Gateway to German Studies:
Encounters in Language and Culture
Spring 1998
M, W, F ll:00 – ll:50 Psychology 408 (Ruhil)
Tu, Th ll:00 – 12:15 Psychology 120 (Schulz)
Instructors
Renate A. Schulz
Office: ML 590
Office hours: Tu, W, Th: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. or by appointment
Phone: 621-7388 or 621-7385
e-mail: schulzr@u.arizona.edu
Anuradha Ruhil
Office: ML 561
Office hours: M, W: noon – 1:00 p.m. or by appointment
Phone: 621-7385 or 621-1294
e-mail: anuradha@u.arizona.edu
listserv: German300@listserv.arizona.edu
Course Description: German 300 is an advanced language course designed for students who have completed successfully a minimum of four semesters of German (i.e., German 202). Course activities focus on developing the four skills (reading and listening comprehension, writing and speaking) and on deepening cultural understanding. A systematic review of grammar is intended to hone linguistic accuracy and develop an appreciation for stylistic nuances and how they affect meaning.
Students will read challenging texts of different genres and on different topics. Writing activities emphasize the genre-based, process-oriented nature of writing, i.e., the process through which a writer creates and produces written work for a particular purpose and audience. To this end, peer editing is included as an integral part of writing assignments. Peer editing is intended to hone both reading and writing skills, as well as critical and analytical thinking.
The conversational component of this course will require student/teacher and student/student interaction (in large group and small group settings) to exchange information, clarify meanings, express opinions, argue points of view, and engage in any other communicative function that language is used for.
Textbooks:
K. A. Corl, B. S. Jurasek and R. T. Jurasek. Übergänge: Texte verfassen (ÜTV) please note that ÜTV will be used mostly Tuesdays and Thursdays
B. S. Jurasek and R. T. Jurasek. Übergänge: Texte erfassen (ÜTE) please note that ÜTE will be used mostly Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
L. D. Wells. Handbuch zur deutschen Grammatik (Grammatik)* * indicates you should bring Grammatik on that date
G. Pausewang. Die letzten Kinder von Schewenborn (DLK)
Tentative Course Plan
Jan. 14 course introduction
Jan. 15 ÜTV Kapitel 1
Jan. 16 ÜTE Kapitel 1
Jan. 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Day – no class
Jan. 20*
Jan. 21
Jan. 22*
Jan. 23
Jan. 26
Jan. 27*
Jan. 28 ÜTE, Kapitel 3
Jan. 29 ÜTV, Kapitel 3 Quiz: Grammatik, chap. 4
Jan. 30 Composition #1 due
Feb. 2
Feb. 3*
Feb. 4
Feb. 5*
Feb. 6
Feb. 9 ÜTE, Kapitel 4
Feb. 10* ÜTV, Kapitel 4
Feb. 11 Composition #2 due
Feb. 12
Feb. 13 Test #1, incl. Grammatik, chap. 10
Feb. 16
Feb. 17*
Feb. 18
Feb. 19*
Feb. 20
Feb. 23 ÜTE, Kapitel 5
Feb. 24* ÜTV, Kapitel 5
Feb. 25 Composition #3 due
Feb. 26 Quiz: Grammatik, chap. 26
Feb. 27
Mar. 2
Mar. 3*
Mar. 4
Mar. 5*
Mar. 6
Mar. 9 ÜTE, Kapitel 6
Mar. 10* ÜTV, Kapitel 6
Mar. 11 Composition #4 due
Form groups for final project
Mar. 12 Quiz: Grammatik, chap. 5;
Select topic/genre for final project
Mar. 13
Mar. 16 – 22 Spring Break – No Class
Mar. 23
Mar. 24*
Mar. 25
Mar. 26*
Mar. 27
Mar. 30
Mar. 31*
Apr. 1
Apr. 2 Test #2, incl. Grammatik, chap. 13
Apr. 3
Apr. 6 ÜTE, Kapitel 7
Apr. 7* ÜTV, Kapitel 7
Apr. 8 Composition #5 due
Apr. 9 *
Apr. 10
Apr. 13
Apr. 14*
Apr. 15
Apr. 16 Quiz: Grammatik, chap. 25 DLK
Apr. 17 DLK, Kapitel 1 Composition #6 due
Apr. 20 DLK, Kapitel 2
Apr. 21 DLK, Kapitel 3
Apr. 22 DLK, Kapitel 4
Apr. 23 DLK, Kapitel 5
Apr. 24 DLK, Kapitel 6 First written draft
of group project due
Apr. 27 DLK, Kapitel 7
Apr. 28 DLK, Kapitel 8
Apr. 29 DLK, Kapitel 9 and 10
Apr. 30 DLK, Kapitel 11 and 12
May 1 DLK, Kapitel 13 Final written version
of group semester project due;
May 4 Presentation of Semester Projects
May 5 Presentation of Semester Projects
May 6 Review for final exam; course evaluation
Final Written Exam: Wed., May 13, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Final Oral Exam: individually scheduled with instructor
Course Requirements:
- Two exams 200 points
- Final Written Exam 100 points
- Final Oral Exam 100 points
- Quizzes/tests covering Grammatik, chaps. 4,5,10,13,25,26 300 points
- Five compositions (students may select which 5 of 6 compositions they wish to count for the final grade) 200 points
Peer editing procedure: Teams of three students will review and comment on each other’s compositions, preferably via e-mail. (Editing teams will be re- configured for each new composition.) Students will then make appropriate revisions of their draft compositions and submit their second drafts–DOUBLE-SPACED–to the instructor on the date specified. Compositions will be returned graded and marked with an error code. Students have the option of making final revisions and resubmitting the composition to the instructor for a second evaluation. The final grade for the composition will be an average of scores received on draft #2 and the final submission. - Group Semester Project 100 points
The group project is intended to result in an end product that can be both printed as a text document and can be performed in front of the class or — if you prefer–on video. It will require considerable collaborative efforts on the part of the group members in selecting a topic and genre for the project, in doing research and collecting materials and information, in writing (and possible illustrating) the final project and performing it.
Some possible ideas for projects are:
— writing a short story and presenting a dramatic reading of it in class;
–writing a drama or Hörspiel and performing it before class;
–writing a newscast and presenting it as a ‘Nachrichtensendung’;
–developing a documented slide series (of works of art, German cities, important people [e.g., Nobel Prize winners, authors, historical figures], traditions and festivals, etc.) and presenting it in class;
–developing a ‘Kulturmagazin’ or ‘Aktuelles Magazin’ or ‘Neues aus der Wissenschaft’, or ‘Neues aus der Medizin’ (based on current or historical events in the German-speaking world, problematic issues [e.g., Umweltschutz, Gleichberechtigung, Ausländerfeindlichkeit], scientific, technological or artistic accomplishments) and presenting it in class;
As resources for your projects we recommend German newspapers or the weekly news magazine Der Spiegel. Also, we recommend you watch Deutsche Welle on cable TV. The Internet is, of course, also an excellent source of information.
Steps for project development and due dates: - Form a project group with 3 to five of your classmates. 3/11
- Select a topic and a format/genre for written and oral presentation. 3/12
- Plan research and writing tasks and decide on who does what. (out of class)
- Develop a first draft with extensive peer editing. (out of class)
- Submit first draft to one of your instructors for feedback. 4/27
- Prepare and practice format for oral presentation (e.g., who says what/ props/ music, visual illustrations) (out of class)
- Make final revisions on written version of project and submit to instructor. 5/1
- Present oral version of project to class, either live or by video. 5/4-5
Please note that all projects will be copied and collated and made available to students in German 300 as well as other interested individuals in the German Studies Department. - Homework/Attendance (Please note that 5 points will be deducted from your final sum of points for any absence over three [3] or for any missing homework over three [3] which is collected.)