Wednesday
See Course Description for directions on getting your login credentials for Lexicon Bridge Publishers, watching the film, and doing this homework.
«Майкл и Светлана»:
Часть 1. Он
Часть 2. Она
1.Prepare for a general discussion.

2. For each film class, prepare 3 questions on the assigned episodes. In class, your questions will be answered by your classmates as part of the discussion.

Thursday
Чтение 1
Чтение 2
Read the text at the above links. Both texts are actually on the same webpage Simply find and read the two assignments. Use the English glosses included in the text. See Course Description for directions on doing this homework.
Friday
Write a draft of your first essay. You may write about the film you're working on with Viktoria, or about your readings with Raissa, or about anything else in your life (real or imagined). You will continue working on the draft in class.
Week 3: Sunday 09/01/24 - Saturday 09/07/24 [show/hide]
Wednesday
See Course Description for directions on getting your login credentials for Lexicon Bridge Publishers, watching the film, and doing this homework.
«Майкл и Светлана»:
Часть 3. Первая встреча.
Часть 4. Первые проблемы.
1.Prepare for a general discussion.

2. For each film class, prepare 3 questions on the assigned episodes. In class, your questions will be answered by your classmates as part of the discussion.

Thursday
Чтение 3 Read the text at the above link. Each such link displays your assignment for one reading class and includes English glosses. See Course Description for directions on doing this homework.
Friday
Review Slava's final corrections of last week's essay and write a new draft. Again, the subject matter is entirely up to you. If you run out of ideas, write about the film you're working on with Viktoria, or the book you are reading with Raissa. It is a good idea to vary somewhat your style and narrative techniques. You will continue working on the draft in class.
Week 4: Sunday 09/08/24 - Saturday 09/14/24 [show/hide]
Wednesday
«Майкл и Светлана»:
Часть 5. Оазис
Часть 6. Барби
1.Prepare for a general discussion.

2. For each film class, prepare 3 questions on the assigned episodes. In class, your questions will be answered by your classmates as part of the discussion.

Thursday
Friday
Review Slava's final corrections of last week's essay and write a new draft. Again, the subject matter is entirely up to you. If you run out of ideas, write about the film you're working on with Viktoria, or the book you are reading with Raissa. It is a good idea to vary somewhat your style and narrative techniques. You will continue working on the draft in class.
Week 5: Sunday 09/15/24 - Saturday 09/21/24 [show/hide]
Wednesday
«Майкл и Светлана»:
Часть 7. Америка
Часть 8. Здесь всё не то
Часть 9. Муж и жена
1.Prepare for a general discussion.

2. For each film class, prepare 3 questions on the assigned episodes. In class, your questions will be answered by your classmates as part of the discussion.

Thursday
Friday
Review Slava's final corrections of last week's essay and write a new draft. Again, the subject matter is entirely up to you. If you run out of ideas, write about the film you're working on with Viktoria, or the book you are reading with Raissa. It is a good idea to vary somewhat your style and narrative techniques. You will continue working on the draft in class.
Week 6: Sunday 09/22/24 - Saturday 09/28/24 [show/hide]
Wednesday
Panel discussion: "International marriages" (Международные браки). In preparation for this discussion, write an essay (1.5-2 pp., printed double-spaced). Include your analysis of the events and attitudes in «Майкл и Светлана». If you know someone who has experience with international marriages, you may want to interview them and include your findings in your essay, or discuss anything relevant that you may know from books, etc. For the panel discussion, be prepared to start with a 5-minute presentation on the subject. You may also send your essay to Viktoria for correction before the presentation day.
Thursday
Чтение 6 Л. Улицкая “Детство сорок девять”. Капустное чудо from this webpage.
Friday
Review Slava's final corrections of last week's essay and write a new draft. Again, the subject matter is entirely up to you. If you run out of ideas, write about the film you're working on with Viktoria, or the book you are reading with Raissa. It is a good idea to vary somewhat your style and narrative techniques. You will continue working on the draft in class.
Week 7: Sunday 09/29/24 - Saturday 10/05/24 [show/hide]
Wednesday
For this class watch all the episodes listed below, then study more carefully the episode assigned for you. See Course Description for the links to the film and details on working in pairs.
«Newsmaker kit: Children from Russia» (Сумка репортёра — Дети из России):
Ролик 1. Миша Балашов (4 мин.) (Students (1 &5)
Ролик 2. Интервью с Шепетиновским и Волковой о судьбе воспитанников детских домов (2 мин. 40 сек.) (Students 2 & 7)
Ролик 3. Алеся Комиссарова (8 мин. 40 сек.) (Student 3, 4 & 6 )
Thursday
Л. Улицкая “Детство сорок девять”. Капустное чудо from this webpage.
Friday
Review Slava's final corrections of last week's essay and write a new draft. Again, the subject matter is entirely up to you. If you run out of ideas, write about the film you're working on with Viktoria, or the book you are reading with Raissa. It is a good idea to vary somewhat your style and narrative techniques. You will continue working on the draft in class.
Week 8: Sunday 10/06/24 - Saturday 10/12/24 [show/hide]
Wednesday
For this class watch all the episodes listed below, then study more carefully the episode assigned for you. See Course Description for the links to the film and details «Children from Russia» (Дети из России):
Ролик 4. Интервью с Ниной Григорьевной о международном усыновлении (3 мин. 10 сек.) (Students 1, 2 &3)
Ролик 6. Карманов о тайне усыновления (3 мин. 50 сек.) (Students 1,2 & 3)
Thursday
Чтение. Л. Улицкая “Детство сорок девять”. Восковая уточка from this webpage.
Friday
Review Slava's final corrections of last week's essay and write a new draft. Again, the subject matter is entirely up to you. If you run out of ideas, write about the film you're working on with Viktoria, or the book you are reading with Raissa. It is a good idea to vary somewhat your style and narrative techniques. You will continue working on the draft in class.
Week 9: Sunday 10/13/24 - Saturday 10/19/24 [show/hide]
Wednesday
For this class watch all the episodes listed below, then study more carefully for the episode assigned to you .
Ролик 9. Оля Калинина, день первый: история девочки и ее альбом (8 мин. 50 сек.) (Students 1, & 9)
Ролик 10. Оля Калинина, день второй: знакомство с родителями (первые 9 мин.) (Students 2, 4 & 5)
Ролик 10. (вторая половина, начиная с ЗАГСА) (Students 3, 6, 7 & 8)
Thursday
Чтение. Л. Улицкая «Детство сорок девять». Дед-шептун from this webpage.
Friday
Review Slava's final corrections of last week's essay and write a new draft. Again, the subject matter is entirely up to you. If you run out of ideas, write about the film you're working on with Viktoria, or the book you are reading with Raissa. It is a good idea to vary somewhat your style and narrative techniques. You will continue working on the draft in class.
Week 10: Sunday 10/20/24 - Saturday 10/26/24 [show/hide]
Wednesday
For this class watch all the episodes listed below, prepare for Panel discussion: Adoption of children in Russia and America.
For this class, watch this one part:
Ролик 11. Оля Калинина, день третий: прощай Россия (20 мин. 30 сек.)
In preparation for this discussion, write an essay (1.5-2 pp., printed double-spaced). Include your analysis of the events and attitudes in the film. If you know someone who has experience with adoption, you may want to interview them and include your findings in your essay, or discuss anything relevant that you may know from books, etc. For the panel discussion, be prepared to start with a 5-minute presentation on the subject. You may also send your essay to Viktoria for correction before the presentation day.
Thursday
Чтение. Л. Улицкая «Детство сорок девять». Гвозди from this webpage.
Friday
Review Slava's final corrections of last week's essay and write a new draft. Again, the subject matter is entirely up to you. If you run out of ideas, write about the film you're working on with Viktoria, or the book you are reading with Raissa. It is a good idea to vary somewhat your style and narrative techniques. You will continue working on the draft in class.
Week 11: Sunday 10/27/24 - Saturday 11/02/24 [show/hide]
Wednesday
For this class watch all the episodes listed below, then study more carefully the episode assigned for you.
Life on Atomic River. See Course Description or Online course materialsfor the link to the film.
Часть 1. «Просто так не умирает никто» (8 мин.) (Students 1, 2 & 9)
Часть 2. «Река заражена» (4 мин.) (Students 3, 4 & 10)
Часть 3. «Это было в 57-ом году» (8 мин.) (Students 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8)
Thursday
Чтение. Л. Улицкая “Детство сорок девять”. Счастливый случай from this webpage.
Friday
Review Slava's final corrections of last week's essay and write a new draft. Again, the subject matter is entirely up to you. If you run out of ideas, write about the film you're working on with Viktoria, or the book you are reading with Raissa. It is a good idea to vary somewhat your style and narrative techniques. You will continue working on the draft in class.
Week 12: Sunday 11/03/24 - Saturday 11/09/24 [show/hide]
Wednesday
For this class watch all the episodes listed below, then study more carefully the episode assigned for you.
Life on Atomic River. See Course Description or Online course materialsfor the link to the film.
Часть 5. «Дети у нас болеют» (6 мин.) (Students 1, 2 & 9)
Часть 7. «Чего бояться?» (5 мин) (Students 3, 4 & 10)
Часть 9. «Хорошее дело сделали» (4 мин.) (Students 1, 5 & 6)
Часть 10: «Наши корни здесь» (4 мин) (Students 2, 7 & 8)
Thursday
Чтение. Л. Улицкая «Детство сорок девять». Бумажная победа from this webpage.
Friday
Review Slava's final corrections of last week's essay and write a new draft. Again, the subject matter is entirely up to you. If you run out of ideas, write about the film you're working on with Viktoria, or the book you are reading with Raissa. It is a good idea to vary somewhat your style and narrative techniques. You will continue working on the draft in class.
Week 13: Sunday 11/10/24 - Saturday 11/16/24 [show/hide]
Wednesday
Panel discussion: Russia vs. the USA on issues of government, people in general, and an individual person.
Offer your analysis of the events and attitudes in the film. If you know of some events that may be used as an illustration, be prepared to talk about them. Be prepared to start with a 5-minute presentation on the subject. You may also send your essay to Viktoria for correction before the presentation day.
Thursday
Конкурс Людмилы Улицкой "Детство 49-53" Воспоминания Ильи Старикова <
Friday
Review Slava's final corrections of last week's essay and write your last draft essay.
Week 14: Sunday 11/17/24 - Saturday 11/23/24 [show/hide]
Wednesday
День Благодарения
Thursday
День Благодарения
Friday
День Благодарения
Week 15: Sunday 11/24/24 - Saturday 11/30/24 [show/hide]
Wednesday
Panel discussion on the events, issues, and attitudes in the films you watched this semester in this course. In preparation for this discussion, write an essay (1.5-2 pp., printed double-spaced). Write about the aspects that were of the most interest to you. If you see any connection between the people in the films and the characters in your reading this semester, include your observations in that regard. You may also include anything relevant that you know from books, other courses, etc. For the panel discussion, be prepared to start with a 5-minute presentation on the subject. You may also send your essay to Viktoria for correction before the presentation day, but this is optional.
Thursday
Вадим Муратханов. Привидение. Copy and paste this link in your browser: https://znamlit.ru/publication.php?id=7452
Friday
Review Slava's final corrections of last week's essay and write a new draft. Again, the subject matter is entirely up to you. If you run out of ideas, write about the film you're working on with Viktoria, or the book you are reading with Raissa. It is a good idea to vary somewhat your style and narrative techniques. You will finalize this last essay in class.
Week 16: Sunday 12/01/24 - Saturday 12/07/24 [show/hide]
Week 17: Sunday 12/08/24 - Saturday 12/14/24 [show/hide]
 
 
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Dept. of Comparative Literature • Russian Language Program • 240 Goldwin Smith Hall • Cornell University • Ithaca, NY 14853-4701, USA
tel. 607/255-4155 • fax 607/255-8177 • email slava.paperno@cornell.edu