Final Paper Topic in French

The first four (of which she’s only graded one) were meant to be about 400 words. This one is 900 words and has to be done according to MLA style. So, like for me, that’s, MLA! Bring it on! How will the students who haven’t taught English comp for 25 years feel about this, I wonder, heh-heh. Also, no rough draft review for this one, not that she’s put that much effort into the review of our first four papers. We also have to present our findings orally with a PowerPoint. I can’t tell you how much this project energized me when it came through on my campus email this afternoon. This is the topic:

Présentez un problème économique dans les pays francophones en Afrique et proposez des solutions possibles. Indiquez quelques défis à votre solution proposée et comment les résoudre.

The trick to this paper is to acknowledge (subtly) that there is no way actually to solve a difficult problem in a 900-word essay. If the problem were easily solvable, it would already have been solved. I’ve chosen agriculture in Cameroon. More of it would be good, but what kind? Not big farms run by rich people from other countries. Less wheat and rice. More women involved. Gentler pesticides. Now, I have to do some actual library research (or “research,”) not that I haven’t. It’s due Dec. 2.

I was so happy to get this assignment that now I’m thinking, What the heck? Why not take two classes spring semester? I’m already approved to do the French literature one; why not do translation as well? The more good work I do–and despite those pesky French grammar errors, I really can organize a paper–the more likely I’ll be to be accepted to the French master’s degree program at some point, which is my dream.

I’d rejected the idea of doing two classes next semester because even one is a lot of work. However, if one makes me happy, wouldn’t two make me even happier? What made me consider this was that I did an annual review with a worker yesterday–and I want to write about this more later–and she has signed up to do five college courses next semester while working full time. I can’t imagine this will actually work out for her, but then I was thinking, If she can do five, I can do two. (I love Holly Near!)