Like Russian 3303 in the fall, this is a variable-credit course: you select the number of credits when you enroll. Sign up for 4 credits to attend all three classes. Sign up for 3 credits and attend two classes each week. If you cannot attend more than one weekly class, sign up for 2 credits.
The materials and the nature of all assignments for each class are described below. See Syllabus for dates and details. See Rooms and times for meeting times and places.
Materials
Watching the films:
Go to the language lab in Noyes Lodge
and use any of the Windows or Macintosh computers. Log in (a password, if
required, is provided by the lab staff) and start Internet Explorer or Firefox.
From the Bookmarks or Favorites menu, select Movies for Courses, then log in to
Video on Demand using russian9999 both as the user name and the password. Scroll
down to the film you want, and click the cover picture. Note the links to online
transcripts that you can open in a separate window as you watch the film. This
can also be done in the two computer rooms in Uris Library. If you don't see a
bookmark, then go to http://lrc.cornell.edu/ and click Media
Library, then Streaming Videos for Class, then log in. If you have any technical
difficulties, or prefer using a DVD and its menus, ask for the DVD at the
counter: Interviews from Sweden tape RV87 (not available on DVD), and
Blesss the Woman DVD RV91.
Assignments for the Russian Internet
classes
Find a few Russian Web sites that treat the assigned subject (see
Syllabus) and write a short text (no more than a
page) using the language and presentation style of the original Web pages. Use
your write-up as you present your subject in class and hand it in at the end of
the class. Always include the URLs of the Web sites you used as your models.
Assignment for the reading/discussion class
1) Read the assigned
chapter(s). Make sure you understand at least 80% of the text. Prepare four
questions on the content of the entire reading. In class, you
will ask your questions and answer similar questions from your classmates.
2) Each student will also be assigned a portion of the chapter for more careful reading, indicated in the syllabus. Read your portion and prepare a brief report (2 to 4 minutes). In class, you will be asked to present your report on your own, without any prompting. Try to use as many actual expressions from the text as you can.
You may find the Vocabulary at the back of the book somewhat useful, but we think that you should mostly use a dictionary, such as the one by Kenneth Katzner. After reading the entire chapter, read the questions at the end of the chapter and find the answers in the text. Make short notes for yourself, perhaps partly based on those answers, to help with your report. Include a few short quotes to illustrate some of your points.
Assignment for the film/discussion class
When working with «Интервью из Швеции»:
1) Consult the
Syllabus and watch the assigned interviews. Make
sure you understand at least 80% of the dialog. If some of the passages are
difficult to understand, consult the transcripts and your dictionary. Prepare
four questions on these episodes that you will ask in class.
2) Each student will also be assigned a few interviews for more careful study. Prepare a brief report (2 to 4 minutes). In class, you will be asked to present your report on your own, without any prompting. Try to use as many actual expressions from the interviews as you can.
When working with «Благословите женщину»:
1) Consult the
Syllabus and watch the assigned film episodes.
Make sure you understand at least 80% of the dialog. If some of the passages are
difficult to understand, consult the transcripts and your dictionary. Prepare
four questions on these episodes that you will ask in class.
2) Each student will also be assigned a few scenes for more careful study. In the film transcript online, read the scene description and summary and prepare a brief report (3 to 5 minutes). In class, you will be asked to present your report on your own, without any prompting. Try to use as many actual expressions from the film as you can.
3) Prepare to act out in class the scenes that are assigned for you individually in the Syllabus. Try to use as much of the actual language from the film as you can.
You will have two general discussion classes based on the two films, shown in the Syllabus.
At the end of the semester, you will write one essay for the film class and one for the reading class, in Russian. These are indicated in the syllabus. The essays should be typed double-spaced, 1.5 to 2 pages.
Tests
The course concludes with a take-home (online) final exam.
Grading and attendance
Performance in all three classes, 50
percent; written homework for the Web class, 25 percent; final examination, 25
percent. Attendance is very important. Missing more than three classes without a
good reason may affect your grade.