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LOWER DIVISION COURSES
RUSSIAN 002. Elementary Russian (5 units)
Elizabeth Matthews
MTWRF 9:00 - 9:50A
209 Wellman
CRN 90202
Course Description: This course is the continuation of Russian 001 in areas of grammar and development of all language skills in a cultural context with special emphasis on communication.
Prerequisite: Russian 001 or Language Placement Exam.
GE credit (Old): Arts & Humanities.
GE credit (New): Arts & Humanities and World Cultures.
Format: Discussion - 5 hours; Laboratory - 1 hour.
Textbooks:
- Richard Robin, et al., Golosa: A Basic Course in Russian, Book 1 (5th Edition) (Prentice Hall, 2011)
- Richard Robin, et al., Student Activities Manual for Golosa: A Basic Course in Russian, Book 1 (5th Edition) (Prentice Hall, 2011)
RUSSIAN 005. Intermediate Russian (4 units)
Anna Reznik
MTWR 10:00 - 10:50A
251 Olson
CRN 90203
Course Description: This is the second course in the Intermediate Russian sequence. Students will continue to review grammar, be introduced to short literature, and practice intermediate level conversations.
Prerequisite: Russian 004 or Language Placement Exam.
GE credit (Old): Arts & Humanities.
GE credit (New): Arts & Humanities and World Cultures.
Format: Discussion - 4 hours; Laboratory - 1 hour.
Textbooks:
- Olga Kagan, et al., V Puti: Russian Grammar in Context, 2nd Edition(Prentice Hall, 2005)
- Olga Kagan, et al., V Puti: Russian Grammar in Context Student Activities Manual, 2nd Edition (Prentice Hall, 2005)
UPPER DIVISION COURSES
RUSSIAN 101B. Advanced Russian (4 units)
Liliana Avramenko
MWF 11:00 - 11:50A
201 Wellman
CRN 90216
Course Description: This is the second course in the Advanced Russian sequence. Students will continue to refine their reading comprehension, writing skills, conversational competence, and grammar knowledge. Materials for discussion will include articles from the contemporary media, recent films, classic and modern literature. Goals of the course are to complete a study of the basic elements of Russian grammar (nouns, verbs, adjectives, gender and case agreement, plural), spelling rules, to increase active and passive vocabulary, to initiate speaking ability, to develop advanced reading and writing skills, and to learn more about Russian culture. Homework will consist of reading texts, writing answers to questions, grammar exercises and short essays. Students will make oral presentations in class.
There will be two written tests, three to four short quizzes or dictations, two essays, oral presentations, and a final exam.
Prerequisite: Russian 101A or consent of instructor (lavramenko@ucdavis.edu).
GE credit (Old): Arts & Humanities.
GE credit (New): Arts & Humanities and World Cultures.
Format: Lecture - 2 hours; Discussion - 1 hour.
Textbook:
- Olga Kagan, et al., Russian for Russians (Slavica Publishers, 2002)
RUSSIAN 103. Literary Translation (4 units)
Olga Stuchebrukhov
TR 10:30-11:50A
115 Wellman
CRN 90217
Course Description: "Without translators, we are left adrift on our various linguistic ice floes, only faintly hearing rumors of masterpieces elsewhere at sea," says David Remnick in his article about famous translators of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, thus reminding us that, for the majority of readers, literary masterpieces are available only in translation. What does it take to be a literary translator? This course is designed to understand just that, paying particular attention to the distinctive features and major problems of translating prose, poetry, drama, and folklore from Russian into English and from English into Russian.
Exams
Your 2 take-home midterms and your take-home final will test your ability to translate excerpts of prose, poetry, drama, and folklore from Russian into English and from English into Russian. More detailed instructions will be provided.
Evaluation Policy
| Participation (includes h/w, group work, etc.) | 10% |
| Take-Home Midterm 1 | 30% |
| Take-Home Midterm 2 | 30% |
| Take-Home Final | 30% |
Prerequisite: Russian 101C.
GE credit (Old): None.
GE credit (New): None.
Format: Discussion - 3 hours.
Textbooks:
- A Course Reader (available at Davis Copy-Maxx)
RUSSIAN 133. Post-Soviet Literature (4 units) IN ENGLISH
Jenny Kaminer
TR 3:10-4:30P
105 Olson
CRN 93219
Course Description: This course will focus on the major authors and trends that have emerged in Russian literature since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. We will consider the impact of the economic, social, and cultural turmoil of the post-Soviet period on the production of literature, on trends in readership, and on the literary marketplace. We will also analyze the emergence of post-modernism in Russia. The texts read will include prose as well as drama and popular fiction. Some of the authors covered include Viktor Pelevin, Liudmila Petrushevskaia, Viktor Erofeyev, and Vladimir Sorokin. All texts read in English translation. No knowledge of Russian required.
Prerequisite: None.
GE credit (Old): Arts & Humanities and Writing Experience.
GE credit (New): Arts & Humanities, World Cultures, and Writing Experience.
Format: Lecture/Discussion - 3 hours; Term paper.
Textbooks:
- Svetlana Vasilenko, Shamara and Other Stories (Northwestern University Press, 2000)
- Viktor Pelevin, Omon Ra (New Directions, 1998)
- Vladimir Sorokin, Day of the Oprichnik (Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2012)
- Andrei Gelasimov, Thirst (AmazonCrossing, 2011)
- Lyudmila Petrushevskaya, The Time: Night (Northwestern University Press, 2000)
RUSSIAN 139. Pushkin (4 units)
Olga Stuchebrukhov
TR 1:40-3:00P
261 Olson
CRN 93220
Course Description: Alexander Pushkin (1799 -1837) is the key figure of Russian literature and culture, the founder of the Russian literary language. This course is a survey of his poetry, prose, and drama and studies the influence of Classisism, Romanticism, and Realism on his work. The course is divided into two main parts: the pre-Romantic and Romantic period of Pushkin's work that ends with his exile in Mikhailovskoe from 1824 to 1826, and the Realist period of his work that covers the late 1820s and 1830s.
Essays and Exams
Essay (4-5 pages, in Russian): detailed essay requirements and topics will be provided. You will be given the opportunity to work on your first draft and resubmit your improved essay.
Your in-class midterm will test your understanding of the influence of Classicism and Romanticism on Pushkin’s style. It will consist of two sections: multiple-choice questions (50%) and two free-response questions (25% each, answers may be given in Russian or in English). Detailed instructions will be provided.
Your take-home final will test your understanding of Pushkin’s legacy as a realist. You will be given a list of free-response questions to choose four questions (25% each) from. More detailed instructions will be provided.
Evaluation Policy
| Participation (includes h/w, group work, etc.) | 10% |
| Poem Presentation | 10% |
| Essay | 30% |
| Midterm (in class) | 20% |
| Take-Home Final | 30% |
Prerequisite: Russian 101C or consent of instructor (oastuchebrukhov@ucdavis.edu).
GE credit (Old): Arts & Humanities and Diversity.
GE credit (New): Arts & Humanities, World Cultures and Writing Experience.
Format: Lecture/Discussion - 3 hours; Term Paper.
Textbooks:
- A Course Reader (available at Davis Copy-Maxx)