Fall 2006
Download Syllabus as Word file
Instructor: Renate A. Schulz
Office: Learning Services Bldg. 312
Office Phone: 621-7388
E-mail: schulzr@u.arizona.edu
Office Hours: Tue 1–3 pm.; Wdn 2–4 p.m. or on appointment
Course Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00 – 12:15 p.m. in Education 341
Listserv address: german475@listserv.Arizona.edu
Instructional Materials
Required Textbook:
– Karin Hall und Barbara Scheiner, Übungsgrammatik Deutsch als Fremdsprache für Fortgeschrittene . Max Huber Verlag 2001.
– Die Deutschen: 60 Jahre nach Kriegsende . Spiegel special , Nr. 4/2005.
Films:
All films are part of the 2006 spring semester German Studies Film Series and will be shown at 7:30 p.m. in the Modern Languages Auditorium on the dates indicated. Especially recommended for film reviews and discussion are:
–Das Wunder von Bern (1999, Dir. Sonka Wortmann) – February 9
–Der Untergang (2005, Dir. Oliver Hirschbiegel) – February 23
–Die Architekten (1990, Dir. Peter Kahane) – March 9
–Die Edukators (2004, Dir. Hans Weingartner) – April 13
Course Description
German 475/575 is an advanced German language course intended to hone both, students’ language skills (with a focus on grammatical accuracy) and their knowledge and understanding of current political, social, and cultural issues facing Germany and the German-speaking world in general. Using a comparative approach (US – Germany/Austria/German-speaking Switzerland), students will select current events or issues of interest and compare their treatment in the U.S. and German-speaking media. Student assignments will require both written and oral presentations, classroom and listserv discussions, based on authentic journalistic, filmic and literary texts.
Students will analyze and practice writing in various genres, such as letters, summaries, descriptions, biographies, creative and critical opinion pieces. Peer editing will be a regular feature of all writing assignments focusing both on content and grammatical accuracy. Selected grammatical structures will be reviewed with the purpose of honing grammatical, stylistic and idiomatic usage of German.
Course Requirements for 475 Students
- Regular class attendance, oral participation, homework, and mini-quizzes (150 points). Please note that each unexcused absence will lower your accumulated course points by 5 points and can result in lowering your grade.
- 1 oral report on selected topic of Vergleichende Landeskunde (Politik, Wirtschaft, Gesellschaft, Wissenschaft/Technik, Kultur, Sport), based on articles in Spiegel special, Nr. 4/2005
Expected length of oral presentation, minimum of 15 minutes. Students may work in groups of two. They can use cue cards, transparencies, handouts, power-point presentations, etc., but should speak freely and not read the presentation in its entirety. Presentation should be prepared to “teach”, i.e., inform classmates and instructor about the issue(s) selected. Classmates are expected to have read the relevant piece in Spiegel special on which presentation is based and take notes for discussion purposes. They will rate their peers’ oral presentations based on comprehensibility, content, accuracy, and what/how much they have learned. It is suggested that students submit to the instructor written preparatory notes at least 2 days before presentation (150 points). Copies of preparatory notes (e.g., cue cards, transparencies, handouts, power-point presentations, etc.) must be handed in after presentation.
- Five (5) writing assignments with 2 drafts each: biography; personal communication (one informal letter and one business letter); opinion piece (requiring hypothesizing), and film review (summary/reaction) paper. Please note that the summary/reaction paper can be based on one of the “easy readers” available on loan from the instructor or on a literary text individually selected (300 points)
- Midterm exam on grammar/stylistics (200 points)
- Final exam on grammar/stylistics (200 points) Please note that the final exam is not obligatory for students who take and pass the Zentrale Mittelstufenprüfung with satisfactory results.
Course Requirements for 575 Students
All of the above plus
- 1 additional oral report on topic of choice. Students may work in groups of two.
- a satisfactory grade for German 575 (A or B) requires performance on grammar tests above 80% or passing the Zentrale Mittelstufenprüfung with sehr gut, gut, or befriedigend.
Tentativer Kursplan
| Datum | Aufgaben |
| Do. 12. Jan. | Einführung in den KursSelect grammar topics for reviewGrammatik |
| Die. 17. Jan. | Grammatik |
| Do. 19. Jan. | Due: 1. Aufsatz: persönlicher BriefGrammatik |
| Die. 24. Jan. | GrammatikThemen für mündlichen Bericht “Vergleichende Landeskunde” einreichen |
| Do. 26. Jan. | Grammatik |
| Die. 31. Jan. | Mündlicher BerichtDiskussionGrammatik |
| Do. 2. Feb. | Due: 2. Aufsatz: GeschäftsbriefGrammatik |
| Die.7. Feb. | Mündlicher BerichtDiskussionGrammatik |
| Do. 9. Feb. | Grammatik # 4 |
| Die. 14. Feb. | Mündlicher BerichtDiskussionGrammatik |
| Do. 16. Feb. | Due: 3. Aufsatz: LebenslaufGrammatik |
| Die. 21. Feb. | Mündlicher BerichtDiskussionGrammatik |
| Do. 23. Feb. | Grammatik |
| Die. 28. Feb. | Mündlicher BerichtDiskussionWiederholung |
| Do. 2. März | Mitt-Semester Prüfung |
| Die. 7. März | Mündlicher BerichtDiskussionGrammatik |
| Do. 9. März | Due: 4. Aufsatz: MeinungsberichtGrammatik |
| Die. 14. März | keine Klasse – Frühlingsferien |
| Do. 16. März | keine Klasse – Frühlingsferien |
| Die. 21. März | Mündlicher BerichtDiskussionGrammatik |
| Do. 23. März | Grammatik |
| Die. 28. März | Mündlicher BerichtDiskussionGrammatik |
| Do. 30. März | Grammatik13:00–17.00 Uhr Zentrale Mittelstufenprüfung/Zertifikat Deutsch |
| Die. 4. April | Mündlicher BerichtDiskussionGrammatik |
| Do. 6. April | Grammatik |
| Die. 11. April | Mündlicher BerichtDiskussionGrammatik |
| Do. 13. April | Grammatik |
| Die. 18. April | Due: 5. Aufsatz: FilmkritikMündlicher BerichtDiskussionGrammatik |
| Do. 20. April | Grammatik |
| Die. 25. April | Mündlicher BerichtDiskussionGrammatik |
| Do. 27. April | Grammatik |
| Die. 2. Mai | letzter UnterrichtstagKursbewertung |
| Die. 9. Mai | Schlussexamen: 11 – 13 Uhr (nicht obligatorisch für Absolventen der Zentralen Mittelstufenprüfung) |
Description of Class Conduct and Grading Policies and Procedures:
Integrity is expected of every student in all academic work. The guiding principle of academic integrity is that a student’s submitted work must be the student’s own. Students engaging in academic dishonesty diminish their education and bring discredit to the academic community. Students shall not violate the Code of Academic Integrity and shall avoid situations likely to c ompromise academic integrity. Students shall observe the provisions of the Code. Failure of faculty to prevent cheating does not excuse students from compliance with the Code. For the complete Code, refer to http://catalog.arizona.edu/policies/994/acacode.htm.
Students with Disabilities: If you anticipate the need for reasonable accommodations to meet the requirements of this course, you must register with the Disability Resource Center and request that the DRC send me official notification of your accommodation needs as soon as possible. Please plan to meet with me by appointment or during office hours to discuss accommodations and how my course requirements and activities may impact your ability to fully participate.