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TO OUR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS: READING &COMPOSITION COURSE: THIS COURSE WILL BE OFFERED DURING SESSION A. ONCE THE INSTRUCTOR APPOINTMENT IS FINALIZED THE STAFF NAME AND DESCRIPTION WILL BE POSTED. SLAVIC 10 AND SLAVIC 20: OUR RUSSIAN WORKSHOPS WILL BE OFFERED DURING THE SESSIONS PUBLICIZED. THESE INTENSIVE WORKSHOPS HAVE SMALLER ENROLLMENT PROVIDING MAXIMUM INSTRUCTOR-TO-STUDENT ATTENTION.

SESSION A: May 27-July 3

COURSE CANCELED 5/21/08

Slavic R5B, Section 1 (4 units)
Instructor: Staff TBA

Session A: May 27-July 3
Monday-Thursday 9-11, 106 Wheeler Hall
Course Control Number: 79105

Reading and Composition Course
"Urban Myths: St. Petersburg and San Francisco
in Literature and Film"

COURSE CANCELED 5/21/08

This course will trace the evolving literary incarnations of St. Petersburg and San Francisco through the 19th and 20th centuries. We will read a selection of Russian poems and short stories that have helped to constitute the “Petersburg myth.” In these texts, Petersburg appears as a wonder of modern European architecture; a testament to the might of imperial Russia; and a ghost town haunted by countless casualties of government oppression, natural disaster, political upheavals, and war. We will also read works inspired by the California Gold Rush, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, the beatnik and hippy movements, and the gay liberation movement. Although authors often associate San Francisco with optimism, openness, and multiculturalism, they also present it as a locus of mystery, materialism and catastrophe.

As we compare texts about St. Petersburg and San Francisco, we will focus on how urban space functions as a literary site of tradition and innovation. We will explore literary representations of architecture, public space, city streets, and private homes. We will also examine how prominent features of the cityscape—such as bridges, towers, monuments, and geological formations—not only symbolize events in local and national history, but also serve as literary devices and tropes. Our overarching aim will be to consider 1) the role cities have played in shaping modern literature, and 2) the role literature has played in shaping people’s understanding of urban space and history. To complement the readings, we will spend class time watching and discussing four films throughout the semester.

The purpose of this course is to help students become comfortable writing analytical essays on topics that interest them. The class discussions will focus on close analysis of the readings and will enable students to develop ideas for their papers. The course will also cover stylistic and structural aspects of writing. Students will complete three essays of 2-3, 4-5, and 9-10 pages in length. The second and third essays will undergo substantial revision and peer editing, and the third will incorporate research. In addition to discussion of the readings, class time will be dedicated to writing assignments and peer editing.

This course satisfies the second half or the “B” portion of the Reading and Composition requirement.

Texts:
Writing Guide:
Harvey, The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing

St. Petersburg:
*Pushkin, “The Bronze Horseman”
*Gogol, “The Overcoat”
*Gogol, “Nevsky Prospect”
*Zamyatin, “The Cave”
*Akhmatova, “Poem without a Hero”

San Francisco:
*Royce, Sarah. Selections from A Frontier Lady: Recollections of the Gold Rush and Early California.
*London, Jack. “The Story of an Eyewitness” (On the 1906 earthquake and fire)
*London, Jack. “South of the Slot”
Ginsburg, Allen. “Howl”
Kingston, Maxine Hong. Tripmaster Monkey.

*Works marked with an asterisk will be included in the course reader.

Films:
Vertov, Man with a Movie Camera
Ryazanov, The Irony of Fate, or: “Enjoy Your Bath”
Stroheim, Greed
Hitchcock, Vertigo

Prerequisite: Successful completion of the “A” portion of the Reading and Composition requirement or its equivalent.

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SESSION B: June 9-August 15

SLAVIC 10 & 20 : THE TEN-WEEK RUSSIAN LANGUAGE PROGRAM
Director: Dr. Arkady Alexeev
Email: arkalexeev@yahoo.com

WHERE TO MEET ON THE FIRST DAY OF CLASSES

On the first day of classes, students will meet at 9:00 a.m. for Slavic 10 and 20 at the following locations:

Slavic 10: 9-11 a.m., 235 Dwinelle Hall (Recitation section 101)

Slavic 20: 9-11 a.m., 6115 Dwinelle Hall (Recitation section 101)

*NOTE: 6115 Dwinelle Hall is the department seminar room located in the administrative wing of Dwinelle Hall vs. the classroom side of the building.

THE RUSSIAN WORKSHOP

The more than decade-old Intensive Russian Program at UC Berkeley attracts students from all over the United States. Dr. Arkady Alexeev, the program director, is a native speaker of Russian who received a Soviet degree equivalent to the Ph.D. in Leningrad followed by an American Ph.D. at U.C. Berkeley in Slavic Linguistics.

Communication is the focus of the Summer Intensive Program. Students are prepared to communicate well in a real Russian environment. The historical Berkeley campus and the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area have much to offer the student of Russian: a sizable Russian population, the San Francisco Russian Center with its cultural activities, Russian churches, Russian bookstores and restaurants, all of which offer students innumerable opportunities for contact with native speakers of Russian. But the Russian Summer Program does not rely on chance contacts. We invite native Russian guest speakers, organize tours of Russian points of interest in San Francisco and the vicinity, and invite students to view Russian exhibits and films. The Intensive Russian Program prepares students for further success in Russian studies.

This year’s program includes first-year elementary intensive and second-year intermediate intensive Russian. Both courses consist of small course sections supervised and taught by native Russian speakers and advanced graduate student instructors. The program offers students four hours of intensive class work every day, including special classes in conversation and oral and written drills and grammar exercises. Daily homework and language laboratory assignments complement instruction. Courses meet Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Every week the students watch a Russian film or attend a lecture on Russian culture during the Wednesday "lab." Each Friday the students and their Russian teachers gather at Berkeley cafes to chat in Russian and enjoy the company of their fellow students in a Russian atmosphere. The Workshop also organizes a picnic in the picturesque Berkeley hills for all students of Slavic 10 and 20.

Students should prepare for a full-time investment as these courses cover 30 weeks of regular instruction over a 10-week session.

Slavic 10: Intensive Elementary Russian (10 Semester Units)

This course is the the equivalent of a 2-semester course in elementary Russian. The Slavic 10 Workshop takes place Monday-Friday beginning with a 2-hour grammar session from 9-11, followed by a second session for language reinforcement from 11-12, a break for lunch, culminating with a lecture from 1-2. There is also a language reinforcement activity or "Lab" Wednesdays 2-4. Note: Textbooks and/or reader information will be announced the first day of class.

ENROLLMENT INFORMATION FOR SLAVIC 10

Enroll in each of the 4 parts of the Workshop noted below. The 5-digit Course Control Numbers are listed for each.

Lecture: M-F 1-2, CCN 79110
Recitation Section 101: M-F 9-11, CCN 79115
Recitation Section 103: M-F 11-12, CCN 79125
LAB 101: W 2-4, CCN 79135

SLAVIC 20 INFORMATION

Slavic 20: Intensive Intermediate Russian (10 Semester Units)

This course is the the equivalent of a 2-semester course in intermediate Russian. The Slavic 20 Workshop takes place Monday-Friday beginning with a 2-hour grammar session from 9-11, a break for lunch, followed by a lecture from 12-1, and a conversation session from 1-2. There is also a language reinforcement activity or "Lab" Wednesdays 2-4. Note: Textbooks and/or reader information will be announced the first day of class.

ENROLLMENT INFORMATION FOR SLAVIC 20

Enroll in each of the 4 parts of the Workshop noted below. The 5-digit Course Control Numbers are listed for each.

Lecture: M-F 12-1, CCN 79140
Recitation Section 101: M-F 9-11, CCN 79145
Recitation Section 103: M-F 1-2, CCN 79155
LAB 101: W 2-4, CCN 79165

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Registration, Housing, and Financial Aid Information

THE U.C. BERKELEY OFFICE OF SUMMER SESSION ADMINISTERS SUMMER PROGRAMS. See their website for registration, housing, and financial aid information: http://www.summer.berkeley.edu

EARLY ENROLLMENT IS ENCOURAGED! The Slavic Department encourages students to enroll December through mid-May to secure a place in Slavic 10 or 20.
Enrollment after mid-May through the first day of classes will remain available through the Office of Summer Sessions.

Exceptions for late enrollment for quarter-system students:
Accommodations may be made for quarter-system students who are not able to arrive at the beginning of Slavic 10 or 20 (normally, this might consist of mising a few days of the first week of classes). Contact Dr. Alexeev, the Director of the Russian Workshop, to obtain advance permission to begin once the Workshop has begun: arkalexeev@yahoo.com.

Housing costs are additional, and students arrange their own housing through Campus Housing Services.

Financial aid is available for continuing U.C. students from all campuses. Non U.C. students should apply for financial aid through their home campuses.

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COURSE PLACEMENT IN SLAVIC 10 OR 20

Dr. Alexeev will be available to answer questions about placement in courses, course structure, and content through May 22nd at arkalexeev@yahoo.com. Slavic 10 presumes no prior experience with the Russian language. Students with previous experience with Russian who are unsure of their current skill level should sign up for Slavic 20 and consult with their instructor the first day of classes about their correct placement level. If necessary, a placement exam will be administered by the director of the course. Slavic 20 is a complete review which will suffice for individuals who’ve studied Russian previously on the elementary to early intermediate level.

General questions about the Russian program may be addressed to the Slavic Department at the following e-mail address: issa@berkeley.edu, or by phone at (510) 642-2979.

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