Using a process-writing approach, this third-year composition text helps students master writing skills and gain confidence as writers. The text is set up in a workbook format and is written entirely in French, except for the first chapter. Students broaden their repertoire of related speech acts, vocabulary, grammatical structures, and stylistic elements through three major sections.

Each chapter features a model text—a literary piece, journalistic selection, or informal writing—that represents the Francophone world. "Les actes de parole" sections focus on expanding knowledge of speech acts and vocabulary related to the model texts. "La stylistique" sections features grammatical and stylistic elements and provide additional tools for writing. Each chapter ends with a writing exercise in response to a provocative photo.

• New! In "Analyse stylistique" and "Analyse structurelle" exercises, students analyze writing style, organization, techniques, the role of images, and the use of verb tenses. Writing strategies checklists have been added to reinforce key points students should remember when composing essays in French.
• New! The Second Edition features increased coverage of free-writing.
• New! Model essays written by their peers help students gain confidence that they can compose essays in French without having to be professional writers.
• New! "Authentic Readings" have been changed in some chapters to increase student interest and accessibility.
• Supported by writing strategy instruction, application exercises, and editing activities, each chapter guides students through the stages of pre-writing and drafting, from generating, selecting, and ordering ideas, to revising, editing, and analyzing the final product.
• "Mise en pratique" sections focus on pre-writing preparation, including planning, organization, and reinforcement of vocabulary.
• Designed to complement the multiple-draft writing process, Self-Editing and Peer-Editing Guides draw attention to organization, articulation, and development of an argument, reader needs, and grammatical and lexical accuracy. The guides help students focus on the rereading and revising process.

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Welcome to Débuts: a completely integrated film-based introductory course for learning French language and culture. The film narrative of Le Chemin du retour is what drives the scope and sequence of vocabulary and grammar, the presentation of culture, and the development of reading and writing. A two-hour feature-length film, Le Chemin du retour is the story of a young television journalist, Camille Leclair, and her pursuit of the truth about her grandfather’s mysterious past. Through Camille’s quest, students learn language and culture in the functional context provided by the story. The textbook/film package grew out of the authors’ conviction that language learning is more than just learning skills: it is also a process in which understanding of culture must surely occupy a central position. Therefore, Débuts and Le Chemin du retour emphasize the importance of cultural awareness and understanding, not only of French and Francophone culture, but also of the student’s own culture. In addition, the Débuts program contains both literary and cultural readings, as well as a playlist of Francophone songs, to provide even more authentic input to students on current or provocative topics, allowing for more student interaction in class. With the CourseSmart e Textbook version of this title students can save up to 50% off the cost of a print book, reduce their impact on the environment, and access powerful web tools for learning. Faculty can also review and compare the full text online without having to wait for a print desk copy. For maxiumum portability, e Textbooks can be viewed on an iPhone or iPod Touch, and they can be printed....

The provocative texts and realia in this oral-skills program stimulate conversation while necessary tools are provided for conversational management....