German 311: Dealing with the Past (3 credits)
Fall 2005
Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00 –12:15 p.m. in GITT 207
Instructor: Renate A. Schulz
Office: Learning Services Building 312
e-mail: schulzr@u.arizona.edu
Phone: 621-7388
Office Hours: Tu 1:00 –3:00 and W 10:00-12.00 a.m.
or by appointment
Listserv-internet discussion address for German 311 during fall 2005:
German311@listserv.arizona.edu
Course Overview and Objectives:
German 311 is an advanced German language course, designed for students who have completed successfully a minimum of four semesters of German. The overarching theme of the course deals with Vergangenheitsbewältigung — the emotional and intellectual process of dealing with the guilt associated with the terror and human suffering caused by the Nazi-regime between 1933 and 1945, the Holocaust, and the political consequences of World War II. Although a major consequence of Germany’s defeat in World War II (i.e., the separation of Germany into two states which served as pawns of Cold War politics) has found a “happy ending” in reunification, and in the past sixty years Germany has become one of the leading nations in the world, the governments of Germany and Austria, and many of the citizens of these countries are still trying to deal with a past that some would rather forget.
Using journalistic, literary, historical and filmic texts dealing with post-war Germany (1945-to the present) as subject matter, this course aims to improve the students’ German communicative language skills while providing knowledge of and insights into those events which during the past 60 years have helped form the present-day German-speaking world. Students will be tested on their language competence as well as their knowledge of pertinent cultural information.
The course will be divided into three parts. Part I, dealing roughly with Germany 1945-1955; Part II, dealing with the two German states (FRG and the GRD), 1955-1988, including the building of the Berlin Wall, 1961; and Part III, dealing with the Wende , the fall of the Wall (1989), German reunification (1990), and the immediate consequences. The three course exams will roughly test events and concepts relevant to these periods in addition to language competence.
Grammatical Focus: While this course is not intended as a formal grammar review course, one of its purposes is to hone the grammatical accuracy of students. As a group, we will focus on German syntactical patterns (word order), the subjunctive mood, and relative clauses. In addition, individual students are encouraged to focus on grammatical patterns they perceive to be problematic.
Instructional Materials:
Tatsachen über Deutschland , Auswärtiges Amt, Abteilung Kommunikation, BRD. 2003. Available to students at no cost.
Course packets, available in U of A Bookstore under German 311
Wolfgang Borchert, Draußen vor der Tür (Hörspiel) at www.utexas.edu/ftp/courses/swaffar/distance/titel.htm
Handouts, supplied by instructor
An advanced German Grammar of student’s choice.
Films:
Der Untergang (Oliver Hirschbiegel), 2004. PLEASE VIEW BY SEPT. 8.
Highly Recommended: Other films listed on syllabus are related to topic of course and can be used for film review assignment (see IV. below).
Tentative dates for topics, assignments and exams
Tu 8/23 Course orientation
Vergangenheitsbewältigung: 1945-1998
Die Stunde Null
Th 8/25: journal entry due
Tu 8/30 Film: Nuremberg (Die Nürnberger Prozesse)
Th 9/1 journal entry due
Tu 9/6 no class (viewing of Der Untergang in LSB 346)
Th 9/8 journal entry due
Film Series: 7:30 p.m ML Auditorium: Rosenstrasse (Margarete von Trotta, 2003)
Tu 9/13 Due: Topic of oral presentation
Zeitzeuge: Dr. Roland Richter. Professor Emeritus. U of A
Th 9/15 journal entry due
Tu 9/20 oral report(s) __________________________________________________
Th 9/22 journal entry due
Zeitzeuge: Mr. Walter Feiger
Film Series: 7:30 p.m ML Auditorium: Ein Lied von Liebe und Tod (Rolf Schübel, 1999)
Tu 9/27
Th 9/29 journal entry due
oral report(s)__________________________________________
Tu 10/4 oral report(s)________________________________________________
Th 10/6 journal entry due
oral report(s)________________________________________________
Tu 10/11 oral report(s)________________________________________________
Th 10/13 Exam I: Germany 1945-1955
oral report(s)________________________________________________
Tu 10/18 oral report(s)________________________________________________
Th 10/20 journal entry due
oral report(s)________________________________________________
Tu 10/25 Guest lecture: Dr. Peter Ecke, “Leben in der DDR.”
Th 10/27 journal entry due
oral report(s)________________________________________________
Tu 11/1 oral report(s) _______________________________________________
Th 11/3 journal entry due
Film: The Fall of the Berlin Wall
oral report(s)________________________________________________
Film Series: 7:30 p.m ML Auditorium: Spur der Steine (Frank Beyer, 1966)
Tu 11/8 oral report(s)________________________________________________
Th 11/10 journal entry due
oral report(s)________________________________________________
Tu 11/15 oral report(s)________________________________________________
Th 11/17 Exam II: 2xDeutschland–BRD & DDR, 1955-1989
Tu 11/22
oral report(s)________________________________________________
Th 11/ 24 Thanksgiving, no class
Tu 11/29 Due: Review of film or literary work
oral report(s)_____________________ _________________________
Th 12/1
oral report(s)________________________________________________
Tu 12/6 Review for final exam
Course evaluation
Final written exam: Th, December 15, 11:00 a.m.– 1:00 p.m.
Final oral exam: individually scheduled
Course Requirements and Evaluation:
I. Exams : Two written in-class exams (100 points each); one written final exam (200 points); one final oral exam (100 points). Total 500 points.
II. Electronic journal :Students will keep an electronic news journal, based on articles/films/literary texts, etc. they find regarding German-speaking Europe in the German-language or American press or on the internet (good starting sources: http://www.paperball.de/ ; or other sources on the web). The journal will consist of a minimum of 10 entries. Each entry should include a short summary of a text read or viewed, including a minimum of two indirect quotes of important information, together with a personal commentary regarding the text. The journal entries ( minimum expected length 200 words) for each week are to be submitted electronically every Thursday, as indicated on syllabus. Please include reference for all texts used and provide word count (150 points, including re-writes). Extra credit (5 points) will be given for any journal entry which deals with Vergangenheitsbewältigung. Particularly interesting and relevant journal entries may be shared with entire class. Please indicate if you do not wish your journal entry to be distributed to classmates.
III. Oral report : Students will sign up for one oral report in German, about an event selected from the Zeittafel or from the list of Schlüsselwörter/Namen/Zitate supplied. The report may be done individually or as a group project with up to three students. Topic of oral report/presentation is due for approval and scheduling on 9/13. (100 points)
This report is to be based on personal research and should increase or deepen the knowledge of classmates about the topic selected. Students are encouraged to use notecards, overheads, handouts, and other illustrative materials, but should plan to speak freely rather than read the report or large portions of it. The report/presentation should be about 10-15 minutes long. Grade for the report will be based on the evaluation of classmates, based on the following criteria:
overall clarity/comprehensibility of presentation
amount learned (new information)
overall effort demonstrated (thorough research, interesting presentation, supporting AV materials, handouts, etc.)
oral delivery (i.e., points will be deducted if a presenter reads large portions of presentation)
IV . Film review : Written review of a film (viewed outside of class) or literary work dealing directly or indirectly with the topic of Vergangenheitsbewältigung, selected by the student. Minimum 2 double-spaced pages, typed. (100 points) Due: November 29.
V. Homework and Quizzes : Occasional announced or unannounced quizzes on assigned readings or grammar points, homework collected, etc. (150 points)
Policies:
Note: Some course content may be deemed offensive by some students. If you are unwilling to consider events, viewpoints or cultural practices that do not conform to those of your own past experience, you may want to drop this course.
Attendance:
Course attendance is required. For any unexcused absence beyond two, five points will be deducted from the final number of points on which the course grade will be based. If you need to miss class for any reason, you may make arrangements with instructor for written make-up work.
Students with disability : Students registered with the Disability Resource Center need to submit appropriate documentation if requesting special accommodation.
Cell phones or pagers : No use of pagers or cell phone in class, unless prior permission is obtained from instructor..Plagiarism/Academic Dishonesty : Please observe Student Code of Academic Integrity: http://studpubs.web.arizona.edu/policies/cacaint.htm