Courses

Fall 2008 - Italian Course Descriptions

Italian 001 - Elementary Italian I

Development of basic language skills. Introduction to fundamental grammatical structures with emphasis on speaking, listening comprehension, and elementary writing assignments. Conducted in Italian. No prerequisites. 

Text: Federici and Riga, Ciao!: Textbook and Workbook/Laboratory Manual (Heinle).

Italian 002 - Elementary Italian II

A - Block D Elena Paolini
B - Block G Constance Toth-Berindei

A continuation of Italian 001. This course advances the study of basic grammar and vocabulary. Readings and films will provide the cultural context for class activities, oral presentations, and compositions. Conducted in Italian. Prerequisite: Italian 001 or equivalent.

Text: Federici and Riga, Ciao!: Textbook and Workbook/Laboratory Manual (Heinle).

Italian 003 - Intermediate Italian I

A - Block A Elena Paolini 
B - Block D Sylvia Monteleone
C - Block E Daniela Bartalesi-Graf
D - Block H Isabella Perricone

Continued study of grammar and syntax with emphasis on more advanced structural principles. More extensive readings on cultural, social, and literary topics and viewing of films and videos will form the basis for class discussions and written work. Students are required to register for a recitation section that consists of a weekly 40-minute conversation group. Conducted in Italian. Prerequisite: Italian 002 or equivalent.

Italian 004 - Intermediate Italian II

Block J+ Patricia DiSilvio

Through the study of readings and films, the curriculum for Italian 004 focuses on post-World War II Italian history and society from the Fascist era through the 1970-s. The course is designed to improve writing and conversational skills and to reinforce the basic linguistic knowledge acquired in Italian 001-003. Class discussions, oral presentations and debates, written assignments and tests, and a final exam. Conducted in Italian. Prerequisite: Italian 003 or equivalent. 

Italian 004-WW - Intermediate Italian II Writing Workshop

Monday 12:00-12:50 Patricia DiSilvio

Students will use writing as a means to become more deeply engaged in the readings and films, develop critical thinking, and improve their writing and discussion skills in Italian. No extra graded work will be assigned. The workshop will provide the opportunity to map ideas for compositions, engage in peer discussion of drafts, and have individual conferences with the instructor. The writing workshop requires an extra 50 minutes of class time each week, and in recognition of the extra time commitment, a record of participation will appear on the student's transcript. This course may be taken only in conjunction with Italian 004 A.

Italian 021 - Composition and Conversation II

A - Block F+tr Sylvia Monteleone
B - Block G+ Daniela Bartalesi-Graf

This course aims to improve written and oral expression in Italian through the study of Italian history and society from the early eighties until today. Specific topics of current interest will also be studied, such as the phenomenon of the recent immigration and the Southern question. Emphasis on expanding vocabulary, reviewing advanced grammatical structures, learning to express and support opinions and improving analytical skills. Class discussions, oral presentations and debates, writing assignments and tests, and a final exam. Conducted in Italian. Prerequisite: Italian 004 or equivalent, or consent.

Italian 021-WW - Composition and Conversation II Writing Workshop Option

Wednesday 12:00-12:50p.m. Daniela Bartalesi-Graf

This workshop will pay special attention to students' analytical skills in Italian by emphasizing the planning and revision stages of writing. Students will use writing as a means to deepen their understanding of the course materials in an informal, interactive and small group setting. No extra graded work will be assigned. The writing workshop requires an extra 50 minutes of class time each week, and in recognition of the extra time commitment, a record of participation will appear on the student's transcript. Participants must register for both Italian 021(A or B) and Italian 021WW.

Italian 31 - Readings in Italian Literature I

Block E+mw Laura Baffoni-Licata

An introduction to Italian Literature from the Middle Ages to the seventeenth century, with emphasis on significant literary currents including the "Scuola siciliana," the "Dolce stil novo," Humanism, the Renaissance, and the Counter-Reformation. The course is intended to improve analytical skills and strengthen oral and written critical expression. Requirements include oral presentations, two exams, three short papers (2-4 pages), and a final essay (5-6 pages).Prerequisite: Italian 21 or consent.

Italian 51 - Dante's Inferno (in English)

Block D+ Vincent Pollina

Reading in prose translation (with facing Italian text), we shall follow Dante's voyage through the eternal kingdom of the damned. Major themes include the interplay of human time and cosmic time; of freedom and character; of history, ethics, and politics. We shall also see how such artists as Giovanni di Paolo, Botticelli, Blake, Flaxman, and Doré have rendered Dante's experiences visually. Class discussions; three exams. Occasional outside readings, including Dante's Vita Nuova, the tale of his new life in love. No prerequisites. Counts toward the Major in Italian Studies, the Minor in Italian, the Italian Culture Option, and the Interdisciplinary Minor in Medieval Studies; satisfies the Humanities or the Social Science requirement for Engineers. 

Italian 93 -Independent Study (in English)

ARR Members of the Department

Guided individual study of an approved topic in Italian literature or civilization. Variable credit. No more than one credit in an Independent Study may be counted toward the Major in Italian Studies or the Minor in Italian. Prerequisite: Consent. To register for an Independent Study, see the Department Administrator.

Italian 177 - 20th-Century Italian Poetry

Block K+ Laura Baffoni-Licata

The course traces the evolution of Italian Poetry through the 20th-Century. Special emphasis is on the poetic work by Pascoli, D-Annunzio, Ungaretti, Montale, Quasimodo, Sereni, Luzi, and P. Levi. The poetic text is examined from a historical, political, philosophical, and literary angle. The historical approach, in particular, emphasizes the time in history when the poetic text was written. It shows how political, and socially unsettling and dramatic times-specifically those of World War I and II-deeply affected the author and his poetry. Through linguistic and thematic analysis, students are encouraged to develop their own critical voice and creative response to the text. Requirements include oral presentations, creative writings, one exam, one paper (4-6 pages), and one final research project (8-10 pages). Prerequisites: Italian 31 and 32, or consent.

Italian 177-WW - 20th-Century Italian Poetry Writing Workshop

Wednesday 12:00- 12:50p.m. Laura Baffoni Licata

The Writing Workshop component is devoted to learning through writing. The workshop uses creative and exploratory writing as a mean to become more deeply engaged with the poetic text and develop analytical and critical thinking skills. Students in this section have no extra graded work, but use in-class informal writing to better understand and explore the courses material.

This course may be taken only in conjunction with Italian 177.

Italian 193 - Independent Study (in Italian)

ARR Members of the Department

Guided individual study of an approved topic in Italian literature or civilization. Variable credit. No more than one credit in an Independent Study may be counted toward the Major in Italian Studies or the Minor in Italian. Prerequisites: two courses above Italian 22 and consent. To register for an Independent Study, see the Department Administrator.

Italian 199-AT - Honors Thesis

ARR Members of the Department

Open to qualified students. Variable credit. Prerequisites: Italian 31 and 32 and consent. To register for an Honors Thesis, see the Department Administrator. Once the topic has been approved by the Chair, the thesis must be registered in the Office of the Dean of the Colleges.

Back to top.